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Sometimes, we all need a bit of peace. If you use your headphones daily for commuting or while in the office, you may want something that will do a good job of blocking background noise. In the past, you needed large over-ears to get good active noise cancelling (ANC), but now evensmall and portable in-ears or earbuds haveimpressive noise cancelling features. You can also passively achieve great isolation with some in-ear headphones that don't feature ANCdue to them physically blocking your ear canals.
We've tested over 315 earbuds and in-ears; below are our recommendations for the topin-ear noise cancelling headphonesto buy. Check out our recommendations for thebest earbuds and in-ears, thebest Bluetooth earbuds, or thebest noise cancelling headphonesoverall.
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Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless 62
Neutral Sound
7.3
Commute/Travel
8.1
Sports/Fitness
8.4
Office
7.4
Wireless Gaming
5.7
Wired Gaming
5.5
Phone Calls
6.2
Type Earbuds
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless are the best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested. They're the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and have CustomTune technology, which allows the ANC to adapt itself to your environment and ear shape. As a result, they block out a significant amount of ambient noise, from the low rumbles of bus and plane engines to ambient chatter and the high-pitched hum of AC units and computer fans. With ANC on, the battery lasts for aboutseven hours continuously, and their carrying case holds an extra three charges for top-ups.
These well-built buds have a very comfortable fit for most people, so you can wear them for long listening sessions without much fatigue. They're also certified IPX4 for resistance against being splashed with water. They have a stable in-ear fit, so they'll stay in place during runs and workouts. Their out-of-the-box sound is bassy, so your audio has extra rumble, punch, and boom. Their companion app includes a graphic EQ and presets if you prefer a different sound.
However, despite their premium price point, they lack multi-device pairing. If that matters to you, try the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, which you can keep simultaneously paired to your phone and computer. These buds alsohave a slight edge regarding general noise attenuation, largely due to their memory foam ear tips. Since they form a solid seal in your ear, they reduce a lot of high-pitched noise, but you may not notice a significant difference in isolation between ANC on and off at other frequencies. The Bose's ANC blocks more sound across the range than when off, and they're more comfortable.
See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless 29
Neutral Sound
7.4
Commute/Travel
8.2
Sports/Fitness
8.3
Office
7.2
Wireless Gaming
5.8
Wired Gaming
5.6
Phone Calls
6.4
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
If you're looking for premium buds that aren't quite as expensive, then trythe Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. These buds are usually cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless and have been on sale lately. Their ANC system isn't quite as powerful as the Bose's in reducing ambient noise like bus engines or office chatter, but it still delivers an excellent overall performance.
Since they're an Apple product, they offer some iOS-specific features worth checking out if you already own a MacBook or an iPhone. Spatial Audio is a virtual surround sound feature meant to create a more immersive audio experience, and their H2 chip allows for seamless pairing with other Apple devices. With their ANC on, their battery lasts about six hours of continuous use, and their carrying case supplies an extra four charges. They have a comfortable fit, but the buds can wiggle out over time, so you may have to readjust every once in a while.
Thanks to their adaptive EQ, they have a warm sound profile that's well-suited for genres like folk and jazz. They lack any sound customization features, so if that's important to you, you'll want to check out the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, which have a companion app with an EQ and presets at a similar price point. Their ANC performance is comparable, but they're bulkier and less comfortable.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless 16
Neutral Sound
7.4
Commute/Travel
8.0
Sports/Fitness
8.0
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
5.4
Phone Calls
6.0
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wirelessmay have abuild quality that's a step down from the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless and aren't as stable or comfortable for most people. However, they have a similar noise isolation performance and easily cut down sounds like the rumbles from plane engines and chatty coworkers. Their battery lasts for over seven hours with the ANC on, and you can top them up on the go, thanks to their case that stores almost two extra charges.
They support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your phone and computer at the same time. They have a decently comfortable fit but are bulky and can pop out of your ears over time, causing a drop in bass. However, once you get a good fit, they deliver a touch of extra thump, rumble, and boom, while vocals and instruments are bright and sparkly. You can even fine-tune their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
However, if comfort is a top priority, you'll want to consider the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless instead. Their smaller, more lightweight design ensures you can wear them for long periods without experiencing fatigue. Their ANC also offers excellent overall performance, but it doesn't block out as much of the low rumble of car engines as the Google earbuds.
See our review
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Best Budget Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless 22
Neutral Sound
6.8
Commute/Travel
8.3
Sports/Fitness
8.0
Office
7.5
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
5.3
Phone Calls
6.4
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The best budget noise cancelling earbuds we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. Despite their more affordable price tag, they offer several features and an even better overall noise isolation performance than the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. Their adaptive ANC easily reduces bass-range noise like plane engine rumbles, making them a solid choice for travel. They also do an excellent job cutting out mid to high-pitched sounds, like background chit-chat or a humming computer fan. These versatile buds come with features like multi-device pairing and LDAC codec support so that you can stream Hi-Res content.
They're well-built and have a warm default sound profile that you can customize via their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They also last over eight hours continuously, which will get you through long days on the go, and their carrying case holds an extra four charges. Unfortunately, if you need to make calls, the integrated mic does a poor job of capturing speech clearly, so your voice sounds distant and sharp, which isn't very pleasant for the caller on the other end of the line.
See our review
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Best Sounding Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless 16
Neutral Sound
7.1
Commute/Travel
7.9
Sports/Fitness
8.1
Office
7.1
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
5.4
Phone Calls
6.2
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
If audio quality is a top concern for you, consider theSamsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless.They have quite a neutral sound out of the box compared to other options like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. They deliver adequate punch and warmth to basslines, while vocals and instruments are natural and clear. As a result, they're versatile enough for a variety of genres and different types of content. Plus, if you don't like this sound, their companion app offers EQ presets for customization.
Their ANC does an excellent job of blocking background noise across the range. It easily tackles rumbly bus engines to chatty coworkers so you can focus on your audio. Unfortunately, with their ANC on, they last for less than five hours of continuous use, so you have to recharge them more often than the similarly-priced Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. Their carrying case holds an extra 2.6 charges, though. They also have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Mar 21, 2024: We've made minor changes to the text to improve accuracy and clarity. All the products we recommend are still the best and are in stock.
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Feb 15, 2024: We've updated the text for clarity, but haven't made a change to our recommendations.
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Jan 17, 2024: We've verified that the picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
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Dec 20, 2023: We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.
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Nov 24, 2023: We've replaced the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless with their successor, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. We've also removed the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Truly Wireless, as they've been discontinued and can't be found at a cheap price point anymore. We've also added the Devialet Gemini II True Wireless to Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the topin-ear noise cancellingheadphones for most people to buy. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for noise cancelling earbuds and in-ears. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
