Best noise cancelling headphones 2024: ace ANC from Bose, Sony, Apple & more

Elevate your listening experience with the best ANC headphones for every budget

Best noise cancelling headphones 2024

Sony WH-1000XM5

(Image credit: Sony)

00. The list in brief ↴
01.
Best for most people: Sony WH-1000XM5
02. Best for travel: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
03. Best earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
04. Best budget: JBL Tune 660NC
05. Best in-ear: Sony WF-1000XM4
06. Best for Apple users: Apple AirPods Pro 2
07. Best for battery: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
08. Best designed: Philips Fidelio T1
09. Best premium: Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
10. Best folding: Bose QuietComfort 45
11. How we test: The T3 approach
12. How to pick: Making your choice

A pair of the best noise cancelling headphones are an everyday essential – whether that's because you walk a lot, travel a lot or because you have to commute to work. They'll cut out distracting noises so you can keep your focus on the music, or whatever type of media you choose to play. 

Whether you're chilling out at home or trying to focus on your work in a busy office, noise cancelling headphones will make you feel totally immersed in your tunes. They're also great for taking calls: from catching up with friends and family, to joining online meetings with colleagues, you'll be able to hear everything with complete clarity. 

To assemble this best ANC headphones list, we've selected the finest noise cancelling headphones at a number of distinct price points, including the best noise cancelling earbuds if you're looking just for in-ears specifically. 

Mike Lowe portrait
Mike Lowe

As the tech editor here at T3, I spend an awful lot of time testing out the latest gadgets – and that includes the best noise cancelling headphones on the market right now. My ears have experienced a lot of these products down the years, so I know exactly what I'm listening for when it comes to assessing their quality.

T3 top picks

The best noise cancelling headphones in 2024

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best for most people

Sony WH-1000XM5T3 Awards 2022 Highly Commended logo

(Image credit: Sony)
The best noise cancelling headphones for most people

Specifications

Battery life: 30 hours
Type: Over-ear
Weight: 255g

Reasons to buy

+
Superb noise cancellation
+
Stunning sound 
+
Great battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Don't fold
-
Pricier than predecessors

A T3 Awards 2022 for both Best Headphones and Best Noise Cancelling headphones, it's a no-brainer that the WH-1000XM5 have arrived top of the tree here on this best-of list. These headphones are truly astounding all-rounders and will be best for most people looking to lose themselves in exceptional noise-cancelling.

These over-ears are rather different from their predecessors, too, as they're designed to limit wind noise, meaning they're no longer folding headphones. But as they're not specifically for travel we don't think that matters: there's still a decent carry case included, while the size and weight and quality is robust enough to stand up to the rigours of everyday life. 

As we said in our Sony WH-1000XM5 review: "Sony has managed to replace the best all-round wireless active noise-cancelling (ANC) over-ear headphones you can buy with, you guessed it, the best new all-round wireless ANC over-ear headphones you can buy." You'll struggle to beat the quality of these cans at any price point.

Best for travel

Bose QuietComfort Ultra HeadphonesT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
The best noise cancelling headphones for travel

Specifications

Battery life: 24 hours
Type : Over-ear
Weight: 250g

Reasons to buy

+
Active noise cancelling really works
+
Compact, comfortable, lightweight
+
18-hour battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the cheapest
-
Limited touch controls

Headphones are about listening to music and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are not only fantastic at that, their active noise cancelling is unrivalled. These are particularly ideal for blocking out the outside world when on your travels.

Throw is a great carry case and folding design and, for us, that makes the Bose the best ANC headphones for travellers. You could sleep in these things even, making them ideal for flights to drown out the hiss of airflow and some of your fellow passengers' droning.

As we said in our Bose QC Ultra Headphones review: "All hail the noise cancelling king! If you're looking for incredible travel headphones then you can do no better. However, the price is certainly high." And that's the only reason they're not in the number one spot in this guide – they cost a packet (even if they are worth it).

Best earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds in whiteT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future / Emily Pursel)
Best noise cancelling earbuds

Specifications

Weight : 7.7g per earbud
ANC listening time per charge: 6hrs
Total ANC listening time with case: 24hrs

Reasons to buy

+
Top notch sound
+
Incredible comfort
+
Unrivalled noise cancellation

Reasons to avoid

-
Case is larger than some
-
Pricier than most

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are, as their name suggests, the 'ultimate' noise cancelling earbuds. They're pricier than many of their competitors, but if blocking out extraneous noise to the extreme is your goal then these are the in-ear market leaders. 

As we say in our Bose QC Ultra Earbuds review: "if you're in the market for one of the best-sounding pairs of earbuds, these sit in scarce company. Complete with a top-notch app you'll even find exceptional noise cancelling properties and a listening experience which doesn't fatigue on long sessions."

If it's in-ears that you specifically want then, in many respects, these are the very best on the market (as T3's Best ANC Earbuds feature suggests), save for their high price. 

Best budget

JBL Tune 660NC reviewT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
The best noise cancelling headphones on a budget

Specifications

Battery life: 44 hours with ANC
Type: On-ear
Weight: 166g

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent noise cancellation
+
Comfortable design
+
Long-lasting battery

Reasons to avoid

-
Volume controls aren’t intuitively placed
-
Audio is very bass-heavy

If you're looking to immerse yourself in music without spending hundreds for the privilege, the JBL Tune 660NC delivers excellent noise cancelling capabilities, and we're sure they deserve a place on this shortlist.

They're genuinely surprising. You wouldn't expect on-ear headphones to block out noise this well, but in our tests, we found that they really do. Pair that with a weighty, punchy sound, and there's basically no hope of the outside world distracting you from your favourite tracks. 

This set of cans is proof positive that there's very solid ANC available on the lower end, and reaches so high on our list chiefly for that reason. Don't get us wrong – spending more gets you much more effective noise cancellation and better sound quality, but for those on a budget who just need a bit of quiet, they're a top buy.

Best in-ear

Sony WF-1000XM4 reviewT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Sony)
The best noise cancelling in-ear headphones

Specifications

Battery life: 8 hours, 24 hours with case
Type: In-ear
Weight: 7.3g per earbud

Reasons to buy

+
Fabulous audio
+
Super-sharp ANC
+
Decent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Looks could be divisive
-
Quite large 

Not everyone loves these in-ears' looks, but one listen is enough to prove that these have precisely what it takes to win you over. During the time we used Sony's top-tier earbuds we found the ANC to be exceptional, hence their position on our list.

The overall sound one of the best, most dynamic and detailed audio experiences we've ever had from earbuds too. This is, at least in part, down to the DSEE Extreme audio processor with Edge-AI to upscale whatever you're listening to. 

As we said in our Sony WF-1000XM4 review: these earbuds "are profoundly impressive across the board, and are arguably the best true wireless earbuds you can buy. The all-round package is very hard to beat." So there you have it.

Best for Apple users

Apple AirPods Pro 2 reviewT3 Award

(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Best true wireless earbuds for Apple users

Specifications

Listening time per charge: 5.5 hours, 30 hours with case
Type: In-ear
Weight: 5.3g per earbud

Reasons to buy

+
Supreme sound quality
+
Excellent adaptive noise cancelling
+
Longer battery life than predecessor

Reasons to avoid

-
Fairly large headphone body
-
Android users miss out on some features

AirPods Pro 2 feature noise cancellation and a whole raft of audio-enhancing features to give a much more immersive musical experience than regular AirPods. The ANC is really effective, plus there's also a Transparency mode, so you can talk to people without removing the earbuds.

As we said in our AirPods Pro 2 review: "Apple learned from the mistakes of the past and improved their top-performing true wireless earbuds to not only match the competition but, on occasion, surpass it. The sound is brilliant as is the fit, without a price increase generation on generation".

Contrary to what some people think, all AirPods work perfectly well with Android phones and other equipment. But you get lots of extra features when you use them within Apple's ecosystem, including fast-pairing, auto-switching between your Apple products, 3D Spatial Audio support (which is very cool), and Find My support for locating them when they seem lost. Very nice.

Best for battery life

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless close up of headphone's controlsT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
The best noise cancelling headphones for battery life

Specifications

Type: Over ear
Battery life: 60 hours
Weight: 293g

Reasons to buy

+
Energetic, powerful sound
+
Very effective adaptive ANC
+
60 hours of battery, fast charging

Reasons to avoid

-
Could look more exciting
-
EQ control could be more extensive

If you're the type who regularly forgets to charge their headphones then the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are undoubtedly the best choice for you. Boasting a massive 60 hours of playtime, you can listen for hours on end and then when they do run dry, they only take 2 hours to recharge. But that's not all they offer. 

In our tests, we were seriously impressed with the sound quality, it's clear and precise with plenty of energy and there's an equaliser in the app to customise it according to your tastes. You'll be able to keep focused on the music too, thanks to the adaptive noise cancellation which blocks out distracting sounds almost too well...

There's very little in the negative column when it comes to these headphones, and they're not the most expensive you're going to come across either. We can see these appealing to a wide group of people.

Best designed

Philips Fidelio T1 reviewT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
The best designed noise cancelling in-ear headphones

Specifications

Battery life: 9 hours with ANC, 25 hours with ANC
Type: In-ear
Weight: 109g with case

Reasons to buy

+
Phenomenal audio quality
+
Excellent battery life
+
Very effective noise cancelling

Reasons to avoid

-
Huge case and chunky buds
-
Small amount of sound leakage

Looking for in-ear noise-cancelling headphones that you don't have to remember to charge very often? introducing the Philips Fidelio T1. They are pricey but they are also oh so worth it with up to 48 hours of battery life provided by the earbuds and the charging case combined. 

That's not the only area they excel in though: we think that these earbuds sound incredible, so you won't be disappointed. When it comes to ANC, they didn't let us down either. On the High Noise Control mode, they'll block out distracting sounds almost entirely, so you'll barely hear train noise, chatter, or even keyboard taps through your music.

The level of balance and detail here is really impressive, and you can even connect to two devices at the same time, if you need to. The design isn't going to suit everyone, but they've got a lot to offer.

Best premium

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones reviewT3 Approved Award

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Best premium ANC headphones

Specifications

Type: Over-ear
Battery life: 30 hours
Weight: 307g

Reasons to buy

+
Great audiophile grade sound
+
Motion-sensing features
+
Stylish and comfortable

Reasons to avoid

-
On the expensive side
-
ANC isn't quite perfect

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 are built on the outstanding original product that B&W made a global reputation on. They combine all the company's hard-won expertise in audio manufacture with cutting-edge noise cancellation, and look stunning as well.

But, above all else, it's these headphones' sound quality that sings out the most. It's true audiophile quality. Superb stuff. No, the ANC isn't as powerful as some others, but if that's a problem then these headphones aren't suited for your needs. 

The PX7 S2 also features motion-sensing, which means if you lift a cup from your ear, the sound is paused, and if you take them off entirely, they go into standby mode. We found that's very useful when travelling, as you'll frequently need to remove them to talk to people.

Best folding

Bose QuietComfort 45 reviewT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
Great noise cancelling headphones for travel

Specifications

Battery life: 24 hours
Type : Over-ear
Weight: 240g

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive noise cancelling 
+
24 hours of battery life 
+
Folding design, great carry case

Reasons to avoid

-
Can’t turn off noise-cancelling entirely 
-
No manual EQ settings 

More affordable than the top-of-the-line 'Ultra Headphones' is one of the main reasons to consider buying Bose's more travel-focused line. With great sound, exceptional ANC and a great carry case thrown into the mix, these are just ideal for when on the go. 

As we said in our Bose QC45 review: "simple and comfortable, these headphones don’t overcomplicate the design. We were able to listen to these headphones for hours on end without our ears feeling fatigued." 

How we test

At T3 how we test our headphones is beautifully simple. We listen to them. A lot. And not just sitting in the office or in a quiet room. Out in the street. On public transport. On planes. Out shopping. The only way to test active noise cancelling is to find as many things to cancel as possible to make sure we can still hear the Encanto soundtrack. 

And speaking of soundtracks, we hit every genre of music to make sure we can hear the full breadth of what each pair of headphones can offer. Treble, bass, mid tones and EQ all come under an aural microscope to make sure we get the most accurate impression. This also helpfully means we can get through plenty of battery to test manufacturer promises when it comes to how much juice is lurking in carry cases. And we'll always check fast charging too. 

Finally we also understand that our busy lives mean music is only half of what we expect from our headphones. We spend plenty of time testing call quality, not just in terms of speaker clarity but also making sure that those on the other end can actually hear what we have to say. We test in both calm and windier conditions to make sure that mic quality will always stand up to everyday life. 

How to pick

When it comes to picking the best headphones for you, the good news is that you don't automatically always have to go for the most expensive option. First of all, it's important to think about where you want to use your headphones. Are they for exercise? Wearing in the office? Or maybe to put the mute into your morning commute?

Dreadful puns aside, if you do want the rest of the world to disappear, you definitely want to invest the extra in a pair of active noise cancelling headphones, and if you're a gym bunny you'll really want something sweat proof. 

Once you've worked out what you need, your next choice is what style of headphone you want. And truthfully it's all about comfort and subjectivity. Maybe you want the subtlety of a pair of true wireless in-ear buds, or maybe you want the world to know you are actively listening to music. We've given you the best headphone for all budgets, so all you need to do is choose what's right for you.

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is the Tech Editor and AV Editor at T3.com. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 and, as a phones expert, has seen hundreds of handsets over the years – swathes of Android devices, a smattering of iPhones, and a batch of Windows Phone products (remember those?). But that's not all, as a tech aficionado his beat for T3 also covers tablets, laptops, gaming, home cinema, TVs, speakers and more – there's barely a stone unturned that he's not had a hand on. Previously the Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for a 10 years, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more. In addition to his tech knowledge, Mike is also a flights and travel expert, having travelled the globe extensively. You'll likely find him setting up a new mobile phone, critiquing the next MacBook, all while planning his next getaway... or cycling somewhere.