The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones
Our Picks
Sony WH-1000XM5
The benchmark for noise cancellation. Eight microphones and two processors analyze and neutralize ambient noise better than any competitor. Frequent flyers and open office workers swear by these.
What we like
- Industry-leading ANC — blocks 20-25% more noise than competitors
- 30-hour battery life with ANC on
- Multipoint connects to 2 devices simultaneously
- Speak-to-Chat pauses music when you talk
What we don't
- $350 MSRP — premium pricing
- Doesn't fold flat (harder to pack than XM4)
- Some report ear pressure discomfort with max ANC
| ANC Microphones | 8 |
|---|---|
| Battery (ANC on) | 30 hours |
| Weight | 250g |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Price | $350 |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Bose invented consumer ANC, and the QC Ultra is their best implementation yet. ANC effectiveness is nearly tied with Sony, and many find Bose's lighter clamp more comfortable for long flights.
What we like
- Lighter clamp pressure — better for all-day wear
- ANC nearly matches Sony in most frequencies
- Immersive Audio adds spatial sound
- Excellent call quality with wind reduction
What we don't
- $430 — more expensive than Sony
- 24-hour battery (6 hours less than Sony)
- No LDAC codec support
| Battery (ANC on) | 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Weight | 250g |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Price | $430 |
Sony WH-1000XM4
Last generation, still excellent. The XM4 has 90% of the XM5's ANC effectiveness at 60% of the price. Folds flat for travel — something the XM5 lost.
What we like
- $200-250 on sale/refurb — excellent value
- Still top-tier ANC performance
- Folds flat (XM5 doesn't)
- Same 30-hour battery as XM5
What we don't
- Slightly less effective ANC than XM5
- Tighter clamp than XM5
- Being discontinued — availability varies
| Battery (ANC on) | 30 hours |
|---|---|
| Weight | 254g |
| Folds | Yes (flat) |
| Price | $200-250 (sale/refurb) |
Apple AirPods Max
The premium option for Apple users. ANC is excellent (though not quite Sony-level), and the seamless ecosystem integration is unmatched. But the price is hard to justify on ANC alone.
What we like
- Seamless Apple device switching
- Spatial Audio with head tracking
- Premium aluminum build quality
- ANC is genuinely effective
What we don't
- $550 — 50%+ more than Sony
- 20-hour battery (10 hours less than Sony)
- Heavy at 385g — fatiguing on long flights
- Smart Case is poorly designed
| Battery (ANC on) | 20 hours |
|---|---|
| Weight | 385g |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, with head tracking |
| Price | $550 |
How We Researched This
- Rtings ANC measurements — objective testing of noise attenuation across frequency ranges
- 5,800+ user reviews from r/headphones, frequent flyer forums, and open office workers
- Real-world use cases — airplane noise, office chatter, city commute
- Comfort for long-term wear — clamp pressure, weight, ear cup breathability
What to Look For
What actually matters
ANC effectiveness varies by frequency. Headphones excel at blocking low-frequency drone (airplane engines, HVAC) but struggle with mid-range (voices). Sony and Bose lead in both ranges.
Comfort for your use case. If you fly frequently or wear headphones 8+ hours daily, comfort matters as much as ANC. Bose's lighter clamp works better for some heads.
Battery life with ANC on. Always check battery life with ANC enabled — it's typically 20-30% less than "music only" claims.
What matters less
Transparency mode quality. All flagship ANC headphones have good transparency modes now. Not a differentiator.
Sound quality differences. At this price tier, all options sound good. ANC effectiveness and comfort are bigger differentiators.
Products We Considered
Sennheiser Momentum 4: Great sound and 60-hour battery, but ANC lags behind Sony and Bose. Better for sound quality priority than ANC priority.
Jabra Elite 85h: Good value at $200, but ANC is a tier below Sony/Bose. Fine for light use, not for serious noise blocking.
Microsoft Surface Headphones 2: Innovative dial controls, but discontinued and ANC isn't competitive with current leaders.
Our Methodology
For ANC headphones, we prioritize measured noise attenuation (Rtings data), comfort for extended wear, and battery life. Sound quality is secondary — if ANC is your priority, these are the ones that actually block noise.