The 12 Best Noise Canceling Headphones of 2024

The best noise-canceling headphones are one of the most often asked questions. The solution is never simple, as with all of our other buying advice. The best headphones will depend on a number of factors, including features, style, and money. It is really difficult to suggest just one.

More fantastic-sounding ANC headphones that were produced in the last 12 months have been added to this list for 2024. Since many of these models are still great choices and have seen considerable price reductions, they were also featured in the buyer’s guide from the previous year. Only when a model has been updated or a more deserving headphone has come out and taken its place do we update them.

1. Focal Bathys

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless audiophile headphones
• Driver: Dynamic cone driver made of aluminum and magnesium
• Battery: Quickcharge plus 30 hours
• Additional: Genuine leather earpads and a headband

2. Sony WH-1000XM5

Specifications:

• Wireless ANC is the type.
• Dynamic driver
• Battery: Quickcharge plus 30 hours
• Additional features include a casing, multipoint connectivity, and compatibility with the Sony Headphone App.

Why We Like It:

You can read our comprehensive, in-depth review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 at the link below. The device is currently available. In summary, Sony has improved in many important areas and learnt from the wildly successful WH-1000XM4.

To stay up to date and improve dependability, the XM5 features a fresh, streamlined design and higher-quality materials. Internal improvements include a new quick charge feature, additional microphones for improved ANC functionality, and new drivers for higher sound quality.

With a Power Delivery-approved charger, the WH-1000XM5 can be charged for three minutes and play for three hours. This may not seem like much, but for people who travel frequently, it’s a terrific method to prolong the headphones’ battery life, and I had fun using it while doing the review.

Nothing compared to the Bose 700 and Apple’s AirPods Max, the two primary rivals we tested the XM5 against. This was particularly noticeable in how much background noise Sony was able to eliminate. Although the Bose and Airpods received high marks for comfort and ambient listening, we thought the XM5 was the undisputed leader in terms of noise-canceling power.

Not simply the best ANC headphones, we name the WH-1000XM5 the greatest headphones of the year when price, features, and performance are taken into account. It’s the winner. The one drawback is that the XM5 is more sturdy than the XM4, but it also takes up more room while traveling because it does not fold like the XM4.

3. Sony WH-1000XM4

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless folding
• Dynamic driver
• 30 hours of battery life plus quickcharge
• Other features include wear-detecting technology, touch controls, and a folding headband.

Why We Like It:

Sony demonstrated their dominance in this market with the flagship XM4. The noise-cancelling capability has been improved and is now more powerful than before, but customers still have a great deal of control over how they want it to sound within the app.

Since the XM2, the sound quality has been excellent; but, with less distorted lows and a more detailed midrange, things have improved once again. As usual, a Sony does not give you the same sucked-out, hollow feeling as many less expensive brands.

With a new metal component giving the headband part more stiffness, the build quality has improved. The XM4 is finally more svelte and low-profile than ever before, and it looks as wonderful as it sounds.

4. Bose 700 ANC Headphones

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless Bluetooth
• Dynamic driver
• 20 hours of battery life plus rapid charging
• Other: One-touch Spotify activation; eleven noise-cancelling modes

Why We Like It:

Bose was the most well-known brand of noise-canceling headphones ever and held a long-term market dominance. When their QC35 was first released, it was groundbreaking and could be seen in every airport in the world.

The issue was that, while sales of the QC were still high, Bose sat back and let other businesses to start to catch up and overtake them since their headphones were so fantastic. Things began to improve by 2019, as Sony began to capture a sizable portion of its market share. Bose’s latest flagship, the 700, was long overdue.

In this post, we compare the 700 series, which is a full overhaul of the Bose headphones, to the QC45. An extensive and comprehensive redesign of a headphone line that was getting stale and outdated. People were taken aback by the futuristic lines and the stark new, rounded headband, but the more I see them, the more attractive I believe they are.

In addition to the stylistic changes, Bose created its best noise-canceling technology to date, which outperformed all of our testing. They improved the noise reduction and improved the headphones’ ability to isolate the wearer thanks to an improved fit mechanism.

What distinguishes the Bose is its fit and comfort. I’ve never worn headphones that are as comfortable as these. They provide precisely the proper amount of clamping force, are lightweight, and are well-padded.

Choosing between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose 700 is difficult. The top headphones in the category are both of them; the decision between them is based on a trade-off between cost and design. Both are suggested choices in the premium category and will lessen extraneous noise and everything else on this list.

5. Bose QC45

Specifications:

• Type: Bose QC35 wireless Bluetooth with ANC update
• Dynamic driver
• 22 hours of battery life plus quickcharge
• Other: Bose Sound App Integration; Simplesync

Why We Like It:

We finally published our extensive and in-depth evaluation of the Bose QC45 noise-canceling headphones after months of testing. It would be an understatement to say that I was impressed; for many of us, including myself, the QC35 were the ultimate ANC headphones, and it’s good to see a deserving addition to the lineup.

Compared to the new 700 versions, this headset features a number of advantages, including a foldable headband for convenient travel and a closer-to-the-head appearance. It also has a two-hour longer battery life and is somewhat less expensive.

The sound quality is excellent and completely free of the sucked-out sensation that comes with using other noise-canceling headphones. The bass is tight and powerful, and the mids are smooth and precise. They sound like a fantastic, multipurpose Bose house sound rather than a pair of ANC cans.

The build has been improved, and it appears that the headband failure problem that beset the first model has been resolved. When not in use, they may be securely kept thanks to their foldable design and travel case.

The QC45 seems more contemporary but is still easily recognized thanks to the elegant yet subtle design improvements, which are also a much-needed enhancement.

Lastly, the Bose QC45 is packed with technology, providing you with more practical features. I enjoy adjusting the audio using the EQ settings and switching between devices with ease using the Simplesync program.

6. Bower & Wilkins PX7 S2

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless Bluetooth (updated to B&W PX7)
• Dynamic driver
• Battery: fast charge plus 24 hours
• Other: New noise-cancelling algorithm; customized EQ settings

Why We Like It:

• Known mostly for their high-end speaker line, Bower and Wilkins challenged Sony and Bose when they entered the noise-canceling headphone industry.
• This is my choice for the best-looking headphone prize if I had to choose only one from this list. Despite being full-size headphones, they look far better on the head than you may think because to the way they sit flush to the head and the headband’s sweep. Additionally, they come in two different color variations.

Outstanding build quality and appearance complement the Big 2’s top-tier class and noise-cancelling capabilities. A fantastic headset, despite the fact that most people cannot afford it. Even though the PX doesn’t perform as well as the Bose and Sony, I would classify it as a premium headset because of its superior quality and finish.

7. Sennheiser Momentum 4

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless Bluetooth (Update to Momentum 3)
• Driver: 42mm Dynamic
• 60 hours of battery life including quickcharge
• Other: High-resolution Bluetooth codecs are supported by the smart control app.

Why We Like It:

Since Sennheiser is well-known in the headphone industry, it should come as no surprise that they have a few models in the noise-canceling headphone market at different pricing ranges. The company’s flagship travel ANC headphones, the PCX 550, are in their fourth version and seem to be a well-made product.

The Momentum 4 boasts a high level of comfort and good build quality, just like the majority of Sennheiser headphones. These headphones were among the most comfortable ones we tried, and although the ANC is not as good at canceling out background noise as the Bose and Sony models, they still perform admirably.

8. Jabra 85h

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless Bluetooth
• Dynamic driver
• 36 hours of battery life including quickcharge
• Other: Water-Resistant

Why We Like It:

The Jabra 85 is now ranked as the third-best flagship consumer-grade noise-canceling headphones. The Jabra is an amazing headphone if you want all the capabilities of the Bose 700 and Sony XM3, are content with a little less finesse, and want to pay around half the retail price.

My attention was immediately drawn to the utterly contemporary design. The 85h feels like it belongs in the luxury category because of its superb build quality and sleek, contemporary design, even though it is a little heavy on the head. They are priced similarly to the mid-range headphones on this list, though. Don’t be misled; they are premium.

Particularly during flights, the noise-cancelling power was outstanding. I appreciated that they also include an adaptable feature that adapts to your environment, which makes them ideal for usage in cities or on public transportation.

The battery life is astounding. I took a single charge flight from the UK to Vietnam, then to Hong Kong, and finally back to the UK. The fact that they have a quick charge feature that allows for five hours of use from just fifteen minutes of charging would have pleased me if I hadn’t made it.

It’s important to remember that the 85h outperformed the next-best headphone by roughly 1.4 meters in the Bluetooth range test. You can use these headphones to get a strong signal without being close to your smartphone.

Last but not least, the Jabras also prevailed in the microphone test, with noticeably better call quality. However, considering Jabra’s history as an earpiece producer, we anticipated that from the beginning.

9. SoundCore Anker Life Q20

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless
• Dynamic driver
• 60-hour battery
• Other: Controls that are physical

Why We Like It:

Anker, an electrical company, owns the Soundcore audio brand. In recent years, Soundcore has disrupted the industry to such an extent that major manufacturers should be extremely concerned. These headphones don’t feel or function like cheap ones. However, the pricing is excellent, and these are ideal if you don’t want to spend a fortune or only sometimes require a noise-canceling headphone while on vacation.

The battery life is excellent; we received a decent 55 hours with volume at 60%, compared to the stated 60 hours. I had no trouble watching movies because I found it to have little latency. Surprisingly powerful, the noise cancellation was the finest I’ve tested under $100 thus far.

Having physical controls rather than touch-sensitive ones was something I really enjoyed because it makes it so much easier to find the correct button.

Anker once again demonstrates their seriousness by producing a wide range of high-quality headphones and earbuds, which is revolutionary for those on a tight budget because they eliminate the need to deal with unproven brands that might disappear in a few years.

10. SHure Aonic 50 GEN 2

Specifications:

• Wireless with ANC (Hi-Res Codec Support) is the kind.
• Dynamic driver
• 45-hour battery (double the Gen 1)
• Other features include touch controls and options of changeable transparency.

Why We Like It:

With years of expertise in the professional side of the industry, Shure is one of the most well-known audio brands. Their full-size headphones have long been disregarded, but their in-ear monitors have become very popular in consumer markets.

Shure’s initial attempt to break into the highly dominated Bose and Sony market is the Aonic 50. Even though it is lacking, it is still a fantastic attempt for someone who is new to the field. The size of the headphones and their inability to fold up as compact as a Sony were our biggest complaints. Nevertheless, the sound quality is excellent and the noise cancellation capability is strong.

The Aonic 50 would only be worth considering if the retail price was lower than that of the flagship models from Sony and Bose. There is no doubt that Shure will succeed greatly if they can improve this model in subsequent models.

11. Beats Studio Pro (When Discounted)

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless (Apple chip optimized to function with iOS devices)
• Dynamic driver
• 40-hour battery with a 10-minute rapid charge feature
• Additional features include spatial audio functions and environment controls that adapt.

Why We Like It:

This year, the Beats Studio Pro is getting a lot of discounts, and given their specs, it’s difficult to avoid thinking of them as the new mid-range kings. Although I don’t advise anyone to buy these at retail, you should keep an eye out for any deals that may be available by clicking the link below. If you find them for less than $200, they should definitely be on your radar.

The enhanced bass on the headphones adds a lively sound that complements contemporary musical styles. At this point, the style is quite timeless, and they provide a large selection of colors.

Since they function similarly to an AirPods and have practical features like Find My, Spatial Audio, and rapid pairing, being owned by Apple has also boosted them. When you get them at the correct price, there is actually a lot of value to be gained.

It is ideal for usage in a crowded office, on the road, or when traveling because its ANC performance is only somewhat worse than that of the AirPods Max.

12. Monoprice SonicSolace II

Specifications:

• Type: ANC-enabled wireless
• Dynamic cones are the driver.
• 12 hours of battery life
• Other: Compatible with digital assistants (e.g., Siri, Google)

Why We Like It:

Monoprice’s SonicSolace II is a good low-cost noise-canceling headset. I simply don’t comprehend how such a high-quality, feature-rich headphone could be so inexpensive.

The construction quality was far better than anticipated, and the design is superb since it resembles the Master and Dynamic line of high-end headphones. You get functional ANC, Bluetooth, and touch controls.

The interesting part is that, despite not being adaptive, it is able to block out a sizable portion of outside sound and sounds only a few generations below current flagships.

If you are someone who doesn’t want to pay too much money for the benefits of ANC or someone who only needs it when traveling, this is the perfect set that won’t break the budget without compromising on features.