Although wireless earbuds arguably have a hard time competing with over-ear headphones when it comes to comfort and audio quality, the best wireless earbuds are starting to come remarkably close, to the point where you no longer have to make the tough choice between a quality listening experience and convenient earphones for life on the go.
That holds true even when it comes to noise cancellation. While noise-cancelling headphones have an advantage thanks to the noise isolation added by their large ear cups, modern technology has worked wonders in making diminutive in-ear buds filter out as much of the din of the outside world as possible, and you’ll likely be surprised by how well many wireless earbuds compare to a full set of cans, and it’s telling that many of the top picks are made by the same companies that also make the best wireless headphones.
Noise-cancelling earbuds to quiet the world
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best of everything
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are a pricey option but offer excellent sound quality and ANC and a host of other features to justify the cost. The above-average battery life is also a bonus.
- Excellent sound quality and ANC
- AAC, LDAC, and SBC codecs
- Long battery life
- Expensive
- Bass-focused
Sony is one of the first names that comes to mind when speaking of earbuds and the latest WF-1000XM5 justify why. With features like Sony’s 360 Reality Audio for virtual surround sound and a companion app that lets you adjust EQ to change the sound of the buds to something you love, this one’s a clear winner.
Sony WF-1000XM5 review: The buds to beat
Great audio + great ANC + great battery life = great earbuds
The earbuds offer excellent ANC and support the AAC, LDAC, and SBC codecs, allowing you to enjoy music in deep detail. The 8 (ANC on) to 12 (ANC off) hour battery life is longer than those offered by competitors like AirPods Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The downsides here are the steep price and the focus on bass, which can be your favorite or the least-liked feature, depending on how you enjoy your music.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Fancy audio options
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer a new Immersive Audio feature and improved sound and call quality, pushing them higher up on the best earbuds list. The ANC is top-tier as well, making these ideal for users on the go.
- Immersive Audio
- Top-tier ANC
- aptX Adaptive codec
- No Bluetooth multipoint
- Expensive
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer some of the best ANC, so if you listen to music during a commute or take lots of calls on the go, these would be ideal for you. In addition, they support aptX Adaptive codec, giving you excellent connectivity and resolution. However, the highlight here is the new Immersive Audio feature, which makes it seem like the sound is coming from in front of you instead of something playing in your ear. The Motion mode ensures this effect stays in place even if you move your head around.
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Some of this fanciness can feel gimmicky if you just want simple earbuds to enjoy your favorite songs, but at this steep price, it’s better to have many features to choose from instead of wishing you had more options to justify the cost.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Adaptive ANC on a budget
Adaptive ANC is becoming more and more popular for noise-cancelling earbuds, and the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC has fine-tuned this hybrid approach to omitting sounds we don’t want to hear while filtering in important noise. Plus, they’re far less expensive than the bulk of the competition.
- Great adaptive ANC
- Terrific sound quality for the price
- Solid battery life
- Capacitive controls can be sensitive
- Bass-heavy
Comfort and performance are two of the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC’s top laurels, but there’s so much more to love about these budget-friendly earbuds. For starters, this $100 pair includes LDAC and hi-res audio support, which means Anker means business when it comes to sound quality.
Even non-LDAC tracks sound bright and punchy, although Anker’s bass-forward EQ may be a little much for some folks. Fortunately, you’ll be able to tweak sound settings in the Soundcore app, as well as noise-cancellation levels and button controls.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC review: Punching above their weight
Budget buds that don’t sound too cheap
Battery-wise, the Liberty 4 NC are built for long listening sessions too, providing up to ten hours of playback on a single charge, with up to 50 hours through the charging case. Fast-charging capabilities are also great, with an extra hour of playback for every ten minutes of recharge time.
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Excellent companion to any Android phone
With nice audio, strong ANC, and excellent battery life, the Pixel Buds Pro deliver a premium earbud experience in ways that Google’s past attempts could not. If you are an Android user with $200 to spend on earbuds, these are a great pick.
- Great battery life
- Decent balanced sound
- Supports Google Fast Pair
- Only supports AAC and SBC codecs
- ANC is a little weaker than our top picks
Even though the Google Pixel Buds Pro are stuck using either SBC or ACC codecs to listen to music, the sound was overall pretty balanced out of the box. The highs and mids are crisp and clear, and the bass is full and bouncy but not overpowering. And, if you want, you can adjust the EQ with the Pixel Buds app, so you aren’t stuck with the default sound profile if you don’t like it.
The biggest perk of the Pixel Buds Pro for Android users is Google’s Fast Pair feature, which makes pairing the earbuds to your Android phone a breeze. Just open the Pixel Buds Pro charging case near your phone, tap the notification, and you’re off to the races.
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Lastly, the earbuds offer seven hours of battery life with ANC enabled and about 11 hours without it — pretty good for a set of earbuds that cost $200. Plus, the charging case holds two extra full charges for the buds, meaning you’ll get a lot of playtime out of them before you need a power outlet.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 are some of the best premium earbuds on the market. Expect excellent audio, long battery life and a host of features designed to enhance the listening experience.
- Excellent audio performance
- Comfortable, even after hours of use
- Long battery life
- Lacks spatial audio
- No Find My Feature
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to audio fans that Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4 are at the top of our list for those who put sound quality as a top priority. The German audio brand has always been known for its expansive but accurate sound stage, and its latest wireless earbuds are no exception. Their predecessors, the True Wireless 3 already excelled in that area, and version 4 takes everything that was already great about those and makes it better — and fixes a few other quirks in the process.
For instance, while the TW3 delivered solid ANC, their Transparency Mode detracted from the overall listening experience, sacrificing some of the audio’s depth and richness to let outside sounds through. That’s been fixed this time around, with the Momentum True Wireless 4 offering a new Transparency Mode that preserves the accuracy of the music that’s coming through while also offering a slider in the companion app that lets you adjust how much of the outside world you want to hear.
The TW4s deliver the excellent and balanced sound we’ve come to expect from Sennheiser, with bass that’s surprisingly rich and present for the 7mm drivers but manages to remain clean with muddying things up or overwhelming the mids and highs. You can certainly dial the bass up, of course, and Sennheiser offers a five-band EQ that lets you tailor frequencies from 63Hz up to 8kHz plus a Bass Boost preset. Overall, these are earbuds that play nice with a wide range of genres, and it helps that they offer broad codec support, including aptX Adaptive/Lossless and even the bleeding-edge LC3, which isn’t even mainstream yet, and we found we could hear a noticeable difference in listening quality when working with hi-res tracks from Tidal in Lossless mode. These are a set of buds that will stay ahead of the curve in giving you high-fidelity audio for years to come.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Premium and practically future-proof
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Battery life here is also well above average, promising seven hours of listening time on a single charge, and that’s while using ANC. Those numbers proved accurate in our testing, and the case provides at least two additional charges, giving you 30 hours overall, plus the ability to get an hour of listening time back after only ten minutes in the case. It also supports wireless charging.
The downside is that the TW4s are so razor-focused on delivering great and accurate listening that they seem to eschew other features like spatial audio and Find My support, and while the ANC and Transparency modes are both solid, they’re not best-in-class. These are a set of buds for those who want no-compromise listening quality but are willing to sacrifice a few other bells and whistles to get there.
Jabra Elite 8 Active
Waterproof and shockproof to the max
When it comes to premium sound quality and next-level noise cancellation, the Jabra Elite 8 Active deliver an exceptional experience that you won’t soon forget. They’re also designed with heavy-duty workouts in mind so that IP68 rating means the Elite 8 will stand up against moisture and dirt.
- Very comfortable
- Excellent sound quality
- Strong ANC
- Spatial audio can be gimmicky
- Physical buttons might take getting used to
We’re big fans of the Jabra Elite 8 earbuds, and the biggest pro we can’t stop talking about are the ultra-comfortable buds themselves. They are small, lightweight, and unobtrusive, and you can choose from multiple ear tip sizes, ensuring you’ll get the best fit for your ears. The Elite 8 are also incredibly rugged, with a strong IP68 rating. So, you can run on a rainy day and not worry about your earbuds getting damaged.
As far as ANC and overall sound quality go, the Elite 8 Active doesn’t miss a beat here either. Erring toward a V-shaped sound curve, the Elite 8 Active deliver punchy and bright sound quality for listening to tunes and podcasts, and for making phone calls. You’ll also be able to download the Jabra Sound+ app to fine-tune your earbuds’ EQ. The app will also let you customize buttons and update the Elite 8 Active’s firmware.
Jabra Elite 8 Active review: Ready for life’s adventures
Waterproof, shockproof, and ready for anything
Battery life is pretty solid here too. You’ll get up to eight hours of playback with ANC enabled, and 14 with noise-cancellation disabled. And the charging case expands playback to 32 and 56 total listening hours. The Elite 8 Active’s quick-charging capabilities are rock solid, too, netting you an extra hour of playback for just five minutes in the charging case.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Supports 24-bit audio
If you’re rocking a Samsung phone, we would be remiss not to mention the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, as they are the company’s smallest, lightest, and best earbuds to date. Their biggest standout is 24-bit audio support and how well they pair with Samsung Galaxy phones.
- Pair excellently with Samsung Galaxy Phones
- Support 24-bit audio
- A little pricey at full price
If you’re rocking a Samsung phone, we would be remiss not to mention the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, as they are the company’s smallest, lightest, and best earbuds to date. Their biggest standout is 24-bit audio support. If you use high-quality streaming apps like Tidal, you may appreciate it, but to most people’s ears, the discernible difference between 24-bit audio and the more standard 16-bit audio is negligible.
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Still, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro nail all the basics. With decent battery life (5 hours with ANC and 8 hours without), an IPX7 rating to keep them safe from sweat at the gym, and a pleasant full sound profile, they certainly are worth a look. They don’t necessarily stand out regarding ANC and sound quality — they are good but nothing special. Of course, they are explicitly made to work with Samsung Galaxy phones better than anything else, so if you’re all in on Samsung, they are a decent choice.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Now featuring USB-C connectivity
USB-C is a major connection type these days, so we’re glad to see Apple has finally come around to offering the port on its flagship earbuds (previous generations were Lightning-only for physical connections).
- Impressive ANC and transparency modes
- Solid sound quality
- Great battery life
- Pricey
- Not ideal for Android devices
Apple and Android may be the two warring foes of the smartphone world, but you don’t have to choose a side. In fact, we’re glad to say that Apple’s decision to ditch the Lightning port in favor of USB-C for this revamped version of the AirPods Pro shows the company is willing to let you choose your own off-brand charging accessories.
Noise cancellation and sound quality are nothing to shake a stick at here either. Thanks to Apple’s Adaptive Audio preset, you’ll now be able to combine ANC and Transparency listening, making for one of the most immersive and accurate music-listening and phone call-taking experiences you’ll get from a pair of wireless buds.
As for battery life, you can expect up to 30 total hours of listening time between the earbuds and the charging case. Quick-charging capabilities are here too, giving you an extra hour of listening for just five minutes of recharge time. We’re also glad to see Find My integration for the Apple U1-powered MagSafe case, with a handy built-in speaker that plays a chime when you ping it via the Find My network.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2
Premium features at a small price
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are no industry disruptor with above-average features, but you get all the desired things at a fraction of the cost.
- Options to tune the EQ
- Industry-standard battery life
- Pocket-friendly price
- Subpar ANC
- Sound isn’t too detailed
If you want decent earbuds without spending a fortune, consider the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. With these, you get a warm, bass-focused sound with options to tune the EQ to your liking. The noise cancellation isn’t the best compared to premium picks from Sony and Apple, but at this price, these buds are sufficiently good for listening to music and taking calls during commutes.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 review: Powerful sound at a reasonable price
Not a huge upgrade, but the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are easy to like
The battery life is on par with premium earbuds, lasting over six hours with ANC on, giving you all the key features at a fraction of the cost. You also get a fresh color option beyond the typical black and white offered by competitors. Overall, this isn’t the best one on the market with all the top features, but if you just want good earbuds at a pocket-friendly price, this is the best you can get.
JBL Tour Pro 2
Unique, convenient features
The JBL Tour Pro 2 have a unique, convenient feature: a touchscreen case that lets you control playback and volume with a single touch. The above-average battery life is a bonus for users on the go.
- Touchscreen case
- Find My feature
- Above-average battery life
- Limited codec support
- Expensive
Here’s something you’ve probably never seen before; earbuds with a touchscreen case. The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds take convenience up several notches by offering features like volume and music controls, notifications, Find My Buds, and a flashlight right on the case. That means you don’t need to keep fiddling with a smartphone for quick changes.
JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Smart earbuds, smart case
No gimmicks here, the case should be a template for premium buds going forward
Beyond the cool touchscreen options, the earbuds also provide great sound quality with decent noise cancellation, although they don’t quite match the sound detail of premium picks like the Sony WF-1000XM5. The earbuds do stand out with their slightly above-average battery life of eight (ANC on) to ten (ANC off) hours, though.
Noise-cancelling headphones vs. earbuds
As great as modern ANC earbuds are, over-ear headphones still have the advantage simply because they block out more sound by covering your ears entirely instead of just plugging in your ear canals. They also pack in larger drivers that can deliver more nuanced sound and have room for much larger batteries. Plus, many folks find it more comfortable to have something around their ears rather than inside them. However, they tend to be pricier than comparable ANC earbuds and are certainly not as portable nor as comfortable to wear — especially when doing workouts or travelling around town.
Are noise-cancelling earbuds worth it?
It’s more than the lower price tag that makes noise-cancelling earbuds a worthwhile investment. Quality ANC that can fit in your pocket is very appealing, and ANC earbuds are hard to beat when it comes to portability. Of course, earbuds also weigh substantially less than even the lightest headphones, and they’re more likely to be sweatproof, which makes them ideal for workouts.
The best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds
Wireless earbuds are everywhere these days, and some models are pretty questionable — at least as far as performance goes. That being said, this roundup represents the finer product options, like the Sony WF-1000XM5 buds. These wireless earbuds are bound to be a fan favorite because they deliver some of the best noise cancellation we’ve ever heard, and they sound fantastic when listening to music and podcasts.
If money is no object though, consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. This is a great bud set for audio diehards because Bose’s new Immersive Audio feature brings the kind of spatial audio virtualization to the table we’ve been waiting years for, and their ANC performance doesn’t get much better than this.
Still, though, we understand the value of a dollar, which is why the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the value pick. These Anker buds aren’t the fanciest model on our list, but they’re reliable, sound fantastic, and do a nice job of bringing adaptive ANC to the fold.
Sony WF-1000XM5
The best choice around
The Sony WF-1000XM5 offer excellent ANC, rich sound detail, and above-average battery life, making them the best wireless earbuds on the market today.
