Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Overview

Adaptive noise cancelling that adjusts to what is around you, 30 hours of playback and multipoint pairing with two devices at once. Light at 250 g and comfortable across a long flight.

Buying Recommendation

Best Overall

Best For

Frequent flyers and commuters who want the quietest ride

Web Consensus Insights

CNET, PCMag, and TechRadar praise these headphones for their superlative active noise cancellation and excellent sound quality. They earn the Best Overall spot for delivering the strongest balance of performance and features across all expert testing.

Top Pros

• Comfortable and stylish design
• Excellent sound quality
• Great noise canceling

Top Cons

• Lacks folding design
• No airline adapter included

Key Specs

Noise Cancelling

Yes

Battery Life

30 hours (ANC on), 40 hours (ANC off)

Weight

249 grams

Audio Codecs

SBC, AAC, LDAC

Multipoint

Yes

Warranty

Info not available

Overview

Bose's natural-sounding cancelling with Quiet and Aware modes, plus immersive spatial audio. Battery drops from 24 hours to about 18 with that mode on, and there is no LDAC support.

Buying Recommendation

Top Premium

Best For

People who value the most natural noise cancelling and spatial audio

Web Consensus Insights

Reviewers at CNET and SoundGuys highlight this model for setting new standards in noise cancellation and spatial audio. It secures the Top Premium role due to its unmatched build quality and top-tier acoustic performance in published evaluations.

Top Pros

• Lightweight and very comfortable
• Excellent sound
• Great noise canceling

Top Cons

• Requires proprietary cables for some connections
• Lacks some advanced customization

Key Specs

Noise Cancelling

Yes

Battery Life

Info not available

Weight

Info not available

Audio Codecs

SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive

Multipoint

Info not available

Warranty

Info not available

Overview

Aluminium and steel construction with superb build quality and seamless switching between Apple devices. AAC only, no multipoint, and the heaviest option at 385 g, so it suits the Apple ecosystem specifically.

Buying Recommendation

Customer Favorite

Best For

Apple users who want the best-built over-ear headphones in the ecosystem

Web Consensus Insights

PCMag and CNET note that these headphones offer top-tier noise cancellation and seamless integration for specific ecosystem users. They take the Customer Favorite role thanks to their massive public visibility and widespread adoption despite their weight.

Top Pros

• Premium build quality
• Excellent noise cancellation
• High fidelity audio

Top Cons

• Heavy design
• Lacks a traditional power button

Key Specs

Noise Cancelling

Yes

Battery Life

Info not available

Weight

385 grams

Audio Codecs

Info not available

Multipoint

Info not available

Warranty

Info not available

Overview

The longest battery here by a wide margin at up to 50 hours with cancelling on, plus adaptive modes and LDAC for hi-res streaming. Build and finish feel a step behind the premium brands.

Buying Recommendation

Best Value

Best For

Budget-conscious buyers who still want adaptive cancelling and hi-res codecs

Web Consensus Insights

Third-party testing indicates this model delivers highly effective noise cancellation and impressive battery longevity for its class. It wins the Best Value role by offering the strongest published capability for its position in the lineup.

Top Pros

• Strong active noise cancellation
• Long battery life
• Comfortable for long sessions

Top Cons

• Bulky design
• Average soundstage

Key Specs

Noise Cancelling

Adaptive, up to 98% noise reduction claimed

Battery Life

Up to 50 h with ANC on, 65 h off

Weight

About 292 g

Audio Codecs

SBC, AAC, LDAC

Multipoint

Yes, two devices

Warranty

18 months