HomeGear14 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones (2023): Over-Ears, Wireless Earbuds, and More

14 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones (2023): Over-Ears, Wireless Earbuds, and More

March 31, 2023

14 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones (2023): Over-Ears, Wireless Earbuds, and More

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The Absolute Best

Apple AirPods Max

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$500 at Amazon

A Close Second

Sony WH-1000XM5

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$398 at Amazon

Still Great

Sony WH-1000XM4

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$348 at Amazon

Best for the Office

Bose Noise Canceling 700

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$330 at Amazon
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Shaking off the world and sinking into a new album can feel like a train ride through the countryside … unless you're sharing that seat with two young toddlers. Or if your neighbor's dog is barking. Come to think of it, there are a lot of sounds that can ruin a good song. That's why we have headphones that isolate and cancel out noise. Below are the best noise-canceling headphones and earbuds you can buy, handpicked and tested by the Gear team here at WIRED.

Not seeing anything you like? Check out our other audio guides, like the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Workout Earbuds, Best Cheap Headphones, and Best Wireless Headphones.

Updated March 2023: We've added the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2, Focal Bathys, and Anker Soundcore Space A40

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  • Photograph: Apple

    The Absolute Best

    Apple AirPods Max

    If you use an iPhone and you are willing to pay $550, Apple's noise-canceling over-ears (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are the best choice. They are probably the best wireless headphones you'll have ever heard, but astonishing fidelity isn't the only reason to buy the company's flagship cans. Excellent pairing and connection with Apple devices, Bose-beating noise reduction, and some of the finest build quality you'll find this side of $1,000 make these a great pair for most people. The only thing not to like about the AirPods Max? The included soft case does very little to protect the headphones when they're not on your head.

    $500 at Amazon
    $549 at Apple

  • Photograph: Sony

    A Close Second

    Sony WH-1000XM5

    Sony redesigned the exterior of its popular flagship headphones for the fifth generation (9/10, WIRED Recommends), making them a bit sleeker and more competitive with Apple and Bose in looks. What didn't go away is the company's excellent noise cancellation, super customizable sound, and fantastic battery life. They're pricier than previous generations, but the sound is more absorbing, with a more energetic feel than the less dynamic models that came before.

    $398 at Amazon
    $400 at Target
    $400 at Best Buy

  • Photograph: Sony

    Still Great

    Sony WH-1000XM4

    This isn't the newest model, but Sony's WH-1000X lineup has produced some of the best noise-canceling headphones for nearly a decade, and the previous-generation WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are no exception. Sleek, businesslike looks and a 30-hour battery life match its successor, and this version sports better noise cancellation and audio upscaling than its predecessors, both of which contribute to a cleaner overall sound signature. The high-quality microphones don't make you sound like you're underwater in Zoom meetings, which is an essential upgrade in the post-Covid world. It periodically goes on sale for under $300, so avoid buying it at full price.

    $348 at Amazon
    $350 at Target

  • Photograph: Bose

    Best for the Office

    Bose Noise Canceling 700

    The ever-popular Bose QC35 II (8/10, WIRED Recommends) remains a fantastic noise-canceling option, but Bose’s Noise Canceling 700 take our top spot for business users. They have excellent noise reduction that quiets clacky keyboards or chatty roommates better than ever, plus slightly better sound quality and battery life than the QC35 II. But the real reason to buy the 700s is for call quality. They use advanced signal processing and four microphones to limit the sound of the world around you on phone calls. The person you're calling will think you’re in a library even when you’re in a rowdy living room.

    $330 at Amazon
    $330 at Target

  • Photograph: Bowers & Wilkins

    The Most Comfortable

    Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Headphones

    It's no suprise that the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 (9/10, WIRED Recommends), the flagship over-ear noise-canceling headphones from one of the UK's most lauded audio imprints, sound good and look great. What you can't see (or anticipate) is how light and comfortable these headphones are on your head. Flawlessly applied fabric and memory foam-filled leather at all contact points help them stay cozy even during long listening sessions. I also like how easy the headphones are to use, and 30 hours of playback between trips to the charger means you'll be able to go anywhere with your tunes.

    $399 at Amazon
    $399 at B&W

  • Photograph: Focal

    For Audiophiles

    Focal Bathys

    If money is no object, this pair from French hi-fi brand Focal (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best. The magnesium and aluminum headphones—with custom French-made drivers and super soft earcups and headband—offer listeners some of the best wireless audio I have ever heard. From deep lows to crisp highs, these resemble their more expensive, corded, brethren but allow you to listen in planes, trains, and automobiles without toting along an external digital-to-analog converter or special audio player.

    $799 at Amazon
    $799 at Headphones.com
    $799 at Crutchfield

  • Photograph: Sony

    Quietest Buds

    Sony WF-1000XM4

    Sony's WF-1000XM4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) have the best noise reduction we've heard from a pair of earbuds. The company's excellent digital signal processing pairs with form-fitting foam ear tips to block out most sounds. From rumbling HVAC to loud coworkers, the WF-1000XM4 perform extremely well, and they offer the same super-customizable sound we love from Sony's over-ear flagship headphones. These are a bit too large for smaller ears—WIRED senior associate editor Adrienne So found them too snug, preferring the fit of the AirPods Pro—but the extra size is rewarded with industry-leading eight-hour battery life. 

    $278 at Amazon
    $280 at Target
Most Popular

  • Photograph: Beats

    Best for iOS

    Beats Fit Pro

    The Beats Fit Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are easily my top choice in noise-canceling earbuds for iPhone owners. Not only are they sleeker and more comfortable than the older, first-gen AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but they also have better sound and physical buttons on the outside of each bud for easy access under ski and bike helmets. Add to that an AirPods Pro-beating six hours of battery life, plus spatial audio compatibility with Apple Music and Netflix (among others), and you've got one of my favorite pairs of earbuds ever “designed in California.”

    $160 at Amazon
    $200 at Apple

  • Photograph: Apple

    Also Great for Apple Devices

    Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

    I hate the middling sound and uncomfortable fit of the original AirPods, but Apple's AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are wildly different. They feature comfy ear tips that improve the fit and therefore improve the sound. They have a better overall design and some of the best noise-canceling tech you'll find in a pair of earbuds. The second-generation model improves audio quality and noise cancellation, and the case has a speaker built in, so they make a fun chime when they're charging and are easier to find with Apple's Find My app.

    They're best used with an iPhone or another Apple device, but they'll work with Android phones too (albeit with fewer available features). The case supports MagSafe, meaning you can magnetically attach it to MagSafe wireless chargers for more precise charging.

    $235 at Amazon
    $249 at Apple
    $250 at Target

  • Photograph: Anker

    Great Cheap Buds

    Soundcore by Anker Space A40

    These sub-$100 earbuds from Anker (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have all the features you'd expect from a much more expensive pair. You get a wireless charging case, multipoint pairing, and decent overall sound, plus what WIRED contributor Ryan Waniata calls excellent noise canceling for the money. The buds even have 10 hours of battery life, with four full recharges in the case. One downside? They don't have a sensor to auto-pause music when you pull a single one out of your ears. Not a bad compromise, given all the other features.

    $89 at Amazon
    $100 at Soundcore
Most Popular

  • Photograph: Best Buy

    Best for Workouts

    Jabra Elite 7 Active

    We've loved Jabra's rugged workout earbuds for years, and it's no surprise that its flagship pair are our new favorites. They're 16 percent smaller than their predecessors and are super comfortable on a wide variety of heads. Eight hours of battery life means they'll last you through an ultramarathon or ski day, and an IP57 rating means they'll look brand-new after a quick rinse. If you want to save a little money and don't mind slightly worse specs, we also really like the Jabra Elite 4 Active ($120).

    $180 at Amazon
    $180 at Best Buy

  • Photograph: EPOS Audio

    Great Value

    Sennheiser Adapt 660

    Want excellent sound, a comfortable fit, and high-quality noise-canceling tech for less than what you'd pay for Sony or Bose headphones? Check out this collaboration between Epos and Sennheiser. The Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) sound fantastic, and are some of the lightest noise-canceling headphones I've ever worn. They also feature excellent microphones for great silence on calls and Zooms.

    $309 at Amazon

  • Photograph: Amazon

    Best Cheap Buds

    Amazon Echo Buds (2021)

    The second generation of Amazon's Echo Buds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) don't provide quite the same silence as the best from Sony, Apple, and Bose, but they're also nearly half the price. Amazon's Alexa voice assistant is built into the buds, which allows you to set timers and check the weather without looking at your phone. In fact, you don't ever really need to hit the touch controls if you don't want to—just ask. They sport either a wired or wireless charging case (the latter is worth the $20 upcharge, in my opinion), and you'll get an AirPods Pro-beating five hours per charge. They sound pretty good too, with a relatively flat profile, pretty wide soundstage, and a good fit thanks to comfy silicone tips.

    $120 at Amazon
    $120 at Target
Most Popular

  • Photograph: QuietOn

    Sleep Buds

    QuietOn 3.1

    Perfect for co-sleepers who may need that little extra peace and quiet to get through the night, these tiny buds drown out any auxiliary noise, be it the sound of the highway outside your window, or the snores of your spouse right next to you. As soon as I popped them in, the world was totally silent. The QuietOns are sleek and petite and come with different-sized ear tips for customization. Plus, the battery lasts for 28 hours, so you only have to charge them every few days based on an eight-hour sleep schedule. It is worth noting that if you’re sensitive to active noise canceling and experience the eardrum suck phenomenon (where you feel intense inner ear pressure), or earbuds just aren’t that comfortable for you in general, these may not be your best option. They don’t play music, you can’t listen to a guided meditation, and best of all … you really can’t hear anything, though they're more expensive than passive earplugs. 

    Check out our Best Sleep Gadgets and Best Earplugs guides for more sleep recommendations. 

    $289 at QuietOn

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