The best noise-canceling headphones to buy right now

Whether you’re wearing them for the morning commute, while traveling, or if you’re simply trying to find some peace and quiet while working at home, noise-canceling headphones are a more essential piece of kit nowadays than ever before. And you’ve got a slew of great options to pick from; it’s hard to make a bad choice.

There are longtime heavyweights like Bose and Sony to pick from. Apple has quickly carved into the market with the luxurious AirPods Max. And if you’ve got an ear that demands the best audio quality, headphones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sennheiser might appeal to you more than the mainstream contenders.

Not everyone loves the feel of earbuds, and there are scenarios where over-ear and on-ear headphones are just simpler or make more sense than wireless buds — particularly if lengthy battery life matters to you.

No matter how you’re using them, the criteria for picking the best noise-canceling headphones haven’t changed.

The best wireless headphones for most people Sony WH-1000XM5 With improved comfort, refined sound, and even better active noise cancellation compared to the previous-gen model, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 offer a compelling mix of features for the price. Read our review.

Score: 8ProsConsEven better active noise cancellationMore balanced, tighter soundMuch-improved voice call qualityDesign is very plasticky for $400No major new features over 1000XM4Bulky, awkward carrying case Where to Buy: $398 at Amazon $398 at B&H Photo $398 at Best Buy Battery life: 30 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (charging), 3.5mm headphone jack (audio)

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 have a completely different design from their predecessors. The changes result in greater comfort when you wear them on your head for extended periods of time — like on a flight or at the office.

Noise cancellation has been further improved from the already-stellar performance of the WH-1000XM4, putting Sony at the front of the pack compared to all major competitors. Sound quality is more detailed and balanced than the older XM4; the low end is still punchy but tighter and less boomy than before. The XM5 offer excellent voice call performance, and they can connect to two devices simultaneously, so you can stay clued in on what’s happening on your phone when you’re working away on your laptop or tablet.

Sony’s headphones also include unique features like “speak to chat,” which automatically pauses your music and pipes in ambient audio whenever you start talking. Or you can hold one hand over the right ear cup to activate quick attention mode, which is convenient when grabbing a coffee or listening to airport announcements. And like other high-end headphones, the XM5 can detect when they’ve been removed from your ears for auto-pause.

Last year, Sony introduced the WH-1000XM6, and while they offer incremental improvements over the XM5 in terms of sound and ANC performance, they’re also more expensive at $449.99. The XM5, meanwhile, can regularly be found for $300 or less. When you weigh price versus performance, the XM5 represent a better value overall, which is why they remain at the top of our list.

Read our full WH-1000XM5 review.

The best noise-canceling headphones for travel Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Score: 8ProsConsExemplary comfortTop-tier noise cancellationImproved transparency mode clarityBetter voice call quality than NCH700Immersive Audio is sometimes enjoyable but often badImmersive Audio drains battery fasterNo USB-C audio supportCase has annoying indentations Where to Buy: $429 $279 at Amazon $429.99 $279.99 at Target $429 $279 at Best Buy Battery life: 24 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (charging), 2.5mm headphone jack (audio)

Bose’s first-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are basically a blend of the company’s prior Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and QuietComfort 45 that borrow the best traits from both — while throwing in a new “immersive audio” listening mode. Like past Bose cans, they’re very light and comfortable on your head, even when worn for long stretches of time. Best of all, unlike the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, these can be folded, making them easier to travel with.

Their 24-hour battery life is more than adequate, and Bose has added support for the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec for improved audio fidelity on Android devices. The immersive audio feature works well on some songs, but less so on others. It’s worth experimenting with, but even if you leave it off entirely, you’re left with best-in-class noise cancellation, pleasing sound, and a helpful “aware” transparency mode.

It’s worth noting that, in September, Bose launched the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for $449. The newer headphones build on the original with support for lossless audio over USB-C, a slight uptick in battery life, and an improved transparency mode that’s more natural and better at boosting ANC when you encounter sudden noises. They offer a handful of other iterative improvements, but as is the case with Sony’s newer WH-1000XM6, their higher price tag keeps us from recommending them over the original model.

Read our full Bose QC Ultra Headphones review.

The best wireless headphones for iPhone owners AirPods Max (USB-C)

Score: 8.5ProsConsHigh-luxury designTerrific, balanced sound qualityVery effective noise cancellationDependable and foolproof controlsSpatial audio for immersive entertainmentHeavier than many competitorsNo 3.5mm jackWired listening requires $35 cableCase is an abominationLacks latest AirPods Pro features Where to Buy: $549 $449.99 at Amazon $549 $449.99 at Walmart $548.99 $449.99 at Best Buy Battery life: 20 hours / Multipoint: No / Audio codecs: AAC, SBC / Connectors: Lightning (audio and charging)

There was definitely some sticker shock when Apple introduced a $549 set of noise-canceling headphones in 2020. The AirPods Max cost significantly more money than any of our other recommendations. But Apple’s build quality is on another level: these trade the plastic you’ll find in many noise-canceling headphones for steel and aluminum, and the ear cups are a breathable mesh fabric. They’re hefty headphones, there’s no denying that. But aside from Apple refusing to include a headphone cable in the box, there’s nothing about the AirPods Max that feels cheap. And I appreciate the simplicity of using the digital crown for controls, rather than relying on hit-or-miss gestures like taps and swipes.

The most important part is that the AirPods Max deliver audio quality that’s up there with the best high-end Bluetooth headphones. They have an immersive, wide soundstage and fantastic dynamics, and you’ll find yourself hopping around your music library just to hear what they bring out in your favorite songs. The newer USB-C model also supports lossless audio and ultra low latency thanks to a firmware update, which, technically, isn’t something you’ll find on the last-gen Lightning model.

Apple’s noise cancellation is on par with Sony and Bose, and no one does transparency mode better; at times, it can make you think you’re not wearing headphones at all. Extra features like Spatial Audio (surround sound for movies and TV shows) and automatic switching between Apple gadgets help make it a bit easier to swallow their daunting price.

But the AirPods Max do have faults. The carrying case is abysmal, battery life is only average for the category, and just like regular AirPods, they’re designed with Apple’s ecosystem in mind. It gets much harder to justify dropping $550 on them if you live outside the iPhone and Mac universe.

Read our original Apple AirPods Max review.

The best-sounding wireless headphones Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e

ProsConsStylish, standout designExcellent sound qualitySupports wired USB-C audioNo regular headphone inputDoesn’t include LDAC supportYour ears might get sweaty Where to Buy: $399 $269.15 at Amazon $399 at Bowers & Wilkins $399 at Crutchfield Battery life: 30 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (audio and charging)

If sound quality is priority number one, then Bowers & Wilkins has you covered with the PX7 S2e headphones. They exhibit superb, detailed sound quality that some people prefer to the AirPods Max. The Bowers & Wilkins cans are true to the company’s legacy and style, with a fine-crafted design that exudes quality. And the newer “e” variant has a revamped digital signal processing that can bring out the best audio quality from streaming music.

We prefer their physical buttons over the tap/swipe ear cup gestures of Sony’s WH-1000XM5. With 30 hours of battery life, they’re more than competitive with mainstream, less expensive picks. And the sound profile is delightfully warm and will bring out the most from your favorite music. The main downside of the PX7 S2e is that there’s no traditional 3.5mm or 2.5mm output for a headphone cable. You can still listen wired over USB-C, however.

Read our full Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review.

The noise-canceling headphones with the best battery life Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Score: 7ProsConsMuch-improved comfortBetter noise cancellation than beforeMarathon 60-hour battery lifeTerribly generic designNo more physical button controlsHeadphones can power on unexpectedly Where to Buy: $449.95 $299.95 at Amazon $449.99 $299.99 at Best Buy $449.95 $299.95 at Sennheiser Battery life: 60 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (audio and charging), 2.5mm headphone jack (audio)

Sixty hours. They can last for up to 60 hours on a single charge. That’s really all you need to know about the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones if you’re looking for an endurance champ. But they also sound terrific and prove extremely comfortable over long listening periods. This combination doesn’t come cheap, but you can routinely find them for under $300, or, in the case of Black Friday, under $200.

Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless headphones edge out Bowers & Wilkins on comfort thanks to their lighter design, and the noise cancellation is slightly better. Next to the Sonys and Bose’s QC Ultra Headphones, it doesn’t get much cozier. These are headphones you can wear for multiple hours without any fatigue or pressure on your ears.

Sennheiser’s sound signature is a bit more expressive with more emphasis on bass than the B&W, but the upper treble range still comes through crystal clear. Our only real nitpick with the Sennheisers is that they tend to occasionally power on inside the case and automatically connect for no apparent reason.

Both the B&W and Sennheiser headphones support multipoint connectivity and a range of Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive.

Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review.

Update, January 13th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and several new related links. We also added a mention of the latest QC Ultra Headphones.