The 10 Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Compared for 2024

The best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market will transport you into a world of audio, whether you’re listening to music, taking part in a conversation, or enjoying a motivational TED talk. These earbuds reduce environmental sounds, making tasks like commuting or exercising more enjoyable.

We’ve created an extensive list of the best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds on the market. Our list features premium options as well as more budget-friendly earbuds and covers a range of consumers’ wants, needs, and different use cases.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. The Best Noise-Cancelling Earphones Ranked
2. How Do Active Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Work?
3. Are Active or Passive Noise-Cancelling Headphones Better?
4. Best Sound Cancelling Earbuds Reviewed for 2024
5. The Best Noise Reduction Earbuds Compared
6. Key Factors to Consider When Buying Noise-Reducing Earbuds 2024
7. Are Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Good for Gaming?
8. What Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds to Buy in 2024?
9. Best Noise-Cancelling Earphones FAQs

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. The Best Noise-Cancelling Earphones Ranked
2. How Do Active Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Work?
3. Are Active or Passive Noise-Cancelling Headphones Better?
Show Full Guide
4. Best Sound Cancelling Earbuds Reviewed for 2024
5. The Best Noise Reduction Earbuds Compared
6. Key Factors to Consider When Buying Noise-Reducing Earbuds 2024
7. Are Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Good for Gaming?
8. What Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds to Buy in 2024?
9. Best Noise-Cancelling Earphones FAQs

The Best Noise-Cancelling Earphones Ranked

We’ve created a list containing the best active noise-cancelling earbuds for 2024. The Apple AirPods Pro takes the top spot as our best pick, but depending on your needs, budget, and preferences, here are all the best options in 2024:

1. Apple AirPods Pro 2 – The best noise-cancelling earbuds in their price range due to their high quality and excellent features like adaptive audio, personalized volume, and conversation awareness.
2. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro – The ideal pick for Samsung phone owners, it rivals the Apple AirPods Pro for the top spot as they deliver clear, high-quality sound with great active noise cancellation.
3. Beats Fit Pro – Stylish ANC earbuds for working out, thanks to their tight fit. The integrated ear hook locks them into your ear, and their bass-focused sound is great for motivation when getting active.
4. Google Pixel Buds Pro – A popular option for Android users; it automatically pauses when the earbuds are removed, and it works seamlessly with Google Assistant.
5. Anker Soundcore Space A40 – A strong choice if you like to customize your sound and understand how everything works. With the help of its app, you can create a unique sound environment.
6. Sony WF-1000XM4 – The best option for comfort, making them perfect for long journeys; plus, they’re fully equipped with high-resolution sound quality, easy user controls, smart listening, and long battery life.
7. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 – These earbuds are excellent all-rounders as they provide outstanding sound quality, ANC earbud features that help to reduce ambient noise around you, and they’re extremely easy to use.
8. Jabra Elite 7 Active – The best noise-cancelling earbuds for small ears and a great pick for people who like earbuds to be securely placed in their ears. They’re great for working out and cheaper than their premium alternative, the Beats Fit Pro.
9. Sennheiser CX Plus – Coming from a brand known for delivering outstanding sound quality, these earbuds provide excellent audio and value for money, featuring superior ANC, emphasized bass, punchy midrange notes, and a reliable battery.
10. TOZO NC9 – The best budget noise-cancelling earbuds under $100, as they’re waterproof and it comes with ample sizing options.

How Do Active Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Work?

Active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds use a digital noise-cancellation system to reduce background noise and optimize the listening experience. The ANC system uses several microphones that listen to the noise outside the earbuds from the surrounding environment and inside the earbuds.

An ANC chipset inverts the sound waves outside the earbuds, producing audio to counter the external noise. At the same time, the sound that leaks in through the ear tip within the earbuds is neutralized.

Are Active or Passive Noise-Cancelling Headphones Better?

There are several approaches to noise-cancelling, including active, passive, and adaptive technologies. Below is a brief outline of each type and how they differ:

• Passive noise-cancelling earbuds — These contain specially designed earcups to seal out any unwanted noise and can be installed on both over-the-ear and in-ear headphones.
• Active noise-cancelling earbuds — These are excellent at reducing environmental noise at higher and lower frequencies, making them ideal for people who travel, commute, or live in busy areas. They even let you pick up calls and quickly reduce the volume of your earbuds to join a conversation.
• Adaptive ANC — This technology takes active noise cancellation a level further, as it automatically changes the level of noise-cancellation as it detects changes in sound frequency.

Active noise-cancelling earbuds are the best earbuds to reduce background and environmental noises. The technology was first used in some of the best headphones but has since moved to in-ear wireless earbuds.

On the other hand, passive noise cancelling earbuds provide a “purer” sound than ANC earphones, as ANC creates audio to cancel outside sounds, while PNC relies on a well-fitting earbud to block out noise.

Best Sound Cancelling Earbuds Reviewed for 2024

If you’re eager to learn what makes each set unique and which brand makes the best in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds, look no further. Below, we give you all the details you need to make an informed decision on the one best suited to your needs and budget.

1. Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Overall, the Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds in 2024

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are regarded to be the best wireless earbuds in their price bracket. They’re light, weighing just 5.4g each, and are known for their secure fit within the ear while running or performing rigorous activities. They’re also popular for exercising as they’re sweat and water-resistant.

The earbuds contain two microphones — one outside the earphone to identify outside noise that can be removed through the noise-cancelling feature and one for detecting any noise that breaks through the earphone’s seal.

The AirPods’ noise-cancelling is continuously adjusted every second through adaptive ANC, which makes them highly effective, hence why they’re considered among the best noise-cancelling earbuds available. Wearing them gives a balanced sound that isn’t too intense, which is good as there’s still no EQ adjustability.

It’s also important to note that you don’t need an iPhone for AirPods to work; however, the pairing is optimized for the iOS platform. They’re constructed using the iconic Apple AirPod design — a glossy white finish, protruding stem, and bulbous body. The silicone tips and stem are shorter than previous AirPods models, and the main body is wider to allow room for extra components.

The controls are located in the stem, with various commands available to control media playing on the earphones. The earbuds come with three pairs of tips, and an “Ear Tip Fit Test” can be completed to ensure no sound leakage occurs.

The Apple H1 chip powers these earbuds, giving them flawless wireless performance and efficient pairing skills. On its own, the AirPods battery life is five hours, but you’ll get an additional 19 hours from its charging case.

However, since the battery life hasn’t increased significantly since its release (it also hasn’t decreased, which is good taking into account the technical upgrades they have gone through), the latest AirPods Pro 2 battery life is around the average of the options on this list and most wireless earbuds in general.

2. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro – The Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds for Samsung Owners

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are Android-based wireless earphones that rival the Apple AirPods. They’re Samsung’s most comfortable pair and offer unrivaled sound, plus, they’re 15% smaller and lighter than the original Galaxy Buds Pro. It features a matte coating that gives you a better grip and fit, especially during extended periods of use.

As you’d expect, the earbuds have groundbreaking sound quality thanks to a dual-driver design and the fact that they’ve been tuned by audio experts AKG to deliver a high level of detail for every genre of music. The addition of the Seamless codec ensures that these earbuds can wirelessly stream 24-bit, 48kHz audio easily, giving an authentic “hi-fi” sound.

The active noise cancellation feature is less effective than some other brands and models, however. When you aren’t playing music, you may hear some background noise. But once the music is turned on, these earbuds extract a good amount of background noise so you can fully immerse yourself in the media you wish to listen to.

The earbuds have five hours of battery time with active noise cancelling, and eight hours when ANC isn’t activated, which is within the average battery life (5 to 7 hours) of the options on this list. The charging case gives an additional eighteen hours of battery.

It also comes with ‘Audio Switch’, which lets you connect seamlessly to all your Galaxy devices. For example, the Galaxy Watch 4 — one of the best smartwatches — can turn ANC on or off and check the battery life of the earbuds.

That said, you don’t have to own a Samsung phone to enjoy these earbuds, and they feature high-quality sound that every user can appreciate, regardless of the operating system they use.

3. Beats Fit Pro – The Top Choice for Active Users

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are the athlete of the Beats family. They contain unusually shaped wing tips and features such as active noise cancelling, automatic ear detection – switching music on and off when inserting and removing the earbuds – and button controls.

They’re comfortable to wear for prolonged periods and will twist and lock into place for optimal sound quality and fit. They also come with various ear tips and an “ear tip fit test” similar to the AirPods Pro 2 to ensure maximum noise cancellation. The efficiency of the noise-cancellation is great for their price range as it does a solid job of blocking out most background noise.

If you like bass, these are certainly the earbuds for you. The Beats Fit Pro reduces the bass and midrange frequencies while using the active noise cancelling feature to keep you immersed. They keep the treble mid-range, which is great for mainstream music, including pop and hip-hop – genres many people like to exercise to.

These earphones are also water-resistant, dust-resistant, and durable. The Beats logo is positioned on each earbud and also functions as a convenient button to control media and phone calls, and with the Beats app, you can customize these commands to your preference.

The Beats Fit Pro charging case contains a USB-C charging port. Their battery life lasts six hours with active noise cancelling on and an extra 18 hours from its charging case. As a bonus, the earbuds just need to be placed in the charging case for five minutes for the quick-charge feature to give you an additional 60 minutes of usage.

4. Google Pixel Buds Pro – A Popular Set for Android Users

The Google Pixel Buds Pro contains specially redesigned earbuds, active noise cancelling, and a range of intuitive features to wow any user, including several color options to suit any fashionista. Beyond this, the earbuds also come with three ear tips of various sizes to ensure every user gets the best fit.

The earbuds have a battery life of six hours with active noise cancelling, and its charging case supplies another 13 hours of battery life, which is on par with the average battery life seen across competing models like the Apple AirPods Pro 2. The case can also be charged wirelessly or through a USB-C port.

The noise-cancelling technology on these earbuds replaces the adaptive sound feature found in previous models, so now, active noise cancelling automatically detects external noise and cancels it out. As such, you won’t notice any background or external sounds when playing media.

To adjust the volume from the earphones, you have to swipe forward or backward. What’s nice is that they also have an automatic pause feature when the earbuds are removed. If you struggle with controlling the earbuds, they’re also responsive to Google Assistant commands.

While the Google Pixel Buds Pro have many intuitive features, there are some better options for running as they may get shaken loose. They’re less secure than the older Google Pixel Buds, though an “ear tip fit” test does help. But overall, the earphones are comfortable to wear for long periods, even if they need to be readjusted.

Besides this, the Google Pixel Buds Pro offers excellent sound, and they’re the best noise-cancelling earbuds for calls, as they effectively quieten sounds below 500hz, and their microphone is among the best on the market. The earbuds also have many user-friendly features like touch controls, Google Assistant, Fast Pair audio switching, and reliable battery life.

5. Anker Soundcore Space A40 – The Best Earbuds for Affordable Noise-Cancellation

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 delivers excellent sound and effective noise-cancelling for half the price of similar-quality earbuds, like the Beats Fit Pro. In fact, Anker arguably makes the best cheap noise-cancelling earbuds that still deliver high quality.

Each earbud is compact, lightweight – under 5g – and stylish. The set and charging case have a premium feel to them, and they have a stable fit with five different-sized ear tip options to ensure maximum comfort. Also, they have a high water resistance making the earbuds perfect for exercise and day-to-day activities.

Anker’s app and earphones have a range of options to customize your experience of the product. Everything from the touchpads to noise cancelling can be set to what you want. One of the best features to customize is the sound signature, which tailors the frequency curve of the sound. This involves adjusting various EQ (equalization) settings in the app, allowing you to create the perfect listening experience.

The audio quality is excellent for the price, as it gives a crisp sound without relying heavily on the bass. Along with sound quality, the noise cancellation is incredible, and of course, it can be adjusted depending on your environment. As such, the earbuds reduce the sounds of a busy city to mere swishes and whooshes, but it’s less effective at higher frequencies.

Overall, the ANC is impressive for the price, and its battery life also blows Anker’s competitors out of the water. The earbuds have ten hours of playback without noise cancelling, 7 to 8 hours if enabled, and an extra 50 hours of battery life from the charging case, all for just $54.

Due to its price point, Anker skips on a few features, such as auto-pause, but it’s hard to argue how much value the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds offer.

6. Sony WF-1000XM4 – The Top Choice for Comfort

Sony has completely redesigned the WF-1000XM4 with a new exterior design, charging case, and audio processor. The earphones are packed with user-friendly features and incredible sound. These are more premium than the other brands mentioned, but they’re well worth it.

The charging case is compact, over 40% smaller than previous models, and can be charged using USB-C or wireless charging. The driver within the earbuds also includes a high-compliance diaphragm and a bigger magnet to improve sound quality and noise cancellation.

Beyond this, the battery has been improved, offering 8 hours of life with noise cancellation active and Bluetooth turned on and 12 hours without it. The charging case also extends the battery life by 16 hours — which is better than the AirPods Pro 2 and is, in fact, among the best you’ll find among all top-end models. Plus, five minutes of charging using the charging case will give you an extra hour of playtime.

The earphone is round, has three different-sized tips, and is water resistant. They fit snuggly in your ear and provide comfort for extended wear, too. Sony also has an air-tightness test to ensure optimized sound and no outside noise breaking through the seal.

The touchpad is located on the outer surface of the earbuds and can control the volume and playback and let you easily switch between sound modes. The active noise cancelling is excellent, and Sony has even removed the “vacuum feeling” when ANC is turned on. This means that you won’t get that sensation of cabin pressure in your ears, a common phenomenon across all noise-cancelling earbuds.

The sound quality is also excellent as Sony has upgraded their earphones’ sound to include crisper detail and better balance. Overall, there’s no doubt that the Sony WF-1000XM4 has been upgraded from the previous record-breaking model in all the right ways. No matter your needs, these are an excellent premium set of earbuds.

7. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 – Best Premium Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort earbuds are great all-around premium earbuds that even rival the likes of the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. Regardless of the operating system you prefer, these earphones are an excellent purchase.

They have a bulky design that outputs 75 dB. That said, to have the best experience, you’ll want to get the Bose Music app, where you can easily switch between devices, customize sound settings, and adjust ANC levels.

The Bose QuietComfort are the best Bluetooth noise-cancelling earbuds as they support a range of Bluetooth codecs, including SBC (Subband Codec — the default for all Bluetooth earbuds) and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding — the default for Apple devices).

The earbud’s battery lasts over 5 hours with ANC activated, which is by no means the best we’ve seen, but if the earbuds are added to the charging case for just 15 minutes, you’ll have an extra 120 minutes of listening.

The active noise cancelling feature on these earbuds is also excellent. It reduces background noise by up to 90%, and you can easily adjust the levels of ANC depending on your environment. The sound quality is superb, too, as its frequency response matches what most consumers find enjoyable to listen to.

But like all earbuds, the sound quality and the active noise cancelling depend on the earbud’s fit within your ear. You have three different-sized ear tips to choose from, which should apply to most ear sizes. Although not as good as premium earbuds, the microphone system to pick up phone calls on the go is also reasonably good.

On the whole, these earbuds are an excellent investment if they’re within your budget – $249 isn’t the cheapest, but the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are fantastic earphones with superb ANC features.

8. Jabra Elite 7 Active – The Best Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds for Small Ears

The Jabra Elite 7 Active earbuds give users good sound, excellent active noise cancellation, and a wide range of customization. While they’re not as good overall as premium options, these Jabra earphones are hard to beat for the price.

They’re ideal workout earphones as they’re small, lightweight, and dust and water-resistant, and the shape of the earbuds ensures that the ear tips are placed deep into the ear canal. However, while this is excellent for sound and ANC capabilities, the earbuds may cause slight discomfort during prolonged use.

The controls are on the outer surface of the earbuds and can be used to control playback and answer calls, and the earbuds also support AAC and SBC codec Bluetooth connectivity.

The Jabra earbuds offer a range of features, including mono-mode (which lets your earbuds work independently) and the “Find My Jabra” feature, which can find your lost earbuds. But to get the most out of these earbuds, the Jabra Sound+ app should be downloaded, so you can customize the equalizer noise cancelling to your liking.

The active noise cancellation is excellent. However, even without turning on ANC, the background noise is reduced by 50%. This makes them among the best noise-cancelling earbuds for traveling, especially as they also have a HearThrough mode. This can be activated if you need to hear some environmental sounds for awareness of your surroundings.

To top it off, the Jabra earbuds are perfect for anyone who works out, as they have an excellent battery and stay put even through rigorous exercise. Combined with the charging case, you’ll get a decent battery life of 30 hours. With ANC, you’ll have 7 hours — however, one big upside is that using the charging case for a mere 5 minutes will give you an additional hour of playback.

9. Sennheiser CX Plus – The Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds for Sound Quality

The Sennheiser CX Plus earbuds are an upgrade on the previous CX model, they boast many high-value features and are reasonably priced for a premium set of earphones. These lightweight earbuds also come with four different-sized ear tips to fit a range of ear sizes.

It offers various Bluetooth connectivity options, and without music, these earbuds have excellent active noise cancelling for high-frequency noises such as car horns, and it reduces low-frequency noises such as car engines by at least half. While the ANC isn’t as good as high-end models, it’s really close to matching rivals such as the Apple AirPods Pro.

For sound quality, the Sennheiser CX Plus has clear and crisp sound capabilities. All music genres should play well on these earbuds without being drowned out by the bass.

The CX Plus has touch controls on the outer surface to manage media playback, incoming calls, volume, and the voice assistant. The Sennheiser Smart Control app also allows you to customize the touch controls, EQ, and other sound features. It can even help you adjust the side-tone level.

Users have found the CX Plus has between 5 and 6 hours of battery life — about the average you’d get with other leading earphones. The charging case has up to 16 hours of charging capabilities, and unlike most, it has a light at the front showing the remaining battery.

If you’re looking for wireless earbuds for under $100, the Sennheiser CX Plus should definitely be considered, as they have high-quality sound, features, and ANC capabilities.

10. TOZO NC9 – The Best Budget Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The TOZO NC9 has hit the nail on the head for noise canceling. One thing that makes the NC9 stand out is that it comes with six different-sized ear tips to ensure every customer has a well-fitting set of earbuds. This isn’t surprising as there’s a big emphasis on the active noise cancelling feature.

The active noise cancelling feature is, of course, the shining star of these earbuds. Higher and lower frequency noise cancellation is excellent, and it easily rivals premium options. The sound quality suits people who enjoy a lot of bass and treble, making it a solid option for most genres of music.

The microphone performance isn’t a strong suit of these earbuds. It’s decent, but it struggles in areas of high background noise.

It has an IPX6 waterproof rating, ensuring that even the strongest rainfall won’t affect the earbuds. In terms of battery life, you can expect a little over 6 hours, which keeps up with the much more expensive options on this list, and it can charge wirelessly or with a USB-C port.

The price point of these earbuds is $33.99 for the basic model – which is significantly lower than all other entries on this list. If you’re looking for earbuds with great noise cancellation for a low price, then the TOZO NC9 earbuds are perfect.

That said, there are, of course, some downsides to consider with a set this cheap. For starters, there’s room for improvement with its microphone performance. Besides this, there are three versions of the NC9 – the basic, pro, and plus, and although they fit the ear well, the basic version can be a little bulky for some.

The Best Noise Reduction Earbuds Compared

We’ve put together the table below to highlight the main differences between the best sound-cancelling earbuds for 2024. All the earbuds on our list are wireless, but here you can compare the other main attributes of each pair:

Key Factors to Consider When Buying Noise-Reducing Earbuds 2024

There are several factors to consider when purchasing wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. These include:

Active or Passive Noise Cancellation

We’ve already explored the pros and cons of active and passive noise-cancelling earbuds, but once you decide on which noise-cancelling technology best suits your needs, it’ll be easier to know which earbuds to invest in. Overall, ANC earbuds are far more effective, but they do come at a higher cost.

Sound Quality

As with finding the best soundbar, when investing in a new pair of earbuds, understanding the sound quality is vital as this is an item that you ideally don’t want to replace regularly. Trying out the earbuds for yourself is the best way to test the sound quality.

But if you can’t do that, this review will give you the best understanding of how good the sound is. As mentioned above, be on the lookout for excellent sound quality, EQ customization, and connectivity.

The sound quality was one was our core ranking factors, and all of our products are from brands that specialize in delivering the best audio products, so you can rest assured that any of these will deliver solid sound quality.

Comfort and Fit

Comfort and fit are essential if you wear noise-cancelling earbuds for prolonged periods, as many models can become uncomfortable after a few hours. The fit will determine how well the noise-cancelling feature works as well, so it’s crucial to get it right.

If you can’t test them yourself, materials like silicone and foam are known to be the most comfortable. Models that also provide multiple sizing options will give you the best chance of getting the best fit.

Battery Life

Like with comfort and fit, if you need these earbuds for prolonged periods, you must ensure that the battery is fit for use and won’t die when you need them. Batteries in wireless earbuds have come a long way, and with the addition of the charging case, most models — especially those hand-picked by us, have a decent battery life.

The average battery life of our picks is from 5 to 7 hours on one charge, and extra features like fast charging and wireless charging are also beneficial.

Price

Depending on your budget, prioritize what features are essential for you. This will help you narrow your options and pick the best model, whether you have a high or low budget.

Are Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Good for Gaming?

Noise-cancelling earbuds can make an experience more immersive, but how does that affect gaming? Here we look at the pros and cons of using noise-cancelling earbuds for gaming:

• Noise-cancelling earbuds boost your concentration as it takes out any other distractions and gives you a better audio environment.
• If you play games where you work within a team, these earbuds will help you understand your teammates clearly as the background noise is removed.
• Out of preference, some gamers simply prefer earbuds instead of gaming headphones. They’re easy to use, deliver solid audio, there are no annoying wires, and they’re generally cheap.
• Investing in high-quality noise-cancelling earbuds can be expensive, while cheaper options tend to lack in many areas like battery life and sound quality.

Overall, similar to using the best gaming desks and other solutions specific to gamers, using noise-cancelling earbuds will enhance the gaming experience.

What Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds to Buy in 2024?

Our list of the best noise-cancelling earbuds highlights the best earphones available for your needs and budget. If you want noise-cancelling earphones for working out, commuting, or just listening to music, there will be a suitable pair for you on this list.

Based on our research, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the best in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds available today and are an excellent all-around choice. They’re incredibly well-built, have reliable batteries and mechanisms, and offer excellent active noise cancellation. They’re applicable to every situation and are an exceelent investment that’ll last years.

Best Noise-Cancelling Earphones FAQs