The 6 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds - Summer 2024 Reviews

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless are the best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested. They're the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and have CustomTune technology, which allows the ANC to adapt itself to your environment and ear shape. As a result, they block out a significant amount of ambient noise, whether you're on an airplane or out for a walk on a busy street. With ANC on, the battery lasts for about seven hours continuously, and their carrying case holds an extra three charges for top-ups.

These sleek and premium-feeling buds are well-built and have a very comfortable fit for most people, so you can wear them for long listening sessions without much fatigue. They're also certified IPX4 for resistance against being splashed with water. They have a stable in-ear fit, so they'll stay in place during runs and workouts. Their out-of-the-box sound is bassy, so your audio has extra rumble, punch, and boom. Their companion app includes a graphic EQ and presets if you prefer a different sound.

However, despite their premium price point, they lack multi-device pairing. If that matters to you, try the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, which you can keep simultaneously paired to your phone and computer. These buds also have a slight edge regarding general noise attenuation, largely due to their memory foam ear tips. Since they form a solid seal in your ear, they reduce a lot of high-pitched noise, but you may not notice a significant difference in isolation between ANC on and off at other frequencies. The Bose's ANC blocks more sound across the range than when off, and they're more comfortable.

Although not quite as comfortable as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless, the Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless earbuds provide even better noise isolation at a lower price point. The Jabra do a remarkable job blocking out noise across the entire frequency spectrum but are especially good at isolating you from real-world environmental noise, like chatty coworkers in an office. If their ANC has a weak point, it's that they're not quite as strong at the Bose at blocking out low rumbles from bus or plane engines. They still do a good job, and very low-pitched noise will often be masked by the audio you're listening to anyway, but if you don't want the sound of the train engine on your morning commute to get in the way of any 808 kick drums, the Bose are worth considering. 

The Jabra have a generally neutral sound profile that represents everything from basslines to vocals naturally and with detail. You won't hear unnaturally honky vocals or overly boomy kick drums with these. One downside is their treble accuracy. Unlike the smooth top end of the Bose, the Jabra can be a little harsh, especially with high-pitched sounds like sibilants. Fortunately, you can customize them to suit your preferences using their companion app. With their ANC on, they last 7.5 hours on a single charge, and their carrying case supplies a further three charges. They also support Dolby Spatial Sound, which makes your audio feel wider and deeper, and Dolby Atmos, a surround sound format. You'll need special Dolby Atmos files in order to use the Jabra's Atmos support.

The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are the best earbuds with ANC in the mid-range we've tested. Their build quality is a step down from the Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless, but they have a similar noise isolation performance, easily cutting down sounds like plane engine rumbles and chatty coworkers. Their battery lasts for over seven hours with the ANC on, and you can top them up on the go, thanks to their case that stores 2.3 extra charges.

They support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your phone and computer at the same time, while their small, lightweight design ensures a comfortable fit for long periods. Their overall frequency response is a bit more subdued than the Jabra, with a little less rumble and thump in the low end and a little less clarity in the treble region. But instruments and vocals are still present and detailed, if a touch recessed. The Sony have a slightly underemphasized treble, which can leave sibilants and cymbals sounding dull and lispy. That said, you can fine-tune their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.

The best earbuds we've tested with ANC in the budget category are the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. Despite their more affordable price tag, they offer an even better overall noise isolation performance than the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. Their adaptive ANC easily reduces bass-range noise like plane engine rumbles, making them a solid choice for travel. They also do an excellent job cutting out mid- to high-pitched sounds, like background chit-chat or a humming computer fan. These versatile buds come with features like multi-device pairing and LDAC codec support so that you can stream Hi-Res content.

They're well-built and have a warm default sound profile that you can customize via their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They also last over eight hours continuously, which will get you through long days on the go, and their carrying case holds an extra four charges. Unfortunately, if you need to make calls, their integrated mic does a poor job of capturing speech clearly, so your voice sounds distant and sharp, which isn't very pleasant for the caller on the other end of the line.

If audio quality is a top concern for you, the best wireless noise cancelling earbuds we've tested are the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless. They have quite a neutral sound out of the box compared to other options like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. They deliver adequate punch and warmth to basslines, while vocals and instruments are natural and clear. As a result, they're versatile enough for a variety of genres and different types of content. Plus, if you don't like this sound, their companion app offers EQ presets for customization.

Their ANC does an excellent job of blocking background noise across the range. It easily tackles rumbly bus engines to chatty coworkers so you can focus on your audio. Unfortunately, with their ANC on, they last for less than five hours of continuous use, so you have to recharge them more often than the similarly priced Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. Their carrying case holds an extra 2.6 charges, though. They also have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions.

If you're looking for premium buds at a lower price point, try the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. These buds are usually cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless and have been on sale lately. Their ANC system isn't quite as powerful as the Bose in reducing ambient noise, particularly in an office setting, but it still delivers an excellent overall performance. Since they're an Apple product, they offer some iOS-specific features worth checking out if you already own a MacBook or an iPhone. Spatial Audio is a virtual surround sound feature meant to create a more immersive audio experience, and their H2 chip allows for seamless pairing with other Apple devices. With their ANC on, their battery lasts about six hours of continuous use, and their carrying case supplies an extra four charges. They have a comfortable fit, but the buds can wiggle out over time, so you may have to readjust every once in a while.

Thanks to their adaptive EQ, they have a warm sound profile that's well-suited for genres like folk and jazz. However, their sound customization features are only available to iOS users, so if you're a cross-platform user, you'll want to check out the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4. These similarly-priced headphones have a companion app for both Android and iOS that has an EQ and presets. Their ANC performance is comparable, but they're less comfortable, and their touch controls are located directly outside your ear canal rather than on the stems like the AirPods, which makes them a bit harder to use.