6 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Bose has been the frontrunner for noise-canceling headphones for years and the QuietComfort series continues to outperform the rest. For great sound quality, noise-canceling abilities and a price tag under $350, this is the best buy. The headphones feel like butter when wearing (even with glasses on). And they fit like a glove, too, no matter your head size. These are the Cadillac of comfort and the best combo of active noise-canceling tech and passive noise-canceling design, with headband padding, ear cushioning and a secure fit over the ear. We tested the more expensive, more modern-looking Bose headphones, but the sound quality and noise-canceling abilities weren't enough to convince us they were any better than the classic. Plus, we appreciated that the buttons on the QuietComfort are raised. Unlike sleek touch panels that often have to be tapped over and over, the classic buttons and toggles make each setting easy to locate and use.

Even without playing music, the ANC setting nearly eliminated appliance sounds and voices. And with music, we had a tester scream and it just looked like they were mouthing words dramatically. The ambient "aware" setting for Bose was also the most accurate we tested at reducing overall background noise while still allowing music to play or human voices to pass through clearly. The only reason these headphones didn't earn a near-perfect score when testing is because of the limited battery life. Newer brands coming to market have more than half the amount of playtime on one charge. But 20-22 hours is still more than enough for a day at the office or a long-haul flight. And for the superior noise-canceling abilities, it's worth the time to recharge more often.

We absolutely loved the Apple AirPods Max Headphones for a secure over-the-ear fit, incredible sound quality and ease of use for Apple users. In some ways, Apple could have beat out Bose. But two major factors lost points in our testing: heavy price tag and heavy product. Select colors start just shy of $500 when on sale and other colors are well over $500. And despite the cool silhouette and great bells and whistles for Apple users, these headphones are just too heavy. We found that the weight becomes uncomfortable and begins to put pressure on your neck.

And unlike other premium noise-canceling headphones, they don't come with a proper case. They do come with a high-tech slipcover that instantly puts headphones in a low power mode to save power, but it's not enough protection for throwing in an airplane carry-on or school backpack. That said, for short intervals at the home or office, they're definitely the most stylish headphones we tested. And we were blown away by the music quality and phone sound quality. If you're looking for a splurge gift for an audiophile, this is a solid runner-up. But it's not the best option for petite heads or people with low mobility.

While Anker (known for their portable phone chargers and speakers with amazing battery life) is trying to cover the budget end of the headphone market with several products under $100 and $75, we just weren't impressed with the sound quality. And that was before testing the ANC functions. What did surprise us? These $70 headphones from a brand we've never heard of but had glowing reviews on Amazon and now sells pretty much exclusively at Walmart. Say hello to Srhythm. The NC25 headphones are a total dupe for Bose QuietComfort — down to the packaging design.

They are, however, more flimsy and feature more lightweight plastic pieces, but the earpieces have that ultra-cushioned padding. And the overall fit of the headband is similar to the Bose band. These were the only budget noise-canceling headphones to pass the comfort test while wearing glasses. As for performance, the ANC settings were pretty solid at reducing appliances and human voices. The sound quality for music of multiple genres was surprisingly better than name brands like Anker, JBL and even Beats.

What we didn't love is that the ear pieces don't go fully over the ear for a better PNC design. But at less than $70, these check most of the boxes without having to splurge. If you're looking for an inexpensive pair of noise-canceling headphones for a kid or teen to travel with, this is a great buy.

In truth, none of the earbuds we tested had as good noise-canceling performance as over-the-ear headphones and that just comes down to the design difference. But if any noise-canceling earbuds can tackle the airport and flight, it's the Apple AirPods Pro. These blocked most background noise without even playing music, and with music, voices were very faint. We also noticed the transparent mode for hearing voices while still playing music was the most clear of all earbuds tested. These were the most secure and comfortable earbuds we tested and would be the best noise-canceling earbuds for working out. We wiggled and jumped all around and they didn't budge. And we appreciated that you can customize the fit with multiple-sized earpiece covers.

Most noise-canceling earbuds come with a custom charging case, and the Apple case isn't as bulky as others so it's very purse and pack-friendly. Our only complaint is that, like other Apple products, a lighting cord isn't included. So you have to buy one or share a cord from another Apple product. Setup, however, is an absolute breeze for Apple users. If you hate reading instructions, you'll love these.

JBL had some of the worst-performing over-the-ear noise-canceling options, but these earbuds edged ahead of other brands and came the closest to Apple AirPods in noise-cancellation and sound quality. They're a solid buy if you don't want to splurge on Apple or you're not an Apple user and are looking for the best alternative to Apple AirPods. At less than half the price of Apple AirPods Pro, these JBL earbuds canceled most background noise. Human voices were still faint even with music. The ambient-aware setting wasn't as clear-sounding as other earbuds we tested. However, the manufacturer's claims of "perfect calls" lived up to the hype, and the clarity was incredible.

Right out of the box, the fit isn't as secure as Apple AirPods Pro. But there is a fit test in the JBL app as well as an ear canal test for customized sound settings. They're bulkier in design so they're not as discreet as wearing AirPods. But unlike AirPods, these earbuds come in several different colors.

One of the biggest complaints about noise-canceling headphones, especially from music fans, is the overall sound quality. When active and ambient modes are on, music can sound slightly compressed or muffled. And layers of music might sound missing, especially bass. While Bose and Apple have great sound quality out of the box, these Sony headphones have the best sound quality after setup. True to its name, the sound delivers that missing bass. Music buffs will appreciate being in total control of customizing audio settings and equalizer thanks to the Sony app. There's also a 360-degree live performance setting which mimics music in the round and creates a more immersive audio. It's like surround sound for headphones. These headphones had a solid noise-canceling performance, even with screaming. The way these intertwine people talking with music playing while on ambient mode is clearer than others we tested.

The headphones had a great, firm fit and still felt comfy with glasses. They would have earned an even higher score if not for the lengthy setup and pairing process. If you're willing to get in the weeds with the app and to take the time to customize each setting, you will love these.