Best noise canceling headphones of 2026

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earphones:I have shipped the improved boss QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)Which means you’ll be able to find discounts on original QC Ultra Earbuds. It’s excellent sound and previously best-in-class noise cancellation performance.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4NC: Released in 2023 and now at a discount, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds carry a lower list price than the 2022 Liberty 4 and are arguably better. They have improved noise cancellation and better sound quality, along with support for the LDAC audio codec for devices that support it. (Many Android smartphones do this, and in theory offer slightly improved sound quality when paired with a music streaming service that offers high-resolution tracks.) They’re lightweight headphones that should fit most ears comfortably, with four sizes of ear tips to choose from.

Status between 3ANC: Status Audio’s earbuds aren’t exactly the most stylish or attractive earbuds you can buy, but if you don’t mind their utilitarian look and giant stems, you’re getting an excellent-sounding set of earbuds. The Between 3ANC, the company’s first noise-cancelling earbuds, also do a good job of muting ambient sound, though they don’t measure up to the Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds for noise-canceling prowess. They performed very well in my voice calling test, cutting out a lot of the background noise around me on the streets of New York while clearly picking up my voice, or so callers told me.

Bowers Wilkins PI7 S2: In 2023, Bowers & Wilkins has updated its amazing PI7 noise-cancelling earbuds. The new S2 has better battery life and a Bluetooth range now up to 25 meters (double the previous range). Plus, the speakers now integrate into the new Bowers & Wilkins Music app for iOS and Android and enjoy a much-improved setup experience. Learn more in our full website Bowers & Wilkins PI7 review.

JBL Live Pro 2: Over the years, JBL has released some true wireless earbuds, but there haven’t been anything that really excited me. This has finally changed with the arrival of the new Samsung-owned brand Live Pro 2 and Live free 2 Sprouts. Both sets of buds – the Live Pro 2 have a stem while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design – offer a comfortable fit along with strong noise cancellation, very good sound quality and voice calling performance, plus a solid set of features, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 rating for splash resistance and wireless charging.

Master & Dynamic MW09: Master & Dynamic headphones and earbuds always feature unique and eye-catching designs incorporating premium materials such as aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. The latest flagship MW09 earbuds ($349) look very similar to the previous MW08 but have some upgrades inside that provide better performance, especially when it comes to noise cancellation. The earbuds sound great but are mysteriously not available everywhere, so we’ve removed them from our best list. If they are back in stock, we will add them back to this list.

Sony Link Buds S: Unlike the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips that crowd into your ears. It’s more compact and lighter than Sony’s previous flagship WF-1000XM4 and also features a Sony V1 processor (Sony has since released the more compact WF-1000XM5). Voice and noise cancellation aren’t quite up to the level of the XM4s or XM5s, but they’re still very good. These are Sony’s headphones for people who can’t afford Sony’s flagship earbuds but want 80% of the features and performance of these headphones for much less. I totally loved it Sony LinkBuds S reviewed They received an estimated rating of 8.4 out of 10.

Sony WF-1000XM4: Released in 2021, the Sony WF-1000XM4 won a CNET Editors’ Choice award. These are still excellent headphones, but Sony has now released the next generation WF-1000XM5. It may be a good option if you find it at a discount. I posted a Complete review of the Sony WF-100XM4 headphones When released if you think budget earbuds are for you.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 were among the best new true wireless earbuds of 2022. They’re still among the best true wireless earbuds, but Sennheiser has released the upgraded Momentum True Wireless 4. Also, the newer AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 are arguably superior, so only look to buy the Momentum True Wireless 3 when they’re heavily discounted. Learn more about my buds Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 review.

JBL Tour Pro 2: JBL’s Tour Pro 2 earbuds have received a lot of attention for bringing something new to true wireless earbuds: a full-color touchscreen built into the box that allows you to access the earbuds’ key features and control playback as well as adjust volume levels. It’s a bit of a gimmick but it’s also useful. The earphones may sound a little better for their price, but overall the JBL Tour Pro 2s are very good earbuds that offer a good fit, solid feature set, and solid battery life, as well as solid noise cancellation and voice calling performance. I took a look at the feature-packed earbuds of 2023 and wrote a full report JBL Tour Pro 2 review You can read it here.

Beyerdynamic Free Bird: Beyerdynamic They may be late to the game, but they’ve finally introduced the first truly wireless earbuds, which feature active noise cancellation, up to 11 hours of battery life (with noise cancellation turned off) and great sound quality. Read my entire book Beyerdynamic Free Byrd Earbuds Review To learn more.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: Available in four colors, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 noise-canceling headphones don’t have as good sound or noise cancellation as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, but they’re compact (15% smaller and 20% lighter than previous Buds Plus, barely sticking out of your ears) and they cost a lot less. Because they fit more closely to your ears — and have that curved design — they also pick up less wind noise. They’re IPX2 sweat-resistant, while the high-end Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are fully waterproof (IPX7). My full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 review From 2021 has more information about the earphones.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Bang & Olufsen’s $399 Beoplay EX are the company’s best true wireless earbuds. They feature a comfortable, secure fit (except perhaps for those with really smaller ears), high-quality build quality, great sound, good noise cancellation and improved voice calling performance via B&O’s headphone EQ, with three microphones in each earbud that help reduce background noise while picking up your voice. They’re out of most people’s price range, are arguably the best earbuds with stems and offer slightly better sound than the AirPods Pro 2 with better clarity, deeper, stronger bass, and richer, more accurate sound. I Reviewed by B&O Beoplay EX The earphones are ahead of their 2022 release and include some additional information there.

Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4: Their sound isn’t quite up to the level of high-end buds Apple AirPods Pro 2 headphones and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Which cost a lot more, but the Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4 earbuds have a solid set of features, including a spatial audio mode with head tracking, multi-point Bluetooth pairing, up to nine hours of battery life, wireless charging and support for Sony’s LDAC audio codec that can deliver sonic improvements if you have the right setup. Read more in my country Anker Liberty 4 review For more information about mid-range earphones.

Sennheiser CX Plus: The Momentum True Wireless 3 are Sennheiser’s flagship true wireless earbuds. If you can’t afford it, the Sennheiser CX Plus (which has very good sound and decent noise cancellation) is a good alternative for a lot less money. The CX Progressive system, which does not have active noise cancellation, is less expensive. Learn more about our all-in-one budget earbuds Sennheiser CX Plus review.