Of all the types of headphones that exist out there, the ones with
Whether or not you choose to spend heavily on the best noise-cancelation headphones, you will find something that fits your budget in this buyer’s guide. Without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the world of top ANC headphones in this guide.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5 (Best Overall)
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 is the best and most recent ANC pair of headphones the company has released yet. It refreshes the design and improves the ANC even further, and the overall sound signature is already known to be super delightful to listen to.
It also supports the LDAC codec for higher-quality wireless audio transmission over Bluetooth. In addition to the highly performant active noise cancellation on these headphones, you can also enable an Ambient mode to let the outside world in.
The Sony Headphone Connect app is available for both iOS & Android. It offers sound customizability and also lets you enable features such as 360 Reality Audio. The headphones last for 30 hours, as rated by Sony, and charge via Type-C. The Sony WH-1000XM5 ANC headphones also support fast charging, giving you 3 hours of playtime in 3 minutes. It is available in two colors, Black & Silver.
Buy on Amazon ($328.00)
2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Flagship)
QuietComfort Ultra is a flagship headphones coming from Bose, one of the most coveted audio brands. Bose even makes ANC headphones that are used by the aviation industry. The QC Ultra features a new design as compared to previous generations. It is quite expensive, at upwards of $400, but that price is well worth it.
There is also CustomTune technology by Bose, which adjusts the audio based on the user. According to Bose, a ‘tailored sound’ is achieved through analysis of your ear shape, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra gives you the optimal sound quality based on that.
Speaking of battery life, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra lasts for up to 24 hours. The ANC is adjustable, and the cushions on the QuietComfort series are highly regarded as being supremely comfortable as they are made of protein leather. The headphones charge via Type-C. The microphones on these are good, too, so that you can use them for calls. While Bluetooth codec support is limited to AAC and SBC, this is not too important as these are some of the best ANC headphones to buy today.
Buy on Amazon ($429.00)
3. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 is one of the best ANC headphone deals to buy in 2024. When launched, the Bose NC700 cost $379, but now you can find them under $300. While Bose has the released base QuietComfort headphones as well, these are much cheaper. This was one of the highest-end offerings by Bose, released at a flagship price back in 2019.
Despite their age, I can recommend them to anyone for their premium audio quality and trusted ANC performance. These headphones have a 20-hour battery life. There is also support for quick charging, giving you 3.5 hours of battery life with a 15-minute charging time via the Type-C port.
It features a metal headband, a sleek design, and a sliding hinge that makes it super easy to adjust. The out-of-the-box sound is quite good, being balanced enough for a versatile selection of music genres. Bose also has put high-quality microphones here, so you don’t have to worry about becoming inaudible on calls while wearing these.
Their comfort is a little subjective, so try out the NC700 and QuietComfort physically, if possible. The headband design on this feels better to me as compared to the traditional QuietComfort-style headband, but that may not be the case for everyone.
Buy on Amazon ($244.99)
4. Apple AirPods Max (Best for Apple Users)
Apple AirPods Max is the company’s official over-ear offering, featuring Active Noise Cancellation. Similar to other AirPods in the lineup, the AirPods Max features seamless connectivity with your iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and other products of the ecosystem.
They also feature Adaptive EQ which tailors the sound profile by the fitting of AirPods Max around your ears. AirPods Max are available in several colors – Green, Pink, Silver, Sky Blue, and Space Gray.
Apart from how well they work, if you are mainly an Apple ecosystem user, the sound from these is high-fidelity. The AirPods Max ANC headphones have a 40mm Apple dynamic driver. There is also a transparency mode, which lets you listen to the outside world (the opposite of ANC).
Apple AirPods Max also has Spatial Audio support. The battery life lasts for 20 hours, which isn’t as long as some other options. Still, for Apple users, this is the best pick!
Buy on Amazon ($499.00)
5. Sennheiser Accentum (Budget Pick)
Sennheiser released the Accentum headphones in late 2023. These relatively new headphones come in at an attractive price range of under $200. With this in mind, Sennheiser Accentum is our budget ANC headphones pick. Interestingly, the headphones offer a whopping 50 hours of battery life, which is over two full days of listening time! There is also a fast-charge feature, topping the Accentum headphones with 5 hours of playback time in 10 minutes.
Regarding audio, the Sennheiser Accentum has 37mm drivers with the brand’s signature sound tuned in. The headphones have well-cushioned earcups with a silicon-lined headband. Sennheiser Accentum headphones also have a dedicated app called Smart Control, which lets you customize the sound. In the ANC department, there is a transparency mode that you can toggle for listening to your surroundings.
Buy from Amazon ($179.95)
6. Beats Studio Pro Noise Cancelling Headphones
Beats Studio Pro is much more affordable than the AirPods Max. This makes them next in line as supremely convenient ANC headphones for all the Apple ecosystem users out there. The active noise cancellation performance is ample, drowning out background noises quite well.
There is also a transparency mode, which enables background noises to be heard whilst listening to music. With a built-in DAC, Beats says that the Studio Pro offers “high-fidelity lossless audio.”
The Beats Studio Pro delivers 24 hours of battery life with ANC enabled and 40 hours without it. Fast Fuel (quick-charging) support provides 4 hours of playback with 10 minutes of charging. The pair has a Type-C port, through which users can also connect the headphones to utilize the lossless audio feature. The Studio Pros do have a 3.5mm jack as well. The Ultraplush earcups have memory foam with an ‘engineered leather’ covering, and the headphones are quite comfortable to wear.
Buy from Amazon ($299.95)
7. Sony WH-CH720N (Budget Pick)
Sony offers many headphones other than its flagship lineup. The WH-CH720N ANC headphones are a perfect purchase for anyone looking to buy ANC headphones on a budget. The ANC feature offers 20 adjustable levels and is powered by a Sony Integrated Processor V1.
There is also an Ambient Sound mode on these Sony WH-CH720N, so you can listen to music and hear what’s happening in the environment. The headphones are also super lightweight at 192 grams, making them incredibly comfortable to wear even during extended listening sessions.
Speaking of battery life, Sony WH-CH720N ANC headphones offer 35 hours of listening time with ANC enabled. The headphones charge via Type-C and have quick charge support as well. Plugging them in for just 3 minutes gives you an hour of playback time.
Regarding Bluetooth codec support, Sony WH-CH720N ANC headphones support AAC and SBC but, sadly, no LDAC, which was to be expected. The headphones are available in black and white variants and are one of the best of the company on a budget.
Buy from Amazon ($105.99)
8. 1MORE SonoFlow SE (Most Affordable ANC)
1MORE makes all sorts of audio products, even IEMs geared towards audiophiles. The SonoFlow is an excellent option and one of the most affordable ANC headphones to buy. While there are cheaper options, these feature relatively decent active noise cancellation performance.
1MORE SonoFlow is also comfortable to wear for a long time, weighing in at 240g, which is a significant difference compared to many other ANC headphones. These feature 50 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, with even an even longer 70 hours without the noise cancellation turned on. The headphones have a Type-C port, and with 5 minutes of charging, you can get 5 hours of playback time.
Buy from Amazon ($54.99)
9. Razer Barracuda Pro (Premium Gaming ANC)
Razer Barracuda Pro is for gamers who are also looking for multi-purpose ANC headphones. The best part is Razer Hyperspeed wireless, which gives you much better latency than even the best Bluetooth codecs out there.
There is a dedicated Type-C dongle for this feature, but they do support Bluetooth as well. For clear communication, the Razer Barracuda Pro ANC headphones have a beamforming microphone. The battery life is quite good too, being rated at 40 hours.
10. Razer Opus X (Budget Gaming ANC)
Razer Opus X are affordable ANC headphones and well-suited for mobile gamers. While there is no Hyperspeed Wireless like the previously mentioned gaming headphones, the Opus X features 60ms low latency support over Bluetooth.
The battery life is 30 hours with active noise cancellation turned on. Without ANC, they can last for 40 hours. Razer Opus X charges via Type-C. These headphones weigh 270 grams, so they are on the lightweight side. Its earpads are made out of nylon and protein leather.
Buy from Amazon ($99.99)
So, these are some of the best ANC headphones you can buy. With active noise cancelation tech on your headphones, you can tune out everything else and have a peaceful session of work, gaming, or music listening. Tell us about your favorite in the comments below!
