In fact, despite advances in audio technology, over-or on-ear headphones perform better here by design. Earbuds, for instance, do a good job of blocking out noise on their own. But noise cancellation doesn’t typically do as much for those listening devices as it does for the aforementioned gadgets. And, conversely, the best audio to be had overall comes from on- or over-ear devices. Bearing all of that in mind, here are the Android Headlines picks for the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy right now.
Top 8 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Now, it’s worth noting that the best audio gadgets around are typically more expensive. Coming in, more often than not, well over $100. But that doesn’t mean that all gadgets even in that category are operating at the same level. Or that you necessarily need to spend that much — or much more than that. That also doesn’t mean that you need to spend more than $500 — after which point the improvement-to-cost ratio begins to diminish. All of the headphones here fall between the $70 to $500 range. So there’s plenty here to choose from if you’re looking for the best of the best in noise-canceling headphones. Regardless of your budget.
Best all-around noise-canceling headphones
Shure AONIC 50
Great headphones are usually priced well above the $300 mark but there’s at least one relatively well-known company pushing the boundaries on that. And easily making one of its latest offerings, the Shure AONIC 50, the best overall headphones for noise cancellation. A plethora of controls are also placed at users’ fingertips, in addition to onboard noise cancellation and active environmental audio modes — also adjustable at whim. Such as in-app personalization for sound and more, 20-hours or more of battery life, or the comfortable, folding design. Which itself also includes a 3.5mm audio jack for when that battery life just isn’t enough. Studio-quality sound is another hallmark of this particular offering from Shure. As would be expected for the price.
Best noise-canceling performance
Bose QuietComfort 45
Bose also incorporated both noise cancelation via Quiet Mode and noise passthrough via “Aware” Mode for QuietComfort 45. The latter allows environmental noise through for those times when situational awareness is important. And battery life is a claimed 24-hours on a single charge with 15-minutes of charging equating to an extra three hours. In addition to an included cable for wired listening. All of that is, of course, great, but Bose is also a brand that’s known for audio quality. So the available adjustable EQ via a dedicated app, TriPort acoustic architecture, and volume-optimized EQ with plenty of well-balanced punch are not necessarily features to be missed either.
Best compact noise-canceling headphones
Sony WH-1000X M4
If noise-canceling, an ambient audio passthrough mode, comfort, lightweight design, and compact build are appealing, Sony WH-1000XM4 is easily one of the best headphones you could buy. And that’s not just down to the fact that these are built by one of the best audio brands around. Or the fact that so many consider them the absolute best around. Not only does the company build these with long-term wear in mind and audio quality at its peak. It includes mics on both ear cups for better noise-cancellation and Ambient passthrough for times when environmental awareness is paramount. It also paid a lot of attention to battery life and features. Wearing detection stops the music, for instance, when you take these off. And, in addition to next-level Edge-AI for audio quality and cancellation, there’s a speak-to-chat feature that reduces the volume when it detects that you’re having a conversation. And touch sensors for controlling playback and calls. For battery, Sony WH-1000XM4 gets up to 30-hours. All of which makes these headphones well worth their $348 asking price. But are on sale as of this writing for $298.
Best style noise-canceling headphones
Technics EAH-A800
Battery life and high-quality audio are two factors that earn Technics its place on this list with its EAH-A800 over-ear headphones. In fact, these may be the longest-lasting among our list of best noise-canceling headphones. According to the company, at launch as of CES 2022, Technics EAH-A800 will last up to 50 hours. And that isn’t a claim made with battery-sipping playback either. That claim, as well as the claim that 15-minutes charging lets you garner 10-hours of listening, is with ANC active and ACC playback. So this isn’t a claim made with a less-than-ideal playback setup. For style, Technics is utilizing a timeless minimal design in black or white. And with a weight of just over a half-pound, that style doesn’t come at the cost of comfort either. Meanwhile, top-tier features such as Multi-Point connectivity — allowing connection with more than two gadgets at once — and 8-mics for voice clarity and wind reduction are just icing on the cake with these headphones.
Best value noise-canceling headphones
SENNHEISER PXC 550-II
From a brand like Sennheiser, you may expect to pay over $300 or $400 for the best noise-canceling headphones around. But that’s not going to be the case if you choose Sennheiser PXC 550-II. In fact, these are currently on sale for a price starting at $209.98. That’s down from their usual $349.95 price point. That already makes them some of the highest-value headphones around. But with smart pausing, 30+ hours of battery life, touch controls for everything from playback to volume, and one-touch AI access, these headphones have it all. What’s more, it offers great audio quality in calls, in addition to the world-class Sennheiser audio. Meaning that these aren’t just a great value for the price or features. It’s also easily the best value for those seeking audiophile sound joined with the ability to make calls. All with some of the best noise-cancellation in the business, reducing surrounding sounds so you can immerse yourself in the music, podcast, or movie that you really want to listen to.
Best on-ear noise-canceling headphones
AKG N60NC
Now, AKG N60NC is going to be the only headphone on our list that’s an on-ear style device. That means that the earcups rest on your ears rather than over them. And it comes at a reasonably high value too, costing less than $90. What sets these apart from other offerings is not only the quality of the noise-cancellation but also their compact size and decent battery life. The latter of which is rated at around 15-hours. That’s lower than other gadgets on the list. But, given that these headphones were built by AKG, the sound quality is top-notch as well. Complete with ANC that can be turned on or off as needed. At under $120, for headphones that offer brilliant audio and a near-all-day battery, it’s going to be hard to go wrong with N60NC from AKG.
Best inexpensive Hi-Res noise-canceling headphones
Tribit QuietPlus 78
Tribit isn’t going to be the first brand most think about when it comes to high-quality on-or over-ear headphones. But it makes one of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market in its Tribit QuietPlus 78. And it does so at a price that’s under $80. Additionally, battery life with Tribit QuietPlus 78 is upwards of 40-hours under the right conditions. And a 3.5mm audio jack means that the listening doesn’t have to stop there either. The included carry case, cables, and plush material choices are just icing on the cake. Making QuietPlus 78 an obvious choice when it comes to affordable ANC headphones.
Best AI-enabled noise-canceling headphones
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
One of the big selling points of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX is its dedicated on-device assistant button for easy access to the device’s assistant. And that’s because the inclusion means that AI assistants are available at a tap or via voice effectively regardless of which assistant you use. But that’s hardly the only big selling point for these best-in-class noise-canceling headphones either. These are also the most expensive headphones on this list. With good reason. The use of lambskin in the design, for instance, means that Beoplay HX is easily one of the most comfortable over-ear headphones available. And the up to 30 hours of battery life help drive a great listening experience regardless of whether you’re using the AI, for as long as your ears can stand it. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack for when the battery life just isn’t long enough. Or for when you forget to charge up. But the real showcase here is the audio quality itself. And we’d be remiss not to include this particular headphone in our list of the best when it comes to ANC. Two mics on each cup also assist with ensuring voice and video calls are as crystal clear as the ANC-assisted audio. Which itself is driven by four dedicated MEMS mics.
