We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Best noise-cancelling headphones 2024: including Sony, Bose, Apple and more
Cut out distracting outside noise with these in-ear and over-ear ANC headphones.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
A pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have for any music lover — they'll cut out the sound of the plane's engines on a long-haul flight, stop office chatter from distracting you and shield your ears from screaming children in the supermarket. ANC (active noise cancelling) headphones will keep you completely immersed in your tunes, no matter what's happening around you.
There was once a time when noise-cancelling headphones were expensive and not many worked particularly well. Nowadays, there are tonnes of options for all budgets with a range of designs and features.
Noise-cancelling headphones come in two forms: over-ear and in-ear. Over-ear cans are usually better at blocking out noise and likely to be more comfortable for longer periods, but they're not as compact or bag-friendly. In-ear headphones, on the other hand, come in a charging case that you can slip into your pocket. They're much smaller and more discreet.
Some of the best smartphone brands have their own ANC headphones, AirPods are sometimes discounted in Apple's device deals and Galaxy Buds are often included in some of the top Samsung device deals.
If you're on a budget and don't mind making a few sacrifices, you might be better off reading the best AirPods alternatives, the best cheap headphones under £80 or the best over-ear headphones under £100. But if you're after top-quality noise-cancelling headphones, you're in the right place.
What are the best noise-cancelling headphones?
Best noise-cancelling headphones: Bose QuietComfort Ultra — £449 at Amazon
Best noise-cancelling earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — £299 at Amazon
Best budget noise-cancelling headphones: 1More SonoFlow — £89.99 at Amazon
Pros
Stylish, premium design
Impressive immersive audio
Dynamic, punchy sound
Cons
Can't listen with USB-C
Others have better battery life
Type: Over-ear | Battery life: 24 hours | Weight: 250g | Water-resistance: None
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are expensive but if you're willing to splash out a little, they're some of the best noise-cancelling headphones. You can barely hear anything happening around you when you put these on and press play. The QC Ultra have a particularly rich, punchy sound in comparison to Bose's other gadgets which is perfect for those who like lots of energy and depth — if not you can adjust the audio using the equaliser settings in the app.
It's not all about substance, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra have style too. Unlike other over-ears, they're not too big (so they won't look silly on a smaller head) and are comfortable to wear. We like how well-made they feel, plus they come with a hard case to protect them when you travel. Granted the battery life could be longer and you can't listen to them using a wired USB-C connection, but those downsides aren't dealbreakers.
Pros
Best-in-class ANC
Impressive Awareness mode
Balanced, energetic sound
Cons
The case is a bit flimsy
Battery life could be longer
Type: In-ear | Battery life: 6 hours (up to 24 hours with the charging case) | Weight: 6.24g per bud (59.8g with the charging case) | Water-resistance: IPX4
If your top priority is noise-cancelling and you'd rather buy in-ear headphones, they don't get any better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. We loved testing them out, saying in the review that they “look great, they sound fantastic and they work well. But the very best thing about them is the noise-cancelling which is about as good as it gets”.
When you put these in, you won't be able to hear much, if anything from the outside world. Surprisingly, that's even true with the music turned off. We enjoyed trying out the Immersive sound mode too, which makes the tracks sound as though they're coming from in front of you even when you move your head around. Adding to their class-leading ANC performance, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have a rich sound that you can tweak to better suit you in the app. The design is worth a shoutout too because they look more like a fashion accessory than a bit of tech.
Pros
Comfortable to wear
They fold up for travel
70 hours of battery life
Cons
App is poorly designed
Build isn't as premium as others
Type: Over-ear | Battery life: 50 hours with ANC | Weight: 250g | Water-resistance: None
The very best noise-cancelling headphones don't come cheap, but dig into the mid-range and there are some serious bargains to be found, including the 1More Sonoflow, which marry punchy sound, solid noise-cancelling headphones and up to 70 hours of battery life for less than £100. That's pretty hard to top.
Naturally, the plastic-heavy design doesn't feel all that premium in the hand, but the headphones are nicely cushioned and fold up for portability. And while we miss premium features like wear detection, we can't have too many complaints at this price. There are better-sounding headphones and more elegant implementations of ANC, but you don't need to spend hundreds for distraction-free listening.
Pros
Outstanding ANC
All-day comfort
Satisfying sound quality
Cons
Bulky
They don't fold up
Type: Over-ear | Battery life: 30 hours | Weight: 249g | Water-resistance: IPX4
Sony's WH-1000 series of headphones have consistently been the best all-round noise-cancellers you can buy, and the XM5 is are the best iteration yet. The noise-cancelling is superb, adapting to your environment so you always get the most effective setting, and you'll struggle to find a pair of headphones that sound better. They're comfortable, but as heavy users of the previous two generations, we're not sure we prefer the redesign. The carry case feels less compact than before too.
Sony's headphones sport features like hands-free voice control and automatic play/pause when you remove them, as well as the more unique “speak to chat” function, which automatically pauses whatever you're listening to and deactivates noise-cancelling when you start talking, allowing you to transition into a conversation with someone IRL. It's handy, but means you can't sing along to your tunes. All in all, these are our favourite noise-cancelling cans, but you'd still be very happy with an older, cheaper version.
Pros
3D Dolby Atmos spatial audio
Works seamlessly with Apple kit
Excellent sound quality
Cons
The case needs improvement
Heavy and a little uncomfortable
Type: Over-ear | Battery life: 20 hours | Weight: 385g | Water-resistance: None
Apple's pricey debut over-ear headphones have been around for a few years now and are an incredible pair of noise-cancellers. They work seamlessly with all Apple devices, sound fantastic and are designed to utilise Apple's Music spatial audio feature, which plays supported songs and albums in 3D Dolby Atmos. It doesn't always sound as good as stereo sound, but when it's done well it can be amazing. The AirPods Max are also great for enjoying TV and movies with convincing virtual surround sound.
The noise-cancelling is among the best you'll find, and we've always thought that Apple's transparency mode, which allows in outside noise when having ANC turned on isn't possible, is one of the most natural implementations of the feature. The downsides? The AirPods Max come with the most useless “case” ever shipped; a flimsy rubbery thing that offers almost no protection. They're also heavy and not hugely comfortable after a few hours.
Pros
Work seamlessly with Apple devices
Includes spatial audio
Full, dynamic sound
Cons
Only available in white
No manual EQ
Type: In-ear | Battery life: 6 hours (30 hours with charging case) | Weight: 5.3g per earbud (50.8g with the charging case) | Water-resistance: IP54
The AirPods Pro are fantastic little earbuds for iPhone users — not only is the ANC very effective but they have balanced audio that adapts itself to different tracks, thanks to the Adaptive EQ tech. They're good for clarity, detail and they deliver impressive sub-bass and vocals. It's worth pointing out there's no manual EQ so you'll need to be happy with the default tuning.
While the spatial audio isn't that impressive with music, it definitely adds something to your on-the-go streaming. We also thought they fit in our ears really well. If you've been on the fence about AirPods and use an iPhone, the second-gen Pro is the model to go for. Whether they're worth upgrading to from the original product is a trickier question, but your music will certainly sound quite a bit better for it.
Pros
Clean-cut sound quality
30 hours of battery with ANC
Spatial Audio
Cons
ANC isn't as good as Bose
Not all features available yet
Type: Over-ear | Battery life: 30 hours | Weight: 312g | Water-resistance: None
Sonos has long since been one of the top audio brands for home cinema systems, and now it has finally branched out into the world of ANC headphones. The Sonos Ace are a seriously stylish bit of kit with a lightweight comfortable design that is great for long-term wear. The Sonos sound quality is fantastic — it's crystal clear and balanced so it feels very accurate. They also have solid noise-cancelling which matches up to competing cans from Apple and Sony.
To add to that, subtle spatial audio makes the sound appear as though it's coming from in front of you which is what makes these so good for watching shows and movies. Plus, if you own a Sonos Arc, you can switch the TV's audio between the soundbar and your headphones at the simple press of a button.
Pros
60-hour battery life
Rich, powerful sound
Adaptive ANC
Cons
Too big for exercise
Manual equaliser is basic
Type: Over-ear | Battery life: 60 hours | Weight: 293g | Water-resistance: None
Some people are better than others at remembering to plug their headphones in. Buying a pair of cans with a long-lasting battery will mean you don't have to think about charging them so often. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless lasts a whopping 60 hours of playback with the ANC switched on so you should be able to get through an entire week of work without running out of juice. But to add to that, they're a fantastic pair in terms of design, sound quality and features.
Simple headphones with plenty of padding, and weighing only 293g, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 are comfortable to wear for a long time. If you have a smaller head, you may find they look quite big, but it's easy to find the right fit. They won't be the best choice for workouts as they do move around a bit when you jump around, but they're a good option for your commute or long weekend walks.
Pros
Comfortable, secure
Speak-to-chat functionality
Well-balanced sound quality
Cons
Connection occasionally drops
ANC not as good as Bose
Type: In-ear | Battery life: 8 hours (up to 24 hours with the case) | Weight: 4.6g per earbud (39g with the case) | Water-resistance: IPX4
Given Sony's impeccable record with noise-cancelling over-ears, it should come as no surprise that its WF-1000XM5 true wireless ANC earbuds come just as highly recommended. It'll shock you how devices so miniature can deploy bass as confidently as this, and never at the expense of the higher frequencies.
Noise cancellation, while not quite as good as that of the aforementioned Bose buds, gets a big tick. They look great too, and fit your ears securely and comfortably, while eight hours of battery on a full charge should satisfy most users. The WF-1000XM5 even inherit the Speak-to-Chat functionality from their big siblings, making them some of the most feature-packed noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy.
Pros
Impressive noise cancelling
Spacious sound quality
Customisable ear covers and cushions
Cons
Bulky
Expensive
Type: Over-ear | Battery life: 55 hours with ANC | Weight: 451g | Water-resistance: None
Dyson's OnTrac headphones are some of the top performers on this list for noise cancellation, dulling outside sounds to keep your focus on the music. To add to that, they provide fantastic audio quality which is spacious and bright. Your music will sound just as the artist intended.
While those are of course very important elements in any pair of headphones, it's the level of customisation that makes these interesting. Both the ear plates and the cushions are removable, and you can buy replacements in loads of different colours so you can mix and match them to suit your style.
![Line break line break](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2022-listicle-line-break-uk-1655389155.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:*)
How Digital Spy tests noise-cancelling headphones
Digital Spy tests noise-cancelling headphones by pairing them with our phones, laptops, tablets and, where possible, TVs, and listening to wide variety of audio sources in peace from music to shows on the best streaming services.
We listen on trains, in public and in the office, paying attention not just to the effectiveness of the noise-cancelling, but the sound quality, battery life, comfort and any extra features they might have.
What is Active Noise Cancellation?
There are two types of noise cancellation used in headphones. The simpler version is passive noise cancellation, which is where the physical design of your headphones or earbuds creates a seal that isolates what you hear from external sounds.
Most headphones feature some degree of passive noise cancellation because your ear is less open than it otherwise would be.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), on the other hand - which includes every product we’ve featured here - uses technology to reduce ambient noise. Tiny microphones constantly monitor outside noise and play out inverted equals of whatever sounds they detect, so the two sound waves effectively cancel each other out.
What your ear receives at the end of this very fast process is anti-noise, or noise that’s been cancelled en route. The effectiveness of noise-cancelling will vary from headphone to headphone, but the very best examples of the tech can all but eliminate many sounds.
What to consider when buying noise-cancelling headphones
Weight and design
Headphones light and comfortable enough to be worn for the duration of a long flight or train journey will always be looked upon favourably by us. You should also check if the headphones you’re looking at fold up or not. It won’t make a difference to performance, but some people prefer the added portability. With in-ears, you’ll ideally want a variety of different-sized ear tips to give you the best personal fit, some earbuds are noticeably more bulbous than others, something you’ll feel when they’re in your ears. Sadly, you can’t wander into a shop and try a variety of sample earbuds for yourself for obvious hygiene reasons, so we’ve made sure to highlight any design quirks you should be aware of for all the products we’ve featured here.
Wired option or not
All the headphones you’ll read about above are true wireless by default, meaning they connect to your audio sources via Bluetooth with no cables required. But some headphones also allow you to connect to them with a wire. It will be handy if you run out of battery or want to ensure your listening is lag-free.
Battery life
Wireless noise-cancelling headphones are great, until they die on you mid-commute, forcing you to involuntarily eavesdrop on the boring conversations your fellow commuters are having. We won’t recommend any headphones that have poor battery life, but some will last longer than others. Manufacturers of ANC earbuds usually advertise the total length of the possible battery life of their products, which includes additional charges held by the charging case they come with. For example, a pair of earbuds might be marketed as having a 24-hour battery, but this could mean eight hours from the headphones, with two further charges from the case.
Additional features
First and foremost you want your noise-cancelling headphones to sound good and effectively block out distracting noise, but there are other things to consider. Some headphones offer hands-free voice assistant support, allowing you to call Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant to check in on the news or make a call without needing to reach for your phone.
A lot of flagship noise-cancelling headphones can automatically pause your audio when the headphones are removed, but it’s not a given, and then there are brand-specific features such as Sony’s Speak-to-Chat function. Spatial audio is also becoming an increasingly competitive space, with Apple and Bose going big on the tech recently. It’s still a bit of a mixed bag, but listening to Dolby Atmos music when done right can be pretty transformative.
Why trust Digital Spy
Digital Spy has been in business for 25 years, with a team of experts across TV, movies and tech – and between us we have plenty of knowledge when it comes to entertainment.
Yasmine Crossland, our Tech Ecommerce Editor, has reviewed hundreds of headphones since starting her career. She's tried out over-ear, in-ear and on-ear headphones with all sorts of features, ranging from less than £50 to more than £500.
Watch Next
![Video player poster image preview for Digital Spy latest videos](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vidthumb/images/mando-2o-1602512642.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=1200:*)
![Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Doctor Who, season 1, ep2 ncuti gatwa, millie gibson, doctor who, season 1, ep2](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/millie-gibson-ncuti-gatwa-doctor-who-season-1-ep2-663ceba601a31.jpg?crop=0.489xw:0.326xh;0.279xw,0.0673xh&resize=360:*)
Doctor Who merchandise for summer deals
![A man reads an ebook while lying on a sofa a man reads an ebook while lying on a sofa with one arm behind his head for support](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/man-lying-on-sofa-reading-ebook-1637079741.jpg?crop=0.667xw:1.00xh;0.333xw,0&resize=360:*)
Kindle Unlimited deal - two months for free
![Woman listening to music on phone, with wireless headphones woman listening to music on phone, with wireless headphones](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/amazon-music-student-offer-1567085440.jpg?crop=0.555xw:0.831xh;0.144xw,0.152xh&resize=360:*)
Amazon Music Unlimited free trial offer
![Concord concord](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/concord-668bf391cbb8f.jpg?crop=0.564xw:1.00xh;0.176xw,0&resize=360:*)
The best Concord deals on PS5 and PC