Created by Bridget Clegg using images from Jabra, Master & Dynamic
Noise-canceling earbuds are a constantly growing category in the audio space. Once a tiny segment of the market with a few niche, pricey offerings, there are now tons of high-quality options available at a multitude of price points. We've spent time researching, reading reviews, and testing products to determine which noise-canceling earbuds are the best to buy in 2021.
There are several important factors to keep in mind when shopping for noise-canceling earbuds: audio performance, comfort, build quality, battery life, and available charging methods. The finest products will offer a good balance between all the aforementioned qualities.
Audio Performance
Typically, a product's audio and noise cancellation quality are directly related to its price tag. These features require a combination of high-quality hardware and sophisticated audio processing: So, the more you pay, the better the product will be. The best wireless earbuds in this space carry price tags above $200.
Comfort and Build Quality
We recommend noise-canceling earbuds with an official water-resistance rating, a seamlessly comfy fit, and easy-to-access controls. The best options will allow you to customize the sound and noise cancelation to your preference via a mobile app.
If you plan to use your earbuds to commute or while at the office or gym, look for a pair with ambient mode, so that you can better hear your surroundings. For true wireless earbuds, a built-in wear sensor that will stop the playback once you remove one of them is also helpful.
Battery Life
Remember that noise cancellation in wireless earbuds takes a toll on their battery life, so disabling it will increase the time you spend between charges. Save for a couple of offerings from Sony and Master & Dynamic, most true wireless earphones will struggle to make it through, say, an entire workday without the need to recharge. Consider a wired or wireless neckband headset if you're looking to spend long periods of time in uninterrupted silence (i.e., a busy workday or long flight).
Charging Methods
When it comes to charging options, look for storage cases that have a convenient USB-C or Lightning connector, as well as compatibility with wireless chargers.
From affordable true wireless buds to more expensive, feature-packed sets, find your new pair of noise-canceling earbuds among these highly rated options.
Sony’s WF-1000XM4 noise-canceling earbuds are today’s best, offering phenomenal audio quality and noise cancellation, a cool design with a comfy fit, and long battery life. Combined, the aforementioned bits make the product worth its hefty sticker.
You can customize the earbuds’ sound and noise cancellation via a mobile app. Another thing we like is the speak-to-chat feature, which pauses audio playback and activates ambient mode upon detecting your voice. You can order the WF-1000XM4 in black or silver with a matching case.
Jabra’s Elite 7 Pro true wireless earbuds are an excellent alternative to the Sony with a tougher build, a comfier fit with tactile button controls, a longer warranty, and a lower price tag. However, the Sony product has more robust noise cancellation, as well as superior sound quality with Hi-Res Audio support.
Like all Jabra products, the Elite 7 Pro buds sound great during phone calls, too. You can snag a pair in titanium black or gold beige.
Anker’s Soundcore Life P3 true wireless earbuds — just like the brand’s excellent Q30 Bluetooth headphones — defy their sub-$80 price tag in every possible way. The buds bring a cool design, good sound and noise cancellation, solid battery life, and a fantastic companion app. The app has plenty of tools for customizing the sonic experience, as well as the ability to help you focus or relax by playing a wide selection of ambient noises.
You can order the product in several colors: black, white, red, and two shades of blue.
The QuietComfort wireless earbuds by Bose are unsurprisingly among today’s best. The earphones produce superb noise cancellation, the audio giant’s signature sound (well-balanced with just the right amount of bass), sleek and durable design, and a comfy fit with intuitive touch controls.
The buds come in two colors — triple black and soapstone — and their charging case holds two additional charges.
The AirPods Pro bring noise-canceling tech to one of Apple's most popular products. The buds are equipped with beam-forming microphones, which constantly detect and block external noise.
The audio quality of the AirPods Pro is superb. The buds are even compatible with enhanced spatial audio, which utilizes dynamic head tracking to deliver a theater-like experience.
Battery life with noise cancellation is unimpressive
Key Specs
Water Resistance: IPX7
Battery Life: 5 hours
Charging: USB-C and wireless charging
Samsung’s answer to the Apple AirPods Pro, the Galaxy Buds Pro are an excellent option for owners of the tech giant’s excellent Android smartphones. The sleek earbuds deliver a powerful sound with excellent quality, as well as an equally impressive noise cancellation. My favorite bit about them is the fact that the buds will automatically launch ambient mode if they detect your speech.
You can order the earbuds in black, silver, or violet. Each color option includes a battery case with a matching finish.
Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro noise-canceling earbuds are the ones to get if you want to keep your upgrade budget well below $200. The stylish buds, like their predecessor, deliver sound that’s personalized to your hearing. All you need to do is complete a short test via the buds' companion app.
The wireless earbuds’ noise cancellation, like their audio quality, is stellar and among the best in their price range. Elegant design and a comfy fit round up the product’s key features. You can order the product in black, white, gray, or purple.
When it comes to sheer acoustic capabilities, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 true wireless earbuds are the product category’s finest. The high-tech buds deliver more detail-rich sound than any rival, as well as smart noise cancellation that’s customizable via an app. We only wish that the battery life was a bit longer.
We like that the battery case for the PI7 doubles as an audiophile-grade audio transmitter, allowing you to easily connect the earbuds to, say, a flight entertainment system. The accessory is also compatible with wireless charging.
The 1More Dual Driver ANC wireless noise-canceling earbuds are our top pick with a neckband design. Each bud packs a duo of audio drivers, which outputs exceptional sound with Hi-Res Audio support that’s worthy of a higher price tag. The product’s two-level noise cancellation is also excellent.
The earbuds have an ergonomic design and durable build. Compared to true wireless earbuds, the neckband offering has a much longer battery life.
The Master & Dynamic MW08 earbuds stand out with ceramic housings that are luxurious and durable in equal measure. The buds also offer phenomenal sound and adjustable noise cancellation. Overall, for their looks, craftsmanship, and audio performance, they are worth the money.
The battery life of the MW08 is the best you'll get from true wireless earbuds. Available in black, white, blue, and brown, the earphones come bundled with a stainless steel charging case.
One of the finest options for workout warriors, the Jaybird Vista 2 wireless earbuds are in a league of their own when it comes to durability. The buds’ military-grade rating for dust and water resistance is the product category’s highest: Even their charging case can survive exposure to water and dust!
Sound-wise, the Vista 2 delivers a powerful and highly customizable experience via an intuitive mobile app. The product’s noise cancellation is also dependable, especially considering its price.
Quality noise cancellation is one of the many reasons why the reasonably priced Beats Studio Buds are among our favorite wireless earbuds. The true wireless earphones deliver the brand’s signature sound in a super lightweight and comfy form factor, as well as support for immersive spatial audio.
To top things off, the Studio Buds have seamless Apple connectivity and clicky button controls. You can order the product in black, white, or red. Gym-ready Beats Fit Pro earbuds with onboard noise cancellation and a more secure fit are also available.
The Klipsch T5 II earbuds are as high-tech as a true wireless pair can be. In addition to the brand’s legendary sound and dependable noise cancellation, the buds bring a ton of smart features. Powered by a Bragi platform, they include head gesture controls for taking calls and controlling playback.
In a manner befitting their price point, the T5 II earbuds have an intuitive companion app for fine-tuning their sound. Klipsch also offers a pricier, carbon fiber-adorned iteration of the earbuds, designed in collaboration with the iconic supercar maker McLaren. It has a bundled wireless charging pad.
The Pioneer Rayz Pro earbuds are the best wired option, offering good sound and noise cancellation for around $100. They come with a Lightning and USB-C adapter, so you can use them with an iPhone, any Android smartphone, and laptops or tablets with a USB-C connector.
Available in black or white, the buds are lightweight and comfortable. They have a convenient remote, and their buttons are customizable via a mobile app.
The Bose QuietComfort 20 earbuds have been around for a while, but they are still the gold standard for wired noise-canceling earbuds. They bring the brand’s signature sound in a comfortable form factor.
The earphones' excellent noise cancellation comes courtesy of a dedicated control module with a built-in rechargeable battery. The earbuds have an integrated remote control and microphone for making calls with a compatible smartphone.
Stefan VazharovSenior Technology EditorStefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015; He previously covered tech products for GSMArena.com and his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
