The 5 Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones - Winter 2022 Reviews

The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are the best cheap noise cancelling headphones that we've tested. These in-ears have a great noise isolation performance, thanks to their ANC system. They can block out the low rumble of bus engines very well, which makes them a very good choice for commuting.

They have a slightly excited sound profile that delivers extra thump and rumble to mixes. The buds are well-built, rated IPX6 for resistance against immersion in water, and are decently comfortable. They also come with six pairs of ear tips to help you get the best fit. Their continuous battery life of over eight hours should last through long days on the go too, and their carrying case supplies roughly two additional charges if you need it.

Unfortunately, their integrated mic struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you, so speech may be drowned out if you're taking a call from a busy street. The buds also lack a companion app and customization features, which is disappointing if you want to tweak their sound to your liking. That said, if you're looking for wallet-friendly noise cancelling headphones, they're a solid choice.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are the best budget noise cancelling headphones under $100 that we've tested. These well-built headphones have an outstanding ANC system. They can block out a significant amount of noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines and ambient chatter.

Their excited, v-shaped sound profile delivers intense thump, rumble, and boom. At the same time, vocals and lead instruments are bright and sparkly. Thanks to their companion app's graphic EQ and presets, you can also customize their sound to your liking. They have over 44 hours of continuous battery life too, and you can connect them with up to two devices at a time. They support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them with up to two devices like a smartphone and laptop at a time.

However, they're prone to inconsistencies in treble delivery, and you may need to adjust their fit and positioning to achieve a more consistent listening experience. They also leak audio at high volumes, which could annoy others around you. They offer a fantastic noise isolation performance and a customizable sound profile, making them a suitable choice for most users.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless are the best value noise cancelling headphones under $150 that we've tested. These Βluetooth earbuds have an ANC feature that blocks out an amazing amount of noise. When set to 'Transport' mode, it's very effective at isolating you from bass-range noise like rumbling bus engines during your commute.

You can set the ANC feature in their companion app to two other settings, 'Outdoor' or 'Indoor', or customize it to suit your needs. You can also switch noise cancelling on and off by pressing either earbud for two seconds. They have a bass-heavy sound profile well-suited for genres like EDM, and you can customize it in the Anker Soundcore app, which includes a graphic EQ and 20 different presets.

Unfortunately, they have a short continuous battery life of roughly 3.5 hours with ANC on. They come with a case that holds about two extra charges, but their total battery life is still on the short side for long trips. That said, they do an excellent job of blocking out ambient sound and are very customizable.