The 6 Best Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones - Summer 2021 Reviews

The best cheap noise cancelling headphones that we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. These over-ears are the previous generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. Although they're a bit older and have fewer overall features, their ANC does a good job of blocking out background noise like ambient chatter around you.

These comfortable headphones have over 32 hours of continuous battery life and can be used passively with their 1/8" TRS cable. Their excited sound profile is well suited for genres like pop or rock as it delivers intense thump, punch, and boom while vocals and lead instruments are bright. They also have low Bluetooth latency on iOS and Android, which is great if you like to stream videos.

Unfortunately, their ANC struggles to cut down bass-range noise like bus or plane engines. While they have a bass boost button to help add more rumble to your mixes, they still lack more robust sound customization features like an EQ. However, if you're looking for more affordable headphones with active noise cancelling, they're a suitable choice. 

The EarFun Air Pro are the best budget noise cancelling headphones under $100 that we've tested. These truly wireless in-ears have a highly effective ANC system that enables them to block out an impressive amount of background noise, ranging from the low rumble of bus engines to the high-pitched hum of an AC unit. While battery life can vary drastically in the real world, even with their noise cancelling function turned on, they supply over nine hours of battery life on a single charge and come with a case that supplies enough over for over 32 hours of total runtime.

These in-ears also have a comfortable, stable fit that doesn't enter your ear too deeply. They feel quite well-made, with sturdy plastic construction. Their sound profile is quite well balanced, making them suitable for a wide range of musical genres, though their slightly overemphasized bass range does give a bit of extra thump and punch to EDM and hip-hop tracks. They also have very low latency on mobile Android and iOS devices, which is good if you like to watch videos on your way into the office or to class, though different apps and devices compensate for audio latency to varying degrees.

Unfortunately, they lack sound adjustment features and don't have a companion app. Their touch-sensitive control scheme is also sometimes slow to respond to inputs. Still, if you're looking for relatively affordable in-ears with a great ANC performance, these are a good option.

The Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones are the best budget noise cancelling headphones under $150 that we've tested. These Bluetooth-enabled over-ears have an ANC system that enables them to block out an amazing amount of background noise. They're also comfortable enough to wear for long listening sessions, have a highly intuitive control scheme, and feel solidly built.

Out-of-the-box, these headphones have a somewhat bass-heavy, boomy sound profile that should suit genres like EDM or hip-hop, but if that isn't to your liking, it can also be adjusted via their in-app graphic EQ or EQ presets. They also support multi-device pairing, allowing you to stream music from your phone while remaining connected to your computer. These headphones offer more than 13 hours of playback time on a single charge, but they come with a 1/8" TRRS cable with an in-line mic, allowing for full audio and mic compatibility on a wired connection.

Unfortunately, like most over-ear headphones, they're quite bulky, which can make them a bit of a nuisance to carry around when not in use. Their integrated mic delivers sub-par overall performance, as it struggles to isolate speech from even moderate background noise and makes your voice sound thin and muffled. Otherwise, their excellent noise isolation performance, comfortable fit, and wide range of customizability make them a good fit for most uses.