The 6 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones that we've tested are the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These well-built, comfortable, and stylish headphones are the next generation of the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless. They have a similarly powerful noise isolation performance but new features that you can use to customize your audio experience.

Right out-of-the-box, they have a thumpy, bass-heavy sound profile. However, if you prefer to tweak them to your liking, their companion app offers a graphic EQ plus presets. They have good controls with several unique features such as Speak-to-Chat, which pauses your audio and lets in ambient sound when you start talking. When you cover the right ear cup, it triggers their Quick Attention feature, which also lets in ambient noise so that you can stay aware of your surroundings without having to pause your music. You don't have to worry so much about battery life either as they offer over 37 hours of continuous battery life as well as an auto-off timer.

Unfortunately, they're a bit bulky, which can make them a little less portable when you're on-the-go. Their integrated microphone also has a disappointing recording quality, making your voice sound thin, muffled, and lacking detail. These headphones also have quite a bit of latency, making them less than ideal for watching movies or playing video games. On the upside, they have NFC and multi-device pairing, so you can easily switch between your computer and smartphone.

The best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested are the Apple AirPods Pro. They're comfortable, well-built, and offer more premium features than the Apple AirPods 2 Truly Wireless 2019, including an active noise cancelling feature. Their closed-back design also helps to offer a more accurate bass range.

With an impressive ANC performance, they do a great job blocking out ambient noise while commuting or working in an office setting. Their neutral but slightly bright sound profile should still make them suitable for most music genres. These earbuds can also last for over five hours off of one charge, and their portable charging case has five additional charges for when you're on the go.

Unfortunately, if you like to customize your headphones' sound profile, you may be disappointed by the lack of customization options. Although iOS users can use the ANC and transparency mode toggle on their settings screen, they don't have a companion app. However, with one of the most stable fits of any in-ear we've tested, these shouldn't fall out of your ears, even when working out.

The best noise cancelling headphones under $200 that we've tested are the Razer Opus. These Bluetooth over-ears offer outstanding value and look and feel almost identical to the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless. They're very comfortable, even during longer listening sessions, and they last nearly 33 hours off a single charge, which is excellent. Their physical controls are easy to use, and they even come with a great hard carrying case if you need to toss them into a bag or suitcase.

Their ANC performance is excellent, especially considering their price, and easily competes with other options that cost nearly double the price, such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. It does an excellent job of blocking out all frequency ranges, including the low rumble of bus and plane engines. Their sound profile is also very natural and well-balanced, and their companion app allows you to customize the way they sound via a graphic EQ and presets.

Unfortunately, their integrated microphone isn't great, and your voice easily gets drowned out in noisy environments, though this is common with many Bluetooth headphones. They also lack some advanced features like multi-device pairing, so you'll have to re-connect them every time you want to switch from your phone to a laptop. That being said, they provide an outstanding price-to-performance ratio and are among the best office headphones we've tested.

The best noise cancelling headphones under $50 that we've tested are the Mpow H10. They're affordable and have a great active noise cancelling feature that can help cut down bus and train engines as well as ambient chatter. They also have an impressive battery performance with over 23 hours of continuous playback time.

Although they have a bass-heavy sound that's well-suited for EDM and hip-hop, they're still versatile enough for a variety of music genres. They also have a comfortable fit, thanks to their plushy and soft padding, which means you can wear them for long listening sessions without too much fatigue. If you're worried about battery life, they have a standby mode to help conserve power too, which is handy if you frequently use their ANC.

Unfortunately, they have a plasticky build, which is to be expected at this price point. Some users may also find their headband to be fairly large, and if you have a small head, they can fall. That said, if you're trying to keep your expenses down, but you don't want to sacrifice a power ANC feature, these headphones deliver great noise isolation at a reasonable price.