The 6 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones - Summer 2020
Reviews

The best noise cancelling headphones with Bluetooth that we've tested so far are the Sony WH-1000XM3. These popular wireless over-ear headphones are very comfortable thanks to their soft padding and look and feel very premium and well-built. Their battery lasts 27 hours, and you can get five hours of playtime from only a 15-minute charge, which is convenient.

Their ANC feature works exceptionally well and is the best we've tested to date. While most ANC headphones do a good job of blocking out background chatter or the high-pitched noises from an AC unit, many struggle with the lower rumble of bus and plane engines. This isn't the case with these, and they're some of the best headphones we've tested at blocking out all frequencies, making them a great choice for the office or your daily commute.

Unfortunately, their touch-sensitive controls don't work in colder climates, and their out-of-the-box sound profile is a bit bass-heavy. Luckily, they're compatible with the excellent Sony | Headphones Connect app which gives you access to a graphic EQ to customize their sound. Overall, these are a great pair of ANC headphones and are among the best headphones we've ever tested.

The best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested so far 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, these headphones 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 5 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 the sound profile of your headphones, you may be disappointed by the lack of customization options. They don't have a companion app, although iOS users can use the ANC and transparency mode toggle on their settings screen. However, with one of the most stable fits of any in-ears we've tested, these headphones shouldn't fall out of your ears, even when working out.

The best noise cancelling headphones under $200 that we've tested so far 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 Mpow H10 are the best noise cancelling headphones under $50 that we've tested to date. These Bluetooth over-ears are well-padded and can be comfortably worn for long periods. With 23-hour battery life, you likely won't need to charge these headphones every day, and they don't take long to charge either, which is nice.

Their ANC performance is impressive, especially when compared to other products at this price point. If you're commuting or at the office, these headphones will do a great job blocking out the environmental noise around you. They also have a decently neutral sound profile that can be suitable for a variety of music genres.

On the downside, these headphones aren't as well-built as some of the other products we've tested, and their plastic build can give them a flimsy feel. Also, their headband is fairly large, which may not be ideal for listeners with smaller heads. However, for casual everyday users looking to tune out the noise around them, they can offer great value.