The 7 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones - Spring 2021 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 and presets. They have good controls with several unique features like 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. They 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. Thanks to their ANC feature, these well-built headphones offer an excellent noise isolation performance, so you can focus on your audio whether you're commuting or working in a noisy office setting. They have a comfortable, stable fit, so they're a solid choice for listening to music during your workouts.

Out-of-the-box, they have a pretty neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. They don't leak a lot of audio, either, so you can crank up the volume on your favorite tunes without really bothering those around you. Though they only last for a little over five hours off of a single charge, their portable charging case offers around five extra charges, so you can easily power up while on-the-go.

Unfortunately, they have some difficulty reproducing a thumpy low-bass, so you may not feel the deep rumbles in action-packed videos or bass-heavy music. They also don't have any sound customization options, which is a bit disappointing for listeners who like to adjust the sound to their liking. That said, these in-ears offer an amazing noise isolation performance, and their versatility makes them a solid choice for lots of different types of listeners.

The Razer Opus are the best noise cancelling headphones under $200 that we've tested. These comfortable over-ears have a great price-to-performance ratio, and their versatility makes them a solid choice for lots of different listeners. Also, their ANC feature offers incredible noise isolation, so you can block out background noises like bus and plane engines as well as the sounds of people talking around you.

They offer a very neutral, balanced sound profile that makes them suitable for listening to lots of different music genres. If you prefer a different sound, there's even a graphic EQ and presets available in the Razer Opus app to help you adjust them. Also, their continuous battery life of over 32 hours is outstanding and should be more than enough to last through your longest days out of the house.

Unfortunately, they don't support multi-device pairing, which can be disappointing if you like to switch your audio source between different devices on a regular basis. Also, they don't fold into a more compact format, and their bulky design may not fit very easily into your bag or backpack. However, if you're shopping on a budget, these noise cancelling headphones are still a solid choice.

The best noise cancelling headphones under $100 that we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30. These Bluetooth-enabled over-ears, helped in part by their highly effective ANC system, do a remarkable job of blocking out ambient noise across the frequency spectrum, from the low rumble of bus and plane engines to the high-pitched hum of an AC unit. Their 44-hour-plus battery life is more than sufficient for a couple of days at the office or several long overnight flights.

They feel quite well-made and are comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. Their bass-heavy sound profile makes them a good option for hip-hop and EDM music, but their companion app features a graphic EQ to let you customize this if it's not to your liking. Since they can pair to two devices simultaneously, you can stream music from your phone while remaining connected to your computer.

Unfortunately, these over-ears leak quite a bit of audio, so you may annoy people nearby if you like to listen to content at high volumes. They're also quite bulky, which makes them a bit of a nuisance to carry around, though they do come with a sturdy carrying case. If you're looking for a pair of relatively affordable wireless headphones with remarkable noise isolation performance, these are a good option.

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94 Truly Wireless are the best budget noise cancelling headphones that we've tested. These truly wireless in-ears have an excellently performing ANC that can block out a significant amount of bus or plane engine noise as well as ambient chatter. They also don't leak too much audio, so you can listen to music at high volumes without disturbing others around you.

While they have a somewhat boomy sound profile that's suitable for genres like EDM or hip-hop, their mid-range is balanced enough for the reproduction of lead instruments and voices. If you like to run, they're also rated IPX5 for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this, and they have a comfortable as well as stable in-ear fit that helps keep them in place while you move. They have low latency on both iOS and Android, so you can stream video from your phone without too much audio lag.

Unfortunately, they don't have a companion app and lack sound customization features like a graphic EQ or presets. Their 3.8-hour battery life is a bit low too, and they probably won't make it through your entire shift at work. Luckily, they have three additional charges in their carrying case, recharge quite quickly, and have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life. While they're fairly bare-bones in terms of extra features, their wallet-friendly design delivers an excellent noise isolation performance suitable for most uses.