The 6 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds And In-Ear Headphones - Summer 2021 Reviews

The best noise cancelling wireless earbuds with a truly wireless design that we've tested are the Apple AirPods Pro. They're comfortable as they don't enter the ear canal too deep and are so lightweight that you barely even notice they're there. They look and feel premium and well-built and have easy-to-use touch-sensitive controls on each stem. Their case is very small and supports wireless charging, and they pair seamlessly to all your Apple devices.

Their ANC is excellent; they do a great job blocking out the low rumble of bus and plane engines, and office sounds like background chatter and fan noise. They have a well-balanced and neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, making them versatile enough for most genres and content. Unfortunately, they don't have any EQ options, and their lack of low-bass may be disappointing to fans of EDM and dubstep.

Like many Bluetooth headphones, their microphone isn't very good, and your voice sounds very thin and muffled. They also only last just under 5.5 hours off a single charge, which isn't nearly as long as most premium truly wireless options. On the bright side, Apple claims that a 20-minute charge will give you around three to four hours of playback, and their case holds about five additional charges, which is excellent. Overall, these are a good pair of in-ears that pack an impressive ANC feature and are among the best truly wireless headphones that we've tested.

The Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless are the best neckband noise cancelling earbuds that we've tested. These headphones have very good ANC, which can cut down bass-range noise like bus or plane engines as well as ambient chatter around you. They're also well-built, with a flexible silicone neckband and a sturdy hard case to make it easy to store them when you're on the go.

Right out-of-the-box, they have a warm and dark sound profile that's well-suited for vocal-centric content like audiobooks or podcasts. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets so you can tweak their sound to your liking. They have roughly 8.6 hours of continuous playback time and can be used passively with their TRS cable. These decently comfortable headphones can also be paired with up to two devices at a time and even support NFC pairing.

Unfortunately, their neckband can snag longer hair. The ANC also seems to filter out the wrong noise in the treble range, so they do a better job of blocking high-pitched sounds passively than with the ANC. That said, if you prefer a neckband design, these noise cancelling headphones are a suitable choice.

The best noise cancelling earbuds with a wired design that we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20. These headphones have a rechargeable in-line battery to power their ANC system. It does an outstanding job of reducing background noise like the rumble of bus engines or people talking around you.

These earbuds are well-built and have a comfortable fit, so you can wear them for long listening sessions without feeling fatigued. Thanks to their stability tip design, they shouldn't easily fall out of your ear unless their audio cable gets hooked on something and pulls them out. Their warm sound profile has extra thump, boom, and punch, making them a good choice if you're a fan of bass-heavy audio genres.

Unfortunately, they lack customization features like an EQ or presets. The latex covering the in-line battery can also peel off over time, and although this is purely cosmetic, some users may find it a bit annoying. Still, these wired headphones have a powerful ANC to help block out noise and are comfortable enough for long days at the office or on the go.

The best budget noise cancelling headphones that we've tested are the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless. These well-built earbuds are sold a little above the $50 price point, but they're still fairly affordable. Their ANC feature blocks out an impressive amount of sound, from bass-range noise like the rumble of bus and plane engines to office-type sounds like conversations and the hum of an A/C unit.

They have good touch-sensitive controls that allow you to cycle between ANC and Transparency mode, which lets you hear ambient noise while listening to audio. Their sound profile is slightly v-shaped, with a bit of extra low-bass that adds thump and rumble to mixes, which fans of genres like EDM and hip-hop may like. They're comfortable and very stable once you achieve a good fit with the included ear tips.

Unfortunately, you can't completely turn off the ANC feature, which some may find inconvenient. Also, their continuous battery life of roughly eight hours is shorter than advertised. On the plus side, they come with a hard plastic case that holds about two extra charges. If you're looking for earbuds with an effective ANC at a budget-friendly price, these are a solid option.