The 5 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $100 - Fall 2023 Reviews

The best noise cancelling headphones under $100 we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. These comfortable over-ears are the crème de la crème in this price range, thanks to their outstanding ANC system with three modes designed with different kinds of sound in mind, like traffic or voices. With the ANC on, their battery lasts over 44 hours continuously, and they have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off. They also come with a good hard carrying case to protect the headphones. Unfortunately, some users have reported that their units' headbands cracked or broke over time, so they may not be the most durable headphones.

Out of the box, they have an excited sound profile with intense thump and boom, which is great for genres like rock and pop. If you prefer a different sound, you can customize their sound to suit your tastes using their app's graphic EQ and presets. These headphones also support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to two devices simultaneously. They leak audio at high volumes, so if you like to crank up the volume to your favorite tunes, you may annoy others around you.

If you want headphones with more office-centric features, look at the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. They're the next generation of our top pick, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, but their mic performance distinguishes them from their predecessor. Whether you have to make calls from the office or attend online meetings from home, their integrated mic does a good job recording your voice clearly, so your coworkers will have no problem hearing you clearly. The mic also does a better job of separating your voice from background noise, though traffic can drown your voice out if you need to take a call on the go. Unfortunately, their design is still prone to breakage, so they may not be the most long-lasting headphones.

Although their ANC system doesn't offer quite the same high performance as the Q30, they can still block out a great amount of ambient noise, like the rumble of bus engines and ambient chatter around you. With their ANC on, they last over 44 hours continuously. Out of the box, they also have a very bass-heavy sound profile that delivers intense thump, rumble, and boom, but if you prefer a different sound, their companion app provides a graphic EQ and presets.

If you like to play mobile apps or stream video on the go, check out the Razer Opus X Wireless. While many Bluetooth headphones can introduce audio lag into your gaming or streaming, these over-ears have a 'Gaming Mode' that helps ensure that your audio and visuals stay in sync, whether you're using your phone or other Bluetooth-compatible devices like the Nintendo Switch. Unlike the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, their ANC struggles with bass-range noise like rumbling engines, but it's great at blocking out ambient chatter.

They have a fairly neutral sound profile that adds extra boom to audio, which adds warmth and helps bring out sound effects like footsteps. Voices and instruments sound clear, accurate, and detailed. The Razer Audio app has a few EQ presets if you prefer a different sound. The headphones are sturdy and comfortable and come in bright colors like green and pink, which is unusual for over-ears. They last for roughly 68 hours of continuous use with ANC on, which is fantastic, but you don't have the option of using them wired when the battery dies.

You'll find more in-ears and earbuds with ANC at this price point than over-ears. This kind of design has a few benefits: namely, a smaller, more portable design, though the trade-off is that their battery doesn't last as long continuously. Enter the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, which have an adaptive ANC system that automatically adjusts the level of noise isolation to fit your environment. They block out an outstanding amount of sound, like rumbly plane engines and people talking near you, and they even slightly outperform our top over-ear pick in this regard. That said, you can switch to manual ANC controls and set the level of noise isolation to your preferences. With their ANC on, they last over eight hours continuously, but if you need to recharge them, their carrying case supplies an extra four charges.

Beyond noise isolation, these comfortable and well-built buds have a warm sound profile that makes vocals and instruments sound cozy. Although they lack low-bass, you can fine-tune their sound via the graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. In addition, they support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected to your smartphone and PC simultaneously. Unfortunately, their integrated mic has poor recording quality, so your voice sounds distant and piercing.

Budget-friendly earbuds usually have fewer extra features than pricier options, but it's still possible to find earbuds with a strong noise cancelling performance. The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are the best noise cancelling buds at the budget level that we've tested. They don't have a companion app, sound customization features, or multi-device pairing, but their ANC system isolates you from ambient sound. It blocks out bass-range noise like rumbling engines very well, and although the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless handle higher-pitched sounds like voices more effectively, these buds are still good at reducing background noise at the office.

Their V-shaped sound profile adds thump and rumble in the bass range and brightness to instruments and lead vocals, making them well-suited for genres like EDM, rock, and pop. However, they also sound a bit harsh. The buds last around eight hours of continuous use with ANC on, so they can get you through a workday without recharging. Their portable case also stores a couple of extra charges. The earbuds are decently comfortable for most people, but they have a bulky design and a deep in-ear fit, which can bother some people.

If you're looking for more noise cancelling earbuds and in-ears, check out our article on the best noise cancelling earbuds!