Escaping from the outside world is something you yearn for, whether in a noisy gym or on a long-haul flight. However, achieving this is quite challenging when using standard earbuds.

Noise-canceling earbuds are an effective way to reduce environmental distractions. Unlike passive models, they allow you to enjoy fuller and vibrant sound quality at a lower volume to avoid causing hearing implications.

These earbuds differ in battery life, noise cancelation capabilities, comfort, and audio quality.

Here are the best wireless noise-canceling earbuds suitable for different users.

Premium pick

1. Bose QuietComfort

9.40 / 10
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The Bose QuietComfort has incredible features that heighten your listening experience. The comfort level is applaudable with the three StayHear Max ear tips (small, medium, and large) that have a smooth matte finish. As such, you can find a size that best fits to avoid hurting your ears after a few hours of listening to audio content.

Besides comfort, the tight seal makes it easy to enjoy the Active Noise Canceling capabilities. It cancels out ambient noises that make your air travels hectic, so you sit at the tail end of the airplane and have a comfortable sleep.

Alternatively, you can activate the ActiveSense technology that keeps you aware of your surroundings while allowing you to listen to music. It’s an essential feature that ensures you don’t miss announcements in public places.

The IPX4 rating makes these earbuds ideal for workout enthusiasts. You can engage in strenuous workouts in the gym or outdoors without worrying about damage from sweat and water splashes.

Key Features
  • Excellent noise canceling capability
  • Simple touch controls
  • Includes a USB-C cable
  • Comes with three ear tips
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 6 hours
  • Charging Case Included?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: Bose
  • Supported codecs: AAC, SBC
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • IP Rating: IPX4
  • Solo bud mode?: Yes
Pros
  • Great for working out
  • Comfortable
  • High-quality audio
Cons
  • Not fully waterproof
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Bose QuietComfort
Editors choice

2. Sony WF-1000XM4

9.20 / 10
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A new yet handy feature in the Sony WF-1000XM4 is the V1 chipset, which provides accurate noise cancelation. It dampens distracting noise around you, so you can concentrate on whatever you’re listening to without raising the volume too high.

The sound quality is top-notch with the 6mm drivers coupled with the automatic wind noise reduction feature. They ensure better sound performance with less distortion, providing you with the motivation you require to stay productive while working.

Each earbud has two mics with a precise voice pickup technology to improve interactions with the voice assistants and the call quality. This advanced audio processing signal picks up your voice clearly, allowing you to have high-quality hands-free calls. You’ll also appreciate the responsiveness when commanding Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant, even in noisy environments.

Controlling these earbuds is straightforward with the Sony Headphones app, whether you want to adjust the volume, forward your music, or fine-tune the ANC.

Key Features
  • Speak-to-chat function
  • Useful V1 processor
  • 6mm drivers
  • Qi technology for wireless charging
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 8 hours
  • Charging Case Included?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: Sony
  • Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • IP Rating: IPX4
  • Solo bud mode?: Yes
Pros
  • Incredible sound quality
  • Improved call performance
  • Splash and sweatproof
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • Quite large for some ears
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Sony WF-1000XM4

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are noise-canceling wireless earbuds that let you enjoy uninterrupted listening sessions. The ANC feature analyzes your surroundings to reduce ambient sounds that interfere with your listening experience. Better yet, you can personalize the ambient sound mode if you want to hear what’s happening around you.

These earbuds come in a small bean-shaped size, providing a comfortable fit to make long listening sessions painless. Additionally, you get three different-sized ear tips, so you can use what fits snugly in your ears. You don’t need to pause your work after a few minutes to find a comfortable grip.

Regarding the battery life, these earbuds power you for five hours with ANC on and close to seven hours when off, which is enough to cater to your needs all day long. If you’re a forgetful gym-goer, you can quick-charge the buds for five minutes and enjoy 60 minutes of playtime when hitting the treadmill.

Key Features
  • In-ear placement
  • Includes three microphones
  • Available in four colors
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 5 hours (ANC on), 7.5 hours (ANC off)
  • Charging Case Included?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: Samsung
  • Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, scalable codec
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • IP Rating: IPX2
  • Solo bud mode?: Yes
Pros
  • Offers a comfortable pick
  • Excellent sound performance
  • Easy to control with the Galaxy Wearable app
  • Great call quality
Cons
  • App doesn’t work on iOS
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

Designed with comfort and high performance in mind, the Apple AirPods Pro is one of the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds you can buy today. The innovative vent system plays a crucial role in equalizing pressure on both sides, minimizing the discomfort associated with long listening sessions. Apple also includes three silicone ear tips to help you find a suitable seal depending on your ear size.

The transparency mode is a valuable addition that keeps you aware of your surrounding without overpowering your music. It gives you a sense of awareness to ensure you don’t miss airport announcements. With the adaptive EQ, you can tweak the mids and lows based on your ear shape to enjoy well-balanced audio in all music genres.

Besides staying in place during your workouts sessions, these earbuds have an IPX4 rating, so you don't have to worry about damage caused by sweat and water splashes.

Key Features
  • H1 high-performing chip
  • Compatible with Qi-certified chargers
  • Inward-facing microphones
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 4.5 hours (ANC on), 5 hours (ANC off)
  • Charging Case Included?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: Apple
  • Supported codecs: AAC
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • IP Rating: IPX4
  • Solo bud mode?: Yes
  • Charging type: Yes
Pros
  • Effective noise cancelation
  • In-ear design provides a tight fit
  • Incredible sound quality
Cons
  • Battery life is short
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Apple AirPods Pro

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay raises the bar in different aspects over the previous model, making it a great choice. With Bluetooth 5.2 on board, these earbuds provide stable connections up to 33 feet away, eliminating the need to carry your phone around. They remember the last eight paired devices, making switching between different Bluetooth-enabled gadgets a breeze.

Each earbud features an 85mAh battery, while the charging case packs a 340mAh battery that provides you with long playtime sessions. A single charge lets you play your favorite podcasts and music for 6.5 hours with ANC on, which is pretty long compared to some of its competitors.

The B&O’s mobile app, which works on both iOS and Android devices, makes managing the earbuds effortless. You can rewind or pause the current song and see real-time updates on the battery level. It also gives you access to several listening modes that make it easy to fine-tune the sound to your liking. Onboard are six microphones and beamforming technology that allows you to have clear and noise-free calls.

Key Features
  • Beamforming technology
  • Transparency mode
  • Allows multi-point connection
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 6.5 hours (ANC on), 7.5 hours (ANC off)
  • Charging Case Included?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: Bang & Olufsen
  • Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • IP Rating: IP54
  • Solo bud mode?: Yes
Pros
  • Crystal-clear calls
  • Lightweight, ergonomic, and stylish
  • Superior sound quality
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • Not waterproof
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Bang & Olufsen Beoplay

If you want noise-canceling wireless earbuds that deliver high-fidelity sound, you can’t go wrong with the Sennheiser M3IETW2. Onboard are 7mm drivers that pump satisfying sound quality to make your listening experience more impactful. You can tweak your music via the graphic EQ on the companion app to improve the response in different genres.

The trimmed earpieces feel less bulky, which is also an excellent way to relieve you from unwanted pressure. They feel comfortable even after hours of wearing, allowing you to breeze through demanding jobs without the need to adjust them frequently.

The earbuds are designed to keep up with your busy lifestyle, thanks to their IPX4 rating. With this specificaton, you can listen to motivating music while working out or hiking without worrying that they’ll get damaged from sweat. The touch controls increase usability by giving you an easy way to manage your calls, control your songs, and activate your preferred voice assistant.

Key Features
  • Transparent hearing mode
  • Works with voice assistants
  • 100Hz to 10kHz frequency response (microphone)
  • Customizable touchpad
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 7 hours (ANC on)
  • Charging Case Included?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: Sennheiser
  • Supported codecs: AAC, aptX
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • IP Rating: IPX4
  • Solo bud mode?: No
Pros
  • Offers a secure fit
  • Excellent touch-sensitive controls
  • Outstanding features through the app
  • Satisfying sound performance
Cons
  • No wireless charging
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Sennheiser M3IETW2

The Jabra Elite Active 75t makes an all-in-one solution for sports enthusiasts. One feature that sets these earbuds apart from other wireless noise-canceling earbuds is their IP57 rating, which means they can withstand dust and water immersion up to one meter. While they can’t be used for swimming (since they lack onboard storage), they come in handy when doing sweat-guaranteed exercises like Bikram yoga and stair climbing.

The comfort level is incredible as the earbuds offer a secure seal. They are less likely to slip off your ears even when under pressure from fast-moving workouts. You’ll also appreciate the well-integrated pressure vent that reduces the suction sensation that comes with a tight seal, thus minimizing discomfort.

These earbuds have four microphones (two in each), which work with the Qualcomm chipset to isolate you from the real world. Such additions make the ANC more effective, so you don’t have to hear grunting sounds when other workout enthusiasts are weightlifting. It’s also a smart way to push you through fatigue by listening to motivational music.

Key Features
  • Customizable equalizer
  • 15-minute charge for one hours worth of battery
  • In-ear form factor
  • Special grip coating
Specifications
  • Battery Life: 5.5 hours (ANC on), 7.5 hours (ANC off)
  • Charging Case Included?: Yes
  • Microphones: Yes
  • Brand: Jabra
  • Supported codecs: AAC, SBC
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • IP Rating: IP57
  • Solo bud mode?: Yes
Pros
  • Strong bass performance
  • Highly durable
  • Useful multi-point function
  • Waterproof
Cons
  • Overly sensitive buttons
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Jabra Elite Active 75T

FAQ

Q: How Do Noise-Canceling Earbuds Work?

These earbuds use microphones to listen to ambient noises around you. The onboard electronics then create the opposite signal to cancel out stimulating sound from the environment, so you can only hear music coming from the earbuds.

This is useful when you want to concentrate on work or studies in a noisy environment.

Q: How Long Do Earbuds Last?

Earbuds can last between six and 24 months. Their lifespan varies because some have low-quality components.

Transporting your earbuds without the case lessens their lifespan as they may collect dust and moisture when exposed. As such, always store them in their charging case when on the move or when you’re not using them.

Another handy way to increase their lifespan is playing music at a moderate volume to prevent the fragile components from warping.

Q: Are Noise-Canceling Wireless Earbuds Repairable?

Repairing earbuds is quite challenging, especially with their tiny sizes and that they aren’t screwed together. Dismantling the glued parts may put fragile components at risk, so you might do more harm than good.