The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones You Can Buy Right Now
From flagship over-ears to true-wireless earbuds, this shortlist rounds up the noise-cancelling picks worth your money in 2026, weighed by hands-on ANC testing, battery life, and comfort for long wear. Whether you want silence on a transatlantic flight or just the office chatter gone, there's a pick here that fits your ear and your budget.
What counts: Ranked by real-world ANC performance, battery endurance, comfort, and call quality based on current lab and long-term wear testing.
Sony's sixth-gen flagship widens the ANC processing to dual chips, cutting low-frequency drone noticeably better than the XM5 while adding a foldable hinge back for travel.
Form Factor: Over-earANC Performance: 9.5/10Battery Life: 30 hrsComfort: 9/10Call Quality: 9/10Water Resistant: —
added by IJRView at Target ↗
0Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Bose's Immersive Audio mode and plush earcups make this the pick for people who wear headphones six hours straight, with ANC that edges out Sony on sudden transient noise like clattering dishes.
Form Factor: Over-earANC Performance: 9.3/10Battery Life: 24 hrsComfort: 9.5/10Call Quality: 8.5/10Water Resistant: —
added by IJRView at Target ↗
0The best noise-cancelling earbuds for iPhone owners, with a redesigned tip that seals better than the Pro 2 and Adaptive Audio that ducks ANC automatically when someone talks to you.
Form Factor: True wireless earbudsANC Performance: 9/10Battery Life: 8 hrsComfort: 9/10Call Quality: 9/10Water Resistant: ✓
added by IJRin 2 rankingsView at Target ↗
0Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Bose squeezes near-flagship-headphone ANC into a compact earbud shell, making this the top pick for anyone who found AirPods Pro's cancellation not quite deep enough on planes.
Form Factor: True wireless earbudsANC Performance: 9/10Battery Life: 6 hrsComfort: 8.5/10Call Quality: 8/10Water Resistant: ✓
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0Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
An absurd 60-hour battery life and warm, detailed sound make this the choice for road warriors who'd rather not think about charging for a week at a time, even if its ANC trails Sony and Bose slightly.
Form Factor: Over-earANC Performance: 8.5/10Battery Life: 60 hrsComfort: 8.5/10Call Quality: 7.5/10Water Resistant: —
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0Sony's smallest true-wireless earbud yet still delivers class-leading ANC and Sony's excellent app EQ, a strong alternative for anyone not locked into Apple's ecosystem.
Form Factor: True wireless earbudsANC Performance: 8.8/10Battery Life: 8 hrsComfort: 8.5/10Call Quality: 8/10Water Resistant: ✓
added by IJRView at Target ↗
0Apple's over-ear model pairs spatial audio and Adaptive EQ with genuinely strong ANC, best suited to iPhone users who want a premium, metal-bodied headphone rather than another pair of earbuds.
Form Factor: Over-earANC Performance: 9/10Battery Life: 20 hrsComfort: 8/10Call Quality: 8/10Water Resistant: —
added by IJRView at Target ↗
0Sony's budget ANC over-ear cuts real commuter noise for a fraction of the XM6's price, with a lightweight build that disappears on your head during a long shift.
Form Factor: Over-earANC Performance: 7/10Battery Life: 35 hrsComfort: 8/10Call Quality: 6.5/10Water Resistant: —
added by IJRView at Target ↗
0The value pick that punches above its price, with surprisingly competent ANC and a 40-hour battery that undercuts headphones twice its cost.
Form Factor: Over-earANC Performance: 7.5/10Battery Life: 40 hrsComfort: 7.5/10Call Quality: 6.5/10Water Resistant: —
added by IJRView at Target ↗
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