The 5 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds - Spring 2025

The Technics EAH-AZ100 are the best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested. Their superb ANC attenuates noise across the whole frequency spectrum, from the low rumbles of a train engine to the high-pitched whirring of a nearby fan. If you wear them while walking down a busy street, even sharp sounds like car horns will be greatly reduced in level. With ANC on, they last a whopping 12.2 hours, and their carrying case holds an extra 1.5 charges. This gives the Technics the longest battery life on a single charge we've tested for truly wireless earbuds with ANC enabled and continuous playback. They also have wide connectivity options, supporting up to three-device Bluetooth multi-point, and LDAC and LC3 codecs for high fidelity listening.

These buds have a stable and comfortable design, though they have a deeper in-ear fit, which can be a bit uncomfortable for some people. They likely won't fall out of your ears due to this snug fit, and their IPX4 rating means they'll survive if you take them out for a jog in the rain. Their out-of-the-box sound resembles other popular targets like the SenseLab Aizu more than our in-house curve, with extended bass emphasis and a treble cut that lends the earbuds a warmer sound. That said, you can always tweak the earbuds with their graphic EQ.

Although not quite as good at blocking out noise as the Technics EAH-AZ100, the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless still provide excellent ANC performance at a lower price point. The standout characteristic of the Sony is their foam eartips, which provide excellent passive isolation, especially in the treble. In fact, even with ANC on, the Sony more handily isolate from some treble noise like crying babies. That said, their lower-end isolation falls short of that of the Technics, so you'll notice rumbly engines and airplane noise more.

The Sony have a warm sound profile that represents everything from basslines to vocals naturally and with detail. Like the Technics, there's some extra bass that bleeds into the mids, but it likely won't be enough to muddle your mixes. That said, if you notice a bit of clutter, you can easily tweak the earbuds to suit your preferences using their companion app. With their ANC on, they last 8.75 hours on a single charge, and their carrying case supplies a further two charges. The battery isn't as long as our top pick, but you can also often find the Sony discounted even further below the price of the Technics, a worthwhile trade-off for many.

The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are the best earbuds with ANC in the mid-range we've tested. Their build quality is on par with our previous pick, the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, and they have similar noise isolation performance, easily cutting down sounds like plane engine rumbles and chatty coworkers. They also go on sale for an even lower price, so they're worth waiting for if you're looking to save a bit extra. Their battery lasts for over seven hours with the ANC on, and you can top them up on the go, thanks to their case that stores 2.3 extra charges. That said, we've encountered some user reports with battery drainage issues, so it's worth protecting yourself by checking your store's returns policy before purchasing the LinkBuds.

They support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your phone and computer at the same time, while their small, lightweight design ensures a comfortable fit for long periods. If you have smaller ears, these are a good choice. Their overall frequency response is a bit more subdued than the WF-1000XM5, with less clarity in the treble region that can leave sibilants and cymbals sounding dull. That said, instruments and vocals are still present and detailed, if a touch recessed, and some may appreciate this smoother sound. That said, you can fine-tune their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.

The best earbuds we've tested with ANC in the budget category are the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. Despite their more affordable price tag, they offer an even better overall noise isolation performance than the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. Their adaptive ANC easily reduces bass-range noise like plane engine rumbles, making them a solid choice for travel. They also do an excellent job cutting out mid- to high-pitched sounds, like background chit-chat or a humming computer fan. These versatile buds come with features like multi-device pairing and LDAC codec support so that you can stream Hi-Res content.

They're well-built and have a warm default sound profile that you can customize via their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They also last over eight hours continuously, which will get you through long days on the go, and their carrying case holds an extra four charges. Unfortunately, if you need to make calls, their integrated mic does a poor job of capturing speech clearly, so your voice sounds distant and sharp, which isn't very pleasant for the caller on the other end of the line.

If you're looking for premium buds with excellent compatibility with Apple devices, try the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). These buds are around the same price as the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. Their ANC system outperforms that of the Sony WF-1000XM5 and does a better job of blocking out real-world sounds like office chatter and pedestrian noise. Since they're an Apple product, they also offer some iOS-specific features worth checking out if you own a MacBook or an iPhone. Spatial Audio is a virtual surround sound feature meant to create a more immersive audio experience, and their H2 chip allows for seamless pairing with other Apple devices.

Thanks to their adaptive EQ, the Apple AirPods Pro have a warm sound profile well-suited for genres like folk and jazz. However, their sound customization features are only available to iOS users, unlike the Sony, which works with Android as well. With ANC on, their battery lasts about six hours of continuous use, and their carrying case supplies an extra four charges. They have a comfortable fit, but the buds can wiggle out over time, so you may have to readjust them occasionally. If you prefer a different fit, the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are an option with both an open design and ANC capabilities. Like the AirPods Pro, they have similar compatibility in the Apple ecosystem; however, they don't reduce noise quite as well in higher frequencies.