Subj : The best noise-cancelling earbuds for all budgets, as chosen by T (1/2) To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Tue Sep 30 2025 17:00:09 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for all budgets, as chosen by TechRadar's experts based on real-world testing Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:56:59 +0000 Description: The best noise-cancelling earbuds block out the world without the bulk of over-ear headphones here are our top recommendations based on in-house testing FULL STORY ====================================================================== Our expert audio team has sifted through hundreds of the best wireless earbuds to bring you the very best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market. Weve tested every pair of noise-cancelling earbuds here in real-world settings, so you know their noise-blocking tech works effectively in all kinds of environments. Weve based all of our recommendations on head-to-head testing, assessing each pair to see how they stack up against the competition for sound, comfort and features. What were saying is, if theyre in this guide, you can bet theyve earned their spot. Whether youre after a budget-friendly bargain or a premium pair that could go toe-to-toe with the best noise-cancelling headphones , youll find them here. Expect some overlap with our best earbuds guide, but in this list its all about ANC first and everything else second. The quick list Want to just see which ANC buds are the best? Got it, here's a roundup of our top choices. You can jump to a full review of every one of these listings, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals. Best overall 1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) The best noise-cancelling earbuds overall You cant get better noise cancellation than this. We said that about the first iternation of these buds, but Bose has gone one better. They're the brands latest model, offering excellent sound and device-agnostic spatial audio. Read more below Best budget 2. EarFun Air Pro 3 The best budget noise-cancelling earbuds Yes, better ANC buds exist. But for decent immersion at an affordable price with some handy features, like long battery life, these EarFun options are our top pick and they're often discounted, too. Read more below Best mid-range 3. Nothing Ear (a) The best mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds You get excellent ANC for the price, which is a huge improvement on previous Nothing buds it's as good as we've tried at this level. The sound is fun, the fit is comfy, and the style easily outshines anything else at the price. Read more below Best for Apple 4. Apple AirPods Pro 2 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple fans If you have an iPhone, these buds offer excellent ANC that's almost the very best on the market. Build quality and sound is fantastic here too, and we love the 'unloseable' case with a speaker built in for enhanced Find My features. Read more below Best for Samsung 5. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Samsung If you use a Samsung phone, you'll get the most from these buds. They offer superb sound, impressive ANC, plus Samsung-specific spatial audio and hi-res support in an all-new (for Samsung) stemmed design. Read more below Best value 6. JLab Go Pods ANC The best noise-cancelling earbuds for under $30/30 Do cheaper ANC buds exist? Sure. But these are the cheapest noise-cancelling buds that are actually worth buying. Throw in a strong feature set and a lightweight build and they're a no-brainer if you're on a budget. Read more below Load the next products... Best for sound 7. Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sound If you want stunning sound that emphasizes detail and clarity, as well as solid ANC, you can't go wrong with these buds. It's truly among the best audio we've heard from a wireless design, and they're very comfortable too. Read more below Best for features 8. Technics EAH-AZ100 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for features Looking for the best specs and high-end features on the market right now? Technics' follow up flagship earbuds deliver. You'll get detailed sound, a fantastic fit with a smaller earpiece, good ANC, plus multi-point pairing to three devices at the same time. Read more below Best for sports 9. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sports The best choice for ANC when you're on the move, with a design that ensures they stay incredibly secure and a built-in heart-rate monitor. If you want to nix noise at the gym, they're the buds for you. Read more below Best for battery life 10. JBL Live Beam 3 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for battery life If you want good ANC that's going to last all day (and all of the night!), these are a great shout. You get 12 hours from the buds and a huge 48 hours in total from the case which also totes a smart screen. That's hard to beat. Read more below Best open earbuds for ANC 11. Honor Earbuds Open The best open earbuds for ANC You read that right, an open-ear design with ANC, and impressively good ANC at that. Sound quality here is solid for the style, and theyre lightweight, comfortable, and surprisingly capable. These Honor buds are our top pick for open-ear noise cancelling. Read more below The best noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy today The best noise-cancelling earbuds overall Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Future) 1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen The best noise-cancelling earbuds overall Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 7.7g per earbud | Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz | Drivers: 9.3mm dynamic | Battery life: 6 hours (earbuds), 24 hours (total) Bose's noise cancellation is still top of the class Tailored immersive profiles add value Excellent device agnostic spatial audio with head tracking Earbuds are still a touch big No guided hearing tests EQ tweaks limited to three tabs BUY THEM IF You want top-tier ANC in earbuds: Weve never experienced noise cancellation this hushed and cocoon-like in earbuds not even from the previous version. You crave bold, energetic audio: If you like your tracks to hit hard with deep, punchy bass, these Bose buds deliver in spades. DON'T BUY THEM IF You already own the original Ultras: Unless wireless charging, a new color, or a small step up in already-excellent ANC sways you, you can skip this upgrade. You need marathon battery life: Battery performance isnt bad, but some rivals last longer, like the Technics EAH-AZ100. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen are easily the best overall noise-cancelling earbuds available, thanks to their stellar ANC and immersive sound. They replace the original QC Ultras in this guide and deliver an even more impressive noise-cancelling experience, which you can tweak to suit your environment. Incredibly versatile, they make an ideal travel companion, blocking out distractions whether youre on a noisy flight or a bustling commute. Sound performance has been upgraded in this latest version too. In our testing, we described them as the most sonically exuberant listen weve ever experienced in an earbud form factor. Expect loud, crisp, and truly expansive audio that delivers across the full frequency range, all enhanced by near-impenetrable ANC. Its great to have the option to adjust this via a slider (Bose calls these Modes), which is incredibly handy. The buds also feature Immersive Audio technology, bringing head-tracked spatial sound across devices, supported by aptX Adaptive. This was present in the first version, but this time you also get wireless charging and multipoint connectivity straight out of the box. Battery life remains at 6 hours per charge (24 with the case), which is fine, but unchanged from the previous model and a little behind some major rivals. Design-wise, the 2nd Gen looks similar to its predecessor, so existing QC Ultra owners may be underwhelmed. That said, we found them very comfortable during testing, especially for smaller ears, and theres a fit test included. This update also adds a new Deep Plum color alongside the usual black and white options. Bose has long been the benchmark for ANC, but this latest generation is the most effective weve ever tested. Its no surprise they top our guide here and theyre easily the best choice if noise cancellation is your number one priority. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen: scorecard Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen: scorecard Fit/comfort 4/5 Active noise cancellation 5/5 Audio 5/5 Battery life 4/5 ^ Back to the top The best budget noise-cancelling earbuds Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future/Techradar) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Future) 2. EarFun Air Pro 3 The best budget noise-cancelling earbuds Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 52g | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: Not listed | Battery life : ANC off: 9 hours (buds) 36 hours (case); ANC on: 7 hours (buds) 37 hours (case) Great all-rounders Excellent battery life Solid noise cancellation No wearing detection Sound is fun but not fantastic Stem design not for everyone BUY THEM IF You like the long stem design: Many buds have a stem these days but these are on the longer side. You want all-rounder buds for less: Few buds tick the boxes for comfy design, good ANC, solid sound and great battery life for under $100/100. DON'T BUY THEM IF You need ANC that places you in a cocoon of silence: ANC is good here, but it doesnt deliver that almost eerie silence you get from higher-end buds. You want compact buds: The stem design literally stands out and the mirror finish does draw attention to the buds, rivals are more subtle. If you're on a budget the EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds are our top recommendation. The ANC doesn't deliver the cocoon of silence you'd expect from higher-end options, but we thought it was good especially considering the price. It's capable of reducing low-end sounds pretty effectively, including traffic noise, so it makes it much easier to hear what you're listening to. Other features include an impressive 45 hours of battery life in total, including the case, as well as multipoint pairing, which we found worked well. The Earfun Air Pro 3 come with some good audio specs. And, while these noise-cancelling earbuds might not win awards in sound quality, those specs deliver an audio performance that is great for the price, although not perfect. Design-wise, they look a little boring with long stems. When you first pick up these buds youll notice they feel plasticky by which I mean: cheap but thats kind of good news as theyre also incredibly light at 52g for both buds and case. We often find the lighter the buds, the comfier the fit, but that's not always the case. The Earfun Air Pro 3 buds are accomplished, especially considering their price. Amid a sea of similarly-priced efforts on Amazon, they stand out thanks to their superior design and solid audio chops, showing a high level of competence and excellent value. Although we do still recommend them, these buds are a little older now with their 2023 launch date, and while we didn't rate the July 2024 Earfun Air Pro 4 (take a look at our versus for that ), we're working on a full review of the new Earfun Air Pro 4+, so watch this space. But in the meantime, now there's another new version to consider, you will find that deals can be had on the Pro 3 set. Read our full Earfun Air Pro 3 review EarFun Air Pro 3: scorecard EarFun Air Pro 3: scorecard Fit/comfort 4/5 Active noise cancellation 3.5/5 Audio 4/5 Battery life 5/5 ^ Back to the top The best mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Future) 3. Nothing Ear (a) The best mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 4.8g per earbud | Frequency response: Not stated (other than 5000Hz range) | Drivers: 11mm custom | Battery life: Buds: 5.5hrs (9.5hrs without ANC) Total with case: 24.5hrs (42.5hrs without ANC) Fun, zealous, expansive sound Vastly improved active noise cancellation Smaller, more pocketable case No wireless charging support No flagship sound profile curation BUY THEM IF You want good-value ANC and sound: The noise cancelling and audio quality here is fantastic. You will find better, but would have to pay significantly more. Style matters to you: The whole Nothing brand is incredibly cool and these earbuds are the most stylish. DON'T BUY THEM IF You want great spatial audio: That's not here. You'd have to look at rivals, but most would charge much more for that audio wizardry. Your inner ear is small: We got a good fit with the small ear tips but the design may not suit those with a tiny concha (aka ear-well). The Nothing Ear (a) pack in some seriously impressive ANC all for a great value, mid-range price. They're our top pick if you want to nix ambient sounds and you're willing to pay more than budget prices for that luxury. We know that Nothing buds all look quite similar. Which, admittedly isn't a problem because that look is cool, stylish and bound to get attention. But don't be fooled by the Nothing Ear (a), they've had some major improvements. The most notable is noise cancellation. You can choose from High, Mid, Low, and Adaptive profiles. In our review, we wrote: "High is very good: the hairdryer we used for testing was largely nixed." You'll find even better ANC out there, but you'll have to pay high-end prices to notice a serious step up. In terms of other features, you'll also find clear calls, some basic EQ settings and profiles, reliable on-ear controls. Bluetooth v5.3 and LDAC support for hi-res audio. In our review, we commented that, when paired with a Sony smartphone, LDAC files are "delivered with expanse and pinpoint accuracy when it comes to the placement of each sonic article." Even regular lossy files, the kind you'd find on Spotify, perform well here, delivering a sound we described as "fun and zealous". Again, you'll find better sound out there, but you'd have to pay over twice as much. Looks-wise, Nothing buds have always been distinctive thanks to a transparent stem design. With the Nothing Ear (a) you get a smaller form factor that's even easier to carry in a pocket. During testing, we found these buds incredibly comfortable to wear and they come with a choice of small, medium and large silicone tips. The only thing we will say is that if you have very, very small ears the design might be a bit big in your concha (that's your ear well), so if you can it would make sense to try before you buy. All in all, these are a seriously impressive pair of buds, especially considering their mid-range price. You get great sound, a slick design and ANC that really impressed us. You'd have to pay big bucks to find buds that seriously improve on all of these points. Which is why this is our top mid-range recommendation for most people. Although the Ear (a) remain our top mid-range pick, it's worth mentioning that the new Nothing Ear (3) buds are now here. Although they're more expensive, we thought you should know the Ear (a) are no longer the newest in-ear Nothing-branded buds on the block. Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review Nothing Ear (a): scorecard Nothing Ear (a): scorecard Fit/comfort 4/5 Active noise cancellation 4.5/5 Audio 5/5 Battery life 4/5 ^ Back to the top The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) 4. Apple AirPods Pro 2 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 5.3g | Frequency response: Not listed | Drivers: Custom Apple design | Battery life : 6 hours (earbuds) 30 hours (charging case) Astounding noise-stopping power Very good sound quality, too Small and very lightweight Average battery life No aptX or LDAC support BUY THEM IF You want great sound: The AirPods Pro 2 sound brilliant and shut out the real world so well. You've got all manner of Apple things: If you've got an iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch or similar, then you'll really get the benefit of these buds. DON'T BUY THEM IF You want to save money: Not the most expensive buds, but you can find cheaper options that do similar but, crucially, not better. You don't have an iPhone: If you're in the Android world, you won't get as much benefit from these earbuds. The AirPods Pro 2 might not be as accomplished as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen at the top of our list in terms of ANC, but they're not far off. We found the noise-cancelling to be so good in the Pro 2 buds it was almost eerie. As with other ANC buds, there's a transparency mode on offer for conversations, and that's now been upgraded so it adapts to your conversations, making them sound more natural. Features-wise, these buds have a lot to offer, but you'll get the most from them like 'Find My' features if you have an iPhone. During our testing, we found the audio performance to be stunning, offering up a rich sound regardless of genre and a wide and expansive soundstage, which is thanks to new drivers and amplifiers. Personalized Spatial Audio is a bonus here, where a scan of your face and ears can be used to re-calibrate the sound performance of the AirPods Pro 2. Design-wise, they look similar to the Pro model that came before them. Expect the clean lines and solid build quality Apple is famous for, and slightly smaller stems that protrude from your ears. We enjoyed wearing them and liked the addition from volume control in the stems. Of course, the AirPods Pro 2 work best with an iPhone at least, and even more Apple gear ideally. If that's you, these are among the most impressive noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy today and are well worth the price tag especially because much of the competition has become more expensive than these. Grab them on their semi-regular discounts to under $199/199 and they're a bargain. In iOS 18, AirPods Pro 2 got updated with some useful new features, including improved voice isolation for calls, and the ability to respond to Siri prompts, such as incoming calls, by nodding or shaking your head. At Apple's September 2024 showcase , the company unveiled some further changes that have now arrived on the AirPods Pro 2, including new health features. The most notable is a hearing test, which Apple says could help diagnose potential issues, and a new hearing aid mode approved by the FDA. It's worth noting also that AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are now available for $179 / 179 / AU$299, so you no longer have to go Pro to get ANC. As well as those updates, it's worth considering that Apple has since launched the AirPods Pro 3. These latest buds boast a better fit, heart-rate monitoring and real-time translation as well as a claimed 2x ANC performance over these Pro 2s. Will the Pro 3 buds be our top pick in this slow soon? Probably. We're working on a full review of those now and will update you when we can. Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review Apple AirPods Pro 2: scorecard Apple AirPods Pro 2: scorecard Fit/comfort 4/5 Active noise cancellation 5/5 Audio 4.5/5 Battery life 3.5/5 ^ Back to the top The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Samsung Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Amanda Westberg) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Amanda Westberg) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Amanda Westberg) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Amanda Westberg) 5. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Samsung phone owners Acoustic Design: Closed | Weight: 5.4g (buds) 46.5g (case) | Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz | Drivers: 10mm dynamic driver + planar tweeter | Battery Life: 7 hours (buds) 30 hours (case) Fantastic sound Thorough noise cancellation Lightweight design High price Removing eartips is a fuss Key features require a newer Galaxy phone BUY THEM IF You own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone: These buds give you a bunch of special features, including spatial audio and remarkable hi-res audio. You're after top ANC: It may not beat the best of the bunch, but there's some seriously mighty noise cancellation performance at work here. DON'T BUY THEM IF You're on a budget: These earbuds are high-end and although they're worth it, there are cheaper rivals. You own an iPhone: You'd need to be looking to earbuds that offer a dedicated app for iOS. If you own a Samsung phone and want great noise cancellation, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are for you. An update on the previous Buds 2 Pro (which they replace in this guide), these Samsung buds bring you great audio quality, a premium (but familiar) design and truly impressive ANC there's certainly a lot to like. Let's start with that impressive ANC. In our review of the Buds 3 Pro we commented that these buds are very effective and "throw a blanket over whatever background noise is going on when youre trying to listen to music." We also noted that the audio on offer here is among some of the best we've ever heard from a pair of wireless buds and what some would consider an optimal sound signature: "The Buds have a V-shaped sound, which means that both the bass and treble are elevated and distinct, while the mids are just a little stepped back." The result is a wide soundstage that feels rich and full of energy. The newer Buds 3 Pro also improve on the slightly disappointing battery of their predecessors. This time round you'll get six hours of battery from the buds themselves, 30 hours with their case, and longer with ANC off. Its not a huge increase, but its something. Samsung has also added some AI-powered features here for Samsung phones, including adaptive ANC (we didn't think this added much during our testing), a feature which restores crackling voice in poor-quality calls, and live audio translation. The design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is similar to AirPods, but with a more angular design we thought looked Toblerone-like during our testing. At 5.4g per bud, they're lightweight and we found them comfortable to wear. Although switching out the tips to get the best fit was a frustrating process that seemed much more fiddly than it needed to be. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the best value for those with a Samsung device. If you don't have one, there are better options higher up this list. Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: scorecard Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: scorecard Fit/comfort 4/5 Active noise cancellation 5/5 Audio 5/5 Battery life 4/5 ^ Back to the top The best value noise cancelling earbuds Image 1 of 7 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 7 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 7 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 7 (Image credit: Future) Image 5 of 7 (Image credit: Future) Image 6 of 7 (Image credit: Future) Image 7 of 7 (Image credit: Future) 6. JLab Go Pods ANC The best noise-cancelling earbuds under $30/30 Acoustic Design: Closed | Weight: 4.2g (per bud) | Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz | Drivers: 10mm dynamic | Battery Life: 26 hours total (with case), 7.5 hours per bud (ANC off) Solid ANC Lightweight build Truly low price Poor eartip fit Lean battery life Aggressive transparency mode BUY THEM IF You're on a tight budget: The cheapest ANC buds worth owning, they're a bargain but they really deliver. You want solid ANC: This level of ANC is usually reserved for pricier buds, but JLab has managed to squeeze it in here. DON'T BUY THEM IF You don't want to faff around with ear tips: We recommend you replace the ones they come with, if you can't be bothered to do that, look elsewhere. You want marathon battery life: Only 5 hours with ANC on here, which is fine for short commutes but not all-day listening. In our JLab Go Pods ANC review we said these bargain buds are "basically the cheapest noise-cancelling earbuds that are actually worth buying" and that's no small feat. For under 30 / $40 they punch well above their weight, offering features you'd usually only see on mid-range models. Sound quality is surprisingly strong at this price. You get lively treble, solid mids and more bass than you'd expect. Especially if you play with the EQ in JLab's companion app. The soundstage is also wider than many rivals at this price, which makes every track sound full and enjoyable. The buds themselves are very light, comfortable enough for long listening sessions and have an IP55 rating for workouts and rainy commutes. The charging case is small and portable, though its built-in cable design is a love-it-or-hate-it quirk. There are some compromises here, which we did expect at this price. The included ear tips aren't very grippy, you'll want to replace them. Battery life is also disappointing at only 5 hours with ANC on not great for all-day listening. But look at the JLab Go Pods ANC as a whole and they're excellent value. They deliver solid ANC, sound that's genuinely enjoyable and EQ presets, all at a price that makes most budget rivals look over-priced. Read our full JLab Go Pods ANC review JLab Go Pods ANC: scorecard JLab Go Pods ANC: scorecard Fit/comfort 3.5/5 Active noise cancellation 4/5 Audio 4/5 Battery life 3.5/5 ^ Back to the top The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sound Image 1 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 5 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 6 of 6 (Image credit: Future) 7. Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sound Acoustic Design: Closed | Weight: 7g per earbud | Frequency Response: Not listed | Drivers: 12mm carbon cone | Battery Life: 6.5 hrs (buds), up to 20hr total Incredible levels of detail and dynamism Good comfort for larger buds Effective ANC Lacks ear-tip or fit tests No head-tracked spatial audio Battery life can still be beaten BUY THEM IF Top sound is your priority: These buds do a lot of things well, but they're hands down the best pick if you're after the best possible audio performance in a wireless design. You've struggled to find buds that fit in the past: We highly rated the fit here, no twisting or jamming them into your ears, just high comfort and good consideration for weight distribution. DON'T BUY THEM IF You love being able to control everything from your ear: You do get on-ear controls here, but you have to choose whether you want to change the volume or the ANC profiles, you can't have both. You want to listen for hours on end: The battery life here isn't bad, but plenty of rivals now pack in much more power, like the JBL Live Beam 3 at #10. All of the earbuds in this guide offer strong ANC and sound quality otherwise they wouldnt be here but the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 buds are among the best wireless earbuds weve tested for sheer sonic performance, and the noise cancellation, features and fit all score highly too. To add some context, the Pi8 buds are the latest version of B&W's flagship buds. Previous versions performed well, but with niggles; this time, B&W has nailed it. It's redesigned the buds to look sleek and stylish and, more importantly, to fit incredibly well. They sit snugly with well-distributed weight and real design consideration behind them. Now, onto the two things that matter most: sound and ANC. If sound is your top priority, these are the buds to beat. They deliver an impressively high level of detail and dynamism across genres. Turning on ANC doesnt degrade the audio quality either it stays feeling like it's from a renowned hi-fi brand. Thanks to the improved fit and seal, the ANC is also very strong not far off the best weve tested, with near-silence that only a few rivals can top. Beyond that, you get premium features here too, including something very unusualy: the case doubles as an audio re-transmitter so you can plug the earbuds into wired audio sources (meaning you can use them with in-flight entertainment systems, or locked-down work laptops). There are on-ear controls, but note youll have to choose between being able to switch ANC profiles or having on-ear volume controls when setting them up, which is annoying. All in all, these are a seriously accomplished pair of earbuds. One of the best for ANC and our top pick if you want both excellent noise cancellation and outstanding sound. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: scorecard Fit/comfort 5/5 Active noise cancellation 4/5 Audio 5/5 Battery life 3.5/5 ^ Back to the top The best noise-cancelling earbuds for features Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) 8. Technics EAH-AZ100 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for features Weight: 5.9g (earbuds); 42g (charging case) | Frequency response: 20Hz 40kHz | Drivers: 10mm free-edge dynamic | Battery life: 12 hours (earbuds, ANC off); 17 hours (charging case) Assertive, balanced and convincing sound Extensive specification Great comfort and ergonomics Look and feel the moneys worth Distinct difference between ANC on and ANC off sound Battery life is good rather than great Can be bettered for noise-cancellation BUY THEM IF Youre a multitasker: Theres world-first triple-device multipoint connectivity here, which is super convenient and ideal if you like to move between devices as you work. You want top sound: Packed with features, yes, but the audio quality is also excellent with an assertive and balanced sound. DON'T BUY THEM IF You want long-lasting buds: The battery life here isnt bad, but its nothing special. And its disappointing for long flights, listening all day at work or into the night. You want the best ANC: Noise-cancelling here is very capable (its why these buds are in this guide), but you can do better if you want near-silence. The Technics EAH-AZ100 were released in 2025 and are an update on Technics' much lauded EAH-AZ80 buds that came before them. They look, feel and sound premium with solid ANC, but its their features that earn them a place in this guide. Weve got triple-point connectivity here, allowing you to seamlessly connect to three devices at once, extra voice enhancement tech for calls and a magnetic fluid driver that Technics says results in better low-frequency response and less distortion throughout the frequency range. The buds use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless and theres compatibility for SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codecs something for everyone. You should get a solid 7 to 8 hours of playback time from the buds themselves, with a decent one-and-a-half further charges. The buds also work with Qi-certified charging pads, too. The Technics EAH-AZ100 may be our top pick for features, but they also look excellent and comfort is impressive, thanks to a smaller and lighter design on previous models. They sounded engaging, exciting and thoroughly musical during our testing, more than capable of giving the high-end buds a run for their money. The EAH-AZ100s are, of course, on this list because they offer good ANC, which isnt best-in-class, but is impressive. However, although ANC here is solid, wed recommend you keep it switched off if you want the best quality audio. Yes, this is a shame, but for some reason the beautifully-handled low frequencies lose substance, which is why we didnt award these buds the full five out of five stars in our review. Otherwise, however, youre getting top-tier sound, a shopping list of features and great comfort. Read our full Technics EAH-AZ100 review Technics EAH-AZ100: scorecard Technics EAH-AZ100: scorecard Fit/comfort 5/5 Active noise cancellation 4/5 Audio 4.5/5 Battery life 4/5 ^ Back to the top The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sports Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Future) 9. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sports Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 7g | Frequency response: Not stated | Drivers: 9.5mm dual-layer driver | Battery life (on-board): Up to 10 hrs (buds), up to 45hr total Stuffed with features Very secure, light and comfortable Heart-rate tracking Head-tracked spatial audio Not the most sonically agile Sound suffers with ANC off Bulky case Only IPX4 splash-proof BUY THEM IF You want extremely secure earbuds: Into dancing? Gymnastics? Or just really intense workouts? These buds aren't going anywhere. You want heart rate monitoring: If you're not already keeping tabs on your ticker with a smartwatch or smart ring, these will do the job. DON'T BUY THEM IF Sound quality is a top priority: These buds don't sound bad, not at all. But their audio doesn't match the high standard of their features or design. You want an open-ear design: They may look like one of the many pairs of open-ear models dominating the market right now, but the buds fit firmly in your canals. We've reluctantly swapped out the Beats Fit Pro our longtime "best for sports" pick for the newer Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. And we say reluctantly because the Fit Pro are still an excellent choice, especially if you want a simple, secure in-ear design. But when it comes to high-intensity workouts running, dancing, even gymnastics the Powerbeats Pro 2 take the lead. Why? They won't budge once fitted and they come packed with some seriously impressive features, including head-tracked spatial audio, excellent battery life and a built-in heart rate monitor which we found to be both accurate and genuinely useful. Now, if you're already tracking your heart rate with a smartwatch or smart ring, you might not need this feature. But if youre just looking for fitness-focused heart rate tracking without the commitment of 24/7 monitoring, its a great addition. Stability is another major win. The Fit Pro are still rock solid, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 go a step further thanks to their in-ear fit and over-ear hook. In other words, these earbuds arent going anywhere. They also come in a few fun colors, which is always a nice bonus. Sound-wise? Theyre good, but not quite as premium as their features and design might suggest. The audio is energetic almost too much at times occasionally veering into tinniness. Of course, theres active noise cancellation (ANC), otherwise they wouldnt have made this list. It works well, but interestingly, turning it off makes the audio suffer even more. The Powerbeats Pro 2 arent cheap, but if you're going to take full advantage of their standout features ANC, heart rate tracking, and rock-solid stability theyre well worth the investment. Especially if youve never quite found earbuds that stay put during workouts. Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review Beats Fit Pro: scorecard Beats Fit Pro: scorecard Fit/comfort 4.5/5 Active noise cancellation 4/5 Audio 3.5/5 Battery life 5/5 ^ Back to the top The best noise-cancelling earbuds for battery life Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann) 10. JBL Live Beam 3 The best noise-cancelling earbuds for battery life Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 5g per earbud | Frequency response: 20 Hz - 40 kHz | Drivers: 10mm dynamic | Battery life (on-board): Up to 12 hrs (buds), up to 48hr total Excellent battery life Screen is fun and can be useful Audio quality is strong Somewhat weak spatial audio profiles ANC is good, but beaten by class-leaders BUY THEM IF You need long, reliable listening: The battery life here is truly exceptional at 48 hours in total, and up to 12 hours from the buds alone. You like cutting-edge tech: It has a cool screen on it, that you can put your own images onto, and with some useful controls! Do your friends have that? No. Exactly. DON'T BUY THEM IF You want top spatial audio: Spatial audio is here, but we weren't impressed by the experience. You'll find better elsewhere. You don't like the feel of in-ears: If you're not sure in-ears are for you there are better options. These buds tend to sit further into your canal than rivals. Many earbuds pack in great ANC, but that often leads to a big reduction in battery life. This is hard to avoid given how much power is needed to nix noise effectively, so if you're looking for something that leans further towards the battery end of the balance, the JBL Live Beam 3 are our top choice. You'll get long listening sessions, or just won't have to worry about charging your buds as often. The JBL Live Beam 3 boast a seriously impressive 12 hours of battery from the earbuds alone or 10 hours with ANC. The case then delivers three further charges, meaning total playback time is up to a best-in-class 48 hours. That's impossible to beat, especially with good ANC, sound and design as well. In terms of additional features, you'll also get great call handling, six EQ presets or the option to create your own, and strong noise cancellation. Adaptive ANC is on-board, which adjusts the level of cancellation based on your surroundings. There's also a feature called Auto Compensation, which adjusts audio based on your ear canal. If you switch off Adaptive ANC, you get a slider offering seven different levels of noise-nixing power. Use a compatible smartphone and fire up a track from Qobuz or Apple Music and you can take advantage of Sony's LDAC tech for higher-quality Bluetooth. These tracks are beautifully replayed. That doesn't mean other tracks don't sound impressive here too. In our review, we wrote: "Want big, exuberant sound that knows when to deliver large, but also when to pull back just a little, allowing the detail to shine through? That's the sonic recipe the JBL Beam 3 present." The earbuds fit securely and snugly. Our reviewer has small ears and found them easy to wear, although it is worth mentioning that they do sit quite far into your ear canal maybe avoid these if you're already a little unsure as to whether you want in-ears or not. The other major design point is that the case has a screen on it, which surprisingly doesn't drain the battery. You can access some basic features here, like putting a photo on the screen or using it as a flashlight. It's not as smart as say a smartwatch, but it's a cool addition. Read our full JBL Live Beam 3 review JBL Live Beam 3: scorecard JBL Live Beam 3: scorecard Fit/comfort 4.5/5 Active noise cancellation 4/5 Audio 4.5/5 Battery life 5/5 ^ Back to the top The best open earbuds with noise-cancelling Image 1 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 5 of 6 (Image credit: Future) Image 6 of 6 (Image credit: Future) 11. Honor Earbuds Open The best open earbuds with noise-cancelling Acoustic design: Open | Weight: 7.9g per earbud | Frequency response: Not specified | Drivers: 16mm | Battery life (on-board): Up to 6 hours (buds), 40 hours in total Very good sound Stable and comfortable fit Nuanced ANC Limited battery life Annoying gesture controls No equalizer BUY THEM IF You want multipurpose buds: In our review, we made it clear these buds will do for workouts and general use. You want an open fit and ANC: It's rare, but these are one of a handful of buds that do both. DON'T BUY THEM IF You want all-day listening: The only disappointing thing about these open earbuds is their 6 hour battery life, which won't do for work days or long runs. You want to tweak the audio: There are only two EQ modes to choose from here, if you like more customization you'll be disappointed. As the name suggests, the Honor Earbuds Open are open-ear earbuds, designed to let in a bit of the outside world. Perfect for anyone who needs to stay aware of their surroundings, whether in an open plan office or out on a run. They're also great for people who dislike the feel of traditional in-ears. But here's the twist: they also offer ANC, to a degree. This isnt the kind of ANC that blocks out everything, like you'll find from other models in this guide. But it does a solid job of dampening background distractions while still letting more important sounds through, like train station announcements or the engines of nearby vehicles. Unexpectedly, these earbuds also come with live translation. An interpreter app lets you chat in two of eleven supported languages, using your phones speaker and the buds. Its a curious addition, but in early tests, it worked well. Sound quality can be a weak spot for open earbuds, but these defy expectations. In our review, we said they " offer energetic bass, bristling treble and a soundstage thatd be most welcome on normal earbuds, let alone ones that dont even sit within your ears." And theyre not just sonically solid, they fit well too, which is often hit or miss with open designs. We found them comfortable and secure enough for workouts, making them a great choice for fitness, commuting, or just getting on with your day. Battery life is fine but a little disappointing at around 6 hours with ANC off, 4.5 with it on, plus 22 hours with the case. Fine for daily use, but not built for all-day listening or long-distance travel. Theres also no EQ customization, beyond two preset modes, which might disappoint audiophiles who like to fine-tune their listening. But there is a lot to love here, especially if youve been searching for open earbuds that offer even a hint of ANC. We expect more models to follow soon, but for now, the Honor Earbuds Open are our top pick for hearing the world and cutting out the noise that doesn't matter. Read our full Honor Earbuds Open review Honor Earbuds Open: scorecard Honor Earbuds Open: scorecard Fit/comfort 4.5/5 Active noise cancellation 4/5 Audio 4.5/5 Battery life 3/5 ^ Back to the top More noise-cancelling earbuds we've tested AKG N5: With good audio, a solid feature set and an in-case USB-C dongle, it's easy to see why we awarded these buds 4 out of 5 stars in our AKG N5 review. However, they don't quite make the cut for this guide because they've got a disappointing battery life as well as several design issues we just couldn't look past considering the price. Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation: More affordable than the AirPods Pro 2, and they have the same H2 chip powering them, but with an open-ear design instead of an in-ear some. Some will prefer this, but it means the sound and ANC aren't at quite the same high standard. In our AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review , we said these are the best open earbuds for Apple fans but we generally much prefer the AirPods Pro 2, which usually cost only a small amount more than these, but are better in most ways.. Creative Zen AirSXFI: As you'll find in our Creative Zen AirSXFI review , these buds boast exceptional stamina, lasting up to 39 hours. But the poor spatial audio and ambient profiles really let them down. Earfun Air 2 NC: Look, they're good. You've got some impressive ANC here for the price. But the design and 'theater mode' isn't great, and they're not the most detailed listen. If you're on a budget, however, read our Earfun Air 2 NC review and have at them. Edifier Stax Spirit S10: If you're looking for excellent sound, you'll find it from these buds. However, the ANC isn't great soo they don't deserve a spot in this guide. Do take a look at our Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review though if audio is your only priority. Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: Battery life is good and they're small and cute, but otherwise these Google buds were pretty disappointing all round. Read our Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review to find out why. LG xboom Buds: We were very impressed with the bass output on off from these buds when we we tested them for our LG xboom Buds review . But they're not as sleek and aesthetically pleasing as rivals, with a sound we enjoyed but that needed a fair bit of tweaking too. Noble FoKus Rex5: These earbuds really are one of a kind. They sound great, ANC is top and they're finished to a very high standard. But they're incredibly and expensive and they're also just very, very green. If that's your thing, take a look at our full Noble FoKus Rex5 review. OnePlus Buds 4: For ANC alone, these earbuds are excellent. We also rated their super light design and bassy audio. But otherwise (and as an overall package), we can't quite justify them. Do read our full OnePlus Buds 4 review though, as they're still worth considering if your budget is tight. OnePlus Buds Pro 3: In our OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review you'll learn we enjoyed SEEN-BY: 1/100 3/100 102 103 104 105 106 108 113 115 119 123 127 129 130 132 SEEN-BY: 3/135 137 138 140 142 145 146 147 150 151 152 156 157 159 160 163 164 SEEN-BY: 3/165 170 172 174 175 176 177 178 180 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 SEEN-BY: 3/190 191 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 209 SEEN-BY: 3/210 211 212 213 214 215 216 .