The Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds in 2022

For music lovers who need to carry their music with them everywhere they go, the best noise-canceling earbuds are a blessing. For that immersive listening experience, you no longer need to spend money on a pair of bulky over-ear headphones. Instead, use some of these earbuds.

But, as the demand for earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) grows higher, the number of options in the market for you grows bigger too. But don’t worry. We’ve compiled our top suggestions for the finest ANC earbuds below, including budget-friendly buds and more expensive models, to help you sort through all the available choices. If you’re looking for the best noise-canceling earbuds, here are our top picks.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds outperform all other wireless earbud models in terms of noise canceling. Although Bose’s preference for fine craftsmanship has long been praised, some may find the QuietComfort Earbuds to be too understated. But there’s no questioning the excellence of their construction. The buds are made largely of the same high-end composite material that was used to create the brand’s previous pair of athletic wireless earbuds, the SoundSport Free, which were incredibly robust.

When exposed to sunlight, the matte finish shines brilliantly. The QuietComfort Earbuds are not the most covert model to wear in terms of size. They are longer and sleeker, but they also stand out like a sore thumb. Black IR sensors are included in the sound port for on-ear detection. Bose also made small modifications to the model’s prior design. The microphones are now located at the bottom of the shell as opposed to the front. In terms of performance, you’d be mistaken in thinking that Bose took three years to create anything less than top-tier noise canceling.

The QuietComfort Earbuds are by far the best noise-canceling earbuds on the market, rewarding users with 10 levels of noise cancellation that can be adjusted and performance that is almost on par with the Bose 700. Keep the headphones at their highest setting if you like full silence during work hours or while binge-watching YouTube videos. This setting does a fantastic job of canceling out background noise across the whole frequency range.

Pros

• Unbeatable ANC
• Excellent call quality
• Dynamic sound
• Strong, reliable connectivity

Cons

• Battery life is shorter than advertised

Specification

• Price $199.00
• Battery Life 6 hours, 12 hours (with charging case)
• Bluetooth Range 30 ft
• Active Noise Cancelling Yes, adjustable

With outstanding ANC and quality at an unbelievable price, the 1More PistonBuds Pro upend the market for wireless earbuds that block out background noise. In terms of design, the PistonBuds Pro exemplify 1More’s proclivity for developing cute, small wireless earbuds. For buds this size, the oval shape is great since it allows them to be hidden on the ear. 1More didn’t focus as intently on the charging case. The plastic design feels cheap but seems more expensive, and it is easily scratched.

When it comes to sound quality, it’s interesting that the PistonBuds Pro have more powerful audio technology than the more expensive ComfoBuds Mini from 1More. A 10 mm dynamic driver with an aero titanium membrane is located underneath the hood and is intended to produce natural, accurate sound. Play Hans Zimmer’s “Time” from the Inception soundtrack if you want to experience the full immersion of a live orchestral performance. Over fervent percussion sounds, the rattling bass has some strong reverberation that fades down gradually while yet remaining transparent (the bucket snares and taiko drums knock hard).

Over the tremendously emotional show, even high-pitched violin tones shone. The PistonBuds Pro do a wonderful job of effectively canceling noise and blocking out noises across the whole frequency spectrum. Strong and Wind Resistance (WNR) are the two ANC settings, and each has been designed with a particular objective in mind. Strong, the default ANC setting for the earbuds, is surprisingly effective at blocking out background noise when listening. To lessen the whisking effect brought on by gusty circumstances, WNR can be turned on. 

Pros

• Great ANC for the price
• Energetic sound
• Sleek, compact design
• Responsive touch controls

Cons

• Bass-heavy on some tracks
• Weak call quality

Specification

• Price $69.99
• Battery Life 7.5 hours, 30 hours (with charging case)
• Bluetooth Range 30 ft
• Active Noise Cancelling Yes

The Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earphone upgrade offers better looks, sound, noise cancellation, and battery life than we had hoped. Sony made the smart decision to omit the wide and elongated shape of the WF-1000XM3 in favor of a more streamlined, oval-shaped design with larger circular touch displays for the WF-1000XM4. Although they don’t fit as discreetly in your ears as other models, they still have a less conspicuous design than the WF-1000XM3 and feel both opulent and strong.

Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that these earbuds have an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance if you’re considering working out while wearing them. Sony made various changes to the WF-SP800N charging case. The buds lie flat on their respective ports in this iteration, which is also more compact and lighter. The Sony logo is gold, and the LED light on the front is longer to show the battery level and pairing statuses. It also has a pleasant, matte, silky touch in the hand.

When listening to music, the WF-1000XM4 significantly reduced the effect of incidental sound. All of the typical household noises, including doorbells, kitchen appliances, and the buzzing from my central air conditioner, stopped. Sony’s noise canceling has also been improved to better handle stronger frequencies and rumblings. Additionally, there is a setting for Automatic Wind Noise Reduction that modifies ANC to lessen wind presence.  

Pros

• Substantial yet balanced sound
• Excellent ANC effectiveness
• Improved battery life

Cons

• Loose fit
• Expensive

Specification

• Price $178.00
• Battery Life 8 hrs, 24 hrs (with charging case)
• Bluetooth Range 30 ft
• Active Noise Cancelling Yes

Owners of Galaxy smartphones need the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which offers excellent ANC and terrific sound. The design, according to Samsung, is 15% smaller than the Galaxy Buds Pro, but the weight and overall size are very similar. The only cosmetic features are a protruding oval shape with a black air vent on top. They also have a broader touch control response and an extended windshield. The Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 are just somewhat worse in terms of construction.

Even though the design somewhat resembles a Cadbury Mini Egg that has been crammed in your ear (especially the purple color choice), dropping the earbuds on a hard surface won’t fracture the casing. The all-plastic exterior has a beautiful soft-rubberized touch and feels robust. Additionally, they have an IPX7 waterproof rating, making them sweat-resistant and even water-submersible for a brief period of time. The most beautiful charging case available is still the little one. It is a little plastic square that is 1.53 ounces in weight, portable, and beautifully exhibits the buds when opened. Strong magnets in every magnet keep the lid firmly shut and the buds safely docked in their charging holes.

Samsung has used top audio technologies in the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. These include Samsung Scalable Codec (SSC), which dynamically increases the bitrate from 88kbps to 512kbps, 360 Audio, 24-bit HiFi Sound, Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio-Ready), and a bespoke coaxial 2-way speaker (dedicated tweeter and woofer drivers) calibrated by Samsung-owned audio specialist AKG. You receive a deep, wide sound that is increased while using Galaxy devices, which is something that other high-end wireless earbuds don’t offer.

When connected to a Galaxy playback device right out of the box, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s sound profile is set to normal and produces a rich, detailed sound that is immediately engaging. The Galaxy Wearable companion app’s Equalizer setting allows you to adjust the EQ, and there are six presets you can choose from: Normal (default), Bass Boost, Soft, Dynamic, Clear, and Treble Boost. These presets offer mostly subtle frequency balance adjustments that are tailored to a specific musical style or whatever works best for what you’re listening to.

Pros

• Wide soundstage
• Effective ANC
• Compact and practical design
• Easy to use features
• Excellent connectivity

Cons

• Disappointing battery life
• Bixby needs some work
• Most coveted features are exclusive to Galaxy devices

Specification

• Price $99.99
• Battery Life 8 hours (ANC off); 29 hours
• Bluetooth Range 33 feet
• Active Noise Cancelling Yes, adjustable

The AirPods Pro are the ultimate wireless earbuds because they have active noise cancellation, a superior fit, and sweat resistance. Many laughed at the AirPods Pro’s design when it first arrived as it looks like a mini hair dryer. There were even plenty of memes that circulate the web. But, ultimately, Apple got the last laugh when the product flew off the shelves. There is a logic to the madness, despite the AirPods Pro’s divisive kitschy retro-modern appearance.

Start by examining the AirPods Pro’s larger-than-the-previous-buds head, which has two black mic vents. Another vent, which conceals another microphone, is located at the top of the stem. A little circle made of glossy chrome is at the bottom. A silicon ear tip, a new and noticeable innovation, is located near the end of the bud that inserts into your ear. The AirPods now have a slight notch carved into the stem and are shorter than earlier iterations. Squeezing one of them reveals an integrated force sensor that allows you to switch between ANC and Transparency modes.

The AirPods Pro are IPX4 rated, which means that they are sweat and water-resistant. This makes it ideal for sports enthusiasts too. What you’ll love about this product is that the tech giant also puts comfort in mind. Unlike most earbuds, the AirPods Pro includes three pairs of silicon ear tips, so you have more power to choose which ones suit your ear size best. In terms of noise cancelation, the AirPods Pro are quieter than a Bose-created product in a test of absolute quietness.

Pros

• Great active noise canceling
• Easy to use controls
• Comfortable fit
• Great sound

Cons

• Battery life could be longer

Specification

• Price $249.00
• Battery Life 4.5 hours; 24 hours (with charging case)
• Bluetooth Range Estimated 33 ft
• Active Noise Cancelling Yes, adjustable