Apple popularized the true wireless earbud category when it launched the original AirPods back in 2016, so it’s no surprise that interest in true wireless pairs with noise cancellation has ballooned since the release of the AirPods Pro. Noise cancellation helps to block out sound around you, both passively by sealing off your ear canal and actively through specialized circuitry; the latter method is called active noise cancellation (ANC).
The good news is that you now have many excellent options across a wide range of prices. The unsurprising news is that, just as with standard Bluetooth over-ear headphones that offer noise cancellation, there are definitely some earbuds to avoid. Below, we list our current favorites for pure noise cancellation power, audio quality, and even exercise. And, further down, we explain what you need to know before you make a buying decision.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Best for iPhone Users
Why We Picked It
The refreshed AirPods Pro remain the best value within Apple’s in-ear audio lineup because they offer the most effective noise cancellation and the most pleasing sound. They also have spatial audio with head tracking (which can make non-musical content more immersive) and a game-changing adaptive transparency mode.
Who It’s For
If you want the best earphones that work seamlessly across Apple’s ecosystem, these are your top option.
PROS
- Rich, well-balanced audio performance
- Excellent active noise cancellation
- Adaptive Transparency mode is genuinely impressive
- Charging case has a useful built-in speaker
- Seamless integration with Apple devices
CONS
- No hi-res codec support
- Offers only non-adjustable EQ presets
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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Best Noise Cancellation Overall
Why We Picked It
Although Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earphones produce superior sound, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer the most effective noise cancellation overall: They are extremely adept at suppressing both low and high frequencies. We also like their secure fit and the intuitive Bose Music companion app.
Who It’s For
Because of their ability to block out the outside world, these are ideal for travelers and anyone who works in noisy environments. Slightly stronger options exist for audiophiles and hi-res streaming, but these earphones still deliver a top-tier audio experience.
PROS
- Engaging audio performance with deep lows and bright highs
- Fantastic low- and high-frequency noise cancellation
- Useful Active Aware mode
- Water-resistant build
CONS
- No way to turn off noise cancellation altogether
- Case doesn’t support wireless charging
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Sony WF-1000XM4
Best for Audiophiles
Why We Picked It
The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are no longer the undisputed noise-cancelling leaders, but they are still very effective and don’t add much of a masking hiss to the signal in this mode. They also sound better than any other pair and notably support the hi-res-capable LDAC codec.
Who It’s For
Despite their relative age, these earphones are still competitive with the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. They should appeal to audiophiles more than those other options because of the aforementioned codec support and the companion app’s customizable EQ.
PROS
- Exceptional active noise cancellation
- Powerful bass depth and crisp, defined highs
- Adjustable EQ
- Good battery life
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Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Best for Runners
Why We Picked It
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro (like their slightly cheaper siblings, the Elite 7 Active) have an IP57 rating, so they are fantastic for high-intensity exercises. We’re particularly fans of their great companion app and solid ANC. An additional Hear Through ambient listening mode helps you stay aware of your surroundings.
Who It’s For
This pair’s bass-forward sound and effective Hear Through mode make them ideal for runners. Faders for the transparency and ANC modes give you an excellent level of control, too.
PROS
- Powerful audio performance with deep bass and crisp highs
- Adjustable ANC and EQ settings
- Excellent mic intelligibility
- Fully waterproof, dust-resistant earpieces
CONS
- Tunable ANC requires more work than other models
- Sculpted sound signature not for purists
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Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Best Noise Cancellation Under $100
Why We Picked It
For their price, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds effectively dial back low-frequency rumble and do a commendable job against the mids and highs. Otherwise, they deliver a detailed audio signature, support the high-end LDAC codec on compatible Android phones, and offer good battery life. We also like that the Soundcore app has adjustable EQ and a section for customizing controls.
Who It’s For
If you have a strict budget of $100, want above-average ANC, and seek quality sound, these Anker earbuds should top your short list.
PROS
- Potent bass depth with bright highs
- Commendable noise cancellation for the price
- LDAC support for Android users
- Capable companion app includes EQ
CONS
- Default sound signature has noticeable sculpting
- Average water-resistance rating
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EarFun Air Pro 3
Best for Big Bass on a Budget
Why We Picked It
The Earfun Air Pro 3 earbuds deliver serious bass depth and are among the most successful sub-$100 pairs at canceling distracting noise. They offer excellent connectivity options too, with support for the low-latency AptX Adaptive and LC3 codecs. Their companion app looks slightly outdated, but it has all the important features, including a six-band EQ and an area for downloading firmware updates.
Who It’s For
If you only want to spend around $100, the Air Pro 3 earphones are a natural pick for bass lovers. If ANC performance is your biggest priority, however, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds still have a slight edge.
PROS
- Deep bass response
- Quality noise cancellation for the price
- App has custom EQ
- Case supports wireless charging
CONS
- Sound signature is far from accurate
- App’s design could use more polish
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Monoprice Horizon ANC
Lowest Price
Why We Picked It
Noise-cancelling models have become increasingly affordable over the last few years and the Monoprice Horizon ANC earbuds deliver surprisingly competent performance for their budget price. They also sound quite good, too.
Who It’s For
If you want quality active noise cancellation for as little money as possible, these are an excellent choice. You can get better performance by spending a bit more, but these keep you closer to $50 than $100.
PROS
- Rich, detailed audio performance with bright highs
- Good Bluetooth codec support
- Affordable
CONS
- No app
- Cumbersome touch controls
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Nothing Ear (2)
Most Stylish
Why We Picked It
The Nothing Ear (2) earphones stand out for their see-through exterior shell and support for hi-res playback via the LHDC codec. They also cancel background noise surprisingly well for the price and benefit from an effective Transparency mode. We like their highly stylized companion app, too. Just be aware that how you position them in your ears can affect how well the noise cancellation works.
Who’s It For
If you value style just as much as sound quality and have a phone that supports the LHDC codec, such as the Nothing Phone (1), these earbuds are a worthy investment. They truly look like nothing else on the market.
PROS
- Excellent audio performance with robust lows and detailed highs
- Solid noise cancellation for the price
- App offers customizable EQ
- Dust- and water-resistant build
- Case supports wireless charging
- Cool see-through design
CONS
- Below-average battery life
- Case seems prone to scratches
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Best for Samsung Galaxy Users
Why We Picked It
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro back up quality ANC with excellent audio chops. Additionally, their Samsung Seamless Bluetooth codec for hi-res streaming (on some, but not all Galaxy devices) helps the dual drivers in each earpiece shine. And the ANC experience is above average for the price.
Who It’s For
We wish we could say all Android users, but to get the full capabilities here (including 24-bit hi-res streaming), you need a Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 and One UI 4.0 or higher with 1.5GB RAM. If your device meets those base specifications, these earbuds are an obvious choice.
PROS
- Dual drivers produce fantastic bass depth and clarity
- 24-bit streaming for (some) Galaxy phone users
- Competent active noise cancellation
- Case charges wirelessly
- Waterproof design
CONS
- In-app EQ isn’t customizable
- So-so battery life
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Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
Best for Accurate Sound
Why We Picked It
The latest noise-cancelling earbuds from Sennheiser pick up where their predecessors left off, with excellent audio and a high-quality ANC mode. The earphones fit securely and the internal 7mm dynamic drivers deliver a frequency range of 5Hz to 21kHz. They are compatible with Bluetooth 5.2, plus support an inclusive array of Bluetooth codecs, including AAC, AptX, AptX Adaptive, and SBC.
Who It’s For
Although they don’t work with LDAC or LHDC, this Sennheiser pair still offers excellent connectivity and its drivers sing. The app offers a customizable (but basic) EQ, too, though you probably don’t even need to adjust the audio signature because the earphones sound superb without any tweaks.
PROS
- Excellent audio performance with rich bass and detailed highs
- Solid active noise cancellation
- App features adjustable EQ and control customizations
- Case supports wireless charging
CONS
- Sculpted default sound signature
- Limited EQ settings
Learn More
Buying Guide: The Best Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds for 2023
Do Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Block All Sound?
Active noise cancellation debuted in over-ear and on-ear headphones first but is now prevalent in both wired and wireless earphones. As the first word of the term suggests, active noise cancellation requires power, as opposed to passive noise reduction. Battery power feeds ANC circuitry that, using microphone signal feeds, creates a live, inverse signal of the surrounding noise. Just as a negative number added to its positive equivalent equals zero, the goal here is to offset the actual surrounding noise with inverse sound waves.
Does it work? That depends on the manufacturer and the character of the surrounding noise. Even good ANC is typically far more effective at tamping down low to mid frequencies, especially unchanging, drone-like sounds such as airplane engines and train rumble, or the whir of an AC unit. The very best ANC does the same for some higher-frequency sounds, like office chatter, keyboard clicks, and the like. But a combination of the active circuitry and an in-ear seal are most effective against these sounds.
Speaking of an in-ear seal, passive noise cancellation (or passive noise isolation or passive noise reduction) uses the physical sealing-off of the ear canal to block out surrounding sound. There are no mics or batteries involved in this method, but it is, in many ways, more effective than active noise cancellation because it helps cut back frequencies across the board. Earplugs still exist for a reason—they work.
How to Buy Wireless Headphones
Bad Noise-Cancelling Earbuds: What to Avoid
Lower-quality ANC circuitry often reproduces an audible high-frequency hiss—like white noise or tape hiss—that masks some of the higher frequencies it can’t eliminate. The easiest way to tell if this is happening is to activate the ANC in a totally quiet environment—if it seems to make the noise floor louder, it’s adding a hiss. Most pairs we test add in some degree of hiss, but the quality of the ANC dictates its prevalence.
Another aspect of low-quality ANC—especially in wireless headphones and earphones—is the difference in how music (or any audio) sounds when it is active. The ANC shouldn’t change how music sounds at all, but some models we test produce wildly different sound signatures when the ANC is on, such as more bass, more treble, and higher volumes. The effect (in most cases) isn’t too disruptive, but quality ANC should have no impact on audio performance.
What Is the Ambient (or Transparency) Mode?
Plenty of true wireless models include a feature that allows you to monitor your surroundings without removing the earpieces. This is useful in offices and airports, as well as for runners who need to be aware of traffic and car horns. Not all true wireless pairs with an ambient monitoring mode also include noise cancellation, but most of the pairs we’ve tested do.
Many pairs offer on-ear controls that allow you to cycle through ANC and ambient/transparency modes. We note whether earphones include this feature—along with how well it works—in each of our reviews.
Recommended by Our Editors
Are Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Worth It?
The best true wireless earphones that deliver audiophile-pleasing audio and excellent ANC can easily cost over $200, but those aren’t your only options. We’re starting to see some good, budget-friendly alternatives that deliver solid noise cancellation and sound quality for closer to, and even under, $100.
Our recommendations here cover as many different budgets as possible, so you can choose the one that works best for you. Consult our in-depth reviews to find the perfect pair and then head over to our stories on five easy tips to extend the life of your headphones and eight ways you’re using your headphones wrong.
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