Wireless noise-canceling headphones are super popular and effective these days. They have powerful processors and special mics that, together, generate opposing sound waves — called anti-phases — that cancel out the sounds around you. The result is that you just hear the music and not your apartment's TV, your colleagues' lunch conversation or the dull buzz of an airplane.
No wonder there are now a lot of noise-canceling headphones to choose from. Bose and Sony are probably the most well-known makers, but pretty much every other audio and tech company — Bowers & Wilkins to Sennheiser, Master & Dynamic to Apple — has thrown its hat in the ring (at least once).
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Read More
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If you're looking for top-quality noise-canceling headphones, you can expect to spend between $300 and $400 — that's what most of today's flagship options are going for. Of course, you can spend a lot more or a lot less than that, too.
How We Tested
We test each pair of headphones for sound quality, call clarity, comfort, battery life and features (such as button or swipe controls as well as support for a companion app). We also test each headphone's noise-canceling abilities in a range of different noisy and quiet environments.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2023
Sony WH-1000XM5
Released in May 2022, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are new-and-improved versions of the company's acclaimed WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones. The XM5s have a new lightweight design with larger earcups so they're even more comfortable. They have an extra processor that helps them deliver even stronger active noise cancellation (especially for mid-to-high-range frequencies). They have double the built-in microphones so they've significantly better for calls, along with many of the same features and sound that made the XM4s our previous pick for the best noise-canceling headphones. The catch? The XM5s are $50 more expensive.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple's first pair of over-ear headphones are very luxurious. The earcups are made entirely of stainless steel – no plastic — so they look great, although they are heavier than most alternatives. The sound quality and noise-canceling ability of the AirPods Max are both excellent, easily making them some of the best you can buy. The kicker is that because they are baked with Apple's H1 chip, they have all the same features as AirPods Pro — such as a transparency mode, support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, and easy iPhone pairing. If you have an iPhone and can stomach the high price tag, you can't go wrong with the AirPods Max.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Introduced in late 2023, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the company's new flagship noise-canceling headphones ... and they are quite the departure from the 2019-released Bose Headphones 700 (now discontinued). They have a new design that prioritizes comfort and portability; they fold in on themselves into a more travel-friendly size. The QuietComfort Ultra deliver some of the most powerful active noise-cancellation you're going to find in a pair of headphones, but Bose drastically improved the transparency mode and call clarity as well. They also have an Immersive Audio mode for listening to spatial audio; it's not quite a game changer, but it does allow the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to deliver a listening experience that's in the same ballpark as Sony's and Apple's wireless headphones.
Sennheiser HD 450BT
Released in February 2020, the HD 450BT are Sennheiser’s first real pair of budget noise-canceling headphones. They’re exactly half as expensive as Sennheiser's flagship Momentum Wireless 3 and deliver many of the same sound qualities and features. There are some definite tradeoffs, most prominently in their feel and build quality. You can buy decent noise-canceling headphones for even cheaper, but none have the sound quality and noise-canceling traits of the Sennheisers.
Beats Studio Pro
Released in July 2023, the Beats Studio Pros are essentially a more budget-friendly alternative to Apple's AirPods Max. The two headphones share a lot of the same features (reminder: Apple owns Beats), such as fast iPhone pairing, hands-free "Hey Siri" and support for Apple's Find My network. They support for Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, just like AirPods Max. The main tradeoff is that while good, the sound quality as well as noise-canceling and transparency modes aren't quite elite. That said, the Studio Pros are significantly cheaper and lighter (so you'll probably find them more comfortable), and they work better with Android devices. They also can work as wired headphones via 3.5mm or USB-C jacks (the latter of which can even play lossless audio).
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2
Released in mid-2022, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 is the successor to the 2019-released PX7. Despite looking fairly similar, B&W has totally revamped them on the inside to improve their sound quality and noise-cancellation ability. They're also lighter, smaller and ever-so-more comfortable to wear. You can buy them in black, blue and gray (shown).
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Released in late 2022, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 are essentially a fancier and better version of the Px7 S2. The two headphones look similar, but the PX8 is made of higher-end materials like aluminum and real leather rather than plastic. Additionally, the PX8 delivers an even more refined sound thanks to drivers that are made of carbon fiber and resin. But at just shy of $700, they're also among the most expensive wireless noise-canceling headphones you can buy.
Master & Dynamic MW75
Released in mid-2022, Master & Dynamic's newest flagship noise-cancellation combines excellent design, superb sound and a hefty price tag. They have a new look (and new tempered glass earcups) compared to their predecessors, the MW65s, and M&D has drastically improved their noise-cancellation capabilities. Also, for the first time in a pair of over-ear headphones, you can tweak the EQ and various other settings thanks to a companion app.
Focal Bathys
Released in late 2022, the Focal Bathys — pronounced "bat-ees" — are the French high-end audio company's first pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones. Among the most expensive headphones on the market, they bring over a lot of technologies and sound qualities from Focal's high-end wired headphones. They also have more of a luxury build with premium materials like metal and leather, which obviously drives up the price. The Bathys are rich with features, including a robust app for tweaking the sound quality. They work well as wired headphones, too, even supporting lossless audio (up to 24-bit/192kHz) when used with the included USB-C-to-USB-C cable. The noise-canceling and transparency skills are good but not quite elite, but they score a lot of points with the design and sound.
Sony WH-CH720N
Released in early 2023, the Sony WH-CH720Ns are essentially more affordable noise-canceling wireless headphones versus the company's flagship WH-1000XM5s. Don't expect the same level of sound quality or noise-cancellation as the M5s, but the Sony WH-CH720N work in much the same way; they support many of the same features, including Quick Attention and Speak To Chat. They also have a pretty incredible 36 hours of battery life.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Released in August 2022, the Momentum 4 Wireless are Sennheiser's current flagship noise-canceling headphones. They are quite the departure from the Momentum 3 Wireless as they have a completely new and lightweight design — which has been streamlined for comfort. They have drastically improved sound quality and noise-canceling. And at up to 60 hours, they have some of the best battery life you'll find in any wireless ANC headphones. The only real downside is that the new design has ditched the retro look that made the Momentum 3 Wireless so unique. They also ditched the physical buttons in favor of capacitive controls.
What to Look For
Not all noise-canceling headphones are created equal. Here are four major factors to consider when comparing them.
Active noise-cancellation
The best active noise-canceling headphones have superior processors and built-in microphones so that they can identify unwanted ambient sounds and then create opposing sound waves to effectively cancel them out.
Sound quality
The best headphones sound alive. They deliver clear vocals, punchy bass and a wide soundstage so you really feel like you're experiencing the music live. Active noise-cancellation isn't good for sound quality — the extra frequencies created to cancel out ambient sounds also work against the frequencies of the music. However, high-quality noise-canceling headphones have the ability to sound great while also creating the perfect calm that you want with noise cancellation.
Call quality
Manufacturers have started putting more microphones into their headphones so that your voice sounds crisp (not grainy) on calls. Some newer releases have also been integrated with technologies that cancel out voices around you, so there's no unwanted background chatter while you're on a call.
Premium features
Do you want a pair that has buttons or swipe gestures for play/pause and volume control? Do you want a pair that supports fast charging? Or a pair that comes with a companion app that allows you to tweak EQ settings?
New and Upcoming Releases
Our recommendations are based on real-world testing. Here's a snapshot of new and unreleased noise-canceling headphones our testers are considering for future updates to this guide.
• Dali IO-12: Announced in May 2023, the Dali IO-12 are super high-end wireless noise-canceling headphones that cost a cool $1,499. In addition to being made of premium materials, they can work well as wired headphones; they can connect to an analog source via USB-C cable and play high-resolution audio (up to 24-bit/96kHz).
• PSB M4U 9: Released in summer 2023, the PSB M4U 9 is the company's newest flagship pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones. They aim to bring a warm and big sound that's similar to PSB's loudspeakers. They cost $499.
• KEF Mu7: These are KEF's first pair of wireless headphones with active noise-cancellation. The Mu7 has custom 40mm drivers and support for aptX HD for high-end sound. They get their unique industrial design (made out of aluminum) thanks to a partnership with Ross Lovegrove, who has helped KEF design a number of its super-expensive loudspeakers.
• Mark Levinson No. 5909: At $1,000, the Mark Levinson No. 5909 is one of the most expensive wireless noise-canceling headphones you can buy. The design is mostly made out of anodized aluminum and real leather. They have 40mm Beryllium-coated drivers and support for lossless sound (thanks mostly to supporting LDAC audio files), which the company claims allows them to deliver an audio quality that's almost as good as wired hi-fi headphones.
• Dyson Zone: Dyson, the company best known for its vacuums, has jumped into the world of wireless headphones. The Zones are completely unique in that they can purify the air you breathe via an attachable visor. Released in March 2023, they cost an eye-watering $949.
