Best of
The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones (2026)
The best noise-cancelling headphones for 2026, researched across ANC strength, comfort, sound quality, and battery life. Sony, Bose, Apple, and Anker picks.
Our top picks at a glance
Best overall
Sony WH-1000XM5Listeners who want the best all-round package of ANC, sound, and features.
Best comfort
Bose QuietComfort 45Frequent travelers who prioritize all-day comfort and simple, reliable ANC.
Best for Apple users
Apple AirPods MaxiPhone and Mac users who want seamless switching and premium materials.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best noise-cancelling headphone for most people, with top-tier ANC, great sound, and multipoint. Travelers who value comfort above all should get the Bose QuietComfort 45. Apple users should choose the AirPods Max for seamless integration. On a budget, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 offers real ANC and LDAC for far less.
The picks, ranked
| Pick | Battery life | Weight | Codecs | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overallSony WH-1000XM5 | 30 hours (ANC on) | 250 g | LDAC, AAC, SBC | Check price |
| Best comfortBose QuietComfort 45 | 24 hours (ANC on) | 240 g | AAC, SBC | Check price |
| Best for Apple usersApple AirPods Max | 20 hours (ANC on) | 386 g | — | Check price |
 Best budgetAnker Soundcore Space Q45 | 50 hours (ANC on) | 264 g | LDAC, AAC, SBC | Check price |
 Best previous-gen valueSony WH-1000XM4 | 30 hours (ANC on) | 254 g | LDAC, AAC, SBC | Check price |
 Best Bose flagshipBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | 24 hours (ANC on) | 250 g | AAC, SBC, Snapdragon Sound | Check price |
 Best battery flagshipSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless | 60 hours (ANC on) | 293 g | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | Check price |
 Best comfort refreshBose QuietComfort Headphones | 24 hours (ANC on) | 254 g | AAC, SBC | Check price |
 Best budget long-lifeEdifier WH950NB | 55 hours (ANC on) | 296 g | LDAC, AAC, SBC | Check price |
 Best marathon budget1MORE SonoFlow | 70 hours (ANC on) | 250 g | LDAC, AAC, SBC | Check price |
Best overall
Sony WH-1000XM5
Flagship ANC with superb sound and multipoint.
The WH-1000XM5 combines the strongest adaptive ANC with excellent sound, LDAC support, and multipoint connections. It is the most complete package for most listeners.
Strengths
- Class-leading adaptive noise cancelling
- Excellent, detailed sound with LDAC support
- Multipoint connections for two devices
Limitations
- Does not fold flat for travel
- Touch controls can be finicky in rain
- Premium price
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Noise cancelling is consistently rated among the best
- Comfortable, lightweight fit for long flights
- Strong battery life across years of use
Common complaints
- A recurring minority report the headband hinge cracking after months of use
- Sony often treats hinge breaks as physical damage, not a warranty defect
- The non-folding design makes the case bulky
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Battery life | 30 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 250 g |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Multipoint | Yes, two devices |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Listeners who want the best all-round package of ANC, sound, and features.
Skip if: You live entirely in the Apple ecosystem and value seamless device switching above all.
Best comfort
Bose QuietComfort 45
Legendary comfort with effortless noise cancelling.
The QC45 remains the comfort king: light clamping force, plush earcups, and natural-feeling noise cancelling that never fatigues on long flights.
Strengths
- Exceptionally comfortable for long sessions
- Strong, natural-feeling noise cancelling
- Simple physical controls
Limitations
- No LDAC support
- Fewer smart features than Sony
- Microphone is average for calls
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Very comfortable for all-day wear
- Effective, consistent noise cancelling
- Simple physical buttons that are easy to use by feel
Common complaints
- Some find the sound tuning flat compared with rivals
- Footsteps can thud through the cups while walking
- Fewer features than newer flagship headphones
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 240 g |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Folding | Yes, flat-folding earcups |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Frequent travelers who prioritize all-day comfort and simple, reliable ANC.
Skip if: You want LDAC or the latest multipoint features.
Best for Apple users
Apple AirPods Max
Unmatched Apple integration with premium build.
No third-party headphone matches the AirPods Max for Apple ecosystem integration, and the build quality is genuinely premium. You pay for both.
Strengths
- Effortless pairing and switching across Apple devices
- Excellent computational audio and spatial audio
- Premium aluminum and mesh build
Limitations
- Heavy at 386 g for long sessions
- No power button; case-based sleep only
- Highest price in class
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Premium build and excellent noise cancelling
- Seamless switching across Apple devices
- Rich, detailed sound with spatial audio
Common complaints
- Condensation inside the ear cups is a long-running owner complaint
- Heavy for long sessions, around 385 grams
- The minimal Smart Case offers little protection
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Battery life | 20 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 386 g |
| Chip | H1 (each earcup) |
| Controls | Digital Crown |
| Charging | Lightning |
Best for: iPhone and Mac users who want seamless switching and premium materials.
Skip if: You use Android, or weight and price matter to you.
Best budget
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
Flagship features and marathon battery for far less.
The Q45 delivers real adaptive ANC, LDAC, and a 50-hour battery for a fraction of flagship prices. The best value in noise cancelling.
Strengths
- 50-hour battery life with ANC on
- LDAC support at a budget price
- Comfortable for the price
Limitations
- ANC trails Sony and Bose flagships
- Build is plasticky
- App is required for full EQ
| Battery life | 50 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 264 g |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Multipoint | Yes, two devices |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Budget buyers who want strong ANC, LDAC, and huge battery life.
Skip if: You demand the absolute best ANC or premium build materials.
Best previous-gen value
Sony WH-1000XM4
The previous flagship that still beats most current rivals.
The XM4 keeps flagship Sony ANC, LDAC, and flat-folding earcups at a mid-range price. When discounted, it is the smartest money in the category.
Strengths
- Excellent ANC driven by the QN1 processor, still class-competitive
- Folds flat for travel, unlike the XM5
- LDAC support and 30-hour battery with ANC on
- Often discounted well below its original flagship price
Limitations
- Call quality trails the XM5's upgraded microphone array
- No wear detection improvements from the newer generation
- Slightly heavier clamp than the Bose comfort-first designs
| Battery life | 30 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 254 g |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Folding | Yes, flat-folding earcups |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Buyers who want flagship Sony ANC and LDAC at a mid-range price.
Skip if: You need the XM5's improved call quality or adaptive ANC refinements.
Best Bose flagship
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose's flagship: strongest ANC plus immersive spatial audio.
The Ultra pairs Bose's strongest ANC with CustomTune calibration and immersive spatial audio, in the comfortable 250 g folding design Bose does best.
Strengths
- Strongest ANC Bose has shipped, with CustomTune calibration
- Immersive Audio spatial sound for music and movies
- Comfortable for long sessions at 250 g
- Folds flat with excellent build quality
Limitations
- No LDAC support
- Premium pricing at the top of the class
- Immersive Audio drains battery faster
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 250 g |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC, Snapdragon Sound |
| Folding | Yes, flat-folding earcups |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Bose loyalists who want the brand's best ANC and spatial audio.
Skip if: You want LDAC support or the lowest flagship price.
Best battery flagship
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
60-hour battery with Sennheiser's signature sound.
A 60-hour battery with ANC on doubles most flagships, and the aptX Adaptive sound is superb. For listeners who hate chargers, nothing else is close.
Strengths
- 60-hour battery with ANC on, double most flagships
- Superb audiophile-leaning sound with aptX Adaptive
- Comfortable for long sessions with deep earcups
- Excellent companion app with EQ and sound personalization
Limitations
- ANC trails Sony and Bose flagships
- Does not fold flat
- At 293 g it is heavier than Sony and Bose
| Battery life | 60 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 293 g |
| Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Multipoint | Yes, two devices |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Listeners who prioritize sound quality and hate charging.
Skip if: You need the absolute strongest ANC or a folding travel design.
Best comfort refresh
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
The QC45 formula refined: comfort-first ANC, updated.
The updated QuietComfort keeps the legendary light-clamp comfort and flat folding with modern USB-C and strong natural ANC at a mid-range price.
Strengths
- The legendary Bose comfort: light clamp, plush pads, flat-folding
- Strong natural-feeling ANC for the price tier
- USB-C charging with quick charge
- Simple, reliable controls
Limitations
- No LDAC support
- Fewer smart features than Sony rivals
- ANC a step below the QuietComfort Ultra
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 254 g |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Folding | Yes, flat-folding earcups |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Comfort-first buyers who want the classic Bose fit with modern updates.
Skip if: You need LDAC or the Ultra's stronger ANC.
Best budget long-life
Edifier WH950NB
LDAC and 55-hour battery at a budget price.
LDAC, multipoint, and a 55-hour battery with ANC on for budget money. The WH950NB is the value pick for hi-res listeners who travel.
Strengths
- 55-hour battery with ANC on, outstanding for the price
- LDAC support for hi-res wireless audio
- Multipoint connections for two devices
- Comfortable fit with soft earcups
Limitations
- ANC is good, not flagship-class
- Plastic build feels budget in hand
- App is basic compared to Sony's
| Battery life | 55 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 296 g |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Multipoint | Yes, two devices |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Budget buyers who want hi-res wireless audio with long battery life.
Skip if: You demand flagship-tier ANC or premium build materials.
Best marathon budget
1MORE SonoFlow
70-hour marathon battery with LDAC, for very little.
70 hours with ANC on is the longest battery here by far, with LDAC and 250 g comfort. Charge it once and forget it exists for weeks.
Strengths
- 70-hour battery with ANC on, the longest here
- LDAC support at a budget price
- Light and comfortable at 250 g
- QuietMax ANC handles low-frequency drone well
Limitations
- ANC trails the premium flagships
- Build is lightweight plastic
- Microphone is average for calls
| Battery life | 70 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 250 g |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Multipoint | Yes, two devices |
| Charging | USB-C, quick charge |
Best for: Travelers who want to charge once and forget for weeks.
Skip if: You need the strongest ANC or care about brand prestige.
How we chose
We judged headphones on four pillars. ANC strength matters most: low-frequency reduction on planes and trains, plus wind handling outdoors. Comfort was weighed heavily because even great ANC is useless if the headphone hurts after two hours. Sound quality was assessed with ANC both on and off, noting codec support for Android users. Battery life reflects real-world use with ANC enabled, since that is how these headphones are actually used.
Questions, answered
Which headphones have the best noise cancelling?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort 45 lead the class. Sony edges ahead on adaptive ANC that adjusts to your environment; Bose feels more natural and is more comfortable for very long sessions.
Are expensive noise-cancelling headphones worth it?
If you fly often or work in noisy environments, yes: stronger ANC, better comfort, and longer battery life pay off daily. For occasional use, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 covers the essentials for much less.
Do noise-cancelling headphones work without music?
Yes. ANC works independently of audio playback, so you can wear them purely for quiet. Most models let you toggle ANC on with no music playing.
What is the difference between ANC and passive isolation?
Passive isolation is physical: earcup seal blocking sound. ANC is active: microphones sample ambient noise and play inverse waves to cancel it, which is far more effective against low-frequency drone like engines.