Your New Best Buds? Our Pick of the Top Noise-Cancelling Earbuds (2024)

For the best noise-cancelling experience in a compact form, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are unbeatable. These earbuds excel at blocking out external sounds and are lighter and more portable than their predecessors. Whether you're commuting, flying, hitting the gym, or working in a coffee shop, they deliver blissful silence.

The standout feature is their "CustomTune" tech. It uses built-in microphones and an audio chime to customise the sound based on the shape of your ear canal. You won’t find that in the older ones.

The customisation via the app is excellent, too. You can create a profile for your surroundings, and then choose the noise cancelling level you need from one (low) to 10 (high). We maxed it out for our London train journeys but used a separate profile to keep it lower when working from home.

While touch controls may not appeal to everyone and a lack of wireless charging in the case is a shame, those are some of the only downsides. Want top-notch noise-cancelling in a compact package? The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the buds to pick.

For the time being, we’re leaving the QuietComfort Earbuds II in this roundup, despite Bose having launched a newer and ever-so-slightly shinier pair of “Ultra” earbuds. Why? Well, the two pairs are almost identical, so until last year’s ones are actually discontinued we’re going to continue to recommend them just as highly. These buds are the same when it comes to ridiculously good noise-cancelling and comfort while offering the exact same battery life and durability rating (as well as the still baffling lack of wireless charging).

However, we can’t understate just how fantastic these are at cancelling noise. No challengers can defeat them. Our usual test for ANC sees us wear earphones for multiple commutes in the London Underground’s Central Line, but to challenge these further we wore them for a journey along a large stretch of the Northern Line (which has received the most noise complaints from Londoners).

Before we popped them in we were struggling to hear ourselves think in the screeching din, but with these at work, you’re left in complete silence. We wore them around the supermarket, in the office, at coffee shops and more – in real-world testing, they beat all rivals including the Sony, Apple and Jabra pairs with ease, and both these and the QuietComfort Earbuds II are unmatched for ANC.

In terms of what’s different between them, the Ultras now have better high-res codec support and an “immersive” audio mode, both of which make an unnoticeable difference in use. Both models are top-tier contenders, and remain our first recommendation for anyone on the hunt for noise-cancelling earbuds.

We know we're not meant to have favourites, but if you asked us which earbuds on this list get the most use in our lives, we'd point to the Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9. We're fans of the AirPod-like stem, but this is a much more refined, less plasticky and subdued approach. That two-tone black and dark copper shade is also striking without being attention-grabbing.

They're non-slip to grab, capable of self-cleaning with UV light in the charging case and deliver the best of both worlds with both touch and button controls on each bud. In the box, you get an extensive selection of different ear tips (12, of varying lengths and sizes). In practice, it's simple to find the most comfortable fit, and once you get into the app these are about the most customisable earphones we've ever used.

Are they earbuds for audiophiles? Absolutely. We played everything from Kendrick Lamar to Mozart and heard some of the best stereo imaging, detail, dynamism and overall sound quality out there. The TWX9 match the performance of many of our favourites. And, when it comes to ambience control, they're right up there, although not quite beating the Boses, Apples and Sonys of the world.

What they do have an advantage in is added control. Rather than depending on adaptive noise-cancelling to do all the work, we've mapped ANC “optimisation” to a double button press. That way, we're tweaking it to each new environment before dialling in the volume with the precise control (also available on the buds). One real benefit of this approach is that the ANC is better than several rivals and the sound is still detailed at low volumes, so you won't end up blasting out your eardrums.

While the TWX9 have their quirks, we accept them all and love the sleek and subtle design with brilliant levels of customisation. For us, this amount of attention to detail is exactly what we're after.

We know what you’re thinking – these look like nothing else out there. Yes, they may be unconventional, and the charging case is undeniably enormous compared to the competition. But let's get one thing straight: Japanese audio brand Final isn't only thinking about convenience here. These earbuds are for serious music aficionados craving unparalleled sound quality and exceptional fidelity.

After being impressed by the original ZE8000 earlier this year, we’re delighted to see the MK2 delivers some noticeable upgrades. It improves the in-ear seal and delivers a far more capable noise-cancelling performance. There’s also now multipoint for dual connections. But it’s the sound that’s the selling point, and that’s the area where these excel above all rivals. We’re yet to hear any true wireless bud with a soundstage this layered, or that’s this transparent and detailed.

We couldn’t quite get our heads around the touch control system, so ended up turning it off to keep the focus on the music. For everything – from The Chemical Brothers to Missy Elliot, and The Hold Steady to Billie Eilish – these sound outstanding. They’re the best buds for unveiling hidden instrumental nuances and subtle details in familiar songs. The level of depth and control is exceptional and pushes the limits of what we’d assumed Bluetooth could convey.

Final's app further enhances the experience, featuring a comprehensive equaliser, refined volume controls, and a further improved "8K sound" mode. Don’t worry about the jargon, all you need to know is that it makes these earphones sound even better and it helps them sound clearer at lower volumes.

Now, recommending the ZE8000 to the average listener becomes trickier. The far-from-pocketable case is an obvious drawback, and the buds themselves are quite unwieldy, protruding noticeably from the ears.

However, if sound quality is your ultimate priority, these buds deserve to be at the top of the list. The ZE8000 MK2 cater to audiophiles with a subtle and balanced signature. Yes, they’re not for everyone, but audio enthusiasts should prepare to fall in love with them.

Apple's successor to the OG AirPods Pro may look identical to their predecessors but they are better in every conceivable way.

The new Pros outperform others at noise cancellation, feature a smarter transparency mode, extended battery life, and refined bud controls, including a satisfying swipe gesture for adjusting volume. The charging case comes with a built-in speaker and several clever "Find My" functions to ensure you never misplace an earbud again.

For iOS and iPhone users, the AirPods Pro gives us that “they just work” convenience we’ve come to expect from Apple, while also delivering noticeable improvements in sound quality. The soundstage is wider, bass nuances are enhanced, and they offer more punch and clarity.

We enjoyed using these earbuds to listen to tracks optimised for Apple Music's 360-degree "Spatial Audio," as well as movies and shows with cinematic surround sound on platforms like Disney+ and Apple TV+, like Andor and Severance. During testing, we were particularly impressed by the enhanced bass detail in songs from The xx and Massive Attack.

Disappointed with your older AirPods' battery life? The AirPods Pro lasts for six hours with active noise cancellation—an impressive improvement. They also support various chargers, including the option to conveniently refuel them using an Apple Watch charger.

Looking for AirPods Pro alternatives in a different colour? The Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7 earbuds might be what you need because they come in white, black and grey. They’re some of the most well-rounded earbuds with a stem design, and they offer impressive features to rival the omnipresent Apple buds.

We’re massive fans of the design of the flagship TWX9 from Audio-Technica, which will set you back £80 more than these, and the key elements of that look are present here too. The TWX7 still have that fantastic control system giving you both buttons and touch surfaces on both buds – this makes them highly customisable.

You’ll also find decent hybrid noise-cancellation (more than enough to silence most background sounds), a handy hear-through mode, an equaliser and a low latency mode available in the comprehensive companion app.

They feature the same 5.8mm drivers as the TWX9, and both models are capable of firing high-resolution audio from Qobuz or Tidal into your earholes. We’ve enjoyed listening to the layers and depth these buds reveal in tracks from Billie Eilish, Little Simz and Grimes. They’re dynamic and detailed, and we doubt even audiophiles will have complaints.

We can also confirm the fit is comfortable to wear for a long time and they offer a pretty competitive battery compared to similar rivals, with specs matching the AirPods Pro.

We love the granular volume adjustments which we’ve assigned to the clicky buttons, and the design is undeniably sleek. Yes, we can quibble about how the case is larger than some or how they lack in-ear sensors, but these are things we doubt you’ll notice and it’s hard to argue with how well-rounded these are.

Nothing's Ear (2) can be summed up in one word: "uncompromising". This London-based startup has managed to strike a balance between size, features and portability, without making the earbuds bigger or clunkier. And, as with the Ear (1), the semi-transparent design is unique and aesthetically pleasing.

The battery life remains sufficient, the case is slightly smaller and still supports wireless charging, and the earphones offer additional features like multipoint connectivity, personalisation, and an ear tip fit test. Despite not reaching the level of Apple or Bose models, the Ear (2) provides satisfactory active noise cancellation and transparency for commuting and office use.

What sets these earbuds apart is their affordability and exceptional sound quality. Nothing has prioritised audio performance, resulting in a balanced, clean, and enjoyable listening experience that rivals the more expensive 2nd-gen AirPods Pro. They remain detailed even at low volume, surpassing the performance of many other tested earbuds.

We highly recommend the Ear (2) for their style, sound, and versatility. Nothing has successfully delivered on its promise to "make tech fun again" with these buds, and considering the price, we couldn't ask for more.

If you have a lot of calls for your job and there are headsets in the office that you use, we’d bet they’re made by Jabra. The company is known for its reliable kit for work, but it’s also one of the longest-standing names in the wireless earbud game. And we’re starting to feel like it’s not getting the credit it’s due. The flagship pair from Jabra feels like one seriously refined product, ticking all the key boxes when it comes to features we expect on earphones and adding supreme comfort that beats every rival too.

We tend to wear these all day long, so trust us when we say that even the best get a bit tiring after a while. That is until the Jabra Elite 10 came along. These are becoming our everyday pick by default because we know we can wear them for hours on end without having to worry about any earache or discomfort. They’re made with a super soft silicone exterior and comfy oval-shaped ear tips that perch within your ears without digging down deep into them. Jabra may call this a “semi-open” fit but we got no sense that they’d fall out – they’re secure, yet comfy for ages.

Beyond that, they sound terrific and have excellent head-tracking spatial audio. We did notice it’s possible to confuse the head tracking if you move around a lot but that shouldn’t happen for most of us. The sound is lively and detailed, and while it lacks high-res codecs we don’t really notice that. The active noise-cancelling is the real deal (yes, it powered through our London Underground tests) and we love the app and simple (yet customisable) button controls. These are a winner in every department.

After true wireless earbuds that feel more personal? Or you're a tinkering audiophile who wants to get the most out of your music? We’d recommend you go for the Denon PerL Pro, which is a remodelled and revived version of a previous favourite around these parts, the NuraTrue Pro. Now Denon has acquired Nura, it has released earbuds boasting the Australian startup’s personalised sound tech, and the results are pretty special.

We love how these greet you each time with a “welcome back” and the connected app does a great job of creating your own sound profile. It does this by playing a series of frequencies and tones to measure otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) in your inner ear. From there, you can enhance the “immersion” level and enjoy spatial audio effects, which are some of the most natural-sounding we’ve heard from any pair. You can also set a safe volume limit in the app and store multiple different custom preferences.

The top-spec ANC is powerful too, and we’ve had no trouble using these on the commute. There are a couple of downsides we’d note, including a range of ear tips that we couldn’t quite get to feel fully comfortable, and an unusual (albeit distinctive) circular bud design.

We’ve had no trouble with battery life or charging though, and we do absolutely love the richness, detail and spaciousness of the sound quality on offer with the PerL Pro.

Audiophiles used to cringe at the thought of "wireless" audio, but now even they see the appeal of wireless earbuds. They aren't mere convenient alternatives to wired in-ear monitors, they're viable options for hi-res listening.

At £200, the Free Byrds offer an engrossing sonic experience that won't hurt your wallet. They deliver a gorgeous listen but you do have to ignore a few of the downsides, including – deep breath – the clunky large size, plasticky build, subpar noise-cancelling, so-so transparency mode and baffling default touch controls. But let's focus on the positives.

We love the huge selection of ear tip options (including both silicone and foam) that help these earbuds deliver detailed and impactful sound. The highs and vocals are bursting with clarity, while the bass has a significant punch. They enhance every track we tested, and they shine with everything from Grimes’ ‘Oblivion’ to Ludovico Einaudi’s ‘Divenire’. Plus, the built-in hearing test takes the experience to another level.

Sure, there are other well-rounded options out there. But despite being heavier, more awkward and not cancelling as much noise, we keep gravitating back to the Free Byrds.

Why? First, the battery life is a major benefit, lasting an astonishing 11 hours on a single charge. Second, we appreciate the dedication to quality that Beyerdynamic brings to the table. In a true wireless market that's always evolving, these earbuds are a welcome addition.

Sound quality is an obvious priority for anyone buying earbuds, and Sennheiser’s TW3 are some of our favourites when it comes to high-fidelity listening. All the buds on our list impress in this department and it’s close between some of the top contenders.

With these, we love the wide soundstage and the level of richness and detail. It’s impressive that you can isolate the vocals, drums and guitar in tracks like Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ or ‘In the Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins.

On the noise-cancelling front, they’re no slouch but also don't rival the Boses or AirPods Pro of the world. The standard adaptive ANC cut out most background annoyances and the rumble of our morning commute on the London Underground, and we appreciate that they now have a wind noise reduction setting to tackle the interruptions that would get through on the previous generation.

The touch controls are simple, customisable and intuitive, and they give you a good amount of sound tweaking via the app, along with a function to turn on certain equaliser modes or the ANC when you go to a particular location.

They also now have Bluetooth multi-point for reliable multiple connections. There’s really not much to dislike here (especially given that the German audio brand dropped the price compared to the predecessor) although these do have a slightly chunkier case than some models on this list.

Need a serious all-rounder that’ll deliver when it comes to travel? We think your priorities have to be excellent noise-cancellation, long-lasting battery life, a sleek design and a compact charging case. These upgraded Sony buds tick all the boxes, and they’re 25% smaller and 20% lighter than their predecessors (which we’d still recommend while they’re available).

Our music sounds energetic when coming from these little buds and they manage to draw out loads of detail in the tracks we played. They have more extensive codec support and they have the edge when it comes to battery life over the Bose earbuds, although we find the fit of the Bose more customisable. The Sony buds have a hybrid foam material, which some may find hit-or-miss – it feels a lot like having earplugs in, and this should make them work well on flights.

You control many of the functions – including the awareness and ANC – by tapping on the exterior, although these controls are both trickier to remember and less customisable than the options from rivals. We find them a bit of a letdown, but the rest of the app does offer you loads of settings to get them working for you, and you can adjust the equaliser to find your dream settings.

As with the LinkBuds S, one of our favourite features is Sony’s fantastic auto-switching between noise-cancelling and awareness depending on your activity. It’s great for keeping you alert to your surroundings before transitioning to ANC when you sit down on the train to work.

If you’re after something to assist in your training programme, the Beats Fit Pro is an excellent exercise companion. Utilising similar features to Apple’s all-powerful AirPods Pro, these buds offer a more fitness-focused design, with a silicone wingtip to fit snugly in the inside curve of your ear to keep them secure.

We doubt any of you are spending six hours at the squat rack, but these will keep up with your routine if you’re wearing them to and from the gym without popping them back in the charging case.

As with every pair on our list, these feature ANC too, and it’s every bit as good as its main rivals. The audio reproduction from these is also comparable to some of the best devices on this list and while they might be on the expensive side of the spectrum, they’re our top pick if your buds need to work for your gym sessions, your commute and everything in between.

If you’re prioritising style above all else, we’re not going to judge. Look, you’re wearing these every day on your commute, in the office, around your home and when you pop out to the shops – they’re as much a part of your outfit as any accessory and they should look the part.

The good news is that you can pick up buds with some genuine refinement, attention to detail and personality without sacrificing sound quality and noise-cancelling capabilities, they just come at a bit of a price.

We love the sleek charging case, the glass touch panels, the aluminium detailing and the considered look of the waterproof buds themselves from Danish designer Thomas Bentzen. Whether you pick them in black, gold or black and blue shades, these are gorgeous.

There’s substance here too, we could hear all the precision within Hans Zimmer’s epic and otherworldly score for Dune, and we were impressed by the powerful ANC during our commute. Are they that much better than their cheaper rivals? Probably not. But they look far better than almost everything else out there while delivering proper acoustic resonance.

If you don’t mind the larger-than-average charging case, these deliver a massive battery life unmatched by any other true wireless buds we’ve heard about. If you turn the noise-cancelling off, you’ll get an enormous 20 hours of life out of these buds without using the case to recharge them at all.

Switch the noise-cancelling on and you’ll still get 15 hours of life before even factoring in the extra 30 hours in the case. To put that in perspective, it’s more than double the battery capabilities of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. In the rare event that these do run out, a quick ten-minute charge (via a USB-C cable) rewards you with 90 minutes of playback.

When it comes to the audio performance, you won’t be disappointed. These are balanced and detailed, and we heard the wide range of sounds and subtleties within Eskmo’s ‘Cloudlight’.

We also love that these have multipoint to maintain connections with two devices. There’s a wide range of options within the companion app too, including granular equaliser adjustments and reassigning the control buttons on each bud.

We like these clicky buttons for their reliability over touch inputs, and they can be set to call on your voice assistant, change ambient modes and turn on low latency, along with controlling playback. The bulky case that sticks out in your pocket is one of the only real downsides of these versatile sub-£150 buds.

Technics is well-known for its hi-fi legacy, and its new premium wireless buds are pitched as a serious contender to Sony, Bose and Apple. Thanks to unrivalled three-device multipoint connectivity that lets you pair them to your personal phone, work phone and laptop all at once, these are an ideal pair of premium buds for hybrid working.

We enjoy the clean and well-balanced quality. They sound excellent with all genres we play, from the smooth tones of Arctic Monkeys’ ‘The Car’ to the chugging guitars of the Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘Paper Machete’. They’re comfortable to wear for several hours, too.

We appreciate that the pocketable case can be popped on a wireless charger for refuelling, that the buds have water resistance and you’ll get up to 24 hours of listening from a charge (with the ANC on).

It’s just a shame that the noise cancellation can’t compete with top buds in this price range. It's decent, but not enough to stop the loudest train sounds, However, it’s effective for coffee shop chatter and they also perform well in the office and at the gym.

The companion app enables precise tweaking of all the settings, including adjusting the intensity of the ANC and ambient modes. The built-in “find headphones” mode is also a nice touch, playing a chime from the buds for 60 seconds or letting you search their location.

These are a great buy if you are sick of constantly pairing your buds to other devices. That three-device multipoint alone earns them a spot.

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbuds are the latest flagship offering from the British audio experts, bringing some subtle yet appreciated updates to their predecessor. Sporting new colour finishes, improved Bluetooth connection, better battery life, and compatibility with the B&W Music app, these advanced earbuds come at a premium price.

Comparable to the more "affordable" Pi5 S2 buds in battery life, design, and water resistance, the Pi7 S2 boasts noticeable improvements. The look and feel, soundstage, and bass performance all shine on these buds.

The boosted low end and terrific sound signature make them a bass lover's dream. With controlled detail and power, they excel with tracks like Portishead's "Machine Gun" and Muse's "Hysteria".

While there are minor downsides, including the high price and a design that may not suit everyone, the Pi7 S2 shines for sound quality. The clever charging case doubles as a wireless adapter, allowing for music transmission when connected to an audio output. This innovative feature is perfect for plane rides or low-latency gaming on the Nintendo Switch, making the Pi7 S2 stand out from the crowd.

NY-based Status Audio is a brand that keeps its focus squarely on the audiophile crowd, and while these larger buds look a bit like little sticks of chewing gum or miniaturised Ring doorbells hanging out of your ears, we can’t deny that they deliver when it comes to sheer sound quality.

The Between 3ANC is on the weightier side when it comes to both the buds and the case, but they’re well-engineered and don’t feel heavy once they’re in your ears. The design is unusual, but we’re not against it – we reckon they stand out from the sea of interchangeable buds. They look more prominent than the average earphone, but we appreciate that they’re somewhat minimalist and not covered in branding.

They come with a companion app that’s decent, albeit light on features. You get a couple of different sound profiles and the ability to set a custom equaliser… and that’s about it. The draw here is the audio reproduction – we liked the sound straight out of the box yet found even more to enjoy in the “Status Audiophile” mode. They feel spacious, sophisticated, rich and detailed. We’re serious, these are up there with the best and rival the Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins earbuds on this list.

While excellent in this regard, though, we’d only opt for them if you’re smitten with the style. Others in this high-end tier offer more features, more customisability and far better on-bud controls.

Can Noise-Cancelling Headphones Block All Sound?

The idea of noise cancelling may seem pretty self-explanatory, but how it works, in reality, is fascinating. Active noise cancellation (ANC), which used to be reserved for premium on- or over-ear headphones, doesn’t merely block outside sounds from getting to your ears.

It effectively eliminates external noise by both creating a vacuum inside your ear and using microphones to analyse and invert low-frequency sounds around you.

It’s excellent at combating constant, droning background sounds like a rumbling train or a whirring fan. This enhances the overall quality of the audio and lets you focus on your tunes without the distraction of the outside world ruining the best bit of the song.

Of course, there’s only so much these can cancel, and if a dog suddenly barks or a car alarm goes off, you’ll hear that faintly still.

Some of the more advanced models have a slider in a smartphone app where you can adjust the strength depending on how much noise you want to let in, others have noise-cancelling modes for specific situations (like a plane engine or wind howling), and a few are capable of adapting the ANC as you walk around (more on that below).

The Need-to-Know

Confused by the huge range of various headphones available right now? We don’t blame you.

There are all sorts of types from wired to on-ear and over-ear, but true wireless earphones are arguably the most technically advanced. They have no cables (not even a cord attaching the two buds, like the original Beats PowerBeats) and will connect to your smartphone or device through Bluetooth.

Noise Cancellation

We’ve already explained this above, and we think noise cancellation is a must-have feature for earphones in 2024. That’s why we haven’t featured any models on our list that aren’t capable of it. We’ve got to set the bar high and, honestly, once you experience it you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.

There are different levels of noise cancellation, though, and some will require you to pick a noise-cancelling mode, some may have a hybrid/adaptive ANC to alter the level based on surrounding noise, and some may give you manual control of the effect via the companion app.

Weight

Earbuds are a much smaller and lighter alternative to heavier over-ear options that can still immerse you in your favourite tunes. Each bud is only a few grams (anywhere between 3g and 10g) so you’ll barely notice them. To make sure they stay in, they come with a choice of tip sizes. The last thing you want is for them to fly out and head down the drain because they’re too small.

Battery Life

As they’re entirely wireless, the earbuds have their own batteries to keep them going. They all come with carrying cases that house extra juice inside, recharging the buds when they aren’t in use and keeping them protected within your pockets or bag.

Our favourites can range from four to 20 hours on a single charge before needing to be either wirelessly charged or plugged in with a USB-C or Lightning cable.

Voice Control

Why use your fingers when you can just use your voice? Our favourite devices can use smart assistants to fire up your podcasts or pause your playlist by having a quick chat with your earphones.

The usual option of Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant will be found in most models below (as these are built-into iPhones and Android devices), but some will also be able to use Amazon’s Alexa too.

Each model is different, so you might have to tap on the buds themselves, press a button, or say a “wake” phrase like “Hey Siri” to get the convo going.

Companion Apps

Chances are you’ll be pairing your earphones to your smartphone for general listening, so most brands have an app to give you more control over your headphones.

They’ll be compatible with iOS or Android devices and will act as a hub where you can adjust noise-cancelling strength, or save equaliser presets.

These allow you to adjust specific tones and frequencies to enhance your favourite genres. For example, you could pump the bass up for R&B or boost vocals for those power ballad singers.