Best noise-cancelling headphones 2023: top ANC choices rated

You’re probably reading these words because you typed “best noise-cancelling headphones” into Google. If so, congratulations: you’re in the right place. Take a seat and get comfy, because there are quite a few options to consider.

Don’t worry though — we’ve done all the leg work by testing out the best headphones around, so by the time you’ve scrolled down, you should have a solid shortlist.

From Sony and Bose, to Apple and Sennheiser, there are all sorts of in-ear and over-ear noise-cancelling headphones fighting for the coveted spot in (or around) your lugholes. Some excel at the noise-cancellation part. Others provide better sound. And some do both. They’re all available across different budgets, and we’ve even included some older models which still offer excellent performance, at an even better-discounted price.

So without further ado, let’s dive straight into our top picks of the best noise-cancelling headphones — because no one deserves to be bombarded with the sound of screeching tube breaks, incessant engine noises, or the piercing, soul-cleaving shriek of a toddler in full Tantrum Mode.

• Best wireless earbuds: the top true-wireless earphones tested

Our pick of the best noise-cancelling headphones to buy today

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has nothing to prove when it comes to noise-cancelling headphones: the WH-1000XM4 (below) were already our favourite pair. And given the brilliance of those ‘phones, we didn’t see much room for improvement. But just for fun, Sony has found a way to make the best cans even better.

New 30mm carbon fibre composite drivers offer even greater clarity, with beautifully precise sound reproduction. And Sony has further refined the noise-cancelling performance, particularly at higher frequencies. Using the same processor as the WF-1000XM4 buds below, the Sony Headphones app will auto-detect your environment and adapt settings accordingly.

There are a couple of caveats. While the WH-1000XM5 remain lightweight and easy on the ear, they no longer fold in at the arms for compact carrying. They also cost more than their predecessors did. But these minor quibbles can be quickly set aside: these are the best noise-cancellers by almost every measure.

• Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review here

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Sennheiser Momentum 4

Equipped to compete with Sony’s all-conquering cans, Sennheiser’s undercut the class-leaders considerably. And remarkably, it’s done so without scrimping: they might be understated to the point of anonymity, but the Momentum 4 give a convincing impression of quality and longevity.

Sound is handled by a pair of 42mm full-range dynamic drivers, while eight mics are deployed for adaptive ANC, wind-suppression and clear voice pick-up. You don’t get a Bose-like blanket of silence, but whack up the ANC and background noise is considerably reduced. Audio itself is bold, detailed and thoroughly enjoyable, while battery life is simply epic at 60 hours.

• Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 review here

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Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

Building on the excellent benchmark set by their predecessors, the third generation of Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless in-ears cement their rightful presence among the best ANC earbuds. Build quality is as solid as we’ve come to expect from Sennheiser, while a 16% size reduction means the upgraded Momentum ‘buds go easier on the ears.

Touch controls can be customised through the feature-rich app. What you can’t adjust is ANC; instead you get standard, transparency and anti-wind settings to toggle through. With ANC enabled, the True Wireless 3 cancel external sounds almost entirely, without sacrificing their likeable audio balance. Favouring fidelity over forceful bass, they demonstrate remarkable detail and tonal integration. Battery life might be average at seven hours, but everything else here is convincingly premium.

• Read our full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 review here

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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

The QuietComfort Earbuds are Bose’s first foray into the world of noise-cancelling wireless in-ears. They’re sleek, attractive and comfortable, with delightfully bassy performance to boot. Impressive noise-cancellation smarts are also bolstered by a handy Transparency mode, with 11 levels of ANC available in the app.

Battery life is around six hours per single charge – respectable, but not the best around. Still, a total of 18 hours with the case included isn’t too shabby, as long as you remember to actually charge them.

• Read our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review

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Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The original PX7 were a fixture of our best headphones list. Predictably, the follow-up is another brilliant pair of noise-cancelling cans, with a lovely feel, wonderful sound quality and improved ANC that’s simply brilliant.

The design hasn’t really changed from the first version, which means you still get the same tricky row of buttons on the right ear cup. The 3.5mm port has also disappeared, so USB-C is your only option for hard-wiring.

But the PX7 S2 remain a fundamentally comfortable pair of premium headphones. New 40mm driver units deliver consistent, well-balanced sound which isn’t compromised by ANC, while battery life is still solid at 30 hours. The only cause for hesitation? The flagship PX8, which now take pride of place in the B&W stable.

• Read our Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review

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Apple AirPods Max

If you’re an Apple fan with a penchant for over-ears, the AirPods Max are clearly going to catch your eye. With beautiful anodised aluminium ear cups, a stainless steel headband and an open knit mesh canopy, they ooze Apple’s design DNA. While comfortable at first, you might find them a little pinchy after prolonged use, as they’re heavier than quite a few rivals. Heads come in all shapes and sizes though, so your experience may vary.

As for their performance, you won’t be disappointed. Coupled with beefy 40mm drivers, Apple’s H1 processor-powered adaptive EQ produces an exceptional soundscape, with some of the best noise-cancelling results thrown in to boot.

You’ll be paying a premium for the privilege though – and the AirPods Max offer less bang for buck than certain Sony rivals. But if you’re an avid Apple user and can handle the weight, you’ll be more than happy with the results.

• Read our Apple AirPods Max review

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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have a horrifically convoluted name, but we’ll forgive them because they nail it where it counts — namely, noise-cancellation.

With six microphones working in conjunction to serve up 11 increments of noise-blocking, these cans are aimed at those looking to master their environment above all else. Not only that, but they also have the bonus of letting you clearly hear the outside world without taking them off, if you want to be aware of your surroundings or chat to a member of staff about any false discrepancies in your bagging area.

They sound great too, though they can’t quite reach the same sonic levels of Sony or Apple’s offerings.

• Read our Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review

Jabra Elite 5

The Jabra Elite 5 sits between the company’s entry-level Elite 4 and excellent premium Elite 7 Active. Standout features include superb call quality, physical controls, and all sorts of codecs to keep Apple and Android users happy, including AAC, SBC and aptX.

Sound is suitably punchy with plenty of tweaking options available via Jabra’s app. Noise cancellation is decent too, though not the absolute best around. Battery life at seven hours with ANC on isn’t too shabby either, though you’ll want to look elsewhere for super long-haul flights. Given its price and solid performance overall though, this is an ideal choice for those looking for decent specs and performance (particularly if you value call quality), at a price that won’t destroy your bank balance.

• Read our Jabra Elite 5 review

1More Sonoflow

The 1More Sonoflow headphones are probably some of the best bang-for-buck over-ear ANC cans around, at least at the time of writing. For comfortably less than £100, they serve up punchy, well-balanced audio, solid noise-cancelling that will help block out the hustle and bustle of your commute, and their crowning achievement — up to a whopping 70 hours of battery life per charge (with ANC off).

Even with ANC on, they can eke out a very impressive 50 hours before you need to reach for the cable. If you can look past the sometimes-fiddly buttons, plastic build, and the fact that you can get superior performance elsewhere (for significantly more cash), then it’s clear to see that 1More have achieved something rather special here, especially considering the price to performance ratio on offer.

• Read our 1More Sonoflow review