Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen).

For one of the best blends of noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort, you don't have to look any further than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) headphones. Though they're pricey, their solid construction and excellent performance are sure to carry you through years of use.

The first generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have been one of our favorite headphones since their release in 2023, so the second generation headphones had big shoes to fill. While the upgrades aren't earth-shattering, Bose does fix the most glaring issues with the first generation earbuds.

For the most part, the noise-cancelling and sound profile remains unchanged. There are minor improvements in both: the sound profile comes across slightly richer, the adaptive noise cancelling slightly more effective, and the 10 levels of adjustable noise cancellation easier to access through the companion app. While we do find the ANC on the Sony XM6 headphones to be slightly more effective, the adjustability of Bose's headphones can't be beat.

The design also remains similar aesthetically, with the main changes coming in the form of a shiny metal accent piece in the headband. They are also, somehow, a bit more comfortable than the first gen Ultras, especially in the ear cup area. Like the first gen headphones, the ear cups are still removable, making them easier to clean and replace years down the line.

In combination of the above features, the folding ear cup design of Ultras have long made them ofone the best headphones for travel, but Bose made them even better this time around. The battery life is now 30 hours, up from 24, and the headphones support passive playback with the auxiliary cable, meaning they don't need to be powered on to play audio. The USB-C charging cable can also be used to play audio, though the headphones do need to be powered on for this feature to use.

Bose also improved the wear detection of these headphones, and added a lay flat mode, which automatically disconnects the headphones from Bluetooth and puts them into a low power mode when laid down on a flat surface. Overall, these headphones feel even more premium than the previous generation, and at the same price point the first gen was available for — $449.

• Battery life: 30 hours
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Black, desert gold, driftwood sand, midnight violet, white

Check out our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).

The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are for anyone who wants ANC earbuds that block noise better than most over-ear headphones. They're an investment, but they bring together the best features of earbuds and premium noise-cancelling headphones.

Step one to finding the best noise-cancelling earbuds: Find the earbuds that physically block out the most noise. For us, that choice was simple thanks to the second-gen Bose QC Ultra earbuds. The noise-blocking power came as no surprise considering how muchwe loved the first-gen earbuds, and though the ANC isn't significantly stronger on the newer buds (first-gen users don't need to upgrade), it does help these earbuds live up to the QuietComfort name.

The other half of that name, of course, is comfort, and the Ultras deliver there, too. The separate stabilizer band and ear tip design allowed us to find a secure fit that never felt too snug or caused any soreness. Though the wear and ANC are where these earbuds shine most, their sound quality is nothing to scoff at, handling Sabrina Carpenter's "Tears" as adeptly as it does a Rachmaninoff piano concerto (especially with the immersive spatial audio).

For all they have going for them, these earbuds do have a couple of flaws we wish weren't present at their $299 price point. One, their multipoint connection can be a little spotty when more than one device is paired. Two, their battery life tops out at six hours with ANC on, which, while not terrible, is falling behind the more common seven-to-eight-hour standard we're seeing these days.

Still, for the best ANC and comfort you can find on a pair of earbuds, the Bose QC Ultra second-gen buds are still well-rounded enough for us to recommend them as our favorite noise-cancelling earbuds.

• Battery life: 6 hours (24 hours with the charging case)
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Black and white smoke

Read our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

We loved the Sony WH-1000XM4s, the XM5s, and now we love the XM6s. They come with a higher price point of $450, so these are for anyone genuinely interested in premium quality audio and ANC. If you already own a pair of XM5s, however, we wouldn't say these are different enough to justify an upgrade.

Between these headphones and the Bose QC Ultras, our top pick is a bit better at blocking out sound, but we're comparing the highest levels of ANC. And for what it's worth, the XM6s still do an excellent job with significantly blocking or dampening environmental sounds, whether you're near a busy street or working in an office space, thanks to their 12 microphones (which also help with call clarity).

That said, Sony headphones tend to shine the most in the sound category, and the XM6s are no exception. Whether we listened to classical music, classic rock, or electronic music, the XM6s brought a level of clarity, balance, and depth that few other headphones in this price range match. Out of the box, they sound great, but with a little fine-tuning on their equalizer, they sound excellent.

Like the XM5s, they come with the same long-lasting 30-hour battery life. Unlike the XM5s, the earcups fold up, in a return to form of the XM4 model. For anyone who regularly takes their headphones on the go, this genuinely makes a difference — the XM6 case is noticeably smaller than the XM5 case, both in height and depth. Sony also gave the power button a small upgrade with a circular design, making it easier to differentiate by feel alone from the other on-ear noise cancellation button.

• Battery life: 30 hours
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Black, navy, silver

Love high-quality audio but not so fond of the feeling of headphones over your ears? These Sony earbuds are the earbud model of the flagship WH-1000XM5 headphones we recommended above.

These earbuds deliver a rich, well-balanced sound profile, without the weight of over-ear headphones. The ear tips material is not the usual silicone found on AirPods and other earbuds, but a more foam-like material you'd find on an ear plug, allowing for all-day wear that creates a firm seal without sacrificing comfort. People who aren't fans of the stemmed design made popular by AirPods will appreciate that Sony didn't attempt to make a carbon copy. Plus, these Sony earbuds still offer functional touch controls.

The Sony companion app allows for a ton of customization, including for those aforementioned touch controls, paired devices, and of course, an equalizer. Those who feel a bit intimidated by a completely custom equalizer will appreciate the "Find Your Equalizer" feature, which gives you two rounds of options to select from while listening to music to narrow down what settings actually sound the best. Once you've made your selection, a final before and after sound test confirms you're happy with the mix, making it easier than ever to get the most out of your music.

We also enjoyed the Adaptive Sound Control, which switches the earbuds automatically from noise-cancelling to ambient sound transparency modes based on whether you're sitting or walking around (settings that can be adjusted). Multipoint pairing also lets you switch between two devices with next to zero lag. If you hate using transparency mode because of how it amplifies outside sounds, you can adjust that, too.

• Battery life: 7-8 hours per charge (24 hours with case)
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Black, silver

Read our full review of the Sony ULT Wear headphones.

If you don't need a fancy custom equalizer to know you like punching up the bass ten out of ten times, the new Sony ULT Wear headphones are made for you. Our reviewer praised these headphones for offering balanced soundandpowerful bass, a rare combo. These are also a great pick for those looking for a more affordable alternative to the WH-1000XM5s.

Sonyreleased the ULT line in April 2024 (andadded to it in April 2025), and considering the price, they're some of the best Sony headphones ever made. They're designed for anyone who's a fan of bass. In addition to the equalizer in the app, the headphones have a dedicated ULT button that lets you bump up the bass on demand. The 40-millimeter driver keeps it sounding clear and not crispy, making these headphones a worthy competitor to the WH-1000XM5s, our top pick for the best-sounding noise-cancelling headphones.

When testing the two headphones side by side, Kern found that while both headphones sounded great, "the ULT Wear’s sound was fuller and felt more like surround sound. And even on the standard setting, the bass sounded richer on the ULTs." We still stand by the WH-1000XM5s as a better pick for audiophiles, but Kern makes a strong case for buying these over the XM5s. "[To] the average person, I’d say the ULT Wears are the winners — especially for those who prioritize bass and fullness in their audio." For $100 cheaper, these are a more than fair alternative to Sony's flagship headphones.

• Battery life: 30 hours
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Black, off-white

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

Apple users will probably have a hard time finding a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that are more intuitive to use. Though on the pricier side, the combination of ANC performance, sound, and additional features actually gives users plenty of bang for their buck.

Apple products aren't usually the first that come to mind when most people think "good value." Don't get us wrong, they make great products, but the brand doesn't exactly have a reputation of being budget-friendly (we're looking at youAirPods Max).

When it comes to the AirPods Pro 3, we think they're well worth the price.Andthey cost less than other premium options on the market, like the second-gen Bose QC Ultra earbuds orPanasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds, both of which are priced at $299.

Like the more expensive earbuds, the Pro 3 buds have excellent noise cancellation and a well-rounded sound profile with plenty of depth and resonance. Where the other two offer custom equalizers, the Pros are more of a preset situation. However, they offer features that the Bose and Technics don't: live translation and a built-in heart rate monitor. In his testing, Mashable contributor Adam Doud found both to work accurately: the heart rate monitor was within a one to two beat range of the fitness tracker he cross-tested with the earbuds, while the live translation worked with a slight second or two of delay. (Note: at the time of writing, live translation is only available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and English from the UK).

TheAirPods Pro 3 also come packed with eight hours of battery life per charge with ANC, five sizes of foam-infused ear tips, and an IP57 water- and sweat- resistance rating, making them just as great for working from home as they are for taking to the gym.

• Battery life: 8 hours per charge
• App-connected: No
• Colors: White

The EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds may not come from one of the more well-known audio brands, but they have some of the best battery life and noise cancellation we've experienced on any earbuds, not just those in the budget price range. That said, these are our pick for budget shoppers.

Frankly, these earbuds have no business offering as many features as they do while costing less than $100.

While it is possible to use them straight out of the box, with the app, these earbuds offer more, including five different levels of noise cancellation. While the differences between some modes were negligible, the "strong ANC" setting didn't mess around (even if it did have theslightest detectable hiss without music), and the "wind noise cancellation" setting actually diminished the sound of a bathroom fan and hair dryer even more than the standard ANC. Basically, the noise cancellationworked — we found it outperformed the Beats Studio Buds+ (our former mid-range pick priced at $169.95) easily on the ANC front, and felt on par with headphones and earbuds that cost double their price. Plus, having different levels of ANC isn't a common feature on cheaperor more expensive earbuds — neither the Apple AirPods line nor Bose QuietComfort lines offer these features.

Along with the impressive ANC, these earbuds fit comfortably, staying in place evenduring runs (which isn't always a given for earbuds without stems). The battery life lasted an impressive amount of time, leaving us only recharging the case once after a week of regular use. A light indicator on the case also easily shows you how much juice you have left. While waiting for these earbuds to start showing their price point, we thought they might struggle with their multipoint connection, but they easily connected and switched between two devices, and toggled easily between two selected devices with the help of the app. Oh, and they sounded great, with the app offering a custom and preset equalizer (which is, again, very much not a given feature at this price point, or price points $50 higher).

So were there any downsides? The case was a little bulky, and the touch controls remained finicky, even after we got used to how they worked (but you can toggle them off). If EarFun switched to a button for on-ear controls instead, these might just be perfect earbuds, but as they stand at their price now, we're really not complaining.

• Battery life: 7.5 hours per charge with ANC, 27.5 hours with case
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Black, royal blue, white

If you're on a tight budget but still want to enjoy noise cancellation, the Anker Soundcore Life P3i earbuds offer a surprisingly solid performance. Don't expect elite ANC, but theseaffordable earbuds don't require too much of a sacrifice in sound quality.

We're going to start with the major hitch of these earbuds: switching between devices sucks. They don't have multipoint pairing, and if you want to use them with your phone after using them with your laptop, you have to manually disconnect them (or in our experience, sometimes outright unpair them), with your laptop first. It's easily their biggest flaw, and where we most obviously felt their price point during testing.

With that out of the way, these earbuds still havea lot going for them. For starters, they cost $50 and can often be found on sale for even less. Though inexpensive, these earbuds are comfortable to wear all day, have a custom equalizer in the app plus 21 presets (we're fans of the Treble Booster), customizable touch controls for each earbud, and a battery life that outdoes the Apple AirPods Pro. You won't have extras like spatial audio, and the ANC leans on background hiss more than premium models, but not terribly so.

For a pair of $50 earbuds, we're impressed. We recommend them for anyone who doesn't want to shell out $100 plus for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds.

• Battery life: 7 hours with ANC, 8.5 without (36 hours with charging case)
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Black, white

Read our full review of the Dyson OnTrac headphones.

The Dyson OnTrac headphones aren't perfect, but if long-lasting battery life is your top priority and you're willing to pay for it, these provide the best battery life we've ever seen on a pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones. They're also extremely comfortable, too.

Short answer: 55 hours of battery lifewith noise-cancelling turned on.

That's what Dyson claimed with these headphones, and what Werth confirmed when he tested them out over the period of a month. And that noise cancellation works well.

As for the longer answer, let's begin with a couple of questions: Are these headphones Dyson-level expensive? Yes (though they're still $50 cheaper thanAirPods Max, which max out at 20 hours of battery life). Is the Dyson logo on the headband kind of tacky? Also yes. And the multipoint pairing is lacking, which really shouldn't be an issue on a pair of $500 headphones. However, if you can live with that, you'll get headphones that Werth called "the best...I've tested yet," with excellent sound quality, solid ANC, swappable ear plates (for a price), and again, 55 full hours of battery life with the active noise cancellation turned on.

They certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea (or in everyone's budget), but if you want the best battery life money can buy, Dyson's OnTrac headphones are for you.

If you're into the battery life but can't justify the price, we also found that theSennheiser Momentum 4 headphones boasted an impressive 60 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, plus clock in at a good $120 cheaper than the Dyson headphones (and are often on sale). The main drawback is that their ANC is good but not great, but if you're willing to sacrifice that (and get some excellent sound quality in the process), the trade-off might be worth it.

• Battery life: 55 hours with ANC
• App-connected: Yes
• Colors: Customizable components with multiple colors, including copper, aluminum, and coral red