Best noise-canceling wireless earbuds 2024

The best wireless earbuds have come a long way within the few short years of their existence, and now with so many options with ANC (Active Noise Cancelation), it can be tough to decipher which are the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds. Early offerings like the first-gen AirPods were expensive and lacked many features, but as time has gone by, prices have gotten better, and many essential features have been implemented — one of which is noise cancelation. 

True wireless earbuds that can block out ambient sound are more common than ever before and, in this roundup, we've highlighted 11 of our favorites — including the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds as our top pick. Here's a power-packed list of the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds you can buy right now.

Ted Kritsonis

For 20+ years, Ted Kritsonis has been spending a lot of time testing out gadgets to help others make the best decision with their hard-earned money. When it comes down to audio devices, Ted's picks come from countless hours of listening for all the nuances that matter.

At a glance

Best overall

Bose has established a reputation for creating some of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market, and it brought some of that prowess to its wireless earbuds. If you thought the previous QuietComfort Earbuds II were good, their Ultra successors drown out even more noise to make them elite in this category.

There are different levels of noise cancelation to play with to either block out everything or just dull background sounds. It's a lot of granular control over how to muffle noises in ways other earbuds won't match right now. The Transparency mode does a good job of bringing in ambient sound to hear everything around you when you still have the earbuds on. The thing is, Bose doesn't give you an option to turn both off, so it's  one or the other at all times.

Audio quality is top-notch (as you'd expect), with Bose sticking to a similar neutral sound profile that only gets better when you're able to play tunes through the aptX Adaptive codec. EQ support isn't as extensive as others but you can make some changes yourself, along with presets to choose anytime. Their thinner body also makes for a tighter fit that benefits the overall sound and ANC performance.

Battery life hasn't changed much, meaning you can expect just above five hours per charge. The case gets you another three charges, only without wireless charging, you'll need to plug in to recharge. 

Runner up

Sony has been on a run with its wireless earbuds going back several years. We felt the Sony WF-1000XM4 were a fantastic example of refreshing an earbuds lineup that routinely find themselves among the best in the business.

Sony has since tweaked the overall design, with the WF-1000XM5 improving the overall fit and comfort level, including foam tips to add another level of passive noise isolation. The star feature — active noise cancelation (ANC) — makes these earbuds unique within the category in erasing ambient noise in much the same way the full-sized over-ear Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones do in that category.

Aside from the amazing ANC, the WF-1000XM5 also pack incredible sound quality for whatever you like listening to. Sony's Headphones Connect app gives you all sorts of settings to customize the sound profile specifically for your preferences. When you want virtual surround effects, try 360 Audio to pipe it through your ears, or go hi-res with LDAC support from the right sources.

You get up to eight hours of listening per charge with ANC on, along with three extra charges in the case. A fast five-minute charge can get you up to 90 minutes of playback in a pinch. It's not all roses, though, since these are on the pricey side, but in the end, the Sony WF-1000XM5 give you amazing audio quality and top-class ANC.

Best value

You may not think of OnePlus as a go-to for earbuds, but the Buds 3 impressed in our review for a number of reasons. Their value becomes clearer when you consider all the customization and personalization involved, ranging from a hearing test to an equalizer and bass slider to adjust how they particularly sound to your ears. They're already louder than most at default volume, and matters more when you factor in ANC performance, which proves to be solid and consistent for what these buds cost.

It definitely helps that they're lightweight and comfortable to wear for longer stretches. Moreover, the value extends to hi-res audio support via the LHDC Bluetooth codec, along with spatial audio, though the virtual surround effect isn't great. If you're a gamer, there's a Game mode that utilizes the onboard ANC to try blocking out the outside world and eliminate latency so audio and video never feel out of sync. 

Multipoint support lets you pair the Buds 3 to two devices simultaneously. The stems have certain controls designed for quickness but aren't always reliable. Nor do you get wear sensors to automatically pause playback, either.

With ANC on, battery life lasts up to seven hours, only you'll also have to be mindful that noise cancelation won't work while listening to hi-res tracks. The case gives you an extra three charges. Take advantage of the quick 10-minute charge for up to seven hours of playback because there's no wireless charging here.

Best for Samsung users

When we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro we felt they were updated in pretty significant ways over their predecessors. Perhaps one of the most significant is how much more comfortable they are to wear in comparison. Samsung chiseled them down enough to enable a sleeker design with a snug fit.

Despite the smaller frame, Samsung didn't skimp out on the tech inside. A tighter seal improves passive isolation, though you'll also benefit from better ANC performance that drowns out the background more consistently. You have some flexibility in how you apply it with low and high settings, but in either case, you should hear an improvement.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro also have an immaculate, balanced sound profile outside of the ANC. You can make adjustments within the app to better fit your preferences, though the EQ is limited to a handful of presets. These are the first Samsung earbuds to support 24-bit hi-res audio, and also feature Enhanced 360 for spatial audio effects with head tracking. Phone call quality is great, and Voice Detect sticks around to lower the volume of your music and help you hear who's talking to you in person.

These are a solid choice if you're looking for great-sounding earbuds that have good ANC with durability in mind. The IPX7 rating makes them excellent for workouts, though you will have to be mindful of battery life, which will max out at about five hours per charge with ANC on. The case gives you three extra charges and supports wireless charging when the juice runs out.

Best for balance

Jabra is one of the most consistent brands you can find in the wireless earbuds category, and the Elite 10 stood out in our review for several reasons, not least of which is their overall balance. 

These earbuds no longer require that you customize ANC yourself because they'll do it for you with adaptive technology that adjusts wherever you go. Despite a newer design that opens up the space within the ear, the increased comfort does wonders for keeping these buds on for longer periods. HearThrough also works well to bring in sound from the outside world to make it easier to hear or talk to someone. A handy mute button through the physical button controls is always there when you need it, too.

Multipoint connections let you pair with two devices simultaneously, and when it's time for the music to play, you can expect great audio quality. They sound great for any genre you want to play, which you can tweak via the EQ in Jabra's Sound+ app. Plus, you get IP57 water and dust resistance for extra durability compared to most other earbuds. 

Battery life holds up well at up to eight hours per charge with ANC on, while the case gives you an extra three additional charges for an overall total of around 32 hours. The case itself charges via USB-C or wireless charging, including a fast-charging option where plugging in for five minutes can get you up to 60 minutes of playback.

Best comfort

In our review of the Galaxy Buds 2, we found that they share a lot of DNA with the design and features of their predecessors, the Galaxy Buds Pro. But the differences between these two earbuds are key and perhaps a primary factor in choosing what's better for your ears. Each option excels in its own way, but if you are looking for the most comfortable pair of ANC wireless earbuds, then the Galaxy Buds 2 are the ones for you.

Samsung made ever so slight changes in the earbud shape to push the Galaxy Buds 2 into that "oh so comfortable" category. Of course, you want your earbuds to be comfortable, but if they sound bad, then — what's the point? The Galaxy Buds 2 bring not only excellent audio but solid ANC into the comfy earbuds. The companion Galaxy Wearable app for your phone gives you added controls to tweak your earbuds to get them just right for you.

While the battery life on the Galaxy Buds 2 isn't the absolute best, you can expect to get about 5.5 hours of use before popping them into the charging case. Turn off the ANC, and you'll get about eight hours between charges. Unfortunately, the water resistance rating is only IPX2, so even sweat can cause some issues here. Also, the microphones can pass for a casual call or video chat, but you probably don't want to use them for your most important voice calls.

Best for workouts

When working out with true wireless earbuds, you need a pair that can withstand the intensity of a long run, bike ride, or weight-lifting session, and the Anker Soundcore Sport X20 are up to the task. It starts with IP68 protection from dust and water, ensuring they can withstand sweaty runs and workouts. Anker even throws in breathing exercises in its app.

Not only that, but the ear hooks work wonders to keep the earbuds stable and tucked into your ears the way they're supposed to. Those hooks are also adjustable, so you're more likely to find the right fit regardless of whether you feel you have smaller or bigger ears. 

A snug fit only helps the cause for good ANC, which Anker improved in these buds compared to their predecessors. That's partly because it's more adaptive to what's going on around you, so it adjusts for the sounds you might hear in the gym or those you come across on a run. With good sound and a plethora of choices in tuning it the way you want through the excellent Soundcore app, you have a lot to work with here.

Battery life is good at up to seven hours per charge with ANC on, ramping up to 12 hours with it off. Forgot to charge before heading out for a run or workout? Plug in for five minutes to get up to two hours of playback. The case gives you an extra three full charges. 

Best for Alexa

After popularizing Alexa with its Echo smart speakers, Amazon has improved upon its Echo Buds true wireless earbuds with a sequel.

The Echo Buds (2nd Gen) bring dynamic audio and full active noise canceling to the earbuds to offer great sound quality, all while blocking unwanted noise from our environment when we reviewed them. From the app, you still get built-in settings for changing the Echo Buds' EQ.

Being an Echo product, it only makes sense they come with Alexa baked in. Just say "Alexa" at any time while wearing the Echo Buds to set a timer, ask about the weather, get turn-by-turn directions, and more. While we love that this new version is 20% smaller than the previous iteration, it also means battery life has been cut to a about 15 hour total. At least Amazon has managed to squeeze in IPX4 certification for sweat resistance.

There are two case options, one with USB-C only and another that offers wireless charging for a little more money. Both cases offer quick charging to give you up to two hours of music playback after an in-case charging of only 15 minutes.

Best for Apple users

Moving right along with our list, we need to talk about the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen). Easily some of the most popular truly wireless earbuds in existence, our own review of the original AirPods Pro found them delivering an excellent user experience in return for the high price. That balance very much remains with this latest iteration.

Like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5, the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) offer some of the best noise cancelation you'll find in a pair of wireless earbuds. Apple doubled down on the ANC, silencing more varied sounds going on around you than the previous model could. They can block out an impressive range, and in a similar fashion, the Transparency mode does the exact opposite and allows you to clearly hear everything around you when wearing the earbuds.

You can technically use the AirPods Pro with most of the best Android phones, but you miss out on some of the features that make these so great in the first place. As such, we're more inclined to recommend these if you have an iPhone.

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So many options

You'll want to hear this

True wireless earbuds that have noise cancelation features are quickly exploding in popularity, and as of right now, the best ones you can buy are Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. When it comes to snuffing things out, these sequel buds come out on top. Great sound quality, plus noise-canceling in a league of its own, and we also have no complaints about battery life.

We like that Bose has gone the extra mile to address things previously missing, like an EQ to tinker with for the sound and a smaller stature to improve fit and comfort. Then there's the earbuds' ability to do right by the Transparency mode, to allow you to hear more of the outside world more naturally when you want to. Unfortunately, while wireless earbuds have better noise-canceling than ever before, the best noise-canceling headphones are still hard to beat. Aside from including ANC, a great pair of over-ear or on-ear headphones also have a physical advantage by simply covering your ears in ways earbuds can't. Even so, if you've decided you want more wireless earbuds to choose from, regardless of noise cancelation, we've got a list of the best wireless earbuds too.

How to choose

Not that long ago, you would have to search for premium wireless earbuds to find active noise cancelation, but that's no longer the case. ANC is now standard in earbuds ranging from sub-$100 pairs to the most expensive brands you come across. 

That doesn't mean all ANC is good, though. There's a reason why the best of the best stand out in how they block out background noise, which is no small feat considering wireless earbuds are so much smaller than over-ear headphones. That's why a good and comfortable fit matters so much; the tighter the seal, the more you passively isolate outside noise and help noise cancelation do its thing. Hence, it's better when you have different ear tip sizes to choose from out of the box. Some brands even offer a hearing test to help you find the right size for your ears.

They may also offer some form of control over how potent you want the ANC effect to be through their dedicated apps. That could be a manual slider with different settings or what's called "adaptive" ANC, which is a more automated form of granular adjustment based on your surroundings. These types of features are usually left to more premium pairs but don't be surprised if they start trickling down to mid-range ones in due time.

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