Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds in 2023

In the past, you needed big over-ear headphones to achieve effective active noise cancellation (ANC), but today you can achieve this with even small, compact in-ear or earbud headphones.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) on earbuds operates similarly to how it does on over-ear headphones. Both versions include in-built microphones to measure how much ambient noise is present around the user. An identical audio signal of the ambient noise is then reversed and played back to the listener through the headphones.

Below are the best noise-canceling earbuds that we pick to review after testing hundred of them.

Read more about the best wireless earbuds.

• Best overall: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 

• Best premium choice: Sony WF-1000XM4

• Best purchased product: Apple AirPods Pro 2 

• Best value product: Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless

• Best cheap product: Beats Fit Pro 

• Here are the best 5 noise-canceling earbuds you can consider : 

1. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 

Specification:

• Connectivity Technology: Wireless, Bluetooth

• Size: 1.2 x 0.68 x 0.88 inches

• Battery life: 6 hours; 24 hours (charging case)

• Bluetooth range: 100 feetCodec support: SBC, AAC

Pros:

• A finely tuned and harmonious sound

• Superior call quality, excellent settings for customizing

• More elegant and small design

Cons:

• Poor levels of comfort

• Poor app connectivity and finicky touch controls

Reviews:

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 owns exclusive technologies like ActiveSense and CustomTune that perfectly balance sound and noise neutralization.

This version's redesign also makes it more practical and attractive. The sound frequency profile and ANC are automatically calibrated by CustomTune to the particular characteristics of your ear and deliver the best performance possible. However, aptX and LDAC are not supported by wireless audio codecs.

The charging case is also designed with a smaller and more slender size than the original Earbuds. The case that comes with the Google Pixel Buds Pro is identical to this one in some ways, although being nearly twice as big and equally durable. The establishment of a fit for all ear sizes is made easier by a new alternative sizing ear tip kit. Well-formed stabilizers.

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2. Sony WF-1000XM4

Specifications:

• Connectivity Technology Wireless

• Size: 1 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches

• Weight: 0.2 ounces (per bud)

• Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on), 12 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (with charging case), 35 hours (with charging case and ANC off)

Pros:

• Substantial yet balanced sound

• Excellent ANC effectiveness

• Improved battery life

Cons:

• Loose fit

• Expensive

Reviews:

The noise cancellation on the Sony WF-1000XM4 is worth the high price, thanks to a new Sony V1 chip. When listening to music, it significantly reduces the effect of incidental sound. All of the typical household noises, including doorbells, kitchen appliances, and the buzzing from my central air conditioner, stopped.

Its battery life is longer as well. With ANC on, the WF-1000XM4 can easily endure for 7 to 8 hours, while the WF-1000XM3 can only do so for a maximum of 6 hours. Along with a number of additional changes and enhancements to the buds themselves, the case now has wireless charging capabilities as well.

Sony made the smart decision to omit the wide and elongated shape of the WF-1000XM3 in favor of a more streamlined, oval-shaped design with larger circular touch displays for the WF-1000XM4. However, it doesn't fit as discreetly on your ears as other models (such as the Beats Studio Buds or Jabra Elite 85t); it still feels both luxurious and strong.

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3. Apple AirPods Pro 2 

Specifications:

• Connectivity Technology Wireless

• Size: 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches

• Battery life: 6 hours; 30 hours (charging case)

• Bluetooth range: Not specified

Pros:

• Superior noise cancellation

• Volume controls right on the stem

• Dolby Atmos spatial audio

• Longer battery life

Cons:

• Poor calling quality

• Costlier lanyard

Reviews:

AirPods Pro 2 brings significant upgrades compared to the popular original one. Externally, they resemble the original version very closely, but the battery life has been improved to offer 6 hours of use from the earphones on a single charge and an additional 30 hours from the wireless charging case. The case itself is now IPX4-rated in addition to the earbuds.

These represent the peak of Apple technology and are intended for iPhone owners seeking a more customized listening experience. Apple has improved the audio quality with a new H2 processor, a bespoke amp, and a driver, and you can utilize the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone to build a customized spatial audio sound to enjoy some of the greatest Dolby Atmos sound in any set of earbuds. It is among the greatest we've yet to witness, period, and offers double the amount of noise reduction as the previous set of AirPods Pro.

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If you are interested in Samsung earbuds, click here.

4. Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless

Specifications:

• Brand: Soundcore

• Model Name: Anker Liberty 3 Pro

• Color: Midnight Black

• Form Factor: In Ear

• Connectivity Technology: Wireless

Pros:

• Comfortable and well-built.

• Excellent fit.

Cons:

• Undesirable passive soundstage.

Reviews:

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless has comparable ANC systems and has excellent overall performance compared to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. Their unique "HearID ANC" technology, which enables the headphones to optimize the level of noise isolation based on your in-ear pressure, makes them stand out from the competitors. They last 5.5 hours with the ANC on, but their carrying case has three extra batteries if you need to recharge the earbuds.

The V-shaped sound profile, by default, is ideal for music genres like rock and pop that benefit from more boom and brightness. Fortunately, you can adjust them to your tastes using the graphic EQ and presets in their accompanying app if you want a different sound. Because these earbuds support multi-device connection, you can use your PC and smartphone at the same time. In addition, they support LDAC codec, which is excellent for streaming Hi-Res audio.

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5. Beats Fit Pro

Specifications:

• Size: 0.75 x 1.18 x 0.94 inches

• Battery life (rated): 6 hours (ANC on), 7 hours (ANC Off), 27 hours (ANC on with charging case), 30 hours (ANC off with charging case)

• Codec support: SBC, AAC

• Connectivity Technology: Wireless, Apple H1 Chip, Bluetooth, NFC

Pros:

• Dynamic soundstage with support for spatial audio

• Strong ANC and Transparency Modes

• Sufficient battery life

Cons:

• Android app offers very few extras

• The Eartip Fit Test should be improved.

Reviews:

When compared to its previous versions, the Fit Pro's performance is increased significantly while only including modest design improvements. Exercisers and people who lead active lifestyles would greatly benefit from the addition of wingtips, which ensure that the buds stay in place when moving around. Active noise cancellation and Spatial Audio for 3D-like sound are included features in the AirPods Pro package, both of which deliver excellent performance. Additionally, there are other benefits associated with the H1 chip, such as automatic switching, audio sharing, and FindMy support for tracking down lost earbuds.

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1. How do we test noise-canceling earbuds?

When evaluating noise-canceling earbuds, we examine their comfort, setup, sound quality, and how effectively the ANC performs under various conditions. This might entail wearing them while you sit next to other people who are having talks or going into a busy store or along a busy road.

2. What factors should we take to choose the best noise-canceling earbuds?

We rank earbuds based on how well their ANC technology works. If you want a pair of earbuds with the best overall sound quality, you could be ready to accept somewhat less effective noise cancellation, or you might be a serious runner who demands both increased stability and waterproofing. Price and battery life are two other crucial factors that we should take into account.

The noise-canceling earbuds we've suggested above are what we believe are currently the best on the market for the majority. We take into account availability, visitor comments, and price.