latest
Most of us use headphones every day to block out the commuter din, to connect us on hands-free phone calls, to rev us up at the gym, and much more. While over-ear headphones are a great option for passive and active noise cancelation, the added bulk doesn't always make them the ideal choice for all listeners. If you want something lightweight and easily portable, it's time to invest in a solid pair of wireless earbuds; though they may not provide the same level of intense noise cancelation as over-ear models, you'd be surprised how much sound a well-designed pair can block out.
Best noise-canceling headphones in 2024
Silence your surroundings, so you can focus on your favorite music, movies, and podcasts.
Noise-canceling headphones have become a staple in modern society. Unlike standard over-ear headphones, our favorite models employ both passive cancelation via an over-ear design and active noise cancelation (ANC), which utilizes more advanced technology to analyze the incoming noise and essentially produce a counter-sound that cancels it out. As ANC technology continues to improve, it becomes less and less appealing to invest in a pair of headphones that forgo this feature. Chances are, you're here because you're looking to silence horns and honks on your commute, subway announcements that aren't audible as is, cranky babies on long flights, or the guy who war-cries after every rep at the gym. Whatever your reasons, it's safe to say, at some point in time, you’ve likely wanted to drown out the surrounding chaos; enter noise-canceling headphones. Before purchasing, consider your priorities, whether that be battery life, app integration, sound quality, build, etc. Noise-canceling headphones can be a bit pricey, so you’ll also want to take a good look at your budget. Just because you’re tightening the purse strings doesn’t mean you can’t find a solid pair of cheap headphones. Regardless, we’ve rounded up our favorite picks to help you find the best pair of noise-canceling headphones for you.
ANC and ENC: How are they different?
ANC enhances listening by reducing noise; ENC improves call clarity by isolating voices
Noise cancelation technology has drastically transformed the way we experience audio, allowing for an immersive listening environment free from the disturbances of the outside world. This technology is primarily embodied through two innovative approaches: Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) and Environmental Noise Cancelation (ENC). Both technologies serve distinct purposes, enhancing our audio interactions whether we're diving into our favorite tunes or ensuring our voice cuts through the cacophony of environmental noise during a call.
Audiophiles, listen up! These Marshall Black Friday deals are almost too good to be true
These Marshall Black Friday deals are available now
Black Friday is the time to save big and this year is no exception. There are Black Friday deals on TVs, laptops, appliances, computer accessories, and so much more. It's also a great time to pick up audio equipment, as top-notch speakers and headphones that are rarely discounted can be priced lower than normal.
What is Active Noise Cancelation?
If you've ever wondered what active noise cancelation is, then you've come to the right place.
Active Noise Cancelation is a majorly sought-after feature on earphones and headphones, and for good reason. It removes a lot of outside noise from your listening experience, making it both significantly more peaceful and easier to listen at lower volumes. However, how noise-canceling works on headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a bit of a mystery to many. We sat down with Christian Ern, a Principal Product Manager of Consumer Headphones at Sennheiser, at this year's IFA 2023 to help break it down.
Massive $202 discount brings Philips’ ANC over-ear headphones back to lowest price ever
A phenomenal deal on one of Philips' best ANC wireless headphones.
Headphones offer a unique experience that gives you the power to immerse yourself in music, movies, or games, while blocking out the rest of the world. This experience is amplified with headphones that offer robust sound and powerful ANC capabilities like the Philips Fidelio L3 headphones.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. AirPods Max: Which over-ears will keep you tuned in so you can chill out?
The AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5 are both high-end, over-ear headphones but which pair comes out on top?
Both Sony and Apple churn out excellent audio products, and the AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5 prove that point. Sony is well known for solid sound, and Apple's "Pods" have been topping earbud charts for years now. The AirPods Max swept the nation with their release in 2020, making a name for themselves with impeccable design. But could the more recently released WH-1000XM5s be a better option? Both pairs make an appearance on our list of best over-ear headphones, providing great noise cancelation, solid audio quality, and a comfortable fit. With so much in common, it can be difficult to identify the differences, so we’ve put together this guide to help you decide which pair of headphones is right for you.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless vs. Sony WH-1000XM5: Which noise-canceling headphones are right for you?
Two of the best premium over-ear headphones go head to head.
If you’re looking for the best over-ear headphones, Sony and Sennheiser should be on your list. Their models combine comfort, performance, features, and build quality to devastating effect, and nowhere is this more obvious than with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless and Sony WH-1000XM5. The Momentum 4 Wireless boast the longest battery life of any model in this category, while the XM5 are a master of all trades. Let’s see which is best for you.
Scorching Sony WH-1000XM5 deal drops price to all-time low of $279
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are some of the best ANC headphones you can buy. They're 30% off now, bringing them down to just $279.
Read update
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are some of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy out right now. It offers a sleek and lightweight design, excellent audio performance, and its active noise-canceling is impressive. While these headphones generally sit in the $350 to $400 range most times during the year, it's now getting a rare discount that brings it down to just $279.
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones unveiled with new design, improved ANC, and Microsoft Swift Pair
Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones have now been unveiled with a new design, improved ANC, and Microsoft Swift Pair support. Check them out here!
Sony has been nailing headphones for years, starting with the all-around incredible Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones launched in 2018. Sony released their sequel in 2020 in the form of the WH-1000XM4, and now the company has finally unveiled the Sony WH-1000XM5 after a short period of leaks and rumors. They pack a new design, improved ANC, and new features such as Microsoft Swift Pair and Quick Access.
FCC certification listing reveals the upcoming Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones have received FCC certification, poiting towards an impending launch. Read on to learn more.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II was the best noise cancelling headphone you could get not too long ago. It absolutely dominated the sales charts in the premium segment for several years until Sony came out with its 1000XM3s in 2018. The Sony 1000XM3 offered better noise cancelling capabilities, and many people preferred its audio quality over the Bose headphones. So, Bose finally had to launch a new pair of headphones to keep up with the competition. Surprisingly, instead of the QuietComfort 45, Bose launched the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 to compete with Sony's latest offering. Now, over two years after launching the NC 700, Bose is ready to launch the much-awaited QuietComfort 45 headphones.
The Bose NC Headphones 700 are great at noise cancelling, and they're now at their cheapest
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are a great pair of headphones, offering ANC and more! Get them at their cheapest price ever!
Bose is a well-known audio brand from America, and its name frequently comes up when one talks about great headphones, earphones, speakers, and soundbars. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 is one of their flagship products for consumers, and it's getting a nice $100 discount on Prime Day 2021, bringing the price down to $229 from the usual $329.
Sony WH-1000XM4's update improves call quality and Bluetooth connection stability
Recent update to the Sony WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth ANC headphones improves audio quality of calls and makes Bluetooth connections more stable.
Sony is among the leading brands in the consumer audio space. The company's WH-1000XM4 is one of the most beloved pair of Bluetooth active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones just like its predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM3. Besides class-leading sound quality and one of the most efficient active noise cancellation abilities, the Sony WH-1000XM4 also comes with wearing detection, support for multiple devices, automatic music pausing while you're talking, and a mechanism to restore audio signals lost in compression. Sony has now rolled out a new update for the headphones with improvements to call quality as well as Bluetooth stability.
Realme 7 Pro Special Edition, Realme 7i, Buds Air Pro, and Buds Wireless Pro launched in India
Realme today announced a host of new devices in the Indian market, including a special edition 7 Pro, the new 7i, Buds Air Pro, and Buds Wireless Pro.
Following the launch of the Realme Narzo 20 Series late last month, the Chinese OEM has now unveiled a wide range of new devices in the Indian market. During a recent live-streamed event, Realme lifted the covers off a special edition Realme 7 Pro, Realme 7i, Realme Buds Air Pro, Buds Wireless Pro, and more. Here's a quick look at the new smartphones and wireless earphones from Realme:
OPPO Enco W51 True Wireless Earbuds Review: Active Noise Cancellation Made Affordable
The OPPO Enco W51 are the cheapest true wireless earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, but are they worth the price? Find out in our review!
OPPO jumped on the true wireless earbuds bandwagon with the launch of OPPO Enco Free back in December last year. This was shortly followed up by two more devices: the Enco W11 earbuds and the AirPods Pro-style Enco W31. Now, OPPO is back again with a new model in the Enco lineup. Meet the OPPO Enco W51: OPPO’s latest attempt at the true wireless earbuds market by keeping the good aspects of the previous model while also bringing some breakthrough features at a price point that will surely give competitors a run for their money. The Enco W51 is OPPO's first TWS earbuds to offer Active Noise Cancellation and is also the only one to offer it at this price.
Sony WH-1000XM4 ANC headphones launched in India for ₹29,990 (~$410)
Sony has launched its newest WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation in India for Rs 29,990.
Sony is among the most reputed brands when it comes to audio products, including a variety of headsets. Its WH-1000XM3 Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) have been widely appreciated for their sound quality, comfort, and battery longevity. Last month, Sony revealed their successor globally, and now, the Sony WH-1000XM4 ANC headphones are coming to India for a price of ₹29,990 (~$410).
Huawei unveils Watch GT 2 Pro smartwatch with wireless charging and FreeBuds Pro TWS earbuds with ANC
Huawei has unveiled the new Watch GT 2 Pro smartwatch, as well as the new FreeBuds Pro truly wireless earphones. Read on to know more!
There's no escaping the consequences of a tightened US trade ban, but Huawei keeps putting a strong foot forward despite the odds stacked against it. At Huawei Developer Conference 2020, the Chinese OEM is now launching newer generations of its popular wearables in the form of the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro and the Huawei FreeBuds Pro TWS.
Qualcomm's Adaptive ANC aims to make noise cancellation better on TWS earbuds regardless of fit
Qualcomm's Adaptive ANC dynamically adapts its performance as per the tightness of the earbuds’ seal and the level of leak through.
Noise Cancellation on truly wireless earbuds is fast gaining steam, thanks to several key launches like the Apple Airpods Pro, the Sony WF-1000XM3, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live. But part of the active noise cancellation (ANC) game on these earbuds relies on noise isolation too, i.e. forming a tight enough seal in the ear. The Galaxy Buds Live fails to achieve good noise isolation, which is why its ANC hasn't garnered as many rave reviews as the Sony WF-1000XM3's have. Qualcomm wants to solve some of these issues, which is why they are now launching a new audio technology called the Qualcomm Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, aimed at OEMs wanting to deliver a superior noise cancellation performance on their TWS earbuds without relying as heavily on the fit of the earbuds.
OPPO launches the F17 series of mid-range smartphones and Enco W51 TWS ANC earbuds in India
OPPO has announced two mid-range phones, the OPPO F17 and F17 Pro, and truly wireless earbuds, the OPPO Enco W51, in India.
OPPO has seen a high degree of success in 2020. With the continuation of its mid-range Reno lineup (in the form of the Reno3 and the Reno4) and Find series (in the OPPO Find X2 and X2 Pro), OPPO is cementing its status as a top contender in the upper mid-tier and high-tier segments. But it's actually the company's lower-end smartphone offerings that are the most popular in Asian countries. Today, the has unveiled the OPPO F17 and F17 Pro in India alongside the OPPO Enco W51 TWS earbuds.
Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones unveiled with multi-device connection, DSEE Extreme, and more
The new Sony WH-1000XM4 noise cancelling headphones are here with active noise canceling, multi-device connection, DSEE Extreme, and more features.
When Sony released its WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones in 2018, critics lauded them for their comfort, design, and audio quality. Now, Sony is releasing its sequel, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, and they feature a number of improvements that fans of the previous generation headphones will love.