$249 at Amazon
Apple AirPods Professional 2
Even higher Apple noise-canceling wi-fi earbuds
$299 at Bose
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Greatest noise-canceling with top-notch sound
$299 at Bose
Value alerts on for Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
$300 at Amazon
Technics EAH-AZ80
Nice-sounding Technics wi-fi earbuds
$50 at Amazon
Earfun Air Professional 3
Greatest new finances noise-canceling wi-fi earbuds
$200 at Amazon
Beats Match Professional
Greatest on a regular basis wi-fi earbuds which might be additionally good for sports activities
$170 at Amazon
Beats Studio Buds Plus
Second-gen wi-fi earbuds from Beats
$280 at Amazon
Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3
Greatest noise-canceling earbuds from Sennheiser
$250 at Amazon
JBL Tour Professional 2
Greatest wi-fi earbuds with a touchscreen show of their case
$200 at Amazon
Google Pixel Buds Professional
Wonderful wi-fi earbuds for Android customers
$100 at Amazon
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Newest Anker noise-canceling earbuds
$148 at Amazon
Sony LinkBuds S
Greatest compact wi-fi earbuds from Sony
$200 at Amazon
Standing Between 3ANC
Wi-fi earbuds with triple drivers
$130 at Amazon
OnePlus Buds Professional 2
Subsequent-gen noise-canceling premium earbuds from OnePlus
$399 at Amazon
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX
Wonderful premium wi-fi earbuds
Present extra (13 objects)
As soon as upon a time, energetic noise canceling, or ANC, was accessible solely in a couple of true-wireless earbuds, and people fashions have been somewhat dear. However at the moment nearly all of wi-fi earbuds function energetic noise canceling (or “noise cancelling,” as corporations like Bose and Google spell it).
The most effective noise canceling is ready to masks a wider vary of frequencies and do it on the fly (“adaptive” noise canceling) with refined software program algorithms and more-powerful however energy-efficient processors embedded within the buds. Apple, Sony and Bose stay among the many leaders within the class, however they’ve loads of competitors.
This listing is simply made up of the most effective noise-canceling earbuds, not full-size headphones, with the Beats Studio Buds Plus and Sony WF-1000XM5 being the newest additions to the listing. I’ve examined all of the earbuds on the listing and absolutely reviewed the preferred fashions. For those who’re searching for the most effective noise-canceling headphones, we have an inventory that features a mixture of earbuds and over-ear headphones.
Learn extra: Greatest Wi-fi Earbuds for 2023: Prime Picks for Each Listener
Greatest noise-canceling wi-fi earbuds of 2023
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When Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds got here out in 2021, we gave them a CNET Editors’ Selection Award. And although they’re glorious, we had some quibbles — they’re on the massive facet and are not a great match for sure ears. Clearly, Sony took these gripes to coronary heart when it got down to design its next-generation WF-1000XM5 flagship noise-canceling earbuds. Not solely are the XM5s smaller, however in addition they supply improved efficiency just about throughout the board, with higher noise canceling, sound and voice calling. Are the XM5s excellent? Not fairly. And at $300 — $20 greater than their predecessor — they’re expensive, too. However general they’re actually spectacular — simply among the many very prime earbuds in the marketplace.
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Battery Life Rated as much as 6 hoursNoise Canceling Sure (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Sort Wi-fi earbudsWater-Resistant Sure (IPX4 — splash-proof)
The brand new AirPods Professional (second technology) are powered by Apple’s new H2 chip, which delivers extra processing energy whereas being extra vitality environment friendly, based on Apple. The brand new chip, mixed with new low-distortion drivers, permits for improved sound that gives higher readability and depth. The noise canceling can also be improved — Apple says the brand new AirPods have “double” the noise canceling of the unique AirPods Professional. Moreover, the brand new AirPods add an additional hour of battery life, up from 5 to 6 hours with noise canceling on. Plus, a speaker within the case that emits a sound that helps find your buds through Discover My ought to they determine to cover from you.
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Battery Life Rated As much as 6 HoursNoise Canceling Sure (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Sort Wi-fi EarbudsWater-Resistant Sure (IPX4 — Splash-Proof)
Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds 2 should not solely about 30% smaller than their predecessors, however their case is about 40% smaller and actually pocketable. They function best-in-class noise canceling and improved sound, because of Bose’s new CustomTune sound calibration system that customizes the sound in your ears. Voice-calling efficiency can also be considerably higher than that of the unique QuietComfort Earbuds.
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It’s best to anticipate quite a bit from earbuds that price $300 — and sure, that is nonetheless quite a bit to pay for headphones, even when loads of folks appear to be prepared to pay upwards of $450 for the likes of Apple’s AirPods Max headphones. Total, Panasonic has accomplished a pleasant job of making an all-around top-performing set of buds that supply an improved match with terrific sound, excellent noise canceling and a sturdy function set.
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Earfun has put out a sequence of wi-fi earbuds over the past couple of years with one vital commonality: They’re excellent values, made extra so by frequent reductions. The corporate’s new-for-2023 Earfun Air Professional 3 earbuds function the newest Qualcomm QCC3071 system-on-a-chip with aptX Adaptive for Android and different units that help the brand new LE Audio normal and LC3 audio codec, which is superior to the SBC codec (in addition they help AAC for Apple units).
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Whereas the Beats Match Professional ($200) technically aren’t AirPods, they’re constructed on the identical tech platform as the unique AirPods Professional (sure, Apple owns Beats). In contrast to Beats’ earlier and cheaper Studio Buds, the Beats Match Professional embrace Apple’s H1 chip and have many of the authentic AirPods Professional’s options (the AirPods Professional 2 have the H2 chip), together with energetic noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I might enterprise to name them the sports activities AirPods you’ve got all the time needed. And for these people searching for a safer match for rather less cash, they could be a greater match than the AirPods Professional 2, particularly when on sale.
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Alas, for these of you who purchased the unique Beats Studio Buds, which stay in the marketplace for now, I am sorry to report that these new Plus buds are considerably improved, with higher sound, noise canceling and battery life. Moreover, they now ship top-notch voice-calling efficiency.
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Bowers & Wilkins has upgraded its fantastic-sounding PI7 noise-canceling earbuds. The brand new S2 mannequin has higher battery life and Bluetooth vary, now as much as 25 meters (double the earlier vary). Moreover, the buds now combine into the brand new Bowers & Wilkins Music app for iOS and Android and have a a lot improved setup expertise.
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The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional supply improved noise canceling together with excellent sound and voice-calling efficiency, plus help for high-resolution wi-fi audio streaming when you’re a Galaxy gadget proprietor with the fitting setup. That stated, their greatest improve could their new design and smaller dimension, which make them a greater match for extra ears. Other than their considerably excessive value, their solely downside is that a few of their key options solely work with Samsung Galaxy units.
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That includes glorious sound, improved noise canceling and voice-calling efficiency as nicely a smaller, extra refined design that features stabilizing fins (so the earbuds keep in your ears extra securely), the Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 are among the many finest new true-wireless earbuds for 2002. They’re additionally among the many finest true-wireless earbuds general, giving the Sony WF-1000XM4 a run for the cash.
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JBL’s Tour Professional 2 earbuds have obtained a variety of consideration for bringing one thing new to true-wireless earbuds: a full colour touchscreen show embedded within the case that means that you can entry the earbuds’ key options and management playback in addition to modify quantity ranges. It’s kind of of a gimmick but additionally helpful.
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Battery Life Rated as much as 11 hoursNoise Canceling Sure (ANC)Multipoint YesHeadphone Sort Wi-fi earbudsWater-Resistant Sure (IPX4 — splash-proof)
The Pixel Buds Professional are Google’s first earbuds to function energetic noise canceling. Whereas it is good that they lastly have a function that a variety of true-wireless earbuds have had for some time, what finally units the Pixel Buds Professional aside and makes them value contemplating — significantly for Android customers — is their distinct design and successful match. That helps improve their efficiency on each the sound high quality and noise-canceling fronts. Whereas not fairly elite for voice-calling, they did carry out nicely as a headset for making calls. A few options have been lacking at launch — spatial audio and a five-band equalizer — however the equalizer has now been added with a firmware replace. We’re now simply ready for spatial audio. Learn our Google Pixel Buds Professional evaluation.
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New for 2023, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds carry a decrease listing value than final 12 months’s Liberty 4 buds and are arguably higher. They’ve improved noise canceling and higher sound high quality, together with help for the LDAC audio codec for units that help it. (Many Android smartphones do, and in principle it affords barely improved sound high quality when paired with a music streaming service that gives high-res tracks.) They’re light-weight buds that ought to match most ears comfortably with 4 sizes of ear ideas to select from.
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Battery Life Rated as much as 9 hoursNoise Canceling Sure (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Sort Wi-fi EarbudsWater-Resistant Sure (IPX4 — splash-proof)
In contrast to the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are conventional noise-isolating earbuds with ideas you jam in your ears. They’re extra compact and lighter than Sony’s flagship WF-1000M4 and likewise function Sony’s V1 processor. Whereas their sound and noise canceling do not fairly measure as much as the WF-1000XM4’s, they’re shut and value much less. They’re the Sony buds for individuals who can cope with bigger buds like WF-1000XM4 however need 80% to 85% of these buds’ options and efficiency for $80 much less.
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Through the years, JBL has put out some first rate true-wireless earbuds, however nothing that basically obtained me too excited. That is lastly modified with the arrival of the Samsung-owned model’s new Dwell Professional 2 and Dwell Free 2 buds. Each units of buds — the Dwell Professional 2 have stems whereas the Dwell Free 2 have a pill-shaped design — supply a snug match together with sturdy noise canceling, excellent sound high quality and voice-calling efficiency, plus a sturdy set of options, together with multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof ranking and wi-fi charging.
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Standing Audio’s earbuds aren’t precisely the sleekest or most tasty earbuds you should buy, however when you do not thoughts their utilitarian look and large stems, you might be getting a wonderful sounding set of earbuds. The Between 3ANC, the corporate’s first noise-canceling earbuds, additionally do a great job muffling ambient sound, although they are not as much as the extent of the Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds for noise-canceling prowess. They did carry out very nicely in my voice-calling take a look at, decreasing a lot of the background noise round me within the streets of New York whereas selecting up my voice clearly, or so callers instructed me.
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The OnePlus Buds Professional 2 have quite a bit to love about them. They have a extra premium appear and feel than many AirPods Professional 2 clones and have a dual-driver design and excellent sound high quality with only a little bit of bass push (by that I imply they’re barely bass heavy at their default sound setting). Geared up with Bluetooth 5.3, in addition they have help for a great vary of audio codecs, together with AAC (iPhones), LHDC 4.0, SBC, and LC3 (the successor to SBC). OnePlus says an improve to LHDC 5.0 will probably be accessible through a firmware improve. (LHDC stands for low-latency high-definition and it is imagined to be near on par with Sony’s LDAC audio codec.)
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Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay EX buds are the corporate’s finest true wi-fi earbuds but. They function a snug, safe match (besides maybe for these with actually smaller ears), top-notch construct high quality, nice sound, good noise canceling and improved voice-calling efficiency over B&O’s EQ buds; with three microphones in every earbud they assist with decreasing background noise whereas selecting up your voice. Whereas they’re out of most individuals’s value vary, they’re arguably the most effective earbuds on the market with stems and supply superior sound to the AirPods Professional with higher readability, deeper extra {powerful} bass and richer, extra correct sound.
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Different noise-canceling wi-fi earbuds we have examined
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: Out there in 4 colours, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 noise-canceling headphones do not function pretty much as good sound or noise canceling because the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional, however they’re compact (15% smaller and 20% lighter than the sooner Buds Plus, they barely stick out of your ears) and value considerably much less. As a result of they sit extra flush along with your ears — and have that curved design — in addition they choose up much less wind noise. They’re IPX2 sweat-resistant whereas the step-up Galaxy Buds 2 Professional are absolutely waterproof (IPX7).
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4: Whereas their sound is not fairly as much as the extent of higher-end buds like Apple’s AirPods Professional 2 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 that price considerably extra, the Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4 earbuds have a powerful set of options, together with a spatial audio mode with head monitoring, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, as much as 9 hours of battery life, wi-fi charging and help for Sony’s LDAC audio codec that may supply sound enhancements when you have the fitting setup.
Sennheiser CX Plus: The Momentum True Wi-fi 3 are Sennheiser’s flagship true-wireless earbuds. However if you cannot afford them, the CX Plus, which function excellent sound and first rate noise canceling, are a great various for lots much less cash. The step-down CX, which don’t have any energetic noise canceling, price even much less.
Is it ‘noise canceling’ or ‘noise cancelling’?
Quick reply: each. Both spelling is right, as “canceling” is extra widespread in American English whereas “cancelling” is extra widespread in British English. CNET makes use of “noise canceling” for the reason that firm relies within the US, however the noise is canceled simply the identical, no matter spelling. For those who’re seeking to see what completely different noise-impacting expertise is on the market for headphones, take a look at our article on noise-canceling versus noise-isolating headphones, which highlights variations in perform — and never only a distinction in spelling.