When did everything become so noisy? The best noise-canceling earbuds don't just improve your music-listening experience, they also offer up complete silence when you need zero distractions.
Active noise-cancelation (ANC) is a highly coveted feature in the current earbud market. With the help of tiny microphones on the earbuds' exterior, ANC earbuds actively cancel out incoming sound waves, preserving quiet while amplifying in-ear sound. No matter how strong a pair's noise-canceling powers are, it's important that they don't have connectivity problems or major sound leakage issues.
What are the best noise-canceling earbuds right now?
My pick for the best noise-canceling earbuds overall goes to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds for their unmatched noise cancellation, amazing sound, and sealed earbud fit. I get lots of the best earbuds to try out, but these QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the only ones I wear on flights, thanks to their top-tier noise cancellation that blocks out the harsh sounds of the engine.
If Bose isn't your cup of tea (or if you want an earbud that's a little cheaper than its asking price), I've included a mid-range pick in Sony's LinkBuds Fit if you want stellar sound for an even price and the AirPods Pro 2 for people wanting to stay within Apple's ecosystem. We've also included a new budget pick that rival some of the more expensive choices on this list, so keep reading for more of my favorite noise-canceling picks.
Also: The top headphones overall in 2025
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The best noise-canceling earbuds of 2025
Show less View now at Amazon View now at B&H Photo-Video View now at Target My upstairs neighbor is a DJ who has been mixing and editing the same song for months -- something I know because his speakers are so loud that I can hear his every edit from the floor below. I put in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds when I'm trying to focus on reading my book and not on the noise from that talented mix-master, the honks, and beeps of car horns outside my window, nor the roommate conversations happening in the kitchen. I don't put on any music -- the noise-cancelation on these earbuds is so good that every sound dissolves once these are in my ears so I can read and think in peace. I also strictly rely on these earbuds when I fly, because I haven't found another earbud that dims the harsh engine noises of air travel the way these do. Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds As far as music goes, the QuietComfort Ultra delivers impressive, wide-ranging sound. On runs, these earbuds stick in my ears, which I can credit to the oval shape of the ear tip and the extra grip from the stability band. Another notable feature is Bose's Immersive Audio mode, which brings music to the forefront of your ears and allows music to move with you. It's a great feature, but it does significantly reduce battery life. Speaking of which, the battery life on these isn't the most competitive at only six hours, but the case provides extra juice for on-the-go charging when you need it. One issue that is common on Reddit threads and in reviews is Bose's connectivity problems, as the earbuds have a tendency to lose connection. I've found that adequately charging the buds prevents these connection losses, while other people recommend deleting the app, which can be buggy. Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: Six hours | Frequency range: N/A | Noise-cancelation: Yes | Waterproof rating: Water resistant Pros The best noise-cancelation I've tried
Amazing sound
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