Today’s world is loud. From droning vehicles to constant office chatter, you’re bombarded regularly with a lot of background noise. This background noise is hard to drown out on your own. Therefore, you need noise-canceling headphones – at the best price. The best noise-canceling headphones will drown out all that background chatter, making it more pleasant to commute to work, take conference calls, work out at the gym, or even play online games. But blocking out noise is not the only reason to buy headphones. Depending on how and where you use them, you’ll want to find the best noise-canceling headphone deals ranked by the best overall, the best for comfort, the best for sound quality, the best for calls, and the best for multitasking.
After reviewing dozens of great options, our ranking for the best noise-canceling headphone deals are:
- Best overall: Sony WH-100XM5
- Best comfort option: Bose QuietComfort 45
- Best for a conference or video calls: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
- Best for sound quality: JBL Tune 750BTNC
- Best for long battery life: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Best Overall Noise-Canceling Headphone Deals: Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones take center stage as our best overall headphone deals in 2023. Right away, you can notice that the new design of the XM5s offers improved comfort, better noise canceling, and longer battery life.
The most significant departure from previous Sony headphone designs, and the biggest drawback for us, is the lack of a foldable design in favor of a slimmer headband. Because these headphones can no longer fold into themselves, they may not be as portable as previous designs.
However, we’ve found the Sony WH-1000XM5 to be the most comfortable, affordable option for noise cancelation.
- Two processors control 8 microphones
- Auto NC Optimizer
- The new Sony V1 Integrated Processor
- Hands-free calling with 4 beamforming microphones
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging
- Ultra-comfortable, lightweight design with soft-fit leather
Best for Comfort: Bose QuietComfort 45
Where the Sony WH-1000XM5 lacks a bit of portability, the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are the perfect noise-canceling headphone deal for the frequent commuter or traveler. Not only are these headphones great for portability, but they top our list for the most comfortable noise-canceling headphones on the list.
The QuietComfort 45 headphones have an excellent design, complete with comfy oval ear cups to facilitate the long wear of headphones. In addition, they’re lightweight for even more convenience.
Unfortunately, the active noise canceling, or ANC, cannot be adjusted, and the sound quality and sound signature could be better than others on our list.
- Excellent and comfortable design
- High-fidelity audio
- Active noise cancelation
- Get up to 22 hours of battery life
Best for Conference or Voice Calls: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
Bose is on a mission to eliminate the downfall of noise-canceling headphones. While classic noise-canceling headphones are designed to block out background noise, anyone around you can still hear everything happening around you if you’re on a call. Enter the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. These handy noise-canceling headphones work to apply noise-canceling to calls as well as listening to music.
While the noise-canceling is outstanding, the battery life is lacking, unfortunately. The battery only lasts around 20 hours. In addition, they aren’t the most portable pair because you can’t fold them into themselves.
- 11 levels of active noise cancelation
- Built-in beamforming microphone that adapts to noisy and windy environments
- Lightweight stainless steel headband and tilted earcups
- Up to 20 hours of wireless battery life on a single charge
Best for Sound Quality: JBL Tune 750BTNC
We’ve found that the JBL Tune 750BTNC is an excellent choice for sound quality, which is why we’ve added it to our noise-canceling headphone deals list. Rivaled only by the Sony WH-1000XM5, the sound quality on the 750BTNC is the best for the price. In addition, these headphones are comfortable, have a stunning design, and are relatively lightweight.
The downsides to the JBL Tune 750BTNC include a low battery life when compared to others on this list, and they aren’t waterproof. So don’t wear these to the gym or running if you tend to sweat a lot.
- Lightweight design
- Completely foldable
- Very high sound quality
- Up to 15 hours battery life
Best for Long Battery Life: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
For anyone looking for a long battery life in noise-canceling headphones, our pick is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. We found that the Momentum 4 Wireless can last up to 60 hours. And with only five minutes of charge, these headphones will give you about 2 hours of use. This long battery life is almost double the others on our list, making the best use for people who often forget to charge their devices or spend all day on conference calls but still need enough battery power to listen to podcasts on their way home.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless app can sometimes have trouble finding and connecting to the headphones. In addition, we’re not fans of the departure from previous, more stylish designs.
- Battery life of up to 60 hours
- Features a 42mm transducer system
- Comes with adaptive noise cancellation
- Use the Sennheiser Smart Control app to personalize sound settings
- 4 digital beamforming microphones
How To Pick The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones: Step by Step
When choosing noise-canceling headphones, there are four primary considerations for most buyers.
- Comfort
- Noise-cancelation performance
- Sound quality
- Battery life
Let’s review each one in more detail.
Comfort
Comfort is critical if you will be wearing your headphones for extended periods. Even if you only wear headphones for an hour, you want to avoid an ill-fitting pair that will pinch or generally feel weird when you wear them. It may help to try on a few different styles, so you know which you prefer.
Noise-cancelation performance
Noise-canceling is why you’re buying your headphones, after all. Working in a noisy office, commuting via a noisy train, or drowning out street noise all of these are reasons to get the best noise-canceling performance headphones. That way, you can focus more on what matters, like your coworkers on Zoom.
Sound quality
Audiophiles will agree that sound quality is key when considering noise-canceling headphones. Look for a great sound signature to enjoy better and get a truer, more authentic audio experience.
Battery life
Long battery life is essential if you’re constantly on the go or just someone who forgets to charge their devices. For example, you wouldn’t want your headphones to die during a conference call while trying to block out a barking dog or a distracting jackhammer outside.
What To Know Before Buying Noise-Canceling Headphones
Before buying noise-canceling headphones, make sure you know what type you’re looking for and their best use. For example, are you looking for portable headphones that work with Microsoft Teams?
Battery life is also essential. You’ll want a pair that lasts at least 20 hours, whether using them to make calls, listen to music, or play video games.
Using Noise Canceling Headphones: What it’s Like
Noise-canceling headphones provide a richer, more immersive experience. However, you may not be prepared for the pressure you may feel in your ears when you first put them on. It may feel like you’re on an airplane. This sensation is due to your brain thinking that there is a lack of low-frequency range of sound and that it’s due to a pressure differential between your outer and inner ear.
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- Two processors control 8 microphones
- Auto NC Optimizer
- The new Sony V1 Integrated Processor
- Hands-free calling with 4 beamforming microphones
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging
- Ultra-comfortable, lightweight design with soft-fit leather
- Bose QuietComfort 45
- Excellent and comfortable design
- High-fidelity audio
- Active noise cancelation
- Get up to 22 hours of battery life
- Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
- 11 levels of active noise cancelation
- Built-in beamforming microphone that adapts to noisy and windy environments
- Lightweight stainless steel headband and tilted earcups
- Up to 20 hours of wireless battery life on a single charge
- JBL TUNE 750BTNC – Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Noise Cancellation
- Lightweight design
- Completely foldable
- Very high sound quality
- Up to 15 hours battery life
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- Battery life of up to 60 hours
- Features a 42mm transducer system
- Comes with adaptive noise cancellation
- Use the Sennheiser Smart Control app to personalize sound settings
- 4 digital beamforming microphones
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
