10 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) earbuds are a midrange priced, closed enclosure option with a stemmed form factor. They boast a very good overall sound quality, comfort, and build quality, which makes them suitable for listening to music, and they have features like active noise cancelling, making them excellent for air travel and portability. Their low latency mode is ideal for gaming and watching TV, and they're sweatproof and dustproof, appropriate for exercise. With a dynamic driver and support for AAC and LHDC codecs, they deliver high-fidelity audio. They're optimized for both Android and Apple devices and offer around 6.7 hours of battery life, extendable to 30 hours with the charging case, which also supports wireless charging. They come with an integrated microphone but do not feature virtual surround sound. Their app allows for equalizer settings and controls customization. If you want versatile, durable earbuds with active noise canceling and low latency, these could be a good option, unless you're specifically looking for features like virtual surround sound.

The Creative Labs Outlier Pro earbuds offer an overall good sound quality with particularly strong performance for calls and meetings, which is complemented by a very good microphone quality. They are also designed to be comfortable for extended periods and come with a robust build quality and excellent built-in controls. These earbuds are excellent for book and podcast listening as well as use during exercise and air travel. If you engage in gaming or watch a lot of TV and video, these may not be optimal due to their poorer scores in these areas. They feature active noise cancelling and are sweatproof, but they do not support lossless codecs for audiophile-grade sound. The earbuds are somewhat large but offer portability and a fair amount of noise isolation. They come with a convenient wireless charging case that can provide up to 10 hours of typical use, with a total battery life including the case being 45 hours.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a midrange priced, stemless earbud option that offer features such as active noise cancelling, wireless charging, and an integrated microphone, making them suitable for calls and meetings. They are optimized for Android, though they also work with Apple devices, and have an app that allows equalizer, controls customization, and audio controls. With very good overall sound quality, they're great for music listening, and their excellent portability and good comfort make them convenient for use during exercise or air travel. However, their microphone quality is only fair, which might be a consideration for frequent call users. These earbuds are sweatproof but not dustproof, and offer 4.8 hours of battery life with an additional 12 hours provided by the case. They're suitable for gaming and watching TV due to their low latency, but might not be the best option if microphone quality is a priority.

Apple Airpods Pro are midrange-priced, stem-formed earbuds designed for closed-ear listening. They offer wireless connectivity with good overall sound quality and are particularly suited for calls and meetings, as well as air travel with their excellent noise isolation capabilities. They are optimized for use with Apple devices, providing features like adaptive sound, improved spatial audio, and lower latency which make them ideal for Apple users. They are sweatproof, have active noise cancelling, and come with a wireless charging case promising 24 hours of battery life. While they aren't the best for gaming or watching TV due to their poor scores in those areas, they are very portable and suitable for exercise. They also have integrated mic functionality, though without virtual surround sound.

Apple Airpods Pro 2 offer a premium listening experience, particularly suitable for Apple device users, with improved noise handling and spatial audio. They boast low latency, making them a strong choice for watching videos and gaming. The built-in active noise cancelling is best-in-class for earbuds, ideal for air travel and noisy environments. They are sweatproof and have a very good sound quality. The battery life is solid, providing 6 hours of typical use, and 24 hours with the case, which also supports wireless charging. Designed with portability in mind, they lack an app equalizer or controls customization, but provide ear/head detection for convenience.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds offer a very good overall sound quality and noise isolation, making them suitable for enjoying music in various environments, including during air travel. They're also praised for build quality and have an integrated microphone of very good quality, which is useful for calls. They're compatible with AptX Adaptive, ensuring compatibility with high-quality audio streaming and lower latency. Notably, they excel in gaming and TV due to their low latency. The earbuds are sweatproof, so they can be used during exercise. They are not, however, dustproof, and they do not offer wireless charging. The battery life lasts for approximately 7 hours, with a case providing an additional 28 hours. The Sennheiser app provides equalizer and control customization, enhancing the user experience. Their midrange price point makes them an appealing option for those looking for a balance between quality and affordability.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are stemless, closed-back earbuds well-suited for a variety of uses. If you prioritize comfort and noise isolation, particularly during air travel or while exercising, these earbuds excel in those areas, providing a secure fit with stability bands and offering active noise cancelling. They feature a very good overall sound quality that would enhance music listening, although they're not the top pick for gaming or watching TV due to fair performance in those aspects. For calls and meetings, the quality is only fair, which could impact clarity during conversations. The build quality is robust, and the built-in controls are rated the best for ease of use. They leverage dynamic drivers and support the AAC codec, which improves performance with Apple devices, but do not have a lossless codec for audiophile-level sound quality. They are sweatproof, making them practical for exercise, but there is no mention of dustproof certification. The battery life stands at 7 hours, with the case providing an additional 20 hours; however, they do not support wireless charging and take 2 hours to charge fully. The companion app offers equalizer settings, controls customization, and audio controls to tailor your listening experience. Keep in mind that these earbuds come with a premium price tag, so if budget is a concern, this should be considered.

The Sony WF1000XM3 earbuds offer a midrange price and are known for their excellent noise cancellation and sound quality, making them ideal for immersive music listening in noisy environments. They're stemless with a closed design, provide good comfort, and support Sony's 360 Reality Audio for an enhanced experience with compatible apps. They also boast very good battery life with up to 24 hours of total playtime including the charging case. However, they may not be the best choice for watching TV or gaming due to their poor latency performance. If you need a good microphone for calls, note that these earbuds offer fair call quality.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer excellent overall sound quality, with superb noise isolation which makes them perfect for air travel and use in noisy environments. They also have a high comfort score, ideal for extended listening periods. These earbuds are wireless, supporting AAC and AptX Adaptive codecs for better sound, and they are sweatproof, enhancing their suitability for exercise. However, calls and meetings might not be optimal due to the earbuds' fair mic quality. Designed for durability, they come with stability bands but the poor gaming score suggests they may not be the best choice for gamers due to possible latency issues. They provide an impressive 6.5 hours of battery life, with a case offering an additional 21 hours, though they lack wireless charging. The earbuds are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, and they come with an integrated app that allows equalizer and controls customization for a personalized experience.

The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds offer very good overall sound quality and excellent active noise cancelling, making them ideal for music listening and air travel. They are comfortable and have a secure fit with silicone fins, suitable for exercise, but their weight is on the heavier side for earbuds. The earbuds support AAC codec which is optimized for Apple devices but also work well with Android. They provide app controls customization, including an equalizer. However, they have poor microphone quality, which may be a drawback for calls and meetings. Additionally, there is no wireless charging, and they have a shorter battery life compared to some other options, lasting about 7 hours on a single charge. With midrange pricing, they offer a balance between performance and cost.