Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds for 2023
Having great earbuds makes a huge difference. These are CNET's current favorite noise-canceling earbuds from the dozens we've tested and reviewed.
What to consider
Budget
Fit
Return policy
Try comprehensive phone insurance, covering everyday wear and tear, drops and water damage. Pay only $5/month + tax for 3 months, then $10/month + tax after that. Find out more
Find out more
What are the best noise-canceling earbuds overall?
Over the years I've tested hundreds of wired and wireless earbuds, and it's hard to name one single model as the best overall noise-canceling earbuds. However a few models do stand out from the pack. These include the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 buds. These earbuds offer not only excellent ambient noise-muffling capabilities but also a comfortable fit, very good sound and strong voice-calling performance. Those are the key factors I evaluate when determining which products end up on this list. Pricing is also a consideration for value picks.
Many retailers start "Black Friday" sales as early as Halloween, or even earlier. The quality of deals can vary early on, but as November progresses, many of the deals are as good as the deep discounts you’ll see during Thanksgiving weekend. See the best Black Friday deals we’ve found, and keep up with all the latest deals with our full Black Friday live blog coverage.
The best noise canceling (or "noise cancelling," as companies like Bose and Google spell it) is able to mask a wider range of frequencies and do it on the fly ("adaptive" noise canceling) with sophisticated software algorithms and more-powerful but energy-efficient processors embedded in the buds. Apple, Sony and Bose remain among the leaders in the category, but they have plenty of competition.
This list is just made up of the best noise-canceling earbuds, not full-size headphones, with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds being the most recent addition to the list. I've tested all the earbuds on the list and fully reviewed the most popular models. If you're looking for the best noise-canceling headphones, we've got a list that includes a mix of earbuds and over-ear headphones.
Read more: Best wireless earbuds
Best noise-canceling wireless earbuds for 2023
While the QC Ultra Earbuds aren't a major upgrade over Bose's excellent QC Earbuds 2 that were released in 2002, they're definitely a little better. They should fit most ears very well, and they feature superb noise canceling, arguably the best out there. And a natural-sounding transparency mode with a new ActiveSense feature kicks in some ANC should the sound get too loud around you (it's sort of similar to the AirPods Pro's Adaptive Audio feature). They also sound slightly better overall, with a touch more clarity, and their new Immersive Audio feature opens up the sound a bit.
Best Sony earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM5
When Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds came out in 2021, we awarded them a CNET Editors' Choice. And while they're excellent, we had some quibbles -- they're on the large side and aren't a good match for certain ears. Clearly, Sony took those gripes to heart when it set out to design its next-generation WF-1000XM5 flagship noise-canceling earbuds. Not only are the XM5s smaller, but they also offer improved performance pretty much across the board, with better noise canceling, sound and voice calling. Are the XM5s perfect? Not quite. And at $300 -- $20 more than their predecessor -- they're costly, too. But overall they're really impressive -- easily among the top earbuds on the market.
Best Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds
Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)
Apple not only swapped in USB-C for Lightning connectivity in its new iPhone 15 models, but it made the switch with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The new AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe (USB-C) are nearly identical to their Lightning predecessor, delivering the same excellent sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance. That said, they offer some other small upgrades, including additional dust resistance and a new acoustic architecture that allows for Lossless Audio with the Vision Pro, Apple's upcoming wearable headset that's set to be released in early 2024 and costs $3,499. Is it possible that new acoustic architecture makes the buds sound subtly different with current devices like the iPhone? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) are easy to recommend to Apple users despite their high price.
Lightweight and comfortable to wear -- I got a good seal with the largest ear tip size -- these aren't a huge upgrade over the Earfun Air S, but they are better. They have slightly larger wool-composite drivers (11mm versus 10mm), slightly improved noise canceling and better battery life (up to seven hours with noise canceling on, according to Earfun).
In short, the Earfun Air 3 deliver strong performance for their modest price, with robust bass, good clarity and a relatively wide soundstage. They also pack in a lot of features, including a wireless charging case and "multidevice" connectivity. (I could pair them to two devices simultaneously but had to pause the music on one device and hit play on the other for the audio to switch.) They're IPX5 splash-proof and also work well (though not exceptionally well) as a headset for making calls.
Use the code EAP3CNET at checkout at Amazon to drop the price to just less than $50.
" page-position="" linktext="Read our Earfun Air Pro 3 review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/deals/earfuns-new-air-pro-3-earbuds-deliver-impressive-sound-and-theyre-already-30-off/" can-collapse="true" collapse-on-page-load="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="{"id":"2fecfab1-8a4a-4d0c-b79c-62207901ea90","label":"EarFun Air Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds","slug":"earfun-air-pro-3-noise-cancelling-wireless-earbuds","edition":["us"],"imageId":"","imgUrl":"","imageHeight":0,"imageWidth":0,"typeLabel":"Series","objectType":"content_product_series","icon":""}" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"2fecfab1-8a4a-4d0c-b79c-62207901ea90","slug":"earfun-air-pro-3-noise-cancelling-wireless-earbuds","name":"EarFun Air Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1699625121816}" overridecredit="Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET" overridecaption="The wireless charging case isn't tiny, but it fits in a pocket easily enough.
" imagegroup="{"uuid":"45115595-4ba3-4f6e-93ab-2c4f07d4ad7d","alt":"The Earfun Pro 3 include a wireless charging case","caption":"The wireless charging case isn't tiny, but it fits in a pocket easily enough.
","credits":"Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET","imageData":{"id":"45115595-4ba3-4f6e-93ab-2c4f07d4ad7d","filename":"earfun-air-pro-3-red-background.png","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/1ae9163bc8514d1831684f8bda45dd4f0457202a/hub/2023/01/26/45115595-4ba3-4f6e-93ab-2c4f07d4ad7d/earfun-air-pro-3-red-background.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2023-01-26 17:48:44.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/1ae9163bc8514d1831684f8bda45dd4f0457202a/hub/2023/01/26/45115595-4ba3-4f6e-93ab-2c4f07d4ad7d/earfun-air-pro-3-red-background.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500","imageCaption":"The wireless charging case isn't tiny, but it fits in a pocket easily enough.
","imageCredit":"Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET","imageAltText":"The Earfun Pro 3 include a wireless charging case","imageFilename":"earfun-air-pro-3-red-background.png","imageWidth":1596,"imageHeight":898,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2023-01-26","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"905pi9399ite26q","type":"cross-content-listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cross_content_listicle__e26a7644-8d96-4a4f-bb91-bc17b4af0108" imagecredit="Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET" tagslugs="bang-olufsen,bose,lg,samsung,sennheiser,sony,hv14,samsung-galaxy,apple,oneplus" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">Best budget noise-canceling wireless earbuds
Earfun Air Pro 3
Earfun has put out a series of wireless earbuds over the last couple of years with one important commonality: They're very good values, made more so by frequent discounts. The company's new-for-2023 Earfun Air Pro 3 earbuds feature the latest Qualcomm QCC3071 system-on-a-chip with AptX Adaptive for Android and other devices that support the new LE Audio standard and LC3 audio codec, which is superior to the SBC codec (they also support AAC for Apple devices).
Lightweight and comfortable to wear -- I got a good seal with the largest ear tip size -- these aren't a huge upgrade over the Earfun Air S, but they are better. They have slightly larger wool-composite drivers (11mm versus 10mm), slightly improved noise canceling and better battery life (up to seven hours with noise canceling on, according to Earfun).
In short, the Earfun Air 3 deliver strong performance for their modest price, with robust bass, good clarity and a relatively wide soundstage. They also pack in a lot of features, including a wireless charging case and "multidevice" connectivity. (I could pair them to two devices simultaneously but had to pause the music on one device and hit play on the other for the audio to switch.) They're IPX5 splash-proof and also work well (though not exceptionally well) as a headset for making calls.
Use the code EAP3CNET at checkout at Amazon to drop the price to just less than $50.
Best Technics wireless earbuds
Technics EAH-AZ80
You should expect a lot from earbuds that cost $300 -- and yes, that's still a lot to pay for headphones, even if plenty of people seem to be willing to pay upwards of $450 for the likes of Apple's AirPods Max headphones. Overall, Panasonic has done a nice job of creating an all-around top-performing set of buds that offer an improved fit with terrific sound, very good noise canceling and a robust feature set.
Voice-calling capabilities are decent but don't quite live up to their billing (yet). Hopefully we'll see some firmware upgrades that improve the voice-calling experience in noisier environments. Despite that caveat, as long as they fit your ears well, the Technics EAH-AZ80 are right up there with the best wireless earbuds on the market right now.
Best everyday wireless earbuds that are also good for sports
Beats Fit Pro
While the Beats Fit Pro technically aren't AirPods, they're built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro (yes, Apple owns Beats). Unlike Beats' earlier and less expensive Studio Buds and new-for-2023 Studio Buds Plus, the Beats Fit Pro include Apple's H1 chip and have most of the AirPods Pro's features, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I'd venture to call them the sports AirPods you've always wanted.
Best wireless earbuds from Beats
Beats Studio Buds Plus
Alas, for those of you who bought the original Beats Studio Buds, which remain on the market for now, I'm sorry to report that these new Plus buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise canceling and battery life. Additionally, they now deliver top-notch voice-calling performance.
The transparent version is getting a lot of attention (who doesn't like transparent electronics?), but the big changes are on the inside. Beats says 95% of the components are new and improved, and the buds' "acoustic architecture" has been revised. The speaker drivers remain the same, but the Studio Buds Plus are powered by a new, more powerful custom chipset and have three new microphones in each bud, which are three times larger and more sensitive than the ones found in the Beats Studio Buds.
Best Anker noise-canceling earbuds
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
New for 2023, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds carry a lower list price than last year's Liberty 4 buds and are arguably better. They have improved noise canceling and better sound quality, along with support for the LDAC audio codec for devices that support it. (Many Android smartphones do, and in theory it offers slightly improved sound quality when paired with a music streaming service that offers high-res tracks.) They're lightweight buds that should fit most ears comfortably with four sizes of ear tips to choose from.
The Liberty 4 NC buds have single custom drivers compared to the Liberty 4's dynamic dual drivers -- and a completely different case design -- but I thought they delivered more pleasant sound than the Liberty 4s. Their treble is a little smoother and they feature strong bass performance. They came across as fairly open, with a reasonably wide soundstage. You can tweak the sound profile in the companion app for iOS and Android.
The buds come in several color options and are IPX4 splashproof, so they're suitable for running and gym use. They feature excellent battery life -- up to 10 hours on a single charge at moderate volume levels -- and there's also a transparency mode that lets ambient sound in and sounds pretty natural with only a very faint audible hiss. While the noise canceling is an improvement over the Liberty 4's and is effective, it falls a bit short of what you get from Bose's and Sony's premium ANC earbuds.
Like the Liberty 4, the earbuds have six integrated mics for noise canceling and making calls, and callers said they thought the buds did a pretty good job of reducing background noise, with my voice coming through relatively clearly. They're an all-around good performing set of buds for the money, and they offer a strong feature set, including ear-detection sensors and wireless charging.
Best-sounding noise-canceling wireless earbuds
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 S2
Bowers & Wilkins has upgraded its fantastic-sounding PI7 noise-canceling earbuds. The new S2 model has better battery life and Bluetooth range, now up to 25 meters (double the previous range). Additionally, the buds now integrate into the new Bowers & Wilkins Music app for iOS and Android and have a much improved setup experience.
While not a major upgrade from the originals, the PI7 S2s, which feature a dual-driver design, are easily among the very best-sounding true-wireless earbuds. The step-down PI5 S2s, which have a single driver design, don't sound quite as good but are more affordable.
Best Samsung wireless earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer improved noise canceling along with very good sound and voice-calling performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you're a Galaxy device owner with the right setup. That said, their biggest upgrade may be their new design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears. Aside from their somewhat high price tag, their only drawback is that some of their key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices.
Best wireless earbuds for Android users
Google Pixel Buds Pro
The Pixel Buds Pro are Google's first earbuds to feature active noise canceling. While it's nice that they finally have a feature that a lot of true-wireless earbuds have had for a while, what ultimately sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart and makes them worth considering -- particularly for Android users -- is their distinct design and winning fit. That helps enhance their performance on both the sound quality and noise-canceling fronts. While not quite elite for voice-calling, they did perform well as a headset for making calls. A couple of features were missing at launch -- spatial audio and a five-band equalizer -- but both have now been added with firmware updates.
Best wireless earbuds with triple drivers
Status Between 3ANC
Status Audio's earbuds aren't exactly the sleekest or most attractive earbuds you can buy, but if you don't mind their utilitarian look and giant stems, you are getting an excellent sounding set of earbuds. The Between 3ANC, the company's first noise-canceling earbuds, also do a good job muffling ambient sound, though they aren't up to the level of the Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds for noise-canceling prowess. They did perform very well in my voice-calling test, reducing much of the background noise around me in the streets of New York while picking up my voice clearly, or so callers told me.
While they have multipoint Bluetooth pairing -- you can pair them to two devices simultaneously -- they are missing a few features, including ear-detection sensors, and they only support the AAC audio codec (they're equipped with Bluetooth 5.2), not LDAC or aptX. Some people with Android devices that support those codecs may not be thrilled with that, but, as I said, they sound quite good using AAC, offering clean sound with punchy bass and good clarity. That's in part due to their driver design, and why the buds are on the larger side -- they feature two balanced armature drivers, plus one 10mm dynamic driver in each earbud.
Despite being heavier than earbuds like Apple's AirPods Pro 2, they fit my ears comfortably and securely. Their case charges wirelessly and battery life is very good at up to 8.5 hours with ANC on. There's also a transparency mode that sounds only OK, not great (a physical button on the earbuds activates it) and they have an IPX5 water-resistance rating, which means they can withstand a sustained spray of water. The companion app for iOS is fairly basic, but you can upgrade the firmware and tweak the sound profile with a customizable EQ option.
Best noise-canceling earbuds from Sennheiser
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
Featuring excellent sound, improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance as well a smaller, more refined design that includes stabilizing fins (so the earbuds stay in your ears more securely), the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 were among the best new true-wireless earbuds of 2022. They remain one of the best true-wireless earbuds overall, although the newer AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 buds are arguably superior, so only look to buy the Momentum True Wireless 3 when they are significantly discounted.
Best wireless earbuds with a touchscreen display in their case
JBL Tour Pro 2
JBL's Tour Pro 2 earbuds have received a lot of attention for bringing something new to true-wireless earbuds: a full color touchscreen display embedded in the case that allows you to access the earbuds' key features and control playback as well as adjust volume levels. It's a bit of a gimmick but also useful.
While the buds could sound slightly better for their list price, overall the JBL Tour Pro 2s are very good earbuds that offer a good fit, a robust feature set, strong battery life, plus solid noise canceling and voice-calling performance.
Best compact wireless earbuds from Sony
Sony LinkBuds S
Unlike the "open" LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips you jam in your ears. They're more compact and lighter than Sony's former flagship WF-1000XM4 and also feature Sony's V1 processor (Sony has since released the more compact WF-1000XM5). While their sound and noise canceling don't quite measure up to either XM4's or XM5's, they're still quite good. They're the Sony buds for people who can't afford Sony's flagship earbuds but want 80% of those buds' features and performance for significantly less.
The Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. Aside from the design, the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life; the stemless Live Free 2 is rated for up to seven hours, while the Live Pro 2 is rated for 10 hours. The Live Pro 2 is available in four color options.
" page-position="" linktext="Read our JBL Live Pro 2 first take" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/jbl-live-pro-2-and-live-free-2-great-new-earbuds-on-sale-for-50-off/" can-collapse="true" collapse-on-page-load="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="{"id":"4aa0b5e6-fa10-4be0-bbd2-3a3473622a37","label":"JBL Live Pro 2","slug":"jbl-live-pro-2","edition":["us"],"imageId":"","imgUrl":"","imageHeight":0,"imageWidth":0,"typeLabel":"Series","objectType":"content_product_series","icon":""}" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"4aa0b5e6-fa10-4be0-bbd2-3a3473622a37","slug":"jbl-live-pro-2","name":"JBL Live Pro 2","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"PRISM","mod":1699625117727}" overridecredit="David Carnoy/CNET" overridecaption="sortRankTest: 5:a; 4:b
" imagegroup="{"uuid":"3852a149-f4bf-4440-bf26-89b155b36e61","alt":"JBL Live Pro 2 earbuds and case","caption":"","credits":"David Carnoy/CNET","imageData":{"id":"3852a149-f4bf-4440-bf26-89b155b36e61","filename":"jbl-live-pro-2-copy.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/e5d6e0485737d709fc3504d83b0933df6ef29dbd/hub/2022/05/27/3852a149-f4bf-4440-bf26-89b155b36e61/jbl-live-pro-2-copy.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-27 19:42:52.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/e5d6e0485737d709fc3504d83b0933df6ef29dbd/hub/2022/05/27/3852a149-f4bf-4440-bf26-89b155b36e61/jbl-live-pro-2-copy.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"","imageCredit":"David Carnoy/CNET","imageAltText":"JBL Live Pro 2 earbuds and case","imageFilename":"jbl-live-pro-2-copy.jpg","imageWidth":3728,"imageHeight":2097,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2022-05-27","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"fkml9sttdpm2tj9","type":"cross-content-listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cross_content_listicle__17c61c0c-98be-432f-955c-28ea141a5d2c" imagecredit="David Carnoy/CNET" tagslugs="bang-olufsen,bose,lg,samsung,sennheiser,sony,hv14,samsung-galaxy,apple,oneplus" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">Best AirPods Pro alternative for less
JBL Live Pro 2
Over the years, JBL has put out some decent true-wireless earbuds, but nothing that really got me too excited. That's finally changed with the arrival of the Samsung-owned brand's new Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 buds. Both sets of buds -- the Live Pro 2 have stems while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design -- offer a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust set of features, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.
The Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. Aside from the design, the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life; the stemless Live Free 2 is rated for up to seven hours, while the Live Pro 2 is rated for 10 hours. The Live Pro 2 is available in four color options.
I found the noise-canceling to be good but not up to the level of what you get with Apple, Sony and Bose earbuds. Voice-calling performance was also above average with decent though not fantastic noise reduction on the streets of New York. (Callers said they could hear me well despite some background noise so the microphone quality seems good.)
Owners of the new OnePlus 11 smartphone can take advantage of the buds' spatial audio feature. (Other smartphones may support spatial audio with the Buds Pro 2 in the future but for now, it's exclusive to the OnePlus 11.) The buds are rated for 6 hours of battery life with noise canceling on and are IP55 splashproof. The compact charging case supports wireless charging with a little more than four extra charges in the case.
" page-position="" linktext="" linkurl="" can-collapse="true" collapse-on-page-load="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="{"id":"2cb449c0-9dd6-4be1-b09c-7ac7e1f18647","label":"OnePlus Buds Pro 2 - Obsidian Black - Audiophile-Grade Sound Quality Co-Created with Dynaudio, Best-in-Class ANC, Immersive Spatial Audio, Up to 39 Hour Playtime with Charging case, Bluetooth 5.3","slug":"oneplus-buds-pro-2-obsidian-black-audiophile-grade-sound-quality-co-created-with-dynaudio-best-in-class-anc-immersive","edition":["us"],"imageId":"","imgUrl":"","imageHeight":0,"imageWidth":0,"typeLabel":"Series","objectType":"content_product_series","icon":""}" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"2cb449c0-9dd6-4be1-b09c-7ac7e1f18647","slug":"oneplus-buds-pro-2-obsidian-black-audiophile-grade-sound-quality-co-created-with-dynaudio-best-in-class-anc-immersive","name":"OnePlus Buds Pro 2 - Obsidian Black - Audiophile-Grade Sound Quality Co-Created with Dynaudio, Best-in-Class ANC, Immersive Spatial Audio, Up to 39 Hour Playtime with Charging case, Bluetooth 5.3","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1699625120681}" overridecredit="Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET" overridecaption="" imagegroup="{"uuid":"08d687de-7246-4a68-8c49-eb5111d8d998","alt":"The OnePlus Buds 2 Pro feature a dual-driver design and a premium look and feel","caption":"","credits":"Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET","imageData":{"id":"08d687de-7246-4a68-8c49-eb5111d8d998","filename":"oneplus-buds-pro-2-orange.png","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/a9e778435c3fef1459332343e392c28253c36127/hub/2023/02/16/08d687de-7246-4a68-8c49-eb5111d8d998/oneplus-buds-pro-2-orange.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2023-02-16 20:03:12.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/a9e778435c3fef1459332343e392c28253c36127/hub/2023/02/16/08d687de-7246-4a68-8c49-eb5111d8d998/oneplus-buds-pro-2-orange.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500","imageCaption":"","imageCredit":"Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET","imageAltText":"The OnePlus Buds 2 Pro feature a dual-driver design and a premium look and feel","imageFilename":"oneplus-buds-pro-2-orange.png","imageWidth":1596,"imageHeight":898,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2023-02-16","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"icp8jbyxr06m9y0","type":"cross-content-listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cross_content_listicle__7ca5e07b-cce2-4eb5-8831-19b9c63512f6" imagecredit="Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET" tagslugs="bang-olufsen,bose,lg,samsung,sennheiser,sony,hv14,samsung-galaxy,apple,oneplus" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">Best noise-canceling premium earbuds from OnePlus
OnePlus Buds Pro 2
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 have a lot to like about them. They've got a more premium look and feel than many AirPods Pro 2 clones and feature a dual-driver design and very good sound quality with just a bit of bass push (by that I mean they're slightly bass heavy at their default sound setting). Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, they also have support for a good range of audio codecs, including AAC (iPhones), LHDC 4.0, SBC, and LC3 (the successor to SBC). OnePlus says an upgrade to LHDC 5.0 will be available via a firmware upgrade (LHDC stands for low-latency high-definition and it's supposed to be close to on par with Sony's LDAC audio codec).
I found the noise-canceling to be good but not up to the level of what you get with Apple, Sony and Bose earbuds. Voice-calling performance was also above average with decent though not fantastic noise reduction on the streets of New York. (Callers said they could hear me well despite some background noise so the microphone quality seems good.)
Owners of the new OnePlus 11 smartphone can take advantage of the buds' spatial audio feature. (Other smartphones may support spatial audio with the Buds Pro 2 in the future but for now, it's exclusive to the OnePlus 11.) The buds are rated for 6 hours of battery life with noise canceling on and are IP55 splashproof. The compact charging case supports wireless charging with a little more than four extra charges in the case.
Best B&O wireless earbuds with stems
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX
Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay EX buds are the company's best true-wireless earbuds yet. They feature a comfortable, secure fit (except perhaps for those with really smaller ears), top-notch build quality, great sound, good noise canceling and improved voice-calling performance over B&O's EQ buds, with three microphones in each earbud they help with reducing background noise while picking up your voice. While they're out of most people's price range, they're arguably the best earbuds out there with stems and offer superior sound to the AirPods Pro (1st gen) with better clarity, deeper more powerful bass and richer, more accurate sound.
Battery life is rated at 6 hours at moderate volume levels with noise canceling on and there's an extra 14 hours of juice in the brushed aluminum charging case (wireless charging is supported). The buds have an IP57 water-resistance rating, which makes them waterproof and dust-resistant. They feature Bluetooth 5.2 and multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect to two devices at the same time, such as a computer and smartphone. You can use a single bud independently and the earbuds have ear-detection sensors so your music pauses when you remove them from your ears.
The buds support AptX Adaptive for devices like Android smartphones that support Bluetooth streaming with the AptX HD audio codec (AAC is also supported). They're available in the gold tone pictured as well as a graphite color.
Other noise-canceling wireless earbuds we've tested
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: Available in four colors, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 noise-canceling headphones don't feature as good sound or noise canceling as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, but they're compact (15% smaller and 20% lighter than the earlier Buds Plus, they barely stick out of your ears) and cost significantly less. Because they sit more flush with your ears -- and have that curved design -- they also pick up less wind noise. They're IPX2 sweat-resistant while the step-up Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are fully waterproof (IPX7).
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4: While their sound isn't quite up to the level of higher-end buds like Apple's AirPods Pro 2 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 that cost significantly more, the Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4 earbuds have a strong set of features, including a spatial audio mode with head tracking, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, up to nine hours of battery life, wireless charging and support for Sony's LDAC audio codec that can offer sound improvements if you have the right setup.
Sennheiser CX Plus: The Momentum True Wireless 3 are Sennheiser's flagship true-wireless earbuds. But if you can't afford them, the CX Plus, which feature very good sound and decent noise canceling, are a good alternative for a lot less money. The step-down CX, which have no active noise canceling, cost even less.
Factors to consider when choosing noise-canceling wireless earbuds
Budget
Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new earbuds. Value-priced earbuds continue to improve, so you can find good "cheap" buds for not too much money (less than $60). But if you're looking for premium buds from Sony, Apple and Bose, be prepared to spend a lot more.
Fit
It's key that the earbuds you buy fit your ears well. They should offer a comfortable, secure fit. If you don't get a tight seal with noise-isolating earbuds, sound quality and noise cancellation can be dramatically affected for the worse. Open earbuds don't have that issue, but they should be comfortable to wear and sit securely in your ears.
Return policy
Because the fit of your earbuds is so important, it's critical to buy your buds at a retailer that has a good return policy. That means you can return the buds if they aren't a good match for your ears.
How we test noise-canceling earbuds
We test noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds based on six key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria include design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
- Design: Evaluating design, we assess not only how comfortable the headphones and earbuds fit (their ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. When it comes to earbuds, we also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.
- Sound quality: We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
- Noise-canceling performance: We evaluate noise-canceling performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out to the streets of New York to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they do muffling not only street noise but people's voices.
- Extra features: Some great-sounding workout headphones and earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user friendly it is.
- Voice-calling: When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voice.
- Value: We determine value after evaluating the strength of the headphones and earbuds against all these criteria and what they're able to deliver compared to other models in their price class.
Noise-canceling earbuds FAQs
Does noise canceling drain the earbuds' battery?
Does noise canceling impact sound quality?
Does noise canceling block all noise?
Is it noise-canceling or noise-cancelling?
Can noise canceling cause pressure in your ears?
Mobile Guides
- Best Wireless Earbuds
- Best Noise Canceling Headphones
- Best Headphones
- Best Over Ear Headphones
- Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones for Making Calls
- Best Headphones for Work at Home
- Best Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds
- Best Sounding Wireless Earbuds
- Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds
- Best Wireless Headphones