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The best wireless earbuds for noise cancelling

With earbuds, the tip does half the work. Here is which pair seals best, which lasts longest, and which suits your phone.

By the Where's the Noise editors · Updated · How we choose

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Quick picks

If you wantBuyBecauseBuy
Most silence, any phoneBose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)Top of the class for blockingAmazon
iPhoneAirPods Pro 3Apple features, IP57, 8 h per chargeAmazon
Android, sound firstSony WF-1000XM6LDAC, 10-band EQ, 8 h per chargeAmazon
Samsung Galaxy phoneGalaxy Buds 4 ProBest feature support on GalaxyAmazon
BudgetSoundcore Space A4010 h per charge and LDACAmazon

Our picks for this

Most silence, any phone

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

These are the earbuds to beat for blocking noise: on a plane or a loud train they get closer to over-ear quiet than anything else in a pocket. The stability bands are the detail that makes the difference for many ears, holding the bud in place so the tip can do its job. Accept the shorter battery as the cost; the wireless-charging case makes top-ups easy.

  • Type In-ear, with stability bands
  • Battery, ANC on 6 h (4 h with Immersive Audio); 24 h with case
  • Case Wireless and USB-C charging
  • Codecs SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
Check price on AmazonFull review: the catch, alternatives and listing checks

Best for iPhone

Apple AirPods Pro 3

For an iPhone owner these are the default, and for once the default is also excellent at noise cancelling. The IP57 rating covers the case too, so a gym bag is not a risk, and the heart-rate sensor makes the buds a workout tracker as well. Note that the case now holds less than the Pro 2's did.

  • Type In-ear
  • Battery, ANC on 8 h; 24 h with case
  • Water rating IP57, buds and case
  • Ear tips Five sizes, XXS to L
Search Amazon for this modelFull review: the catch, alternatives and listing checks

Best sound, Android

Sony WF-1000XM6

If you listen critically and use Android, this is the pair with the most to offer: LDAC, a 10-band EQ and a sound reviewers rank at the top. The fit is the risk, so buy where returns are easy and spend the first days on tip sizes before you decide.

  • Type In-ear
  • Battery, ANC on 8 h; 24 h with case
  • Case Wireless charging
  • Codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
Check price on AmazonFull review: the catch, alternatives and listing checks

Best on a budget

Soundcore by Anker Space A40

The budget pair that holds up when you check the tests rather than the box. Ten hours per charge beats every flagship here, and LDAC is a surprise at this price. It will not silence a voice, but it will flatten a commute.

  • Type In-ear
  • Battery, ANC on 10 h; about 50 h with case (Anker)
  • Case Wireless charging
  • Codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC
Check price on AmazonFull review: the catch, alternatives and listing checks

For Galaxy phones

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

On a recent Galaxy these get features and codec support that other earbuds cannot match, and RTINGS has put them through its tests. On any other phone, choose the Bose or the Sony instead.

Good if you carry a recent Galaxy phone. Skip if you switch between phone brands.

Check price on AmazonSee it alongside the top 10

Watch out: no ANC

Sony WF-C510

Small, cheap and well made, but with no active noise cancelling at all. It is here so nobody buys it by mistake while shopping for cancellation.

Good if you want small, cheap Sony buds and do not need noise cancelling. Skip if noise cancelling is why you are shopping.

Check price on AmazonSee it alongside the top 10

Only if clearly cheaper

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The previous AirPods Pro: still good, but six hours per charge, IP54 and weaker noise cancelling than the Pro 3 at the same launch price. Worth it only at a clear discount.

Good if you find it well below the Pro 3. Skip if the price gap is small.

Check price on AmazonSee it alongside the top 10

Get the seal right before you judge them

Every earbud on this page cancels noise in two layers: the tip blocks sound physically, and the electronics cancel what gets through. If the tip leaks, the second layer is working against open air. Most disappointment with expensive earbuds comes down to this.

Try every tip size in the box, both ears separately, because many people need different sizes left and right. AirPods Pro 3 has a fit test in Settings and five tip sizes down to XXS; Bose's CustomTune checks the fit each time you put the buds in. If silicone never seals, memory foam tips often do.

Battery: the buds versus the case

EarbudsPer charge, ANC onWith caseWater ratingCodecsWireless charging
Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)6 h (4 h Immersive)24 hIPX4SBC, AAC, aptX AdaptiveYes
AirPods Pro 38 h24 hIP57AAC, SBCYes
Sony WF-1000XM68 h24 hIPX4 (buds)SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3Yes
Soundcore Space A4010 hAbout 50 hNot confirmedSBC, AAC, LDACYes

Rated figures from the makers. Your hours will be lower at high volume or with spatial audio on.

Water ratings, decoded

The first digit is dust, the second is water; an X means that part was not tested. IPX4 covers sweat and splashes. IP55 adds dust and handles rain. IP57 means the buds survived immersion in a lab, which is why AirPods Pro 3 is the one pair here we would happily take on a wet run. None of these are swimming earbuds.

Your phone matters more with earbuds

With over-ears the phone barely changes the experience. With earbuds it changes a lot. AirPods lose pairing, device switching and Find My on Android. Sony's LDAC and Samsung's own codec only work on Android, and Samsung's extras work best on a recent Galaxy. If you switch between platforms, Bose's earbuds behave the same on both.

Questions about this

Which earbuds have the best noise cancelling?

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) for raw blocking, with AirPods Pro 3 close behind for iPhone owners. Whichever you buy, the tip fit decides most of the result.

Do I need foam tips?

Only if the silicone tips never seal. Foam expands to fill the canal and often seals better, at the cost of wearing out faster.

Can I use AirPods with an Android phone?

Yes, as ordinary Bluetooth earbuds with noise cancelling. You lose automatic pairing, device switching, Find My and most settings.

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