Headphone buying guide
The Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds of 2026
Our 2026 noise-cancelling earbud picks: AirPods Pro 3 cut the most noise in SoundGuys' testing, Sony's WF-1000XM6 leads on Android, and Soundcore's Liberty 5 Pro is the value pick.
The earbuds that block the most noise aren't the most expensive ones. SoundGuys measured six of the noise-cancelling earbuds we cover, and they cut outside noise by 83% to 90%. AirPods Pro 3 and Sony's WF-1000XM6 measured best. Bose's QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), the most expensive pair here at October 5 prices, came third.
This guide ranks earbuds for noise cancelling first. Our best noise-cancelling headphones guide covers over-ears, and our best wireless earbuds guide covers earbuds for every use.
These picks and fit scores are an editorial synthesis of published reviews, other outlets' measurements, and manufacturer specs, not our own testing. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen on October 5, 2026, not live quotes; they change often, so check the current price before you buy.
The short list
| # | Best for | Model | Approx. price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Most noise cancelling, best for iPhone |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$179 |
| 02 | Most noise cancelling on Android |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$258 |
| 03 | Best value |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$169.99 |
| 04 | Best for Snapdragon Sound phones |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$299 |
| 05 | Best for Galaxy phones |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$244.50 |
| 06 | Best budget |  | Earbuds ANC (budget) | ~$79.99 |
Approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes.
Our analysis
Where the quiet is, and what it costs
Computed from our catalog and the headphone finder at build time, so it moves when a price, score, or measurement does. We don't test headphones ourselves; the noise-cancelling figures are SoundGuys', credited under the table. How we work
Every noise-cancelling earbud we cover, cheapest first
Price doesn't track noise cancelling. AirPods Pro 3 measured the biggest cut, 90%, at ~$179. Only the two Soundcores cost less. The Sony measured 88% at ~$258. The Bose costs the most, ~$299, and measured 85%. The Liberty 5 Pro measured nearly 84% for $169.99.
Our travel score can't split the top four. AirPods Pro 3, the Liberty 5 Pro, the Sony, and the Bose all get 5 of 5. Battery splits them more: AirPods Pro 3 and the Sony are rated for 8 hours with ANC, the Liberty 5 Pro for 6.5, and the Bose for 6, or 4 with Immersive Audio.
Don't read too much into a gap of two or three points. These are one outlet's averages on a test head, and fit in your own ears can change the result.
| Earbuds | Approx. price | Noise cut (SoundGuys) | Travel fit | Per charge | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty 5pick | ~$79.99 | – | 4/5 | 8 h | IP55 |
| Liberty 5 Propick | ~$169.99 | 84%nearly; ANC at maximum and a good seal | 5/5 | 6.5 h | IP55 |
| AirPods Pro 3pick | ~$179 | 90% | 5/5 | 8 h | IP57 |
| Powerbeats Pro 2 | ~$179.95 | 83% | 3/5 | 8 h | IPX4 |
| Galaxy Buds4 Propick | ~$244.50 | 84%with ANC at maximum | 4/5 | 6 h | IP57 |
| WF-1000XM6pick | ~$258 | 88% | 5/5 | 8 h | IPX4 |
| QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)pick | ~$299 | 85% | 5/5 | 6 h* | IPX4 |
Noise cut: the average reduction in outside noise with ANC on, as measured by SoundGuys on a Brüel & Kjær 5128 test head for its Best noise canceling earbuds 2026 guide (updated October 9, 2026). Not our measurement; – means it gave no figure for that model. Travel fit: our 1–5 score for ANC strength, battery, comfort, and portability, a reading of published reviews. Per charge: the maker's rating with ANC on; * Bose doesn't say "with ANC"; its rating is 6 h (4 h with Immersive Audio). Prices: approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026.
What our finder picks for noise-cancelling earbuds
The finder has no noise-cancelling question, so we asked it for earbuds for travel. That's the closest match: our travel score covers ANC strength, battery, comfort, and portability. Here are all 12 phone and budget answers.
The answer depends on your phone. AirPods Pro 3 come first for every iPhone answer from $200 up. The Liberty 5 Pro leads five answers, including every non-Samsung Android answer from $200 up. The Liberty 5 leads every answer under $100. The Galaxy Buds4 Pro lead only for Galaxy owners with no budget limit.
The Sony and the Bose never come first. The score math shows why: the Liberty 5 Pro ties the Sony on travel and wins on value and average fit. What the finder can't see is that the Sony measured about four points more and is rated for 1.5 more hours with ANC. If quiet is why you're buying, we think that's worth the extra ~$88. That's why the Sony ranks above the Liberty 5 Pro in this guide.
| Phone | Under $100 | Under $200 | Under $300 | Any budget |
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Top of the list in 12 answers: Liberty 5 Pro 5, Liberty 5 3, AirPods Pro 3 3, Galaxy Buds4 Pro 1. Bold names are this guide's picks. Budgets are judged by approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026; “over” marks a model the finder shows over budget because too few fit.
- Liberty 5 Pro (#1 of 7): travel 5 × 2 + phone +0.5 + average fit 4.2 × 0.5 + value 5 × 0.4 = 14.6
- WF-1000XM6 (#2 of 7): travel 5 × 2 + phone +0.5 + average fit 3.8 × 0.5 + value 4 × 0.4 = 14
- QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) (#3 of 7): travel 5 × 2 + phone +0.5 + average fit 3.3 × 0.5 + value 3 × 0.4 = 13.35
The finder's weights, as on How we work. Phone: LDAC or aptX adds 0.5 on Android, and Apple models lose 2. Average fit is the six fit scores averaged, to one decimal.
Ranked
Our picks
- 01
Most noise cancelling, best for iPhone
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$179
- Sep 2025
- iPhone
SoundGuys measured a 90% cut in outside noise, the most of any earbud we cover, and makes it the best overall pick in its noise-cancelling roundup. Only the two Soundcores cost less: it was ~$179 (list $249), with 8 hours of battery with ANC and IP57. Our finder puts it first for iPhone travel at every budget from $200 up. On Android it loses Apple's extras, so look at the Sony.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds for iPhone
- Pro: ANC that SoundGuys measured among the best of any earbud
- Pro: Heart-rate sensing plus Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No user EQ
- Trade-off: Built around the iPhone; MacRumors steers Android owners to the Sony
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - 02
Most noise cancelling on Android
Sony WF-1000XM6
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$258
- Feb 2026
- Android
SoundGuys measured an 88% cut, second only to AirPods Pro 3 and the most of any non-Apple earbud we cover. It's rated for 8 hours with ANC, supports LDAC and multipoint, and gets 5 of 5 for travel and calls. It's ~$258 (list $329.99), only IPX4, and has no aptX. Our finder ranks it second on Android at $300 and up, behind the Liberty 5 Pro; the analysis above explains why we rank it higher.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds overall
- Pro: SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 support
- Pro: Multipoint plus 4 mics per bud for calls
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Highest list price of the earbuds we cover
- Trade-off: No aptX
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 5 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Sony WF-1000XM6 - 03
Best value
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$169.99
- May 2026
- Any phone
Our finder's most common first pick here: it leads 5 of the 12 answers. It matches or beats AirPods Pro 3, the Sony, the Bose, and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro on every fit score, and SoundGuys measured nearly 84%, about six points behind AirPods Pro 3. It's Wirecutter's top earbud pick, at $169.99 list ($135.99 for Prime members on Oct 6). The catch is battery: 6.5 hours with ANC.
Pros
- Pro: Wirecutter's top earbud pick
- Pro: Call-focused design that Soundcore backs with a Guinness World Records certification
- Pro: Adaptive ANC 4.0, LDAC, and Bluetooth 6.1
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: 6.5 h with ANC trails the Sony WF-1000XM6 and AirPods Pro 3 (8 h each)
- Trade-off: Rated battery drops to 2.5 h with every feature on
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 5 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro - 04
Best for Snapdragon Sound phones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$299
- 2025
- Any phone
PCMag's and SoundGuys' reviews call its ANC class-leading, and SoundGuys' roundup makes it the pick for Android. But SoundGuys measured 85% there, behind AirPods Pro 3 and the Sony. At ~$299 it's the priciest pair here, and it's IPX4, rated for 6 hours (4 with Immersive Audio). Buy it for aptX Adaptive on a Snapdragon Sound phone, or if other earbuds won't stay put: reviewers praise the fit, and it comes with stability bands.
Pros
- Pro: 85% noise cut in SoundGuys' measurements; PCMag praises the ANC
- Pro: Comfortable fit, with stability bands
- Pro: Multipoint and aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Pricey, and holding at list
- Trade-off: Measured third for ANC, behind AirPods Pro 3 and the Sony WF-1000XM6
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 3 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - 05
Best for Galaxy phones
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$244.50
- Mar 2026
- Samsung Galaxy
SoundGuys' pick for Samsung owners, measured at 84% with ANC at maximum. Reviewers rate the ANC excellent on low rumble like engines and trains, but weaker than Sony and Bose on voices. The Samsung Seamless Codec and full app features need a Galaxy phone. Our finder only puts it first for Galaxy owners with no budget limit; under $300 it picks the Liberty 5 Pro. It's ~$244.50, with 6 hours with ANC and IP57.
Pros
- Pro: Top choice for Galaxy owners, per reviewers and SoundGuys
- Pro: 24-bit/96 kHz Samsung Seamless Codec on Galaxy devices
- Pro: IP57 and a light 5.1 g per bud
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: ANC is weaker than Sony and Bose on voices
- Trade-off: Average battery: 6 h with ANC
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - 06
Best budget
Soundcore Liberty 5
- Earbuds ANC (budget)
- ~$79.99
- 2025
- Any phone
The only noise-cancelling earbud we cover under $100, at ~$79.99 (list $129.99), and our finder's first pick under $100 for every phone. Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and Cult of Mac call its ANC strong for the money. SoundGuys' roundup has no figure for it. You get LDAC, multipoint, IP55, and an 8-hour ANC rating, but reviewers say real battery life falls short of that, and the bass needs EQ.
Pros
- Pro: Strong ANC for the money, per reviewers
- Pro: LDAC, multipoint, and Bluetooth 5.4
- Pro: IP55 and a light 4.6 g per bud
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Bass-heavy tuning needs EQ
- Trade-off: Fiddly stem controls
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Soundcore Liberty 5
Disclosure: “Check price” buttons are Amazon affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the ranking.
How we chose
Noise cancelling came first. We don't measure ANC ourselves, so we used SoundGuys' noise-cancelling earbuds guide (updated October 9, 2026), which measured six of the seven noise-cancelling earbuds we cover on the same test head. After that we weighed our travel fit score, rated battery with ANC, price, and how well each pair works with your phone. Calls and water resistance broke ties.
Our finder set the phone and budget picks, and the analysis above shows where we part ways with it. Beyond SoundGuys' measurements, we drew on PCMag and SoundGuys' reviews for the Bose; The Verge, WIRED, Trusted Reviews, Android Authority, and GSMArena for the Buds4 Pro; Wirecutter for the Liberty 5 Pro; Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and Cult of Mac for the Liberty 5; and MacRumors for the Sony vs AirPods platform advice. Specs come from manufacturer pages.
Pick by phone
Your phone narrows this down fast:
- iPhone: AirPods Pro 3. They measured the most noise cancelling, and Apple's extras work.
- Samsung Galaxy: the Galaxy Buds4 Pro if you want Samsung's codec and app features; the Liberty 5 Pro if you'd rather save.
- Other Android: the Sony WF-1000XM6 for the most noise cancelling, or the Liberty 5 Pro for about $88 less. Pick the Bose if your phone has Snapdragon Sound.
- Any phone, under $100: the Soundcore Liberty 5.
Earbuds or over-ears for noise cancelling?
Over-ears still win on battery. The noise-cancelling over-ears we cover are rated for 20 to 57 hours per charge. The earbuds here are rated for 6 to 8 hours with ANC before they go back in the case. On a long-haul flight, that matters.
Earbuds win on size and weight. The heaviest pair here, the Powerbeats Pro 2, weighs 8.7 g per bud. The lightest noise-cancelling over-ear we cover, Sony's WH-1000XM6, weighs about 254 g. For long flights, see our best noise-cancelling headphones guide.
Get a good seal
Noise cancelling works best on steady, low sounds like engines and air conditioning. The ear tip's seal does more of the work on higher sounds like voices. A loose fit lets both in.
Try every tip size in the box. AirPods Pro 3 come with five, and Bose adds stability bands. Even SoundGuys notes that its Liberty 5 Pro result needed ANC at maximum and a good seal.
What about the Powerbeats Pro 2?
They have ANC, and SoundGuys measured an 83% cut, close to the Liberty 5 Pro and Galaxy Buds4 Pro. But our travel score for them is 3 of 5: the case is large, and earhooks are more than you need on a commute. Buy them for the gym. Our workouts guide ranks them first.
Also consider
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 ($299.95): SoundGuys measured nearly 85% in the same roundup. We don't cover them in depth yet, so there's no score.
- Technics EAH-AZ100: SoundGuys' travel pick in that roundup, measured at 83%. We don't cover them yet, so there's no score or link.
Head to head
Compare these picks
- AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds4 ProBoth are picks here: the Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Most noise cancelling, best for iPhone) and the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro (Best for Galaxy phones).
- Sony WF-1000XM6 vs AirPods Pro 3Both are picks here: the Sony WF-1000XM6 (Most noise cancelling on Android) and the Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Most noise cancelling, best for iPhone).
- AirPods Pro 3 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra EarbudsBoth are picks here: the Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Most noise cancelling, best for iPhone) and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) (Best for Snapdragon Sound phones).
Frequently asked questions
Which earbuds have the best noise cancelling in 2026?
Of the earbuds we cover, AirPods Pro 3. SoundGuys measured a 90% cut in outside noise, ahead of the Sony WF-1000XM6 (88%) and the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) (85%). On Android, AirPods lose Apple's extras, so the Sony is the one to get.
Are Bose earbuds still the best for noise cancelling?
Not on the newest numbers we have. PCMag's and SoundGuys' reviews call the Bose's ANC class-leading, but SoundGuys' October 9, 2026 roundup measured it at 85%, behind AirPods Pro 3 (90%) and the Sony (88%). It's also the priciest pair here at ~$299. It's still a good pick with a Snapdragon Sound phone, or if other earbuds don't fit you.
Are cheap noise-cancelling earbuds any good?
Yes. SoundGuys measured nearly 84% for the $169.99 Liberty 5 Pro, about six points behind AirPods Pro 3. The ~$79.99 Liberty 5 wasn't in that roundup, but Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and Cult of Mac call its ANC strong for the money.
Do noise-cancelling earbuds work as well as over-ear headphones?
We don't have measurements that compare the two directly. What the specs do show is battery: the noise-cancelling over-ears we cover are rated for 20 to 57 hours per charge, against 6 to 8 hours with ANC for these earbuds. Earbuds win on size and weight. For long flights, start with our best noise-cancelling headphones guide.
Should I get AirPods Pro 3 on Android?
We wouldn't. They connect, but Apple's extras don't work, and our finder's first pick on Android at $200 and up is the Liberty 5 Pro. For the most noise cancelling on Android, the Sony WF-1000XM6 measured 88% in SoundGuys' testing.
Related guides
Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.