Headphone buying guide
The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones of 2026
Our 2026 over-ear noise-cancelling picks: Sony's WH-1000XM6 for most people, Bose's QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) as runner-up, and AirPods Max 2 for iPhone.
Noise-cancelling over-ears are the most crowded corner of the headphone market. Sony, Bose, Apple, Sennheiser, and Sonos all sell a flagship listed at $399.95 or more, and none of them is the right pick for everyone. Battery life, weight, and the phone or TV you already own decide as much as the noise cancelling itself. Shopping for earbuds instead? Our best wireless earbuds guide covers them.
These picks and fit scores are an editorial synthesis of published reviews 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 | Best overall |  | Over-ear ANC | ~$378 |
| 02 | Close runner-up |  | Over-ear ANC | ~$449 |
| 03 | Strongest ANC, best for iPhone |  | Over-ear ANC | ~$429 |
| 04 | Best for sound and battery |  | Over-ear ANC | ~$399.95 |
| 05 | Best for Sonos soundbar owners |  | Over-ear ANC | ~$449 |
| 06 | Best budget |  | Over-ear ANC (budget) | ~$84.99 |
Approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes.
Ranked
Our picks
- 01
Best overall
Sony WH-1000XM6
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$378
- May 2025
- Any phone
Wirecutter's top pick and SoundGuys' choice for most people, and at ~$378 (list $459.99) it undercuts most of the field. It's rated for 30 hours with ANC, supports multipoint and LDAC, has a 10-band EQ, and folds into a magnetic case. It's the only over-ear we cover with 5 of 5 fit scores for both travel and calls.
Pros
- Pro: Wirecutter's top pick and SoundGuys' best for most people
- Pro: 12 mics and multipoint make it a strong office-call headset
- Pro: LDAC and LC3 support plus a 10-band EQ
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: 30 h with ANC trails the Momentum 5 (57 h) and Space One (40 h)
- Trade-off: SoundGuys saw stronger noise cancelling from the AirPods Max 2
- 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.
- 02
Close runner-up
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$449
- 2025
- Any phone
SoundGuys rates it a close second to the Sony, and it matches the XM6's 30-hour battery rating and 5 of 5 travel score. It adds aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound, lossless USB-C audio, and Immersive Audio spatial sound. Black was ~$449 on Oct 5 while Desert Gold was ~$369, so check every color before paying full price.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' close runner-up to the Sony WH-1000XM6
- Pro: aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound and lossless USB-C audio
- Pro: Multipoint and Bluetooth 5.4
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Black was selling at full list price, above the Sony
- Trade-off: SoundGuys ranks it just behind the Sony
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 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 review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) - 03
Strongest ANC, best for iPhone
Apple AirPods Max 2
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$429
- Mar 2026
- iPhone
In SoundGuys' testing it had the strongest noise cancelling, and PCMag, The Verge, and Macworld all praise its sound and Apple integration. The costs are real: 386.2 g, a firm clamp, 20 hours with ANC, and no user EQ. At ~$429 (list $549), it's for iPhone owners who put ANC ahead of weight and battery.
Pros
- Pro: Strongest ANC in SoundGuys' noise-cancelling testing
- Pro: H2 in each ear cup; Apple claims up to 1.5x better ANC than the original
- Pro: Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Live Translation
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Heavy at 386.2 g, with a firm clamp
- Trade-off: 20 h battery, no power-off control, and no user EQ
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 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 review: Apple AirPods Max 2 - 04
Best for sound and battery
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$399.95
- Jun 2026
- Any phone
Trusted Reviews, WIRED, What Hi-Fi?, and SoundGuys describe warm, detailed, bass-rich sound and a very comfortable fit, and it's the only model we cover with a 5 of 5 sound score. It's rated for up to 57 hours with ANC, and you can replace the battery yourself. The ANC is much improved but still just behind Sony and Bose; at ~$399.95, that's the trade.
Pros
- Pro: Warm, detailed, bass-rich sound, per reviewers
- Pro: Up to 57 h with ANC; a 10-minute charge gives 7 h
- Pro: User-replaceable 700 mAh battery
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: ANC still trails Sony and Bose
- Trade-off: No IP rating
- Music
- 5 out of 5
- Travel
- 4 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 review: Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless - 05
Best for Sonos soundbar owners
Sonos Ace Ultra
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$449
- Sep 2026
- Any phone
The reason to buy it is TV Audio Swap, which moves TV sound from a Sonos soundbar to the headphones. The Verge, Engadget, TechRadar, and Tom's Guide call it a big upgrade over the original Ace, and it's rated for 35 hours with ANC. It's heavy at 322 g and costs ~$449, so without a Sonos soundbar, buy the Sony or Bose.
Pros
- Pro: TV Audio Swap from Sonos soundbars
- Pro: Reviewers call it a big upgrade over the original Ace
- Pro: 35 h with ANC; a 3-minute charge gives 3 h
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Heavy at 322 g
- Trade-off: Pricey, with no launch discount yet
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
- 06
Best budget
Soundcore Space One
- Over-ear ANC (budget)
- ~$84.99
- 2023
- Any phone
Wirecutter's budget pick costs ~$84.99 and still brings 40 hours with ANC, multipoint, and LDAC. Its calls and sound fit scores (3 of 5) sit below the flagships, but it gets a 5 for value. If you fly a few times a year, it's the sensible buy.
Pros
- Pro: Wirecutter's budget pick
- Pro: 40 h with ANC, 55 h without; a 5-minute charge gives 4 h
- Pro: LDAC and multipoint at a budget price
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: A 2023 model, the oldest on our list
- Trade-off: Our travel and call scores trail the flagships
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 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 review: Soundcore Space One
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
Travel mattered most here: ANC strength, battery life, comfort, and portability for commutes and flights. Calls came next, since many people use these as office headsets, then sound and value. Workouts barely counted; no over-ear in this guide scores above 2 for them, and earbuds are the better gym choice.
For the ranking we leaned on Wirecutter's noise-cancelling guide (updated July 20, 2026) and SoundGuys' April 2026 roundup, which agree on the WH-1000XM6. For individual models we drew on PCMag, The Verge, Trusted Reviews, Macworld, and 9to5Mac for AirPods Max 2; Trusted Reviews, WIRED, What Hi-Fi?, and SoundGuys for the Momentum 5; and The Verge, Engadget, TechRadar, and Tom's Guide for the Sonos Ace Ultra. Specs come from manufacturer pages.
Who should skip our top pick
The WH-1000XM6 is the best fit for the most people, not for everyone. Here's where we'd point you instead:
- You have an iPhone and want the strongest ANC: AirPods Max 2, if 386.2 g and 20 hours of battery don't bother you.
- Your Android phone supports Snapdragon Sound: the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), with aptX Adaptive. Sony's codec list is SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3.
- You watch TV through a Sonos soundbar: the Sonos Ace Ultra, for TV Audio Swap.
- Sound and battery come first: the Sennheiser Momentum 5, with up to 57 hours and a user-replaceable battery.
- Your budget is under $100: the Soundcore Space One at ~$84.99.
Over-ear or earbuds?
Over-ears win on battery and long-haul comfort. Every noise-cancelling over-ear in this guide is rated for 20 hours or more per charge; the earbuds we cover are rated for 6 to 8 hours per charge with ANC before they go back in the case.
Earbuds win on size and for workouts, where every earbud we cover outscores every over-ear in this guide. If you want something pocketable, our best wireless earbuds guide covers the Sony WF-1000XM6, AirPods Pro 3, and the rest.
What noise cancelling can and can't do
Active noise cancelling uses microphones to pick up outside sound and plays an inverted signal to cancel it. It works best on steady, low-pitched noise such as engine drone, train rumble, and air conditioning, and less well on sudden or higher-pitched sounds like voices and clattering dishes.
Fit does the rest. Ear cups that seal well block higher frequencies passively, which is why comfort and clamp matter as much as the electronics.
Also consider
- Sony 1000X The ColleXion ($649.99, released May 2026): Sony's newer, pricier 1000X model. We don't cover it in depth yet, so we can't say whether it's worth that much more than the WH-1000XM6 at ~$378.
- Soundcore Space One Pro ($139.99): the Pro version of our budget pick, for shoppers who can spend more than the Space One's ~$84.99. We don't have a review page for it yet.
- The original Sonos Ace (~$349) is still sold. Reviewers call the Ace Ultra a big upgrade over it, so we'd only buy the original at a meaningful discount.
Frequently asked questions
Which headphones have the best noise cancelling in 2026?
In SoundGuys' testing, AirPods Max 2 had the strongest ANC. SoundGuys and Wirecutter still rank the Sony WH-1000XM6 first overall, with SoundGuys putting the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) a close second. For most people the Sony is the better buy: it's lighter (~254 g vs 386.2 g), rated for longer battery life (30 hours vs 20 with ANC), and cheaper at ~$378.
Is the Sony WH-1000XM6 better than the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)?
For most people, narrowly. Wirecutter picks the Sony, and SoundGuys ranks it first with the Bose a close runner-up. The Sony costs less (~$378 vs ~$449 for the black Bose) and gets higher calls and value fit scores; the Bose has aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound and lossless USB-C audio.
Are AirPods Max 2 worth it?
For iPhone owners who want the strongest ANC and tight Apple integration, yes, especially at ~$429 instead of the $549 list price. Reviewers consistently flag the 386.2 g weight, a firm clamp, a Smart Case that leaves the headband exposed, no power-off control, and no user EQ. On Android, buy the Sony or Bose instead.
What are the best cheap noise-cancelling headphones?
The Soundcore Space One, Wirecutter's budget pick, at ~$84.99. It's rated for 40 hours with ANC and 55 without, and supports multipoint and LDAC. Our under-$100 guide covers it alongside the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds and the Beats Solo 4.
Which noise-cancelling headphones last longest on a charge?
The Sennheiser Momentum 5, rated for up to 57 hours with ANC, and its battery is user-replaceable. The Soundcore Space One is rated for 40 hours with ANC, the Sonos Ace Ultra for 35, the Sony and Bose for 30, and AirPods Max 2 for 20.
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.