Top 8 Best Noise Canceling Headphones

As with all other headphones categories, there are a lot of options to pick from when it comes to choosing the best noise-canceling headphones. But, as with most things, not all such devices are created equal. Some headphones simply do noise-canceling better than others.

In fact, despite advances in audio technology, over-or on-ear headphones perform better here by design. Earbuds, for instance, do a good job of blocking out noise on their own. But noise cancellation doesn’t typically do as much for those listening devices as it does for the aforementioned gadgets. And, conversely, the best audio to be had overall comes from on- or over-ear devices.

Bearing all of that in mind, here are the Android Headlines picks for the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy right now.

Top 8 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones

Now, it’s worth noting that the best audio gadgets around are typically more expensive. Coming in, more often than not, well over $100. But that doesn’t mean that all gadgets even in that category are operating at the same level. Or that you necessarily need to spend that much — or much more than that.

That also doesn’t mean that you need to spend more than $500 — after which point the improvement-to-cost ratio begins to diminish. All of the headphones here fall between the $70 to $500 range. So there’s plenty here to choose from if you’re looking for the best of the best in noise-canceling headphones. Regardless of your budget.

Edifier WH950NB

Edifier is known for its top-of-the-line speakers, but the company is no stranger to wearable audio. The Edifier WH950NB is a pair of over-the-ear headphones that give you some really nice audio. These headphones have a pair of 40mm audio drivers that deliver a full and powerful sound. Not only is the audio powerful, but it’s also high-quality. This is for several reasons.

The first reason is the audio codec. You’re able to access the codec settings from the Edifier Connect app. You have the option to set it to the LDAC codec. This is a Hi-Res audio codec that delivers high audio quality for those who really want the most from their music. The second reason is the superior noise canceling that’s made possible by the four microphones on them.

There are a great pair of headphones, and if you want to know more about them then you can check out our full review of them here. Android Headlines gave them a 5-star rating.

Edifier WH950NB – Amazon

Raycon The Everyday Headphones

The name is well suited for these headphones because you’ll want to wear them every single day. These are a pair of high-quality headphones from the popular brand Raycon. They have a nice and premium design that’s really nice for the price. Along with the looks, these headphones can deliver Hi-Res audio through their powerful 40mm drivers. They offer an immersive audio experience with amazing bass.

As for the battery life, you can expect about 38 hours of playback time on a single charge. If you need to quickly make it through a movie or a podcast, you can get a full 2 hours of battery life on a short 15-minute charge. That’s great if you’re in a pinch. If you can’t use them while powered, they come with a 3.5mm headphone jack. These are great headphones for the price.

Raycon The Everyday Headphones – Amazon

ThinkPad X1

Lenovo is most known for its line of premium laptops, but this company does make other types of devices. These headphones share the same branding as some of its more popular computers. The ThinkPad X1 headphones are a pair of premium headphones to go with your computer. They have a sturdy and premium design that looks sleek. They gave a brushed metal look to them with glossy chamfered edges to give them a nice look.

These headphones are designed for comfort with their multi-layered earcups. This means that you’ll be able to use them for hours on end without feeling any discomfort. If you need to use them for hours, you can get up to 14 hours of playback on a single charge. That’s more than a full workday for most people.

If you’re in the Lenovo ecosystem of devices, then you’ll most likely like these headphones. They pack quite a punch for their price. They have a powerful sound and hybrid noise canceling technology.

ThinkPad X1 – Lenovo

CREATIVE ZEN HYBRID

These are some of the more affordable headphones on this list, and that’s one of their best qualities. While they aren’t expensive, that doesn’t mean that you won’t have a great experience with them. These are from a company that can give you a really good bang for your buck.

These headphones come with a modest yet sleek design. The large cups sit on your ears, and you can wear them for an extended period of time without feeling any discomfort. Speaking of extended periods of time, you can get up to 27 hours of playback time with the ANC turned on. With it off, you can add an additional 10 hours. These are great headphones for someone looking for great audio with great value.

CREATIVE ZEN HYBRID – Creative

SENNHEISER PXC 550-II

• Price: From $209.98
• Buy: Amazon

From a brand like Sennheiser, you may expect to pay over $300 or $400 for the best noise-canceling headphones around. But that’s not going to be the case if you choose Sennheiser PXC 550-II. In fact, these are currently on sale for a price starting at $209.98. That’s down from their usual $349.95 price point.

That already makes them some of the highest-value headphones around. But with smart pausing, 30+ hours of battery life, touch controls for everything from playback to volume, and one-touch AI access, these headphones have it all.

What’s more, it offers great audio quality in calls, in addition to the world-class Sennheiser audio. Meaning that these aren’t just a great value for the price or features. It’s also easily the best value for those seeking audiophile sound joined with the ability to make calls. All with some of the best noise-cancellation in the business, reducing surrounding sounds so you can immerse yourself in the music, podcast, or movie that you really want to listen to.

SENNHEISER PXC 550-II – Amazon

AKG N60NC

Now, AKG N60NC is going to be the only headphone on our list that’s an on-ear style device. That means that the earcups rest on your ears rather than over them. And it comes at a reasonably high value too, costing less than $90.

What sets these apart from other offerings is not only the quality of the noise-cancellation but also their compact size and decent battery life. The latter of which is rated at around 15-hours. That’s lower than other gadgets on the list. But, given that these headphones were built by AKG, the sound quality is top-notch as well. Complete with ANC that can be turned on or off as needed.

At under $120, for headphones that offer brilliant audio and a near-all-day battery, it’s going to be hard to go wrong with N60NC from AKG.

AKG N60NC – Amazon

Tribit QuietPlus 78

Tribit isn’t going to be the first brand most think about when it comes to high-quality on-or over-ear headphones. But it makes one of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market in its Tribit QuietPlus 78. And it does so at a price that’s under $80.

Costing just $79.99 via Amazon, Tribit QuietPlus 78 is unbelievably good for its asking price. And that’s not just in terms of dual-level ANC and Ambient Mode. It also delivers brilliant audio, to begin with, via 40mm drivers. With a premium, comfortable design and on-device multi-function controls. Albeit, without the option for touch controls.

Additionally, battery life with Tribit QuietPlus 78 is upwards of 40-hours under the right conditions. And a 3.5mm audio jack means that the listening doesn’t have to stop there either. The included carry case, cables, and plush material choices are just icing on the cake. Making QuietPlus 78 an obvious choice when it comes to affordable ANC headphones.

Tribit QuietPlus 78 – Amazon

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX

• Price: From $421.99
• Buy: Amazon

One of the big selling points of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX is its dedicated on-device assistant button for easy access to the device’s assistant. And that’s because the inclusion means that AI assistants are available at a tap or via voice effectively regardless of which assistant you use. But that’s hardly the only big selling point for these best-in-class noise-canceling headphones either.

These are also the most expensive headphones on this list. With good reason.

The use of lambskin in the design, for instance, means that Beoplay HX is easily one of the most comfortable over-ear headphones available. And the up to 30 hours of battery life help drive a great listening experience regardless of whether you’re using the AI, for as long as your ears can stand it.

There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack for when the battery life just isn’t long enough. Or for when you forget to charge up. But the real showcase here is the audio quality itself. And we’d be remiss not to include this particular headphone in our list of the best when it comes to ANC. Two mics on each cup also assist with ensuring voice and video calls are as crystal clear as the ANC-assisted audio. Which itself is driven by four dedicated MEMS mics.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX – Amazon