Whether you’re listening to music, a podcast, or on a call, sometimes, the background noise bleeds through your headphones. This is why noise-canceling gadgets are becoming popular because they eliminate distractions and offer a more enjoyable listening experience. While Bose started what we know as active noise cancellation, it now has some interesting competition in the market. Some of these other brands have even added extra features like multi-noise cancellation levels. Fortunately, this means you have more purchasing options.
Although most of the best headphones in this category start from $200, you can still get a few that offer a high-quality sound for $100 or less. In this article, we’ll share some of the best noise-canceling headphones available today along with their pricing and specifications.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
Key Specifications
- 10000MAH LED battery
- 30 hours of battery life
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Edge AI
- Speak to chat
- USB-C connectivity
- Multipoint pairing
- 4kHz to 40kHz
Price: $348.00
Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones make it to the top of this list because of their increasing popularity. This device comes with industry-leading noise cancelation technology so you can block out external noises and focus on your audio with better clarity. It has additional microphones for isolating background noises during phone calls. With the digital sound enhancement engine feature, you automatically upscale any initially compressed file.
You don’t have to charge for extended periods with this device as 10 minutes gives you up to 5 hours of playback. With a full charge, you can enjoy up to 30 hours of battery life. Once you enable the speak-to-chat, your music is automatically stopped so you can carry on a conversation without manually pausing your device. Unfortunately, these headphones are not water-resistant, so they may not be ideal for rainy seasons, bathroom, and pool use.
2. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones – 700
Key Specifications
- 11 levels of active noise cancellation
- 20 hours of battery life
- One-touch Spotify
- Voice pickup
Price: $240.00
Most noise cancellation headphones only block out the noise for your hearing. However, when you’re on a call, the person on the other end can still hear all of your background noise. Fortunately, the Bose noise cancellation feature applies to external audio on phone calls. This ensures that your voice is always crispy and clear during conversations. There are 11 levels of noise cancellation so you can decipher how isolated you’d prefer to be.
You have access to an intuitive touch control on the ears so you can access your voice assistant with ease. Once you tap and hold the right ear cup, you can immediately launch Spotify if you’re connected to an iOS device. The design is also super comfortable making it easy to wear if you want to go for hours with uninterrupted music. With these headphones, you can enjoy up to 20 hours of non-stop music – which when compared to the Sony series, could use a little improvement.
3. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95
Key Specifications
- Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity
- At least 38 hours of battery life
- Multiple built-in mics
- Customizable sound EQ
- Two titanium drivers
- 20-22Hz frequency
Price: $849.00
If you’re looking to get something luxurious with a long-lasting battery, then this is a noise-canceling headphone to splurge on. Since you can enjoy up to 38 hours of playtime with a single charge on ANC, these headphones are a great option for long flights and other long travel. With the multiple built-in mics, you’re sure of a clear conversation even in very noisy backgrounds.
The design is made from high materials like titanium and memory foam. It also comes with a hard case so you can easily carry it around in a secure style. One unique feature of this headphone is that it comes with a customizable sound EQ. This means that you can customize your audio preferences from the Bang & Olufsen app. To set up, you only need to pair via Bluetooth.
4. JBL TUNE 750BTNC
Key Specifications
- 15 hours of battery life
- 2 hour charge time
- 40mm drivers
- 20 Hz to 20kHz frequency response
Price: $79.00
Looking for noise-canceling headphones on a budget? Then this is the right option for you. Being an already popular brand name, you’re sure to get sound quality when you opt for a JBL headphone. In addition to the pure bass sound, you can easily summon your voice assistants and take hands-free calls.
It’s also guaranteed to last for up to 15 hours of battery life and its fair charge time of 2 hours will get you another round of playtime. These headphones are also lightweight and foldable. It isn’t water-resistant and while the battery might not seem impressive, for this price, they are a steal.
5. Apple Airpods Max
Key Specifications
- Transparency mode
- 40mm dynamic drivers
- 20 hours of battery life
- Spatial audio
- Additional features for iOS devices
Price: $479.00
Specially designed for iOS owners, these noise-canceling headphones block out all external noise so you can be more involved in your music. It also comes with a transparency mode so you can still hear and interact with your background when needed. The spatial audio has a dynamic head tracking that provides a theater-like sound. The design has a mesh canopy and memory foam so it fits perfectly across your ears.
If you have other Apple devices, you can seamlessly switch between them or share audio between two sets of Airpods on your phone, or device. Enjoy 20 hours of playtime and an ultra-low-power mode to help you get the best battery life. Unfortunately, this device doesn’t support high-resolution audio codecs. Since it doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio port, it may not appeal to everyone. It’s also not a great option if you’d be connecting to an Android device.
6. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4
Key Specifications
- Customizable sound
- Adaptive noise cancellation
- 60 hours of battery life
- 42mm driver
- Transparency mode
Price: $349.95
Looking for something as an audiophile? The 42mm transducer and aptx adaptive ensure that you enjoy high-quality sound. You can also choose to customize your sound output like the equalizer, presets, and modes all through the Sennheiser smart control app. Although it’s noise canceling, you can use the adjustable transparency mode to be more aware of the happenings in your surroundings.
These headphones also come with four microphones that filter every wind and background noise during calls. Due to the quality voice pick-up, it’s ideal for reaching your assistant at all times. With an impressive battery life of 60 hours, you can go without charge for up to three days without pause. We also love that it comes with a case, USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm and 2.5mm audio jacks, and an airplane adapter.
7. Soundcore by Ankerlife Q35
Key Specifications
- Multi-mode noise cancellation
- 40 hours of battery life
- LDAC technology
- AI-enhanced calls
- Customizable EQ
Price: $129.00
With three noise canceling modes, you can switch between the transport, outdoor and indoor modes for your preferred noise canceling level. At each level, they still pick up your voice with AI accuracy to ensure a noise-free call experience on both ends. While listening to music, three times more data is transmitted via standard Bluetooth codecs for a lossless transfer. So you’re guaranteed to hear every single detail in your music.
It has an impressive battery life and head movement sensor. This ensures that your audio is immediately paused once you remove them from your ears – saving you extra battery life. Customize your preferred sound type on the companion app.
The best noise-canceling headphones are dependent on your budget and needs. For example, if you are an Applehead, you’d definitely want to explore the Airpods Max. But if you’re keen on your battery life, you’d be geared towards the Sennheiser. Regardless of what you choose, we hope that this article will help you make an informed purchase. Do let us know which of the noise-canceling headphones you’d be opting for in the comments below. Also, share this post with your friends and family so they can make an informed decision too.
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