The best headphones and earbuds with noise-canceling - Android

If you're a commuter or work in a busy environment, you're likely in the market for some of the best noise-canceling headphones. Drown out all that background noise with active noise-canceling (ANC) technology, which has become one of the most highly sought-after features that's no longer exclusive to expensive headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM4's ANC heads up a group of class-leading headphones through their excellent performance and battery life, making them our top choice. But there are plenty of other options for a variety of lifestyles and budgets on this list.

Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony has been in the top spot before with its WH-1000XM3, which were the best ANC headphones on the market before they were replaced by the WH-1000XM4. Sony's flagship cans have become the benchmark for the industry as a whole, forcing others to catch up. What makes them so good is the unique QN1 processor and a dual noise sensor that work together to block out ambient sound. For a daily commute on a bus or train, walking on a busy street, or sitting on a flight, the WH-10000XM4 are up to the task.

If you're confused about why they look like their predecessors, don't be. It's just Sony not bothering to change anything about the overall design. These headphones are almost carbon copies of their predecessors, although that's not necessarily a bad thing.

What is different is that you get improved ANC performance plus the ability to pair with two devices simultaneously. This way, you can listen to music on one device and take calls on another, for example. Phone calls also sound better because of Sony's Precise Voice Pickup and Speak to Chat features that optimize sound and volume during conversations.

Otherwise, much of what made the WH-1000XM3 so good remains in good standing for this pair. They will last up to 32 hours per charge, with fast charging always an option when they're dead. You still can't listen to the WH-1000XM4 when they're charging, however, whether wired or wireless.

Sony chose not to tweak or alter the sound signature, so the same bass-heavy sound comes through. It can sometimes drown out the mids and highs, but Sony's Connect app has a trusty equalizer you can use to offset that. It also has a "clear bass" slider to affect the overall thump of the bass itself. With those tools, you can make these headphones sound more to your preference.

Now that the WH-1000XM4 are Sony's flagship, look for the WH-1000XM3 to eventually drop in price and become more of a value option. Sony's noise-canceling tech has been so good that you can even find it crammed into wireless earbuds.

Pros:

• Class-leading ANC performance
• Long battery life
• Customizable sound
• Fast charging capable
• Great phone call quality
• Pair with two devices at once

Cons:

• No simultaneous charging & listening
• No difference in design
• No improvement in overall audio quality

Best Overall

Sony WH-1000XM4

$278 at Amazon $278 at Best Buy $278 at B&H

Best in class

The WH-1000XM4 take ANC up a notch and maintain the same great sound, battery life, and comfort as their predecessors.

Best Runner Up: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

Bose has positioned itself into the conversation among the best in the business in this category, where the NCH 700 belongs. Taking over from the highly-acclaimed QC35 II, these cans are equal or better in almost every way. First, sound quality gets a boost with Bose dialing back sibilance from the treble to make them sound less piercing, without changing anything else about the rest of the sound signature. Needless to say, the NCH 700 aren't lacking in sound.

It doesn't hurt that the ANC performance is so good, too. They don't quite hit Sony's level, but they're a solid alternative that does a solid job of blocking out most persistent noises, like engines, and some mid-range sounds like people talking. Higher-pitched sounds are a challenge for any pair of ANC headphones, and that's where the NCH 700 are a bit shaky. However, you do get up to 11 steps of ANC, making this one of the most versatile ANC experiences available.

The NCH 700 are also one of the most comfortable pairs to wear. A softer headband and ear cups don't feel too constricting, so you may not even notice how long you're wearing them. The trade-off in doing that was Bose had to actually make these headphones bigger than the QC35 II. They also don't fold, which may be an issue when traveling or commuting, taking up more space in your bag.

At up to 20 hours per charge, battery life is above average. A quick 15-minute fast charge through USB-C will deliver up to two hours of playback, ensuring you can listen to some tunes in a pinch.

Pros:

• Superb ANC performance
• Excellent sound quality
• Very comfortable
• Great battery life
• Fast charging

Cons:

• Non-foldable, bulky design
• Competitors beat battery life
• More expensive than top pick

Best Runner Up

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

$329 at Amazon $329 at Best Buy $329 at Walmart

Feeling comfortable

Bose covers a lot of good ground with the NCH 700, including excellent ANC performance, sound quality, and comfort.

Best Sound Quality: Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

Sennheiser's pedigree in sound quality is well-known, and the Momentum 3 Wireless carry that same torch. A rich soundstage helps deliver the kind of definition associated with the brand. Bass is slightly boosted, with clear midrange and smooth treble to balance it all out. It's wide enough to suit almost every musical genre — instruments, vocals, and electronic elements never sound out of place.

The most advanced ANC performance doesn't always match the company's audio fidelity, and that contrast is evident here to some degree. That's not to say that the ANC here is bad. They block out a decent amount of low-end noise, but struggle to block every sound around you fully. You can mitigate that a bit by playing music a little louder, though within reason so you don't damage your ears.

The Momentum 3 Wireless are really comfortable to wear, even after long periods. You feel much of a squeeze with these, thanks to a well-made headband and ear cups that feel soft enough to enjoy whenever you listen to audio.

Sennheiser isn't an industry leader in battery life, which is an obvious limitation for the Momentum 3 Wireless on this list. You can expect up to 17 hours on a single charge, which is on the lower end for ANC headphones in this price range. One saving grace is that you can use the USB-C port for simultaneous listening and charging when connected to an Android phone or tablet.

Pros:

• Great, slightly bass-boosted sound
• USB-C for charging
• Simultaneous listening & charging
• Excellent comfort
• Decent ANC performance

Cons:

• ANC isn't the best
• Battery life should be better

Best Sound Quality

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

$350 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy $350 at B&H

Sounds just about right

The Momentum 3 Wireless make up for gaps in ANC and battery life with excellent sound quality and comfort.

Best Budget Over-Ear Headphones: COWIN E7

Good ANC headphones don't have to be expensive to sound good, and that's a point the COWIN E7 make because of their great battery life and solid ANC at a very low price.

It seems almost criminal for the E7 to manage a whopping 30 hours on a single charge when far more expensive pairs sometimes don't even come close. With that kind of time to play with, you'll be playing music for days without juice becoming an issue. ANC performance isn't too bad, either. They compare favorably to expensive models that are good at blocking out consistent noises but struggle with more inconsistent ones.

Sound quality is average, which is probably to be expected. Bass gets a boost, but it's sometimes overdone with a little too much thump and rumble. COWIN did the same with the mid-range to compensate, which is why these feel loud out of the box. That won't do much for the treble — muted and subdued, as it is.

The E7 are a bit on the heavier side, but won't suffer too much in comfort. They'll sit comfortably on your head, so fatigue or comfort issues shouldn't be a problem.

Pros:

• Good ANC performance for the price
• Long battery life
• Great comfort
• Affordable price

Cons:

• Treble is subdued
• Heavier than most over-ears

Best Budget Over-Ear Headphones

COWIN E7

From $50 at Amazon From $50 at Walmart From $60 at Newegg

Excellent battery life at a low price

If battery life and cost savings are your primary concern, the E7 from COWIN are your best bet.

Best Battery Life: Jabra Elite 85h

Jabra is good at making headphones, and the Elite 85h are a solid pair that do a lot of things right. The long battery life certainly stands out among those features, getting you up to 35 hours on a single charge. They also feel comfortable for longer stretches, complementing the outstanding battery performance. It's also a nice touch that they can play and charge all at once through the USB-C connection.

Sound quality is also good, but you'll get the best results when you tinker with the profile. The default sound signature plays it safe by keeping the entire spectrum at a dull level. Jabra's Sound+ app has an equalizer that can change that, helping bring out more of the sound these cans are capable of. The app also has options to access the ANC, which isn't amazing but not terrible either. What hurts them is the audible hum that works to cancel consistent sounds, like what you would hear on a plane, train, or bus.

The Elite 85h are pretty crafty in other useful ways. They will automatically pause when taking them off. Swiveling the right ear cup turns the headphones off. The onboard controls are pretty easy to manage, and they can still work with a wired connection if Bluetooth isn't an option.

Pros:

• Ridiculously long battery life
• Customizable sound
• Excellent comfort
• Smart features
• Play and charge simultaneously

Cons:

• ANC is average at best
• Default sound needs tweaking

Best Battery Life

Jabra Elite 85h

$200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy $200 at Walmart

Good sound that lasts

The Jabra Elite 85h do a good job sounding the right notes with incredible battery life and comfort, despite so-so ANC.

Great Battery Life on a Budget: Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Budget headphones sometimes punch way above their weight, or carry a particular feature or performance aspect that stands out. For the Anker Soundcore Life Q30, it's battery life. Lots of it. These can play for up to 40 hours on a single charge — and that's with ANC enabled. Disable it, and they can play for an outlandish 60 hours.

ANC on the Life Q30 is a little better than it was on the Life Q20, and with some extra support through the excellent Soundcore app. There, you can adjust ANC between three modes: Indoor, Outdoor, and Transport. Where the Life Q20 was surprisingly adept at muffling higher-pitched noises, the Life Q30 improved in blocking the more consistent background sounds, like engines, fans, heaters, and more.

Not surprisingly, the bass is still abundant in how they sound. It's boosted to a point where it may be an acquired taste, but anyone seeking an extra boom won't be disappointed with how low these go. At least the midrange is balanced enough to add some depth and help carry the treble, which is only slightly boosted. Plus, the Soundcore app has an EQ, with several presets already available to try out. If you prefer, you can also set up your own.

You should be comfortable wearing these over longer periods, including for larger heads. What stands out is Anker did a better job crafting them than they did with the Life Q20. They're sturdier, with a more premium look and feel that belies their price.

Pros:

• Ridiculously long battery life
• Comfortable fit
• Made for bass-lovers
• Solid ANC performance for the price
• Affordable price
• Great app support

Cons:

• Too much bass for some
• ANC could be better

Great Battery Life on a Budget

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

$80 at Amazon $80 at Walmart

Battery for days

Anker's Soundcore Life Q30 excel at battery life, playing for up to 40 hours with ANC enabled and 60 hours without.

Most Stylish: Bowers & Wilkins PX7

Bowers & Wilkins is a luxury brand, and its products come with an expectation of looking good. The PX7 are easy to look at, even if you don't consider yourself the type to put design over all else.

On top of the slick aesthetic, they also come with a pretty unique feature set. One standout is the ability to use the headphone's USB-C port for audio. Just plug them into your phone's USB-C port, and not only will you get audio, but power as well. That's right! A single cable lets you listen and charge simultaneously.

The PX7 have a decidedly balanced sound signature that plays well with every genre, making these ideal for most listeners. The sound is spacious and pronounced while instruments and vocals feel warm, resonant, and full. There's a lot to like about how these headphones perform in the audio arena.

Unfortunately, that's not really the case with the ANC. It's decent, but not at the level it should be for noise-canceling headphones at this price range. It impacts the sound signature too much when it's on and struggles with higher-pitched background noise. Ironically, passive isolation is excellent, meaning you won't always have to turn ANC on to immerse yourself in the music. Be mindful that comfort is likely going to be more subjective because of how much tighter they generally feel.

Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours per charge. The USB-C port is always convenient, as is the fast charging support. If the PX7 are dead, a 15-minute charge will get you a good six hours of listening time.

Pros:

• Superb sound quality
• Great passive noise isolation
• USB-C for charging and listening
• Great battery life
• Premium build / stylish design

Cons:

• Can get uncomfortable after longer periods
• ANC performance could be better
• Expensive

Most Stylish

Bowers & Wilkins PX7

From $330 at Amazon $400 at Best Buy $400 at B&H

Sounding off in style

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 will give you an exceptional soundstage but at the cost of similar comfort and ANC performance.

Best Earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM3

More true wireless earbuds are coming with ANC on board, including at different price points, but the Sony WF-1000XM3 are the pair to beat. They benefit from the same ANC tech found in Sony's over-ear WH-1000XM3, which is a big reason why they're so effective. Despite their size, they prove to be more than capable of blocking out a good amount of noise, including consistent sounds you would come across while commuting.

Sony also preferred to go with a more neutral soundstage, leaving plenty of room to customize it through the equalizer settings in the Headphones Connect app. The mids come through with greater detail, while the highs feel warm, standing out independently. The bass is less pronounced out of the box, and that's why the EQ may be necessary to deepen and balance the sound further.

The fit may not be for everyone because of the bulkier form factor, while the Adaptive Sound Control mode isn't as effective as Sony claims it is. Plus, it's not w