The 5 best noise-cancelling earbuds include the most comfortable buds we've ever tested

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) earbuds.

For earbuds that have noise cancelling that performs better than many over-ear headphones, you'll want to look no further than the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. Though they're not drastically different from their predecessor (first-gen owners should skip this release), they provide some of the best ANC and all-day wear available on the market.

We were big fans of the first-generation QC Ultra earbuds, thanks to their rich sound profile, class-leading ANC, and comfortable fit. With the second-generation buds, Bose didn't exactly reinvent the wheel — but it did make some minor improvements that helped make an already standout pair of earbuds even better.

For starters, the QC Ultras come with a wireless charging case, which helps make the case for shelling out $299 for them. They also include Bose SpeechClarity tech, which we noticed helped voices sound noticeably clearer on calls than with the first-generation buds. The ANC also got a boost, somehow blocking even more than the first-generation buds. Though less exciting, they also added an earwax guard to the bud tips, which did help in the cleaning process.

While there were no dramatic improvements, we appreciated that Bose understood you don't want to mess with a good thing. In this case, that's the stability band/ear tip combo that makes wearing them snugly for long periods of time feel possible without any discomfort, a robust sound profile that can make all genres sing out of the box, and overall, a premium earbud that feels like it's worth its price tag.

Read our full review of the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100.

Audiophiles who wants the best of the best sound quality should look to the Panasonic Technics AZ100 earbuds. They've flown under the radar since their December launch, but they have unmatched sound clarity. Multiple Mashable team members found that they stood out, even compared to flagship over-ear headphones.

There are earbuds sounds good enough, and there are earbuds that sound so good they make you understand what audiophiles are always going on about. These fall into the latter category. Simply put, if you're looking for the best earbuds for audiophiles, it doesn't get better than the AZ100.

Thanks to the earbuds' Magnetic Fluid Driver, they're capable of producing sound closer to the original recording than most consumer audio devices. In his review of the earbuds, Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth wrote that these earbuds let you appreciate all the layers of your favorite tracks, concluding, "[they] deliver richer, fuller, more detailed sound than any earbuds I've ever tested. The only buds I've tried that achieved similar clarity and sound separation were next-gen in-ear monitors that used ultrasound technology."

In addition to sounding incredible, these earbuds also have excellent (and adjustable!) active noise cancellation that stands up to other premium options. They support lossless audio via LDAC codec, multipoint connection with up to three devices, 10 hours of battery life per charge — and they come with a metal case and accent, lending them an overall more premium experience.

So why aren't they our top pick? Well, these earbuds can cause some soreness after a few hours wear, so they're not a great option if you like to wear earbuds for long stretches of time (like during a work day). They also rarely dip down from their $299 price tag, making them a less accessible option for most people.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

If you want good-quality sound but don’t want to spend over $200, the Bose QuietComfort is an affordable answer to the brand’s line-up. They’re focused on a great fit, as they not only come with multiple ear tips but multiple bands that can be changed out on the earbuds for a better fit on the crest of your ear. 

The accompanying app lets you adjust audio levels, but you won’t need to, as these earbuds make all your music sound better. They’re reliable, have a long battery life, and are sure to please the pickiest of audiophiles.

I’ve sung the praises of the QuietComfort Ultra, but Bose’s latest earbuds, the entry-level QuietComfort, are also fantastic, especially with their under-$200 price tag. Even after adjusting the ear tips and bands, I didn’t find the fit on these quite as secure as the Ultras. However, my colleague Bethany Allard, who also tested the QuietComfort earbuds, said they were the best earbuds that have ever fit her.

The QuietComfort’s sound quality is just phenomenal. With these earbuds, listening to Ethel Cain’s A House in Nebraska immersed me in the orchestrations. When Brick House by The Commodores came on, the earbuds elevated the snappy drum beats so that I may have been listening live.

The noise cancellation on the QuietComfort earbuds isn’t as sophisticated as the Ultras; I found they had more sound leakage and that classic ANC buzz when I was in noisy environments. However, the ANC on these is still great, especially in quiet spaces. 

One tiny beef I have with the Bose QuietComfort earbuds is that they require a different app than the standard Bose one. This is annoying if you’re an existing Bose user and need to download another app; plus, this earbud app just isn’t as good as Bose’s flagship app.

All in all, these are a solid pair of headphones that, for $179, are an unbeatable value.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

If you're an iOS user who wants to avoid dealing with an auxiliary app, Apple AirPods Pro 3 are your best bet. They have impressive noise cancellation and seamlessly connect to iOS systems. To pair them to your iPhone, just open the charging case. Need to go hands-free? The AirPods will announce your texts to you.

iPhone users have long been fans of the AirPods Pro line, and for good reason. The earbuds offer excellent quality ANC and connect with Apple devices with record speed and consistency.

In the Pro 3 buds, Apple's upped the ante. In his review, Mashable contributor Adam Doud noted that the earbuds noise cancelling ability gave him a "personal cone of silence," even in the midst of a busy conference. Doud found the sound profile was flat, but balanced. Considering many earbuds these days can leave bass heavy, this is a huge plus in Apple's direction. To round out the basics, these earbuds also come with eight hours of battery life per charge, putting them on par with other earbuds leading in this category.

Apple didn't stop there, though. These earbuds can perform live translation across six different languages, making them an excellent travel companion. And for anyone who likes to track their workouts but not so much that they're ready to invest in a fitness tracker, the built in heart rate monitor is an added boon.

Read our full review of the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are also fantastic. If you are slightly less concerned about noise cancellation and instead prioritize audio quality, these might be better for you. These earbuds pick up on the subtleness of every lyric and beat. If you're already in the Sony ecosystem, maybe you use the WF-1000XM5 headphones. If so, these buds are the perfect companion (especially now that they're frequently on sale).

I like music, but the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds made me truly appreciate it. When I tucked them into my ears, I was plunged into every hit of the drum in Slipknot's "(sic)" and the 1975's "This Must Be My Dream." When listening to SOPHIE's "Faceshopping," I heard the pop of her lips on every word. All this to say, the Sony earbuds offer distinct audio that even the pickiest of audiophiles will enjoy.

Compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, the Sony earbuds have a slightly flatter sound, not as immersive as the Bose. Despite this, I still think the Sonys were strong in capturing the subtlety of music. As Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti points out in his review, the way to get the best sound with the earbuds is through the equalizer settings. The WF-1000XM5s are a little weaker on ANC compared to Bose, but just barely. While using the earbuds indoors, I found they did an excellent job blocking out cooking noises or someone speaking. However, when I was outdoors, the bustling road seeped through in a high-traffic environment.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 were less comfortable than the Bose QC Ultras. To get a secure fit, I had to push them in, and they felt jammed in my ear. Despite the initial discomfort, they were pretty comfortable over an hour of listening. As for the listening time with ANC, you get eight hours per charge, which is good for earbuds released in 2025, and even better considering these were released in 2023.

They're a single dollar less than the Bose earbuds at full price, so if you're in between, go Bose. That said, they often go on sale as they are older earbuds. The Sony earbuds also fall behind with a weaker companion app. The Sony app is very technical and difficult to navigate, whereas Bose's is straightforward and easy to use.