Best noise-cancelling headphones for 2024

Noise-cancelling headphones can help you achieve a more immersive and relaxing listening experience

An undated image illustrating a person wearing a headphone. — Canva
An undated image illustrating a person wearing a headphone. — Canva

Noise-cancelling headphones are a great way to enjoy your favourite music, podcasts, or audiobooks without being disturbed by the outside world. 

Whether you want to block out the noise of planes, trains, or buses, or just focus in a noisy office, noise-cancelling headphones can help you achieve a more immersive and relaxing listening experience. Gadinsider reviews some of the best noise-cancelling headphones that are available in 2024.

Best noise-cancelling headphones

Cleer Enduro ANC

If you are looking for a pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones that will not break the bank, the Cleer Enduro ANC might be the perfect choice for you. These over-ear headphones have a sleek and comfortable design, a long battery life of up to 60 hours with ANC on, and a decent noise isolation performance that can reduce the low rumble of engines and the chatter of people.

The Cleer Enduro ANC also have a balanced and neutral sound profile that can reproduce a wide range of genres and content accurately. They have a companion app that lets you adjust the level of noise cancellation, the sound mode, and the EQ settings. They also support voice assistants like Google Assistant and Siri, and have a quick charge feature that gives you two hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.

The main drawbacks of the Cleer Enduro ANC are that they don’t have a very stable fit, which might not be ideal for sports or workouts, and that they do not have a very consistent bass response, which might vary depending on how well they seal on your ears.

Jaybird Vista 2

If you are looking for a pair of wireless noise-cancelling earphones that are designed for running and workouts, the Jaybird Vista 2 might be the best option for you. These truly wireless earbuds have a compact and lightweight design, a secure and comfortable fit, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. They also have a good noise isolation performance that can block out the noise of the gym, the street, or the wind.

The Jaybird Vista 2 have a powerful and punchy sound profile that can keep you motivated and energised during your workouts. They have a companion app that lets you customise the sound profile with a graphic EQ and presets, as well as the level of noise cancellation and ambient sound. They also have a long battery life of up to eight hours per charge and a wireless charging case that can extend it by another 16 hours.

The main drawbacks of the Jaybird Vista 2 are that they do not have a very good microphone performance, which might make your voice sound thin and distant on phone calls, and that they do not support multi-device pairing, which might be inconvenient if you want to switch between your phone and your laptop.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

If you are looking for a pair of wireless noise-cancelling earphones that have the best noise-cancellation performance, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds might be the best option for you. These wireless earbuds have a premium and elegant design, a comfortable fit, and an outstanding noise isolation performance that can block out almost any noise, from the roar of planes to the hum of fans.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have a balanced and neutral sound profile that can reproduce a wide range of genres and content accurately. They have a companion app that lets you adjust the level of noise cancellation, the sound mode, and the EQ settings. 

They also support voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa, and have a touch-sensitive control scheme that lets you access various functions with a tap or a swipe. The main drawbacks of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds include its short battery life (only six hours per charge), and a bulky charging case that can extend it by another 12 hours.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e

If you are looking for a pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones that have the best-looking design, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e might be the best option for you. These over-ear headphones have a sleek and stylish design, with a carbon fibre composite armature, a woven fabric headband, and a metallic finish. They also have a comfortable and adjustable fit, and a foldable design for easy portability.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e have a warm and smooth sound profile that can deliver a rich and detailed listening experience. They have a companion app that lets you adjust the level of noise cancellation, the sound mode, and the EQ settings.

The main drawbacks of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e are that they have a mediocre noise isolation performance, which might not block out the noise of planes or trains very well, and that they have a poor microphone performance, which might make your voice sound thin and robotic on phone calls.