The Best 5Aggregated review·30 sources·updated October 17, 2026·checked October 13, 2026

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones

Top 5 noise cancelling headphones ranked by aggregate score from 30 published reviews.

This guide aggregates 30 published reviews across 5 products; the thinnest-sourced pick rests on 4. How we rank.

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Quick answer

Sony WH-1000XM5 is our top pick for noise cancelling headphones — an averaged 4.7/5 across 6 published reviews at about $298. Runner-up: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (~$212.5).

Read the Sony WH-1000XM5 review →$298 · Check Price on Amazon

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review

#	Product	Rating	Price	Best for
1	Sony WH-1000XM5Top Pick	4.7 6 sources	$298	Travelers prioritizing call quality and top-tier noise cancellation	$298 · Check Price on Amazon
2	Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless	4.5 6 sources	$212.5	Audiophiles and travelers needing extreme battery longevity	$212.5 · Check Price on Amazon
3	Bose QuietComfort Ultra	4.4 4 sources	$327.99	Commuters seeking maximum comfort and effective noise blocking	$327.99 · Check Price on Amazon
4	Bowers & Wilkins Px8	4.3 5 sources	$479	Discerning listeners prioritizing luxury materials and high-fidelity sound	$479 · Check Price on Amazon
5	Apple AirPods Max	4.2 4 sources	$479	Apple ecosystem users valuing build quality and seamless integration	$479 · Check Price on Amazon

At a glance5 products ▾

1Sony WH-1000XM5Top Pick

4.7

6 sources

$298Best for: Travelers prioritizing call quality and top-tier noise cancellation

$298 · Check Price on Amazon

2Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

4.5

6 sources

$212.5Best for: Audiophiles and travelers needing extreme battery longevity

$212.5 · Check Price on Amazon

3Bose QuietComfort Ultra

4.4

4 sources

$327.99Best for: Commuters seeking maximum comfort and effective noise blocking

$327.99 · Check Price on Amazon

4Bowers & Wilkins Px8

4.3

5 sources

$479Best for: Discerning listeners prioritizing luxury materials and high-fidelity sound

$479 · Check Price on Amazon

5Apple AirPods Max

4.2

4 sources

$479Best for: Apple ecosystem users valuing build quality and seamless integration

$479 · Check Price on Amazon

Reviews aggregated from

SoundGuysTechRadarTom's GuideWhat Hi-Fi?PCMagRecordingnowTechGearLabCNET

The full ranking

How we rank →

#1 · Top Pick

Best for: Travelers prioritizing call quality and top-tier noise cancellation

Sony WH-1000XM5

4.7

6 sources$298as of Sep 25

Top-tier active noise cancellation and a real jump in sound quality, with precise bass and clear highs, put the Sony WH-1000XM5 at the front of the flagship ANC field. The new design is more comfortable for larger ears and call performance is excellent. Two knocks: there is no IP rating, and the non-folding build feels slightly less premium than its predecessors.

Strengths

— Outstanding active noise cancellation performance that excels in travel and office environments
— Sensational sonic clarity with punchy delivery and precise, agile bass

Watch-outs

— Build quality feels less premium than previous generations with a non-folding design
— No IP rating makes them vulnerable to moisture and unsuitable for gym use or rain

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— Outstanding active noise cancellation performance that excels in travel and office environments
— Sensational sonic clarity with punchy delivery and precise, agile bass

Watch-outs

— Build quality feels less premium than previous generations with a non-folding design
— No IP rating makes them vulnerable to moisture and unsuitable for gym use or rain

$298 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless →

Best for: Audiophiles and travelers needing extreme battery longevity

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

4.5

6 sources$212.5as of Oct 13

Sound quality and a massive 60-hour battery are what you buy the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless for, and together they carry the value case even with a fairly generic design. Active noise cancellation and microphone performance both lag key competitors like Sony and Bose. Audio fidelity and comfort over long listening sessions are where these win.

Strengths

— Exceptional 60-hour battery life that outperforms competitors
— Clean, neutral, and musical sound quality ahead of the pack

Watch-outs

— Active Noise Cancellation is technically inferior to Bose and Sony top-tier models
— Microphone noise rejection is mediocre for calls

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— Exceptional 60-hour battery life that outperforms competitors
— Clean, neutral, and musical sound quality ahead of the pack

Watch-outs

— Active Noise Cancellation is technically inferior to Bose and Sony top-tier models
— Microphone noise rejection is mediocre for calls

$212.5 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 →

Best for: Commuters seeking maximum comfort and effective noise blocking

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

4.4

4 sources$327.99as of Oct 11

Top-tier noise cancellation and exceptional comfort make the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones a real upgrade for daily travelers and commuters. The missing water resistance and the premium price will put some buyers off, and there are minor reports of audio channel inconsistencies.

Strengths

— Industry-leading Active Noise Cancelling with CustomTune calibration
— Exceptional comfort with soft padding and a lightweight 253g design

Watch-outs

— No IP rating for water or sweat resistance
— High retail price point compared to competitors

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— Industry-leading Active Noise Cancelling with CustomTune calibration
— Exceptional comfort with soft padding and a lightweight 253g design

Watch-outs

— No IP rating for water or sweat resistance
— High retail price point compared to competitors

$327.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 →

Best for: Discerning listeners prioritizing luxury materials and high-fidelity sound

Bowers & Wilkins Px8

4.3

5 sources$479as of Oct 13

Audio clarity and a luxurious build are what justify the Bowers & Wilkins Px8's premium price to discerning listeners. Getting there means living with inconsistent wear detection, no low-volume adjustment in wired mode, and enough weight to cause discomfort over extended use.

Strengths

— Outstanding clarity with a fast and punchy sonic presentation
— Luxurious build featuring soft Nappa leather and cast aluminium arms

Watch-outs

— Sound quality becomes limp at lower volume levels
— Wear-on/wear-off detection function can be erratic

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— Outstanding clarity with a fast and punchy sonic presentation
— Luxurious build featuring soft Nappa leather and cast aluminium arms

Watch-outs

— Sound quality becomes limp at lower volume levels
— Wear-on/wear-off detection function can be erratic

$479 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 →

★ Premium Pick

Best for: Apple ecosystem users valuing build quality and seamless integration

Apple AirPods Max

4.2

4 sources$479as of Oct 16

The Apple AirPods Max pair premium sound and industry-leading noise cancellation with a luxurious, durable metal build. Their high price is compounded by real drawbacks: a smart case that protects almost nothing, no 3.5mm jack, and limited functionality once you step outside the Apple ecosystem. Dedicated Apple users will love them; anyone shopping for flexibility or better value should look elsewhere.

Strengths

— Sturdy all-metal build with stainless steel headband and aluminum ear cups
— Extremely comfortable ear pads with soft fabric and even weight distribution

Watch-outs

— Smart case provides virtually no protection and is considered terrible
— No 3.5mm headphone jack, requiring an adapter for wired listening

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— Sturdy all-metal build with stainless steel headband and aluminum ear cups
— Extremely comfortable ear pads with soft fabric and even weight distribution

Watch-outs

— Smart case provides virtually no protection and is considered terrible
— No 3.5mm headphone jack, requiring an adapter for wired listening

$479 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 →

Reviews aggregated from

SoundGuysTechRadarTom's GuideWhat Hi-Fi?PCMagRecordingnowTechGearLabCNET

Spec comparison

5 products

Spec	Sony WH-1000XM5	Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless	Bose QuietComfort Ultra	Bowers & Wilkins Px8	Apple AirPods Max
Driver Size	30 mm	42 mm	—	40mm	40 mm
Driver Type	Dynamic	Dynamic	Bose custom	40mm carbon cone	Dynamic
Bluetooth Version	5.2	5.2	5.3	5.1	5.0
Weight	250 g	295 g	250g	320g	386 g
Charging Method	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	Lightning connector
Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC	SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-HD, aptX Adaptive	AAC, aptX Adaptive	aptX adaptive	AAC, SBC
ANC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	yes
Battery Life	30 hr	60 hr	24 hr	30 hr	20 hr
Dimensions	9.75 x 9.5 x 3.25 in	—	—	7.44 x 2.48 x 9.17 in	9.75 x 9.5 x 3.25 in

Spec	Sony WH-1000XM5	Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Driver Size	30 mm	42 mm
Driver Type	Dynamic	Dynamic
Bluetooth Version	5.2	5.2
Weight	250 g	295 g
Charging Method	USB-C	USB-C
Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC	SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-HD, aptX Adaptive
ANC	Yes	Yes
Battery Life	30 hr	60 hr
Dimensions	9.75 x 9.5 x 3.25 in	—

Frequently asked questions

What's the strongest pick among noise cancelling headphones?

Sony WH-1000XM5 is the top pick for noise cancelling headphones — 4.7/5 averaged from 6 published reviews. Top-tier active noise cancellation and a real jump in sound quality, with precise bass and clear highs, put the Sony WH-1000XM5 at the front of the flagship ANC field. The new design is more comfortable for larger ears and call performance is excellent. Two knocks: there is no IP rating, and the non-folding build feels slightly less premium than its predecessors.

Is this noise cancelling headphone guide up to date?

This guide was last re-checked in October 2026. Prices, links, and source ratings are re-verified on a rolling basis, and the ranking updates when the underlying scores change.

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