Noise-cancelling headphones are one of the best tech purchases you can make if you commute, fly or work in an open-plan office. In 2026 the top of the market is a close fight between Sony, Bose and Apple, while Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins appeal to listeners who care most about sound quality.
Below are the models expert reviewers — SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi and RTINGS among them — rate most highly, from under €100 to premium flagships. Euro prices are approximate and were checked in October 2026; headphones are frequently discounted, so it’s worth checking the current offer.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overallSony WH-1000XM6
- Best for comfort & ANCBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen)
- Best sound qualitySennheiser HDB 630
- Best for iPhone usersApple AirPods Max 2
- Most stylishBowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
- Best budgetEdifier W820NB Plus
- Best cheap SonySony WH-CH730N
Prices are approximate and change often. Ad
1. Sony WH-1000XM6 — best overall
SoundGuys calls the WH-1000XM6 the best noise-cancelling headphones for most people, and it’s easy to see why. Noise cancelling is excellent (8.7/10 in SoundGuys’ testing), the sound is good, and Sony’s app is well regarded. LDAC support is a bonus for Android users with high-resolution music, and multipoint lets you stay connected to a phone and a laptop at once.
Reviewers point to a treble peak around 10 kHz that can make some tracks a little bright, and some listeners find the earcups shallow. The official price is €449, but it sold for €349 in June 2026 and dipped to about €315 in March — so wait for a deal if you can.
Sony WH-1000XM6
SoundGuys' 'best for most' pick: strong noise cancelling, good sound and a mature app.
- Bluetooth
- 5.3, multipoint
- Codecs
- LDAC, AAC, SBC
- Battery
- ~30 h (ANC on)
- Weight
- 254 g
Pros
- Strong ANC (SoundGuys 8.7/10)
- Good sound with LDAC support
- Polished companion app
Cons
- Treble spike around 10 kHz
- Shallow earcups for some heads
2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) — best for comfort and ANC
What Hi-Fi names Bose’s latest QC Ultra the best noise-cancelling headphones, and RTINGS says they beat the AirPods Max 2 on comfort, battery life and value for most people. At 250 g they’re light, they fold for travel, and the noise cancelling is right at the top of the class. A USB-C cable lets you listen to lossless audio from a laptop.
They don’t sound quite as rich as the best-sounding rivals, and Bose’s app is basic. Still, if long flights are your priority, this is the pair to get. See our Sony XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra comparison for a head-to-head.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen)
What Hi-Fi's best noise-cancelling headphones: top-tier ANC in a light, foldable, very comfortable design.
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- Codecs
- aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC
- Battery
- ~30 h
- Weight
- 250 g
- Wired
- USB-C lossless audio
Pros
- Top-class noise cancelling
- Excellent comfort
- Folds for travel
Cons
- Not the best-sounding in its class
- Basic app
3. Sennheiser HDB 630 — best sound quality
What Hi-Fi’s overall pick among wireless headphones and SoundGuys’ choice for sound quality, the HDB 630 is for music lovers first. Its tuning is natural and detailed, and battery life is enormous at around 60 hours (45 hours when using the included USB-C dongle for high-quality audio from a computer). Noise cancelling is good rather than class-leading, so frequent flyers may still prefer Bose or Sony.
Sennheiser HDB 630
What Hi-Fi's best wireless headphones overall: natural, detailed sound and huge battery life.
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- Codecs
- aptX Adaptive
- Battery
- ~60 h (45 h with USB-C dongle)
- Weight
- 311 g
Pros
- Natural, detailed sound
- Around 60 hours of battery
Cons
- ANC is good rather than class-leading
4. Apple AirPods Max 2 — best for iPhone users
RTINGS rates the noise cancelling on the AirPods Max 2 as slightly stronger than Bose’s, and SoundGuys gives it 9.0/10. If you live in Apple’s ecosystem, seamless switching between iPhone, iPad and Mac is a real advantage. But at 386 g they’re heavy, they don’t fold, battery life is around 20 hours, and they support only the AAC codec. For most people, RTINGS concludes the Bose is the better buy.
Apple AirPods Max 2
Apple's premium over-ears, with noise cancelling rated among the very best (SoundGuys 9.0/10).
- Battery
- ~20 h
- Codecs
- AAC (no LDAC/aptX)
- Weight
- 386 g
Pros
- Class-leading ANC (SoundGuys 9.0/10)
- Seamless with Apple devices
Cons
- Heavy at 386 g
- Doesn't fold
- Expensive, shorter battery life
5. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 — most stylish
The Px7 S3 combines a premium, very British design with a full and detailed sound and aptX Lossless support for compatible Android phones. Battery life is about 30 hours with ANC on. They don’t fold flat, so they take up more room in a bag.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
Premium British headphones with a full, detailed sound and aptX Lossless support.
- Codecs
- aptX Lossless
- Battery
- ~30 h (ANC on)
- Weight
- 300 g
Pros
- Full, detailed sound
- Stylish, premium design
Cons
- Doesn't fold flat
6. Edifier W820NB Plus — best budget
SoundGuys’ favourite budget ANC headphones cost a fraction of the flagships — usually under €100 — yet still offer LDAC and noise cancelling rated 8.4/10. Battery life passes 30 hours. You give up folding hinges and a custom EQ, but for students or a first pair of ANC headphones it’s a great deal.
Edifier W820NB Plus
SoundGuys' best budget noise-cancelling headphones: LDAC and surprisingly capable ANC for very little money.
- Codecs
- LDAC
- ANC
- Rated 8.4/10 by SoundGuys
- Battery
- 30+ h
Pros
- Very affordable
- Effective ANC for the price
- LDAC support
Cons
- Doesn't fold
- No custom EQ
7. Sony WH-CH730N — best cheap Sony
What Hi-Fi’s pick for cheap ANC headphones is light (207 g), foldable and lasts around 50 hours with noise cancelling switched on. It uses Bluetooth 6.0. Its ANC struggles with nearby voices, so it’s better on buses and trains than in chatty offices.
Sony WH-CH730N
What Hi-Fi's best cheap ANC pick: light, foldable and good for up to 50 hours.
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- Battery
- ~50 h (ANC on)
- Weight
- 207 g
- Design
- Foldable
Pros
- Very long battery life
- Light and foldable
Cons
- ANC struggles with nearby voices
Compare the key specs
| Model | Sony WH-1000XM6Best overall | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen)Best for comfort & ANC | Sennheiser HDB 630Best sound quality | Apple AirPods Max 2Best for iPhone users | Edifier W820NB PlusBest budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechHive score | 9.1/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Approx. price | €349 | €379 | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, multipoint | 5.4 | 5.2 | — | — |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | aptX Adaptive | AAC (no LDAC/aptX) | LDAC |
| Battery | ~30 h (ANC on) | ~30 h | ~60 h (45 h with USB-C dongle) | ~20 h | 30+ h |
| Weight | 254 g | 250 g | 311 g | 386 g | — |
| Wired | — | USB-C lossless audio | — | — | — |
| ANC | — | — | — | — | Rated 8.4/10 by SoundGuys |
| Shop Ad | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
How to choose noise-cancelling headphones
Decide what matters most: silence, sound or comfort
Bose and Apple lead for pure noise cancelling, Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins for sound, and Bose for all-day comfort. Sony’s XM6 is the best compromise between them.
Check codec support for your phone
iPhones use AAC only, so LDAC or aptX make no difference there. Android users with lossless streaming can benefit from LDAC (Sony, Edifier) or aptX Adaptive/Lossless (Bose, Sennheiser, B&W) — check your phone supports them.
Weight and folding
For travel, weight and a folding design matter. The Bose (250 g, folding) and Sony (254 g) are much easier to live with than the 386 g AirPods Max 2.
Buy at the right time
Flagship headphones are discounted often — the Sony XM6 has sold for €100 or more below its €449 list price. Prices in the UK and EU also differ, so compare your local store.
Your consumer rights
In the EU, you get at least a two-year legal guarantee on headphones bought from a retailer, and online purchases usually include a 14-day right of withdrawal — useful if a pair doesn’t fit your head.
How we choose
We compile measurements and verdicts from SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi, RTINGS and others, then check European pricing. We haven’t tested these headphones ourselves; our picks reflect where trusted reviewers agree, and we always include the drawbacks they found. How we research.
FAQ
Which headphones have the best noise cancelling in 2026?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) and Apple AirPods Max 2 are rated at the top for ANC, with the Sony WH-1000XM6 close behind.
Are the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth €449?
They’re excellent, but they’re often discounted — they’ve sold for around €315–€349. Waiting for a deal is the smart move.
What are the best cheap noise-cancelling headphones?
The Edifier W820NB Plus is the top budget pick, typically under €100. The Sony WH-CH730N is a good alternative with longer battery life.
Do AirPods Max 2 work with Android?
Yes, over Bluetooth, but you lose Apple-specific features and they use the AAC codec only, so most Android users are better off with Sony or Bose.
