By feature
Earbuds and headphones with active noise cancellation.
Headphones
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the headphone to buy if blocking flight and metro noise matters most, with long battery life and a foldable design, but its firm clamp and high price keep it from being an easy pick.
TWS Earbuds
The Sony WF-1000XM6 offers some of the best noise cancelling and sound in true wireless earbuds, with clear calls, but battery life is unchanged from the XM5 and its price is steep.
TWS Earbuds
The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro packs adaptive ANC, long battery life, dual-device pairing and a clean app into a budget price, making it the earbud to beat for most buyers who don't need flagship sound.
Best ValueHeadphones
The JBL Tune 780NC is a sensible mid-range ANC headphone whose real strength is a rated 50 hours with noise cancelling on, though reviewers find its ANC and sound only average and its clamp firm.
TWS Earbuds
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE gives Galaxy phone owners strong noise cancelling and a secure fit for a mid-range price, but its measured battery life is short and most extras need a Samsung phone.
Headphones
The boAt Rockerz Plus 450 ANC promises hybrid noise cancelling, Bluetooth 6 and up to 80 hours of battery at a budget price, but with SBC-only audio and almost no independent testing, it is a cautious buy.