Best Noise-Canceling Headphones 2026: 6 Over-Ear Models Scored
Six over-ear noise-canceling headphones from $107 to $429, scored 0 to 100 on six weighted criteria. Noise canceling counts for 30%. Every score and weight is printed so you can check the math.
The bottom line
The Sony WH-1000XM6 scores highest at 89. It has near-top noise canceling, the best measured battery of the big three flagships, and the strongest call mics, now $378 at Amazon. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen (86) is the comfort pick, and the Sony WH-1000XM5 at $198 is the best value.
- 6
- Products rated
- 6
- Criteria
- $107–$429
- Price range
- 89
- Top Index
Scores are independent. Some retailer links pay us a commission, which never affects a score. How we’re funded.
The leaderboard
| Rank | Product | Index | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sony WH-1000XM6Top rated | 89 | $378 | Amazon |
| 2 |  Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)Most comfortable | 86 | $369 | Amazon |
| 3 |  Sony WH-1000XM5Best value | 85 | $198 | Amazon |
| 4 |  Sennheiser Momentum 4 WirelessLongest battery | 85 | $229.95 | Amazon |
| 5 |  Soundcore Space 2Best under $150 | 83 | $106.99 | Amazon |
| 6 |  Apple AirPods Max 2Best for iPhone | 80 | $429 | Amazon |
Methodology
How the Index score is built
- Noise canceling 30%How much outside noise is removed, from published lab attenuation figures and multi-outlet test notes.
- Sound quality 20%Out-of-box tuning, published sound-quality scores, and how much the app EQ can fix.
- Comfort 15%Weight in grams, clamp force and padding as reported by reviewers and owners.
- Battery life 15%Measured hours with ANC on where a lab published them, otherwise the maker's rating.
- Call quality 10%Mic performance in noisy and windy conditions, from published mic tests.
- Value 10%Street price on October 10, 2026, set against the other five scores.
We did not test these headphones in our own lab. We built each score from published specs, independent lab measurements and owner reviews. The main lab sources are SoundGuys, which publishes attenuation percentages and standardized battery runs, plus test notes from PCMag, Tom's Guide and Android Central. Each source is listed under References.
Each product gets a 0–100 score on six criteria. The Index is the weighted sum: score × weight ÷ 100, added up and rounded. Noise canceling carries 30% because it is the reason to buy this category. Battery scores track measured hours: 56 hours scores 98, 20 hours scores 50.
Prices are Amazon US street prices checked October 5–10, 2026, during and just after Prime Big Deal Days. Several are at or near record lows. If a price rises, the value score drops and so does the Index. Owner ratings are Amazon averages read on the same dates.
- Index = round(Σ score × weight ÷ 100)
- Weights: ANC 30, sound 20, comfort 15, battery 15, calls 10, value 10
- Battery uses measured hours with ANC on where available
- AirPods Max 2 battery uses Apple's 20-hour rating; no lab run was published at time of writing
- Bose 2nd Gen ANC is scored from SoundGuys' note that it matches the 1st Gen's 87% attenuation
- No product was supplied to us; no brand saw scores before publication
Every product, scored
Sony WH-1000XM6
score89Index score 89 out of 100
Amazon, 10 Oct 2026
Check price at AmazonScore breakdown
- Noise canceling · 30%93
- Sound quality · 20%92
- Comfort · 15%88
- Battery life · 15%82
- Call quality · 10%92
- Value · 10%78
Best all-rounder: 87% noise removed, 37 hours measured, best mics of the group.
Strengths
- 37 hr 14 min in SoundGuys' battery test, well above its 30-hour rating
- Six-mic beamforming array led SoundGuys' call tests
- 10-band EQ in the Sound Connect app
- Folds into a smaller case than the XM5
Weaknesses
- Weaker than AirPods Max 2 below 200 Hz, so plane drone leaks more
- No USB-C audio
- List price rose to $459.99
The XM6 scores 89, three points clear of the field. It has no single dominant number. It is simply near the top on every criterion. SoundGuys measured 87% of outside noise removed, versus 89% for AirPods Max 2. Android Central found it cancels slightly more than the Bose at both ends of the frequency range.
Battery is its biggest lead over the other flagships. SoundGuys ran it for 37 hours 14 minutes with ANC on. That beats the Bose by 10 hours and Apple's rating by 17. Calls are the other standout: SoundGuys rated its six-mic system the best of the pair it tested against AirPods Max 2, in office, street and wind noise.
The price is the soft spot. Sony raised the list price to $459.99. At $378 on Amazon it scores 78 for value. If it climbs back toward list price, its value score and Index will drop.
Pick it if You want one pair that does everything well, on iPhone or Android.
- Rated battery (ANC on)
- 30 hr
- Measured battery
- 37 hr 14 min
- Noise removed (SoundGuys)
- 87%
- Weight
- 254 g
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
- Wired listening
- 3.5 mm analog
- Amazon rating
- 4.2 / 5 (3,838)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
score86Index score 86 out of 100
Amazon, 10 Oct 2026
Check price at AmazonScore breakdown
- Noise canceling · 30%94
- Sound quality · 20%84
- Comfort · 15%95
- Battery life · 15%70
- Call quality · 10%84
- Value · 10%76
Top-tier noise canceling and the lightest clamp, held back by the shortest battery of the flagships after Apple.
Strengths
- Lower clamp force and thicker padding than Sony and Apple, per PCMag
- USB-C wired audio and you can listen while charging
- Physical buttons plus a volume strip
- $369 is the lowest price on record for this model
Weaknesses
- Only a 3-band EQ
- 27 hr 12 min measured battery, lowest of the Android-friendly flagships
- Some reviewers note an 'eardrum suck' pressure feeling
Bose scores 86 and wins two criteria outright: comfort at 95 and a near-tie on noise canceling at 94. PCMag picked it for long flights because of its low clamp force and thick pads. Tom's Guide, after six months with both, called its ANC the best and said nothing comes close bar the XM6.
Battery and sound tuning cost it points. SoundGuys measured 27 hours 12 minutes with ANC on. That is fine for a long-haul trip but 10 hours behind the Sony. Reviewers split on the sound. PCMag liked its warm, bass-rich tone. Tom's Guide found it too bassy, and the 3-band EQ gives little room to fix it.
At $369 it is $9 cheaper than the Sony today. Its value score of 76 assumes that sale price. The list price is $449.
Pick it if You wear headphones for hours at a time and comfort matters more than battery.
- Rated battery (ANC on)
- 30 hr (23 hr Immersive Audio)
- Measured battery
- 27 hr 12 min
- Noise removed (SoundGuys)
- ~87% (1st Gen figure)
- Weight
- ~255 g
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Wired listening
- USB-C audio, 2.5–3.5 mm
- Amazon rating
- 4.3 / 5 (2,975)
Sony WH-1000XM5
score85Index score 85 out of 100
Amazon, 10 Oct 2026
Check price at AmazonScore breakdown
- Noise canceling · 30%87
- Sound quality · 20%85
- Comfort · 15%88
- Battery life · 15%72
- Call quality · 10%86
- Value · 10%95
Last year's flagship at half price: an Index of 85 for 52% of the XM6's price.
Strengths
- $198 is half its $399.99 launch price
- Largest owner pool here: 20,153 Amazon reviews
- Same 30-hour rating and 3-minute quick charge as the XM6
- Larger cups may suit bigger ears, per Tom's Guide
Weaknesses
- Noise canceling is a step behind the XM6
- Does not fold, so the case is bulkier
- Sale price may apply only to some colors
The XM5 ties the Momentum 4 on 85 but wins on noise canceling, so we rank it first. It was the top ANC pair two years ago. The XM6's newer processor removes more noise, but Tom's Guide still says the XM5 blocks plenty.
Battery is close to its rating. SoundGuys measured 31 hours with ANC on. Calls are strong for its age, with the multi-mic system picking out voices in noisy places, per Tom's Guide. It has the biggest owner base here at 20,153 Amazon reviews and a 4.2 average.
Value drives the score. At $198 it costs $180 less than the XM6. Tom's Guide and Digital Trends both called it the better buy at these prices. Note that the $198 price was listed on some colors only during the sale.
Pick it if You want flagship-class Sony noise canceling for under $200.
- Rated battery (ANC on)
- 30 hr
- Measured battery
- 31 hr
- Noise removed (SoundGuys)
- Not published
- Weight
- 250 g
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Wired listening
- 3.5 mm analog
- Amazon rating
- 4.2 / 5 (20,153)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
score85Index score 85 out of 100
Amazon, 10 Oct 2026
Check price at AmazonScore breakdown
- Noise canceling · 30%78
- Sound quality · 20%91
- Comfort · 15%84
- Battery life · 15%98
- Call quality · 10%75
- Value · 10%88
56 hours measured and some of the best sound here, but the weakest noise canceling.
Strengths
- 56 hr 21 min in SoundGuys' test, the longest here
- Detailed, spacious sound that reviewers rank near the top
- aptX Adaptive for Android phones that support it
- Often on sale far below its launch price
Weaknesses
- Noise canceling behind Sony, Bose and Apple
- Heaviest of the Android-friendly pairs at 293 g
- Lowest Amazon average here at 4.0
The Momentum 4 scores 85 with the most lopsided profile in the group. It tops battery at 98 and sits second for sound at 91. It is last for noise canceling at 78. SoundGuys put it plainly: its ANC is behind the top-tier pairs, while its sound quality and battery are ahead of the pack.
The battery number is real. SoundGuys measured 56 hours 21 minutes with ANC on, about one and a half times the XM6. For someone who charges once a week, nothing else here comes close except the Soundcore.
It is now an older model. Sennheiser launched the Momentum 5 in June 2026 at $399.99. The 4 has dropped to $212–$230 on Amazon this week, which earns it an 88 for value.
Pick it if Sound and battery matter more to you than blocking every last bit of noise.
- Rated battery (ANC on)
- 60 hr
- Measured battery
- 56 hr 21 min
- Noise removed (SoundGuys)
- Not published
- Weight
- 293 g
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- Wired listening
- USB-C audio, 3.5 mm
- Amazon rating
- 4.0 / 5 (14,046)
Soundcore Space 2
score83Index score 83 out of 100
Amazon, 10 Oct 2026
Check price at AmazonScore breakdown
- Noise canceling · 30%82
- Sound quality · 20%72
- Comfort · 15%86
- Battery life · 15%96
- Call quality · 10%72
- Value · 10%96
84% noise removed and 53 hours measured for $107. Needs EQ to sound its best.
Strengths
- SoundGuys measured 84% noise removed, only 3 points behind the XM6
- 53 hr 21 min measured battery
- Bluetooth 6.1 with LDAC kept on in multipoint
- 8-band EQ and HearID hearing test in the app
Weaknesses
- Dull, boxy sound out of the box per SoundGuys
- Transparency mode has audible hiss
- Pouch, not a hard case
Space 2 scores 83 for a third of the flagship price. The noise canceling is the surprise. SoundGuys measured 84% attenuation, three points behind the XM6 and Bose. TechRadar said it had not used a pair at this price that comes close.
Battery is the other strength. SoundGuys ran it for 53 hours 21 minutes, beating Soundcore's 50-hour claim. Only the Momentum 4 lasted longer.
Sound is where the price shows. SoundGuys called the default tuning dull and boxy, and TechRadar found the mids and bass uneven. The 8-band EQ helps a lot. Tom's Guide liked it more, especially over LDAC on Android.
Pick it if You want strong noise canceling and multi-day battery for about $100.
- Rated battery (ANC on)
- 50 hr
- Measured battery
- 53 hr 21 min
- Noise removed (SoundGuys)
- 84%
- Weight
- 264 g
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Wired listening
- 3.5 mm analog
- Amazon rating
- 4.3 / 5 (964)
Apple AirPods Max 2
score80Index score 80 out of 100
Amazon, 10 Oct 2026
Check price at AmazonScore breakdown
- Noise canceling · 30%95
- Sound quality · 20%90
- Comfort · 15%72
- Battery life · 15%50
- Call quality · 10%85
- Value · 10%62
The most noise removed of any pair here, but heavy, short on battery and the most expensive.
Strengths
- 89% noise removed, the highest SoundGuys figure here
- 30–40 dB of cancellation in the 20–200 Hz range, best for plane and road drone
- Most natural transparency mode, per PCMag
- Lossless USB-C audio from iPhone, iPad and Mac
Weaknesses
- 386 g, about 50% heavier than the Sony and Bose
- 20-hour rated battery, the shortest here
- No custom EQ
AirPods Max 2 tops two criteria and still finishes last at 80. It has the best noise canceling in the group at 95. SoundGuys measured 89% of outside noise removed, with its biggest lead in the low bass where engines and HVAC hum live. PCMag also named it the winner for ANC, transparency and call mics.
The weighted criteria pull it down. At 386 grams it is the heaviest by far, and PCMag warns it is the most likely to cause fatigue. Apple rates the battery at 20 hours with ANC on, the lowest here. There is no custom EQ, so you take Apple's tuning as it comes.
At $429 on Amazon it is $120 under list, but still the dearest pair here. On an iPhone, auto-switching, Live Translation and lossless USB-C audio add real value that our criteria do not fully capture.
Pick it if You use an iPhone and Mac every day and want the strongest low-frequency noise canceling.
- Rated battery (ANC on)
- 20 hr
- Measured battery
- Not yet published
- Noise removed (SoundGuys)
- 89%
- Weight
- 386 g
- Codecs
- AAC
- Wired listening
- USB-C lossless (24-bit/48 kHz)
- Amazon rating
- 4.5 / 5 (1,074)
Spec comparison
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless | Soundcore Space 2 | Apple AirPods Max 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index score | 89 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 83 | 80 |
| Rated battery (ANC on) | 30 hr | 30 hr (23 hr Immersive Audio) | 30 hr | 60 hr | 50 hr | 20 hr |
| Measured battery | 37 hr 14 min | 27 hr 12 min | 31 hr | 56 hr 21 min | 53 hr 21 min | Not yet published |
| Noise removed (SoundGuys) | 87% | ~87% (1st Gen figure) | Not published | Not published | 84% | 89% |
| Weight | 254 g | ~255 g | 250 g | 293 g | 264 g | 386 g |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, LDAC | AAC |
| Wired listening | 3.5 mm analog | USB-C audio, 2.5–3.5 mm | 3.5 mm analog | USB-C audio, 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm analog | USB-C lossless (24-bit/48 kHz) |
| Amazon rating | 4.2 / 5 (3,838) | 4.3 / 5 (2,975) | 4.2 / 5 (20,153) | 4.0 / 5 (14,046) | 4.3 / 5 (964) | 4.5 / 5 (1,074) |
Considered, not scored in full
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless
New in June 2026 at $399.99 with a user-swappable battery; too few published lab measurements yet, and it costs more than the XM6 street price.
Soundcore Space One Pro
$199.99 and SoundGuys found its bass overpowering; the cheaper Space 2 matched its 84% attenuation and outlasted it.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
A cheaper Bose model without Immersive Audio; Tom's Guide found it misses a feature travelers want. We rated the Ultra instead.
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C, 1st Gen)
Still listed around $515 on Amazon but replaced by AirPods Max 2, which costs less right now.
Soundcore Space One
$99.99 and older; the Space 2 adds 10 hours of rated ANC battery and Bluetooth 6.1 for $30 more at list price.
Buying explained
How to read the Index
The Index is a weighted average. A product that scores 90 on everything gets 90. A product that scores 95 on noise canceling and 50 on battery gets pulled toward the middle, as AirPods Max 2 does.
If your priorities differ from our weights, use the criterion scores directly. A frequent flyer might double the ANC weight. Someone who charges once a week might care most about battery.
- ANC 30%: the reason to buy this category
- Sound 20%: you hear it every minute
- Comfort 15% and battery 15%: decide long-wear use
- Calls 10% and value 10%: tie-breakers for most buyers
What the attenuation numbers mean
SoundGuys reports how much outside noise each pair removes, weighted by how loud it sounds to people. The gap between 84% and 89% is small in practice. SoundGuys says most people will not notice 2 points.
Where the noise is removed matters more. AirPods Max 2 leads below 200 Hz, which covers engine drone and road rumble. Above 1 kHz, where voices and keyboards sit, the top pairs perform about the same.
Measured battery vs rated battery
Makers rate battery at moderate volume with some features off. SoundGuys plays audio at a fixed 75 dB with ANC on until the battery dies. In this group, measured results ran 3% to 24% above the rating for Sony and Soundcore, and 6% to 9% below it for Sennheiser and Bose.
Spatial audio and LDAC cut battery further. Bose rates 23 hours with Immersive Audio on, down from 30. Soundcore says LDAC costs about 10 hours.
iPhone vs Android
AirPods Max 2 only use AAC over Bluetooth, and their best features need an Apple device. Sony and Soundcore support LDAC, and Bose and Sennheiser support aptX Adaptive, which help on Android phones that have them.
On an iPhone, every pair here falls back to AAC. The codec gap mostly disappears, and Apple's software features become the main reason to pick the Max 2.
When to buy
Prices in this category move a lot. The XM6 swung between $378 and $458 at Best Buy over the past year, according to a public price tracker. The Bose hit its lowest recorded price this month.
If the price you see is $50 or more above the one we list, wait. Black Friday is November 27, 2026.
FAQ
Which headphones have the best noise canceling?
On SoundGuys' numbers, AirPods Max 2 at 89%, then the XM6 and Bose at about 87%. Bose and Sony trade wins in other outlets' tests. All three are close enough that fit matters as much as the chip.
Is the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth it over the XM5?
Only if you value the extra noise canceling, better calls and smaller case at $180 more. At $198 the XM5 scores 85 against the XM6's 89.
Which pair is most comfortable for long flights?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen scores 95 for comfort. PCMag picked it for low clamp force and thick padding. AirPods Max 2 is the least comfortable for long wear because of its weight.
Which has the longest battery life?
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 at 56 hours 21 minutes in SoundGuys' test, then the Soundcore Space 2 at 53 hours 21 minutes.
Are AirPods Max 2 good with Android?
They work over Bluetooth, but you lose most of the smart features and only get AAC. On Android, the Sony XM6 or Bose is a better buy.
Can I use these headphones wired?
All six take a wire. Bose, Sennheiser and Apple support digital audio over USB-C. The two Sonys and the Soundcore use a 3.5 mm analog cable.
Is $100 enough for good noise canceling?
Yes. The Soundcore Space 2 removed 84% of outside noise in SoundGuys' test, close to the flagships. Its sound needs EQ to match them.
References
- 01SoundGuys: AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6 (attenuation, battery, mic tests)
- 02SoundGuys: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) review
- 03SoundGuys: Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen vs 1st Gen
- 04SoundGuys: Sennheiser Momentum 5 vs Momentum 4 (battery runs incl. XM5)
- 05SoundGuys: Soundcore Space 2 vs Space One Pro
- 06PCMag: AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6
- 07Tom's Guide: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 after six months
- 08Tom's Guide: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5 deal comparison
- 09Android Central: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen)
- 10TechRadar: Anker Soundcore Space 2 review
First published Sep 2, 2026. See an error? Let us know.
