Whether you’re trying to kick back with your favourite playlists or power through a ton of work at your local cafe, a great pair of active noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds is essential. These clever headphones negate the frequencies of background noise, making for perfect silence for your favourite music.
As someone who has been reviewing headphones and earbuds for years, I can tell you that in 2025, the amount of choice available has never been better. The problem, however, is that if you don’t know all that much about ANC devices, it can be tricky to whittle down the one that’s best suited for your needs.
On top of that, you need a decent starting budget. Unlike a smartphone or tablet, where there are plenty of great budget and mid-range options, I would argue that the one device that you should really invest some money in is a pair of headphones or earbuds. Having the right ANC to hand can make all the difference if you’re trying to enjoy entertainment on a long-haul flight or listen to a podcast on your daily commute.
After some thorough testing, I know exactly which ones are worth your hard-earned cash. My favourites are the Bose quietcomfort ultra headphones, but several excellent options stood out after weeks of testing.
How I tested
Beyond the power of the noise-cancelling itself, there are also plenty of other factors to bear in mind, such as sound quality, battery life, and comfort. To ensure that only the very best ANC headphones and earbuds are featured here, these are the key testing criteria that all of these entries are measured against:
- Noise cancelling: The most important feature for this list, I made sure to test out all available ANC modes both at home and in loud, busy areas around Central London, as well as during the train ride into the city.
- Sound quality: Just as important as the ANC for overall enjoyment. This involved playing as many genres as I could to determine how versatile the audio is at adapting to different musical styles and showing them off at their best.
- Battery life: Longevity is crucial for headphones and earbuds, especially if you’re using them all day long or while travelling, so I timed to see how far I could get on a single charge with each device, and also kept tabs on how long it takes to charge.
- Comfort: Headphones have to be comfortable for hours. I tested this by seeing how long I could wear each device for whilst sitting down and walking outdoors before any discomfort could creep in.
- Durability: Even if a pair of headphones passes all of the other tests, it doesn’t amount to much if they break down easily. Good headphones should work for gym sessions too. I wanted quality materials and high IP ratings for headphones or earbuds are designed to last.
- Ecosystem: Lots of noise-cancelling headphones are designed to work well in a particular product ecosystem; for example, Apple AirPods work best with an iPhone. I wanted headphones that complemented their ecosystem, but were also at home with other companies’ devices.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The Independent’s reviews section. IndyBest team reviews all kinds of headphones to provide you with the best buying guides for a perfect music-listening experience. From sleep headphones to the best open-ear headphones, you can be assured that every review is backed by extensive testing processes.
For this roundup, expert tech reviewer Thomas Deehan used his years of experience to test a range of headphones and bring you his honest opinions.
The best noise-cancelling headphones for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Bose quietcomfort ultra headphones: £449, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Anker space one pro: £149.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for audio – Sony WH-1000XM6: £399, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for battery life – Marshall monitor III A.N.C: £291, Amazon.co.uk
Bose quietcomfort ultra headphones
Best: Noise-cancelling headphones overall
Dimensions: 19.5cm x 13.9cm x 5.08cm
Weight: 250g
Battery life: 24 hours
Colourways: Black, white smoke, lunar blue, deep plum
Bluetooth: 5.3
Why we love it
- Class-leading noise cancelling
- Very comfortable to wear
- Standby mode lets you dive into playback quickly
Take note
- The design isn’t going to turn any heads
- It would be better if the battery life lasted just a few hours more
The absolute top-tier of the bunch. Bose has always been known for its strong noise-cancelling technology, but the quietcomfort ultra take this concept to a whole other level. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a busy train station or a cafe with a noisy coffee machine; these headphones can bring it all down to a hum.
Music playback is excellent, although it lacks some of the depth you’ll find with Sony and Apple’s competing headphones, if only just. Still, having such strong ANC makes the headphones brilliantly suited for listening to podcasts, as you’ll never miss a word, and it’s perfect for trying to lock in when you want to get work done amidst distractions.
While the overall design is a little too safe for my liking, and the headphones are definitely on the pricier side, there’s no denying that when it comes to ANC, Bose is king.
Buy now £449.95, Amazon.co.uk
Cambridge audio melomania A100
Best: Budget noise-cancelling earbuds
Dimensions: 6.1cm x 4.5cm x 2.4cm
Weight: 4.7g per earbud, 48.1g including case
Battery life: 12 hours per charge (39 hours in total)
Colourways: Black, white
Bluetooth: 5.4
Why we love it
- Some of the best audio quality you can find at this price tag
- ANC does a solid job at beating back ambient noise
- Great battery life
Take note
- Case is prone to scratches
While there are definitely cheaper options available, I think that at £119, the Cambridge Audio melonania A100 are the perfect pick for still getting a great value buy without compromising on top-shelf features. The earbuds benefit from Cambridge Audio’s signature style, which really brings the lows and mids to the forefront – put on any rock or hip hop track and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
Playing a thumping track like “Million Dollar Baby” by Tommy Richman, the bass pulsates in a way that other earbuds wish they could achieve, and the ANC only serves to further your enjoyment as you listen on the go.
My only gripe is durability. You get what you pay for, but I wish the earbuds and the charging case had a sturdier build, as the latter picked up some notable marks after just one trip to the gym.
Still, any setbacks on the A100 are nothing compared to the audio quality you get for the price. Throw in the fact that you get up to 39 hours of use in total when the charging case is factored in, and you’re looking at the best value ANC earbuds available right now.
Buy now £119.00, Amazon.co.uk
Anker space one pro
Best: Budget noise-cancelling headphones
Dimensions: 19.1cm x 16.3cm x 8.9cm
Weight: 286g
Battery life: 40 hours (60 hours without ANC)
Colourways: Jet black, cream white
Bluetooth: 5.3
Why we love it
- Outstanding value that makes the headphones a great option for students and buyers on a budget
- Enjoyable soundscape that works well will bouncier tracks
- Battery life that exceeds far more expensive ANC headphones
Take note
- They don’t quite hit the highs of the headphones they’re trying to emulate
- Equaliser settings in the app are disappointing
While big-brand headphones cost a fair amount of money, the Anker soundcore space one pro prove that there are great budget alternatives for those who decide to shop around.
Already known for great value devices in the world of portable chargers and Bluetooth speakers, Anker’s sense for bringing a top-tier experience down to the budget level is obvious here, as the soundcore space one pro aim for the same high-energy sound profile as the Sony WH-1000XM6 (£399, Amazon.co.uk). The sound isn’t as detailed as Sony’s offering, but it works really well given the £149.99 asking price.
There’s a nice amount of weight afforded to the bassline, so you can really bop along whilst studying or trying to get some work done. Both the headband and the ear cushions are wonderfully comfortable when in use, and much like the Marshall monitor III ANC, these headphones can be folded up into a very compact state, so if you need to chuck them in a backpack filled with books and a laptop, they’ll barely take up much space at all.
I don’t recommend trying to change the sound profile in the soundcore app – trying to amp up the bass even further only made it worse, so it’s best to stick with the default sound profile. When you also consider the 40 hour battery (60 hours with ANC off), it’s hard to argue with Anker’s value proposition here.
Buy now £149.99, Amazon.uk
Sony WH-1000XM6
Best: Noise-cancelling headphones for audio
Dimensions: 27.6cm x 21.7cm x 7.6cm
Weight: 254g
Battery life: 30 hours
Colourways: Black, midnight blue, silver
Bluetooth: 5.3
Why we love it
- Hugely enjoyable soundscape with thumping volume
- Very comfortable to wear for long periods of time
- Foldable design makes the headphones easy to stow away
Take note
- ANC is bested by Bose
- Pricier than other Sony wireless headphones
Much as Bose has ANC locked down, audio quality is where Sony excels, and the WH-1000XM6 headphones show off the company’s expertise at its very best. The moment you put on a pair of XM6, you’ll wonder how you ever put up with anything less – every layer of a song is given its due, and all with a punchy attitude that’ll have you dancing along in no time.
Don’t think that ANC is lacklustre here, however – when washing the dishes, I couldn’t hear a thing beyond the playlist I’d chosen to accompany the chore. You also have tons of customisation options via the sound connect app, although I do think it’s a bit more cluttered and less user-friendly than similar apps from Bose and Marshall.
These headphones are also more expensive than anything Sony’s made before, which can make the WH-1000XM4 (£199, Amazon.co.uk) a more tempting option for those on a budget. If you can indulge, however, you’ll find the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth every penny. The only reason they aren’t in the top spot is that the noise cancelling on the Bose above is a hair better. If that’s not a dealbreaker, you need these headphones.
Buy now £399.00, Amazon.co.uk
Bose quietcomfort ultra earbuds 2nd gen
Best: Noise-cancelling earbuds
Dimensions: 6.6cm x 5.9cm x 2.7cm
Weight: 7.7g per earbus, 61.2g including case
Battery life: 6 hours per charge
Colourways: Black, white smoke, deep plum, midnight violet
Bluetooth: 5.3
Why we love it
- No other earbuds are this good at noise cancelling
- Sturdy design that stays in place during cardio workouts
- Touch controls are simple to use
Take note
- The larger design won’t suit everyone
- Pricier than most of the competition
Given just how far Bose’s headphones excel at noise cancelling, it shouldn’t be too surprising that the company’s earbuds are also the cream of the crop in their respective field. Trust me when I say that I’ve never used earbuds more powerful than these – they brought down the cacophony of Waterloo Station at rush hour to a far more manageable hum.
The trade-off for this technical wizardry is that the Bose quietcomfort ultra earbuds are a little bulkier than most true wireless earbuds. They’re nowhere near as svelte as the AirPods Pro 2 (£199, Amazon.co.uk), but the larger build and the wing-tip feature make them well-suited for workouts, as they stay in place without worry.
The biggest problem with the ultra earbuds is their price. At £299, they are among the most expensive earbuds on the market, and you can find options with great ANC for half the price – the problem is, none of them can withhold ambient noise like Bose can.
Buy now £299.95, Amazon.co.uk
Marshall monitor III ANC
Best: Noise-cancelling headphones for battery life
Dimensions: 20.6cm x 14.5cm x 7.4cm
Weight: 250g
Battery life: 70 hours (100 hours without ANC)
Colourways: Black
Bluetooth: 5.3
Why we love it
- Class leading battery life that’s perfect for travelling abroad
- Punchy audio which brings out the best in rock tracks
- Very compact when folded away
Take note
- The old-school design won’t be to everyone’s tastes
- The ANC is outdone by most other options on this list
Ever been on a long-haul flight and seen the dreaded ‘low battery’ alert come up for your headphones? If the answer is a resounding yes, then the Marshall monitor III ANC headphones should probably be your next upgrade. They can last for a whopping 70 hours with noise-cancelling, and 100 hours with the feature switched off.
Several days of battery longevity runs rings around every pair of headphones on this list. Even the Dyson ontrac (£499, Amazon.co.uk), which can go for 55 hours, are a full 15 hours short compared to what Marshall is offering.
Because this is Marshall, after all, I’ve found the headphones really come alive when listening to rock of any sub-genre. Drums are given lots of weight, so when it all kicks in with a song like “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses, you really feel the energy. When you do need to pack them away, the Monitor III contorts unlike any pair of headphones I’ve seen, aside from the Anker soundcore space one pro, so they won’t be taking up much space in a carry-on bag.
The only things working against the headphones are the design, which may be a bit old-school for some, and the noise cancelling, which is good but isn’t as powerful as you’ll find elsewhere. However, if you travel a lot and need something compact and long-lasting, these are the headphones.
Buy now £293.00, Amazon.co.uk
Apple AirPods pro 2
Best: Noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple users
Dimensions: 4.5cm x 6.1cm x 2.2cm
Weight: 5.3g per bud, 50.8g including case
Battery life: 5 hours per charge (30 hours in total)
Colourways: White
Bluetooth: 5.3
Why we love it
- Top-notch ANC that works well in almost every environment
- Fun audio that’s designed to complement all genres
- Competitively priced against other options on the market
Take note
- Too many features are stripped back for Android users
Apple’s premium-level earbuds hit that perfect combination of being well priced, boasting outstanding audio quality and having robust ANC that works brilliantly when you’re trying to watch a bit of entertainment on a loud flight. I’ve spent more time with them than any other entry on this list, and I can’t state my admiration for them quite enough.
The issue with the AirPods Pro 2 is that they’re an immediate no-go for Android users. Without an iPhone, you can’t customise the controls or even enjoy the auto-pause feature when you remove them from your ears. In this instance, you’re far better off buying the quietcomfort ultra earbuds (£299, Amazon.co.uk) or, if you have less cash to work with, the Cambridge Audio melomania A100 (£119, Amazon.co.uk).
Still, if you have an iPhone, these buds are an essential buy. Between spatial audio in Apple Music and quick access to Siri, the AirPods Pro 2 are designed to give Apple users an unrivalled experience. With the recent release of the AirPods Pro 3 (£219, Amazon.co.uk), they’re good value too; you can grab them for a decent chunk off the list price everywhere.
Buy now £229.00, Amazon.co.uk
Focal bathys MG
Best: Noise-cancelling headphones for audiophiles
Dimensions: 24cm x 21cm x 7cm
Weight: 350g
Battery life: 30 hours (42 hours without ANC)
Colourways: Chestnut
Bluetooth: 5.2
Why we love it
- Crystal clear sound that brings out the very best version of your favourite songs
- Using a wired DAC connection only heightens the detail that you can draw from playback
- Build comprised of premium materials
Take note
- Eye-watering price
- The bass isn’t given quite as much attention as other layers
If you’re the type of person who obsesses about the details of a song above all else, then the Focal bathys MG are made with you in mind. As soon as I put the headphones on, it felt like I was being treated to a level of audio luxury I hadn’t experienced before. Lead vocals felt so real as to convince my brain that I was sitting in the recording studio, and even back-up vocals have a level of clarity unlike any other pair of headphones I’ve tested.
The whole thing is a joy to listen to, especially when you use the USB-C cable included for beefed-up DAC playback, but the price (£999) is what instantly rules out the headphones for most buyers. I was also surprisingly disappointed by the bass performance, as these headphones lack the punch that you’ll find on the Sony WH-1000XM6 (£399, Amazon.co.uk). If you tend to focus more on the lower end of a track, as is crucial for dance music or a good hip hop 808, you’ll do better elsewhere – even the Melomania A100 (£119, Amazon.co.uk) have stronger bass.
Overall, they’re the type of headphones that I’d only recommend to musicians and audiophiles who can appreciate the expansive soundscape that the Bathys MG can achieve.
Buy now £999.00, Richersounds.com
Apple AirPods max
Best: Noise-cancelling headphones for Apple users
Dimensions: 18.7cm x 16.9cm x 8.3cm
Weight: 386.2g
Battery life: 20 hours
Colourways: Midnight, starlight, blue, purple, orange
Bluetooth: 5.0
Why we love it
- Integrates seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem
- Powerful audio that works brilliantly with an Apple Music subscription
- Slick design that’s also very comfortable around the earcups
Take note
- Pricey for what you get
- The lack of a power button is a baffling omission
The AirPods Max have become synonymous with headphones at large thanks to their eye-catching design, but they’re an instant win if you use an iPhone because of how seamlessly they pair with Apple’s ecosystem. You can listen to music on your iPad, then take a call on your iPhone, and the headphones will move instantly, without you having to do a thing.
Sound quality is robust with nice attention to detail that’s only exacerbated with an Apple Music subscription. The only thing that really holds the AirPods Max back (aside from their price tag) is the absurd lack of a power button, which is very frustrating. There’s no low-power mode either, unless you place them back inside the purse-like smart case that they come with, which extends the longevity a little but means you can’t listen to your music.
You do miss a few features, including auto-pause when using the Max with an Android phone, which is why Samsung and Google users should look elsewhere on this list, but for Apple fans, the Max are a great package overall.
Buy now £499.00, Amazon.co.uk
Dyson ontrac noise cancelling wireless over ear headphones
Best: Customisable noise-cancelling headphones
Dimension: 20.1cm x 22.1cm x 5.5cm
Weight: 451g
Battery life: 55 hours
Colourways: Black nickel, cinnabar, aluminium, copper
Bluetooth: 5.0
Why we love it
- Eye-catching design with tons of colourway options
- Strong noise cancelling thanks to the thick ear cushions
- Up to 55-hours of battery life on a single charge
Take note
- Overpriced compared to the competition
- Sound quality doesn’t quite match the premium price tag
- Can feel a bit heavy after prolonged use
As much as I love Sony and Bose’s headphones, they both lack an eye-catching design. Thankfully, the Dyson ontrac make up for that by letting you customise the colour of every aspect, ranging from the headband to the ear cushions, so you can develop the pair of headphones that best suits your style.
Because of the thickness of the ontrac’s ear cushions, they do a good job of minimising external noise before you even switch the ANC on, at which point you can just zone out in your own little audio world. While the sound quality is solid, and you can amp up the bass via the Dyson app, it’s nowhere near as detailed as the Focal bathys MG, or as energetic as the WH-1000XM6 (£399, Amazon.co.uk) or the Marshall monitor III ANC (£291, Amazon.co.uk). They also aren’t helped by their higher-than-average price point, so you may want to wait until they’re on offer before nabbing a pair.
Still, the one thing you can’t criticise the Dyson ontrac for is being boring, and the ANC is powerful enough to put the headphones somewhere between Bose and Sony, which is quite impressive.
Buy now £449.99, Dyson.co.uk
Your questions on noise-cancelling headphones answered
What are the best noise-cancelling headphones 2025?
During testing, the Bose quietcomfort ultra headphones came out on top thanks to their strong ANC and excellent playback. However, this hi-tech performance comes with a £450 price tag. If you’re looking to spend less, the Cambridge Audio melomania A100 boasts great audio quality and the Anker soundcorespace one pro offer outstanding value.
What is the difference between PNC and ANC?
Passive noise cancellation (PNC, or sound isolation) is a physical element, whereby the shape of the headphones dictates how much ambient sound can sneak in. PNC can be enough for many people, as headphone designs are more sophisticated than ever, and designers regularly conceive of ingenious ways of putting a barrier between your ear and the outside world. This is, therefore, the most effective way of protecting your ears against loud, sudden noises, such as explosions or jet engines.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) brings tech into the equation. A series of microphones within the headphones listen out for any nuisance noise in your surroundings. Then, speakers match the frequencies of those sounds, cancelling out this noise and giving you the blissful sound of silence. ANC technology usually needs a few moments to settle and note the various sounds in your surroundings, working most efficiently in settings with consistent ambient sound, like chatter in a cafe or the wheels of a train.
Is noise-cancelling bad for your ears?
Some people experience a little dizziness or a vacuum effect when first wearing ANC headphones, as the technology removes the sound and frequencies that our brains would expect to hear or feel. This isn’t harming your hearing at all. In fact, noise-cancelling headphones can actually protect against hearing loss, dampening external noise instead of having you just turn up the volume to potentially dangerous levels.
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