8 best noise-cancelling headphones to buy on Prime Day

Who it's for:

Over-ear headphones can be great for blocking out noise, but less great for comfort when they're too heavy or squeeze your head too much. If you're someone who wants to wear your headphones all day, the Bose QuietComfort line was made for you. We've previously tested the QuietComfort 35 IIs and the QuietComfort 45s, and the QuietComfort Ultra was easily the most comfortable of the three.

They're also the most expensive at $429, so you will be paying a premium. However, picking them up during October Prime Day could save you a good chunk of change — back in July, the headphones dropped down to $349.

Why we picked this:

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones up the ante on the long-popular line from the brand, giving you all-day wear with spatial audio.

We don't know how Bose improved on the design as much as they did, but we wore these headphones for hours — on flights, with glasses on, all day — and they wore through it all without squeezing or feeling heavy. To drop the royal Mashable we for just moment, I (Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard) can attest to these easily being headphones I could wear all day, and I wasn't alone in that feeling. Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino also recently tested out these headphones, and found that their biggest draw was their comfort, noticing that she didn't experience the same earaches she might get after wearing her Sony WH-1000XM4 for the same amount of time.

She did say, however, that their active noise cancellation and sound profile were good, but not great. In her opinion, she found them to be a bit lacking, noting that the ANC "is really good at blocking out low-pitched noises, [but] it can't wholly block high-pitched sounds unless you turn up the sound to unhealthy volumes." Personally, I found the ANC to do the job for me, but most of the noise I block out on a day-to-day basis isn't super high-pitched.

Where Mangino and I really agreed is that the ear cup controls and multipoint pairing leave much to be desired, especially at this price point. It can be difficult to easily connect with the button that acts as the on/Bluetooth pairing button — sometimes it's immediately responsive, and sometimes you have to press it a few times and wait for it to properly turn on and connect. Like past QC headphones, these also can be touch and go with multipoint pairing, but I found them to function better at least than the QC 45 headphones, which often made audio have small skips with more than one device connected.

Finally, these headphones weirdly don't offer passive playback, so you will need to rely on them being charged whether you're listening wired or wirelessly. Thankfully, Mangino and I found that it was surprisingly hard to run down the battery on the Ultras, even if you're regularly using ANC and spatial audio. Ultimately, if what you prize above all else is comfort, we think these flaws will feel worth the trade-off.

Check out our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

Who it's for:

If you want good ANC, but especially value clear and well-rounded sound, these are your headphones. Whether you really like to blast your music, or just want to hear the lows, highs, and mids of a song, the WH-1000XM5s are the headphones on our list most likely to deliver.

During July's Prime Day, these headphones dropped $100 in price. For Prime Big Deal Days, we're expecting to see at least the same discount.

Why we picked this:

Sony's flagship noise-cancelling headphones produce a balanced sound that let your music shine, while giving you enough ANC to block ambient noise.

Here's what Mashable Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern had to say about listening to Brandi Carlile’s “Right on Time” on the XM5 headphones: "The vocals and instruments all got to shine, and the headphones made it feel like I was there in the studio. These are probably the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tried." That audio quality, combined with their comfort and effective noise cancelling are what earned them a Mashable Choice Award. And if you're intimidated by messing around with an equalizer, the app presets along with the "Find Your Equalizer" feature make it easy to find the sound settings that hit just right.

Their portability factor could be a little better — the ear cups don't fold in — but chances are, you'll want to be listening to them most of the time, anyway. When you are on the go, the microphone is another standout feature. Kern relayed that even on a walk home in New York City, she could hear who she was calling perfectly, and be heard herself without any background noise getting in the way. As an added bonus, they have a battery life that beats the Bose QC Ultras by a good six hours, offering some of the best battery we've seen from premium over-ear headphones.

Check out our full review of the Dyson OnTrac headphones.

Who it's for:

The Dyson OnTrac headphones aren't perfect, but if long-lasting battery life is your top priority and you're willing to pay for it, these provide the best battery life we've ever seen on a pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones. They're also extremely comfortable, too.

Why we picked this:

Short answer: 55 hours of battery life with noise-cancelling turned on.

That's what Dyson claimed with these headphones, and what Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth confirmed when he tested them out over the period of a month. And that noise cancelling works well.

As for the longer answer, let's begin with a couple of questions: Are these headphones Dyson-level expensive? Yes (though they're still $50 cheaper than AirPods Max, which max out at 20 hours of battery life). Is the Dyson logo on the headband kind of tacky? Also yes. And the multipoint pairing is lacking, which really shouldn't be an issue on a pair of $500 headphones. However, if you can live with that, you'll get headphones that Werth called "the best...I've tested yet," with excellent sound quality, solid ANC, swappable ear plates (for a price), and again, 55 full hours of battery life with the active noise cancellation turned on.

They certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea (or in everyone's budget), but if you want the best battery life money can buy, Dyson's OnTrac headphones are for you.

This will be the first Prime Day these headphones are available, so we don't have any historical pricing info on them to share. However, Dyson typically marks down their products from other product categories like vacuums and hair tools.

Read our full review of the AirPods Pro (Generation 2).

Who it's for:

If you want ANC without all the bulk, the AirPods Pro are small, discreet, and (thanks to the their long-awaited USB-C charging port) easier to charge. Though over-ear headphones typically provide superior ANC, these AirPods have impressive noise cancellation for a pair of buds. You'll probably enjoy them a little extra if you have other devices within the Apple ecosystem.

Why we picked this:

Are they pricey? Absolutely. Is their ANC worth it? Here's what Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder had to say: "These are the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane (instead of my much larger and clunkier over-ear headphones)." Though these aren't the only Apple headphones with ANC, we highly prefer these over the AirPods Max, which we think are way overpriced (they're double the cost of these Pros) and don't have the performance to justify that price tag.

Other than that killer ANC, AirPods are great for travel because they take up minimal space in your carry on, they sound great, and they have a Conversation Awareness mode which automatically lowers the volume when you're talking, so placing a drink order is easy as can be. And with their new USB-C port, you can charge them directly from an iPhone with a USB-C port.

To get a perfectly snug fit to maximize your listening experience, you'll have your choice between four ear tips. Apple claims these buds support lossless audio, but as of right now, only with the Apple Vision Pro, so you'd have to shell out an additional $3,500 for that experience.

You can find AirPods on sale with some regularity if you shop from Amazon or Walmart — we recommend waiting until they at least drop down to $199 at either retailer before buying a pair. If that's the best price you see them at during Prime Big Deal Days, wait until Black Friday. These earbuds should drop to at least $189 before they become worth adding to your cart during the sale.

Who it's for:

Love high-quality audio but not so fond of the feeling of headphones over your ears? These Sony earbuds are the earbud model of the flagship WH-1000XM5 headphones we recommended above.

Why we picked this:

These earbuds deliver a rich, well-balanced sound profile, without the weight of over-ear headphones. The ear tips material are not the usual silicone found on AirPods and other earbuds, but a more foam-like material you'd find on an ear plug, allowing for all-day wear that creates a firm seal without sacrificing comfort. People who aren't fans of the stemmed design made popular by AirPods will appreciate that Sony didn't attempt to make a carbon copy. Plus, these Sony earbuds still offer functional touch controls.

The Sony companion app allows for a ton of customization, including for those aforementioned touch controls, paired devices, and of course, an equalizer. Those who feel a bit intimated by a completely custom equalizer will appreciate the "Find Your Equalizer" feature, which gives you two rounds of options to select from while listening to music to narrow down what settings actually sound the best. Once you've made your selection, a final before and after sound test confirms you're happy with the mix, making it easier than ever to get the most out of your music.

We also enjoyed the Adaptive Sound Control, which switches the earbuds automatically from noise cancelling to ambient sound transparency modes based on whether you're sitting or walking around (settings that can be adjusted). Multipoint pairing also lets you switch between two devices with next to zero lag. If you hate using transparency mode because of how it amplifies outside sounds, you can adjust that, too.

Admittedly, these earbuds are pricey, but we think the premium features and quality sound justify the cost for someone who wants a lot out of their earbuds. Typically, these headphones drop about $70 in price, so we expect to see a similar markdown during Prime Big Deal Days.

Check out our full review of the Sony ULT Wear headphones.

Who it's for:

If you don't need a fancy custom equalizer to know you like punching up the bass ten out of ten times, the new Sony ULT Wear headphones are made for you. Our reviewer praised these headphones for offering balanced sound and powerful bass, a rare combo. These are also a great pick for those looking for a more affordable alternative to the WH-1000XM5s.

Why we picked this:

Sony released the new ULT line in April, and considering the price, they're some of the best Sony headphones ever made. They're designed for anyone who's a fan of bass. In addition to the equalizer in the app, the headphones have a dedicated ULT button that lets you bump up the bass on demand. The 40-millimeter driver keeps it sounding clear and not crispy, making these headphones a worthy competitor to the WH-1000XM5s, our top pick for the best sounding noise-cancelling headphones.

When testing the two headphones side by side, Mashable's Miller Kern found that while both headphones sounded great, "the ULT Wear’s sound was fuller and felt more like surround sound. And even on the standard setting, the bass sounded richer on the ULTs." We still stand by the WH-1000XM5s as a better pick for audiophiles, but Kern makes a strong case for buying these over the XM5s. "[To] the average person, I’d say the ULT Wears are the winners — especially for those who prioritize bass and fullness in their audio." For $100 cheaper, these are a more than fair alternative to Sony's flagship headphones.

We're currently evaluating whether the new AirPods 4 are a better fit for the best mid-range pick. We'll update this post accordingly, but in the meantime, check out our full review of the AirPods 4.

Who it's for:

We don't think these earbuds perform quite as well as the newest AirPods Pro, but they also cost $80 less. If you're trying to get quality ANC earbuds for under $200 (but are willing to spend more than $50), then the Beats Studio Buds+ are the way to go. Plus, with Google Fast Pair support, they're better suited for Android users than the AirPods Pro.

Why we picked this:

We love a good dupe, what can we say? While these Beats aren't a one-to-one match for the AirPods Pro, they give a lot of the same basic functionality at a much more affordable price. And at six hours per charge with ANC, they match the Pro's battery life exactly.

As for how they sound, these are Beats headphones, so expect the bass to come through nice and clear. They're not too bass heavy though, and they give plenty of balance on higher frequencies. Their ANC definitely isn't at the same level as the Pros, so having a well-rounded sound is nice, as playing music in tandem with ANC will give you your best shot at blocking out the world around you.

You'll have your choice between four colorways, including black, silver, ivory, and transparent. During our testing, we also found these earbuds fit more comfortably than the AirPods Pro, so if you tend to have trouble getting AirPods to stay in your ears, these are a better option for you. If you can, we recommend waiting for these earbuds to go on sale — you can often find them for $149.95 or $129.95, especially during sales like Prime Day.

Who it's for:

If you're on a tight budget but still want to enjoy noise cancellation, the Anker Soundcore Life P3i earbuds offer a surprisingly solid performance. Don't expect elite ANC, but these affordable earbuds don't require too much of a sacrifice in sound quality.

Why we picked this:

We're going to start with the major hitch of these earbuds: switching between devices sucks. They don't have multipoint pairing, and if you want to use them with your phone after using them with your laptop, you have to manually disconnect them (or in our experience, sometimes outright unpair them), with your laptop first. It's easily their biggest flaw, and where we most obviously felt their price point during testing.

With that out of the way, these earbuds still have a lot going for them. For starters, they cost $50 and can often be found on sale for even less. Though inexpensive, these earbuds are comfortable to wear all day, have a custom equalizer in the app plus 21 presets (we're fans of the Treble Booster), customizable touch controls for each earbud, and a battery life that outdoes the Apple AirPods Pro. You won't have extras like spatial audio, and the ANC leans on background hiss more than premium models, but not terribly so.

For a pair of $50 earbuds, we're impressed. We recommend them for anyone who doesn't want to shell out $100 plus for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. In Prime Days past, we haven't seen them drop too much in price, but at $50, we can't complain too much that they don't get a crazy markdown.