The best noise-cancelling earbuds include the most comfortable buds I've ever tested

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

Who it's for:

I didn't know I could feel passionate about earbuds until I tried the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, a Mashable Choice product. Truthfully, I can't imagine a person that wouldn't appreciate these buds. The noise cancellation is the best I've ever experienced, and the music feels like it surrounds you thanks to spatial audio. Plus, the fit is like no other.

If you've ever struggled with ear fatigue or getting earbuds to fit comfortably, these earbuds work for multiple sizes of ears, providing a secure yet comfortable fit for hours. You might be put off by the $299 price tag, but they're worth every penny.

Why we like it:

Having tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones and read Mashable editor Timothy Beck Werth's review of these earbuds, I expected them to be good, but I didn't expect to be so blown away by them. I've struggled with earbuds in the past, never finding ones that offer the perfect fit, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds sat comfortably in my ears with a secure fit. Whenever I wear earbuds on a walk, I constantly push them in, but I swear I didn't have to adjust these once on my entire 3-mile loop.

If you're after noise cancellation, you really can't beat these. When I first put the earbuds in, I was in a room with a loud fan, and when the earbud's ANC kicked in, it completely blocked out the fan in a way that felt like magic. Even though I didn't have music playing, there was no buzzing, just perfect quiet.

Plus, the audio quality was superb. Bose offers immersive audio mode on these wireless earbuds, but it felt like the music was all around me even when I wasn't using it. They helped me get in the zone, thumping the beats of Nelly Furtado's "Man Eater" as I stomped the pavement. I heard every note of the delicate instrumentals of the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack, even while walking alongside a busy road. Plus, I felt like I was in the room listening to a live recording of Daft Punk's "One More Time."

In Werth's standalone review of the earbuds, he said that they're wasted on podcasts. While he's right, they do shine when playing music, and they do make podcasts sound better. When I was listening to episodes with lower-quality tracks, they made even the worst audio sound crisp and distinct without having to crank up the volume.

Who it's for:

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are also fantastic. If you are slightly less concerned about noise cancellation and instead prioritize audio quality, these might be better for you. These earbuds pick up on the subtleness of every lyric and beat. If you're already in the Sony ecosystem, maybe you use the WF-1000XM5 headphones. If so, these buds are the perfect companion.

Why we like it:

I like music, but the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds made me truly appreciate it. When I tucked them into my ears, I was plunged into every hit of the drum in Slipknot's "(sic)" and the 1975's "This Must Be My Dream." When listening to SOPHIE's "Faceshopping," I heard the pop of her lips on every word. All this to say, the Sony earbuds offer distinct audio that even the pickiest of audiophiles will enjoy.

Compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, the Sony earbuds have a slightly flatter sound, not as immersive as the Bose. Despite this, I still think the Sonys were strong in capturing the subtlety of music. The WF-1000XM5s are a little weaker on ANC compared to Bose, but just barely. While using the earbuds indoors, I found they did an excellent job blocking out cooking noises or someone speaking. However, when I was outdoors, the bustling road seeped through in a high-traffic environment.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 were less comfortable than the Bose QC Ultras. To get a secure fit, I had to push them in, and they felt jammed in my ear. Despite the initial discomfort, they were pretty comfortable over an hour of listening.

They're a single dollar less than the Bose earbuds, so if you're in between, go Bose. The Sony earbuds also fall behind with a weaker companion app. The Sony app is very technical and difficult to navigate, whereas Bose's is straightforward and easy to use.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro.

Who it's for:

If you're an iOS user who wants to avoid dealing with an auxiliary app, Apple AirPods Pro is your best bet. They have impressive noise cancellation and seamlessly connect to iOS systems. To pair them to your iPhone, just open the charging case. Need to go hands-free? The AirPods will announce your texts to you.

Why we like it:

As an iPhone user, I'm partial to Apple AirPods Pro's connectivity. They connect easily, and no app is needed. Instead, you can just go into your phone's settings; the AirPods have their own settings menu there.

But beyond their iOS compatibility, they're also fantastic earbuds. I was taken aback when outdoors and found that their ANC drowned out the busy street I was walking along. The audio quality is generally good, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as the Bose or Sony earbuds. These buds played my songs as I would expect, but with no extra flair.

The biggest downside to the Apple AirPods Pro is that they don't come with multiple ear tips. The AirPods Pro fell out often, and I wished for a smaller ear tip for a better fit.

If you like the idea of the AirPods Pro 2 but can't swing the price, the new AirPods 4 also come with active noise cancellation. Plus, they just received a positive review from Mashable's tech editor.

Read our full review of the Beats Fit Pro.

Who it's for:

Beats Fit Pro earbuds check the boxes for most athletes looking for noise cancellation. These tiny buds fit comfortably in ears, and three different sizes of ear tips create a comfortable, secure fit. With active noise cancellation, the buds block out noise so you can focus on your workout. However, there is still some noise leakage, which isn't bad if you need to remain aware of your surroundings for safety.

Why we like it:

The sound quality on the Beats Fit Pro is excellent. The active noise cancellation dimmed the busy world around me so I could tune into my podcast while working out. I did find that the ANC got a little buzzy around loud noises as it worked harder to block them out, and ultimately, I found it a little distracting. However, I think they're the best headphones with noise cancellation for working out. With an IPX4 rating, they're water-resistant, making me confident that my sweat or a sudden rainstorm wouldn't cause any damage to them. Plus, at $199, they're significantly cheaper than other premium earbuds, and you probably don't want to spend too much on headphones dedicated to working out.

I'd never used a pair of Beats headphones before testing the Fit Pro earbuds, but I was quickly impressed. You can't beat the quick connectivity. As an iOS user, I just had to open the case for the Beats Fit Pro to connect nearly instantly. Earbuds can be a tough fit, so I appreciated the multiple-sized ear tips that created a secure fit — not quite as good as the Bose, but definitely better than the AirPods Pro.

What I really loved about the design was the touch controls. While most headphones don't have actual buttons for touch controls, these do, making it a breeze to take calls. However, that makes it a little too easy to end calls — I accidentally ended a call or two while using these earbuds.