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Now that most new headphones and earbuds offer at least one form of noise cancellation, it would be impossible (and unproductive) to list all of our favorites above. If you still haven’t found your favorite, here are some other favorites to consider.
Soundcore Life Q30 for $60-85: Anker’s Soundcore line is nothing if not value-conscious, and the Life Q30 offers an embarrassing list of extras for their often bargain-basement price. You get clear and warm sound, great features, plenty of battery life and noise-canceling that gets the job done even on long flights, though it can’t quite keep up with the flagship pair. It’s hard to complain when they cost hundreds less, especially with sale prices that sometimes put them above $50.
Soundcore Space A40 for $60: Anker’s Soundcore brand, Space A40 (8/10, Wired recommends) are some of our favorite cheap earbuds, especially since their prices keep dropping You’ll find a classy design, tons of features, quality sound, and great sound cancellation for their class.
$199 for the Apple Beats Fit Pro: The Beats Fit Pro is an aging but still knock-out pair of wireless buds, great sound, easy-access physical buttons, and solid noise cancellation to boot. Add to that six hours of battery life, spatial audio compatibility with Apple Music and other services, and you’ve got one of the best pairs of earbuds “designed in California.”
Sony WF-1000XM4 for $290: Sony’s WF-1000XM4 (7/10, Wired recommends) still have some of the best noise reduction we’ve heard from a pair of earbuds and offer the same super-customizable sound we love from Sony’s over-ear headphones. They’re getting harder to find, and they’re a little too big for smaller ears, but the extra size allows for great battery life
Amazon Echo Buds for $45: Amazon’s second-generation Echo Buds (8/10, Wired recommends) don’t offer the same silence as the top buds on our list, but they’re still a good low-cost option. Amazon’s built-in Alexa voice assistant lets you set timers, check the weather, and control your Buds hands-free. Buds also sound pretty good, making them worth considering over the years.
$152 for the Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660: Want great sound, a comfortable fit and high-quality noise-canceling technology for less than what you’d pay for Sony or Bose headphones? Check out this collaboration between Epos and Sennheiser. The Epos/Sennheiser Adapt 660 (8/10, Wired recommends) sound fantastic, and some of the lightest noise-canceling headphones I’ve ever worn. They also feature great microphones for great silence on calls and zooms.
