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Best noise cancelling headphones to buy right now
Sony and Bose lead on how much engine and office noise they remove; Apple's AirPods Max suit iPhone owners who want the easiest switching. Look for 30 hours of battery or more, a carry case if you travel, and multipoint pairing if you switch between a laptop and a phone.
Best for most people
1. Sony WH-1000XM6 Silver
QN3 processor, 12 mics · Folding, with carry case · Up to 30 hours · Yes
Sony's newest flagship uses the QN3 processor and 12 microphones to tune noise cancelling to your surroundings, and now folds into a smaller carry case. Multipoint suits anyone switching between a laptop and a phone. Thirty hours of battery is good but shorter than the JBL and Sennheiser picks here.
Best for films
2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
USB-C audio and calls · Spatial audio, Cinema Mode · Quiet, Aware · Up to 30 hours
Bose's top headphones add a Cinema Mode that spatialises film soundtracks, plus USB-C audio for calls on a laptop. A strong choice for frequent flyers who watch films on the move. This listing is the Midnight Violet limited edition, so the colour choice is fixed.
Best previous flagship (renewed)
3. Sony WH-1000XM5
Over-ear · Hi-Res Audio (listing) · 30 hours
The XM5 remains a very capable noise-cancelling headphone, with wind-noise reduction for calls and pairing with two devices at once. It suits anyone who wants Sony's approach without the newest model. Its listing does not mention a carry case. This listing is renewed rather than new.
Best for sound quality
4. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Over-ear · aptX Adaptive, AAC
Sennheiser's 42 mm drivers and aptX Adaptive aim at listeners who care most about music, and the 60-hour battery doubles the Sony and Bose figures. The app's EQ and presets let you shape the sound. aptX Adaptive needs a compatible Android phone; iPhones fall back to a standard codec.
Longest battery
5. JBL Tour One M3
8 · Auracast, Spatial 360 · Up to 70 hours · Two devices
Seventy hours of playback is the longest here, with a five-minute quick charge for a few more. Adaptive noise cancelling, two-device pairing and Auracast make it a flexible travel and office pair. JBL Spatial 360 with head tracking is a nice extra, but the listing makes fewer noise-cancelling claims than Sony or Bose do.
Best for iPhone (renewed)
6. Apple AirPods Max (Renewed)
Over-ear · Blue · Renewed · Over 80% of new
AirPods Max suit iPhone owners who want the easiest switching between Apple devices. This is a renewed unit, inspected by an Amazon-qualified supplier rather than Apple. The battery is only promised above 80% of new, and it may arrive in a generic box with non-original accessories.
Best mid-price
7. Soundcore Space One Pro
LDAC · Folding · 40 hours with ANC on
Anker's Space One Pro brings adaptive noise cancelling, LDAC and a 60-hour battery in a design that folds down small for a bag. It is a strong alternative to the big names for travellers. The listing carries little detail beyond its title, so there is less to go on than with the Sony or Bose.
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How we rank
Ordered by how well each sells in its Amazon UK category, what the listing confirms (specs, battery, compatibility, sizes), and price. We have not handled these products: the write-ups rest on what each listing states. Prices and stock are checked daily.
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