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This guide is for you if you want quiet on the train, on the plane or in a busy office. It is also for you if you're buying headphones as a Christmas or birthday present, which is one of the easiest presents to get right. Look at four things: battery life with noise cancelling switched on, how small the headphones fold, which controls need the app, and whether they connect to two devices at once.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Best for most people
These are over-ear wireless headphones with noise cancelling (also called ANC, which hushes the world around you). They adjust the noise cancelling automatically as you move from the street to the train to the office.
Who it's for: Buy these for the daily commuter who wants one pair that does everything well.
The facts that matter
- The HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 and 12 mics, with an Auto NC Optimizer that adapts wherever you go.
- Up to 40 hours of battery, or 30 hours with noise cancelling on; a 3-minute charge gives 3 hours of play.
- Folds into a compact size with a magnetic-closure carry case, plus a 10-band EQ and 360 Upmix for Cinema.
Why it made the list: Twelve mics and Sony's HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 do the work, and the Auto NC Optimizer keeps adjusting as you go. Forgot to charge them? Three minutes on the charger gives you three hours of music. They also fold into a carry case that closes with a magnet, and a 10-band EQ lets you shape the sound your way.
Worth knowing: Up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on, well short of the JBL Tour One M3's 70 hours.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Best for films and spatial audio on the go
These are noise cancelling headphones with Bose Immersive Audio, which places the sound in front of you rather than inside your head. The new Cinema Mode spreads film sound effects around you, so a movie on your phone feels bigger.
Who it's for: Buy these for the film fan who watches on the go.
The facts that matter
- Quiet Mode for noise cancelling, Aware Mode to hear your surroundings, and Bose Immersive Audio that places the music in front of you.
- A new Cinema Mode spatialises sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- Up to 30 hours of play (23 with Immersive Audio), and USB audio for calls and video meetings over USB-C.
Why it made the list: Quiet Mode blocks the world out, and Aware Mode lets it back in when you need to hear what's around you. You get up to 30 hours of play. Plug them in over USB-C and they also work as a headset for calls and video meetings.
Worth knowing: Battery drops to 23 hours with Immersive Audio switched on.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Apple AirPods Max 2
Best for iPhone owners
These are Apple's over-ear headphones with the H2 chip. Apple says they cancel up to 1.5 times more noise than the previous generation.
Who it's for: Buy these for the iPhone owner who wants headphones that fit Apple's way of doing things.
The facts that matter
- The Apple H2 chip, with up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation.
- Adaptive Audio adjusts noise cancelling to your surroundings, and Conversation Awareness lowers the volume when you speak.
- Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; the Smart Case and a USB-C cable are in the box.
Why it made the list: Adaptive Audio changes the noise cancelling to match where you are. Conversation Awareness turns the volume down when you start speaking. Personalised Spatial Audio with head tracking keeps the sound in place as you turn your head, and the Smart Case and a USB-C cable come in the box.
Worth knowing: Up to 20 hours of listening time, the shortest battery here.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Best for sound lovers and long trips
These are wireless headphones with large 42mm drivers (the parts that make the sound) and Sennheiser Signature Sound. They give you rich music for a long time on one charge.
Who it's for: Buy these for the music lover who also travels a lot.
The facts that matter
- 42mm transducers with Sennheiser Signature Sound and aptX Adaptive.
- Up to 60 hours of battery in a lightweight, foldable design with a cushioned headband.
- Adaptive noise cancellation and Transparency Mode, with an EQ, presets and sound modes in the Smart Control Plus app.
Why it made the list: Up to 60 hours of battery covers plenty of journeys between charges. They're light and foldable, with a cushioned headband. You also get aptX Adaptive, a Bluetooth format for wireless sound, plus adaptive noise cancelling, Transparency Mode, and an EQ with presets in the Smart Control Plus app.
Worth knowing: The EQ, presets and noise cancelling toggle live in the Smart Control Plus app, so fine-tuning needs your phone.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)JBL Tour One M3
Best for the longest battery
These noise cancelling headphones play for up to 70 hours of music and calls on one charge. Five minutes on the charger adds another five hours.
Who it's for: Buy these for anyone who hates charging.
The facts that matter
- Up to 70 hours of music and calls on one charge, and a 5-minute charge adds 5 hours.
- 8 mics and True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, with Ambient Aware and Talk Thru in the app.
- Pairs with two Bluetooth devices at once, and Personi-Fi 2.0 tunes the sound to a hearing test with a 12-band EQ.
Why it made the list: Eight mics and True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 handle the noise, while Ambient Aware and Talk Thru let you hear the world when you need to. They pair with two Bluetooth devices at once, such as your phone and your laptop. Personi-Fi 2.0 tunes the sound to the results of a quick hearing test, and you get a 12-band EQ too.
Worth knowing: Ambient Aware, Talk Thru and Personi-Fi are set in the JBL Headphones app, so set-up needs your phone.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Sony ULT WEAR
Best for big bass
These are noise cancelling headphones with 40mm drivers and an ULT button. Press it to switch between two bass modes: Deep Bass and Attack Bass.
Who it's for: Buy these for the bass fan who likes to feel every beat.
The facts that matter
- 40mm drivers and an ULT button with two bass modes, Deep Bass and Attack Bass.
- Noise cancelling with Ambient Sound mode, and a compact, durable carry case.
- 30 hours with noise cancelling on or 50 hours off, and a 3-minute charge gives 1.5 hours.
Why it made the list: You get up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on, or 50 hours with it off. Ambient Sound mode lets you hear what's around you. A compact, tough carry case keeps them safe in your bag.
Worth knowing: A 3-minute charge gives 1.5 hours, half the 3 hours of the WH-1000XM6.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Soundcore Space One Pro
Best for travel and packing light
These are noise cancelling headphones with a FlexiCurve design that folds them to half their size. They pack small and still play for up to 60 hours.
Who it's for: Buy these for the traveller who packs light and hates wasted bag space.
The facts that matter
- The FlexiCurve structure folds it to half the size, so it packs small.
- A 4-stage noise cancelling system that adapts in real time, and LDAC for Hi-Res audio.
- Up to 60 hours of playback, and 5 minutes of charging gives 8 hours of play.
Why it made the list: The 4-stage noise cancelling system adjusts in real time as your surroundings change. LDAC, a Bluetooth format for Hi-Res audio, brings more detail to your music. Five minutes of charging gives you eight hours of play.
Worth knowing: Battery drops from 60 hours to 40 hours with noise cancelling on.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Sony WH-CH720N
Best for light, good-value noise cancelling
These are Sony's lightest noise cancelling over-ear wireless headphones, at just 192g. They come in Black, White, Blue or Pink.
Who it's for: Buy these for the student, or for anyone who wants light headphones in a fun colour.
The facts that matter
- Just 192g, Sony's lightest noise cancelling over-ear wireless headphones, in Black, White, Blue or Pink.
- Up to 50 hours of battery (noise cancelling off), and a 3-minute charge gives up to 60 minutes.
- Dual Noise Sensor technology, Ambient Sound Mode and Multipoint to pair two devices at once.
Why it made the list: You get up to 50 hours of battery with noise cancelling off, and a 3-minute charge gives up to 60 minutes. Dual Noise Sensor technology handles the noise cancelling, and Ambient Sound Mode lets the world back in when you need it. Multipoint pairs two devices at once, so you can move from laptop to phone without fuss.
Worth knowing: A 5-band EQ, against the 10-band EQ on the WH-1000XM6.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Best for comfort, and a cable for the plane
These are Bose noise cancelling headphones with Quiet and Aware Modes, so you can switch between full noise cancelling and hearing everything around you. An audio cable with a built-in mic comes in the box.
Who it's for: Buy these for the long-haul flyer who wants to keep listening wired once the battery is flat.
The facts that matter
- Quiet and Aware Modes switch between full noise cancelling and full awareness of your surroundings.
- An audio cable with an in-line mic is included, so they work wired even when the battery is flat.
- Up to 24 hours of battery, and a 15-minute charge gives up to 2.5 hours; multi-point keeps you connected to your devices.
Why it made the list: The cable means your music keeps playing even with no charge left. You get up to 24 hours of battery, and a 15-minute charge gives up to 2.5 hours. Multi-point keeps you connected to your devices.
Worth knowing: Up to 24 hours of battery, less than the 30 hours of the QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen).
Check price on Amazon(paid link)