Best noise cancelling headphones

Shortlist and buying guide · the ranked board is on its way

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What to look for

Comfort over long wear and the strength of the noise cancelling matter most on a commute.

Models worth comparing

From manufacturers' specifications and published UK reviews, read on 6 October 2026. Not tested by us. In no particular order: these are not ranked, and we do not say which is best until the customer ratings are in.

Budget

Soundcore Space One

Anyone wanting genuinely useful noise cancelling and very long battery life on a tight budget.

Adaptive noise cancelling that adjusts to your surroundings
Claimed 40 hours with ANC on and 55 hours with it off
LDAC hi-res Bluetooth support and multipoint pairing

Watch out for: TechRadar found the build feels a little cheap and the wear detection unreliable, and the sound benefits from some EQ tweaking.

Noise cancelling: Adaptive ANC
Battery life (claimed): 40 hrs ANC on / 55 hrs ANC off
Bluetooth codecs: LDAC (after firmware update), plus standard codecs
Weight: 265 g

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Sources: Soundcore UK product page · TechRadar review

Mid-range

Nothing Headphone (1)

Listeners who want distinctive styling, a full-bodied sound tuned with KEF and battery life that lasts for days.

Nothing claims up to 80 hours of playback, around 35 hours with ANC on
Real-time adaptive noise cancelling
LDAC support plus hi-res wired listening over USB-C

Watch out for: The earcups do not fold away, and What Hi-Fi? found the fit not always secure.

Noise cancelling: Real-time adaptive ANC
Battery life (claimed): Up to 80 hrs ANC off / about 35 hrs ANC on
Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC, LDAC
Weight: 329 g

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Sources: Nothing UK product page · What Hi-Fi? review

Premium

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

Music lovers who value rich, detailed sound and premium build as much as noise cancelling.

Adaptive noise cancelling using eight microphones
Wide codec support including aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive
Claimed 30 hours with ANC on, and 7 hours from a 15-minute charge

Watch out for: They do not fold up, so they take more bag space than some rivals.

Noise cancelling: Adaptive ANC
Battery life (claimed): Up to 30 hrs ANC on
Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Classic, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Weight: 300 g

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Sources: Bowers & Wilkins UK product page · What Hi-Fi? review

Pro

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

Long-haul flyers and open-plan office workers who want class-leading noise cancelling and all-day comfort.

Noise cancelling ranked with the very best in What Hi-Fi?'s testing
Claimed 30 hours with ANC on, up from 24 on the original
Lossless audio over USB-C and a folding design

Watch out for: Rivals sound more transparent, and wired listening still needs battery power.

Noise cancelling: Adjustable ANC with automatic adjustment
Battery life (claimed): Up to 30 hrs ANC on
Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
Weight: 250 g

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Sources: Bose UK product page · What Hi-Fi? review

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