TL;DR
The Verge updated its roundup of top active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones, naming Sony’s WH-1000XM5 the best overall while highlighting Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra for travel and Apple’s AirPods Max for iPhone users. The guide compares sound, ANC, comfort, battery life and ecosystem features across several flagship models.
What happened
The Verge refreshed a buyer’s guide to over-ear noise-canceling headphones, testing models across everyday environments — city streets, transit, offices, and quiet listening at home — and assessing fit, comfort, transparency modes, call performance, and battery life. Its top overall pick is Sony’s WH-1000XM5, praised for improved active noise cancellation, tighter, more balanced sound and strong call quality; the review notes multipoint Bluetooth and convenience features such as speak-to-chat and quick-attention gestures. For travel, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are recommended for their light weight, foldable design and class-leading ANC; Bose’s immersive-audio mode is useful on some tracks but can reduce battery life. The roundup also highlights the AirPods Max (USB-C) for iPhone users, models aimed at audiophiles from Bowers & Wilkins and Sennheiser, and shows how battery life, supported codecs and platform-specific features factor into recommendations.
Why it matters
- Noise-canceling headphones now balance strong ANC with high audio fidelity, so buyers don’t necessarily trade one for the other.
- Comfort and battery life remain key differentiators for long commutes, flights and extended work sessions.
- Platform-specific features (like Apple’s head-tracking spatial audio) can sway buyers tied to a particular ecosystem.
- Multipoint connectivity and modern Bluetooth codecs influence daily usability across phone and laptop workflows.
Key facts
- Top overall pick: Sony WH-1000XM5 — cited for improved ANC, balanced sound and better voice call performance.
- Sony WH-1000XM5 reported battery life: 30 hours; supports LDAC, AAC and SBC; multipoint Bluetooth is supported; connectors: USB-C (charging) and 3.5mm audio.
- Travel pick: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — praised for comfort, strong ANC and improved transparency; listed battery life: 24 hours; supports aptX Adaptive, AAC and SBC.
- Bose added an "immersive audio" mode that can improve some tracks but also reduces battery life; newer QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) offers lossless over USB-C and other iterative improvements, per the report.
- Featured price points in the guide include: Sony WH-1000XM5 at $398 (commonly found for $300 or less), Bose QuietComfort Ultra on sale around $279, AirPods Max (USB-C) at $450.
- The guide flags models for specific strengths: AirPods Max for iPhone users, Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e for sound quality, and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless for long battery life.
- The Verge’s testing protocol includes real-world use (public transit, coffee shops, offices), fit feedback from multiple testers, transparency-mode checks and repeated listening with familiar music.
- Modern flagship ANC headphones commonly offer features like auto-pause when removed, quick-attention or touch controls, and multipoint pairing to stay connected to two devices.
What to watch next
- Sony’s WH-1000XM6 was released after the XM5 and offers incremental ANC and sound improvements but carries a higher price (reported at $449.99); watch for value versus performance comparisons.
- Bose launched a QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) with USB-C lossless support, slightly better battery life and an improved transparency mode — monitor availability and pricing for buyers who want those features.
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): A technology that uses built-in microphones to detect ambient sound and generates inverse sound waves to reduce perceived external noise.
- Multipoint pairing: Bluetooth functionality that lets headphones maintain simultaneous connections with two devices, enabling quick switching between sources like a phone and a laptop.
- Transparency mode (Aware mode): A feature that mixes external sounds back into the audio feed so users can hear announcements or hold conversations without removing headphones.
- Bluetooth codecs: Compression methods (e.g., LDAC, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC) that affect audio bitrate and potential fidelity over wireless connections.
- Spatial audio / head-tracking: Software-driven processing that places sound in a virtual 3D space and can adjust audio positioning as the listener’s head moves; commonly tied to specific ecosystems.
Reader FAQ
Which model is best overall?
The guide names Sony’s WH-1000XM5 as the best overall pick based on ANC, sound balance and call performance.
Are over-ear headphones better than earbuds for battery life?
Over-ear headphones generally offer longer single-charge listening times than typical wireless earbuds, making them preferable when long battery life matters.
Do ANC headphones now sacrifice sound quality?
Not according to the guide: modern flagship ANC headphones often combine strong noise cancellation with detailed, dynamic sound.
Can Bluetooth deliver fully lossless audio?
not confirmed in the source
TECH GADGETS HEADPHONES The best noise-canceling headphones to buy right now Get some peace and quiet with any of our top picks for noise-canceling headphones. Sony’s still the best overall,…
Sources
- The best noise-canceling headphones to buy right now
- Best headphone for noise cancelling, Expert advice to choose
- The 5 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones of 2026
- The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones
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