Whether you’re wearing them for the morning commute, while traveling, or if you’re simply trying to find some peace and quiet while working at home, noise-canceling headphones are a more essential piece of kit nowadays than ever before. And you’ve got a slew of great options to pick from; it’s hard to make a bad choice.
Technology
The best noise-canceling headphones to buy right now
There are longtime heavyweights like Bose and Sony to pick from. Apple has quickly carved into the market with the luxurious AirPods Max. And if you’ve got an ear that demands the best audio quality, headphones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sennheiser might appeal to you more than the mainstream contenders.
Not everyone loves the feel of earbuds, and there are scenarios where over-ear and on-ear headphones are just simpler or make more sense than wireless buds — particularly if lengthy battery life matters to you.
No matter how you’re using them, the criteria for picking the best noise-canceling headphones haven’t changed.
What we’re looking for
We put our top picks for noise-canceling headphones through many hours of testing. Since their ability to tamp down the loudness of your surroundings is critical, we use them in a variety of environments — including busy city streets, the office, coffee shops, and public transit — and for more quiet, focused listening at home.We sample their transparency mode to see how clearly the outside world comes through and if it’s easy to carry on conversations while wearing the headphones. We have friends and family try them on and provide feedback on the fit and comfort. And, of course, we have our favorite albums and playlists on repeat to assess how each pair sounds and how much listening time you can expect from a single charge.
If headphones are causing a sore spot at the top of your noggin, what good are they no matter how good they sound or cancel noise? Traditionally, the lighter they are, the more comfortable headphones will prove over extended listening sessions. But manufacturers can also help improve comfort by being thoughtful in the materials they choose for ear cups and the headband that wraps over your cranium. Clamping force is another important factor; some headphones will squeeze against your head firmer than others; this can be great if you want a pair to stay put for exercise, but not ideal if you’re just trying to relax and tune out the world.
Practically any of our picks will do an excellent job at providing distraction-free listening when on a flight, at the office, or if you’re traversing city streets. Noise-canceling headphones work by using built-in microphones to listen to the sounds in your environment, and they invert those soundwaves to eliminate the cacophony of everyday life.
Having powerful noise-canceling used to mean compromising on sound quality, but that’s simply not the case anymore. Most of today’s flagship ANC headphones provide dynamic, rich, and immersive sound. They support a variety of Bluetooth audio codecs, and some (like Sony’s LDAC and aptX HD) can deliver higher bitrates than the status quo AAC and SBC codecs. But don’t get bogged down in those details; headphones that are tuned well with the right components can make your music sound fantastic regardless of codecs.
One benefit of buying headphones instead of earbuds is that they can last much longer on a single charge. Whereas you’ll need to plop most earbuds back into their case after five hours or so, wireless headphones can keep the music going for around 20 hours. And some recent models can even exceed that, reaching 40 hours.
We all try to do our best at multitasking, and multipoint Bluetooth connectivity is essential for headphones to meet the same challenge. Multipoint allows your noise-canceling headphones to pair with two devices at the same time. This makes it easy to take a call on your phone and get right back to the music you were playing on your laptop without fussing with Bluetooth settings menus.
Headphones are increasingly gaining features that are exclusive to individual manufacturer ecosystems. For example, the AirPods Max are capable of head-tracking spatial audio and other tricks like audio sharing — but only if you’re listening to them with one of the company’s other products, like an iPhone, Mac, or iPad.
The best wireless headphones for most people
$278
The Good
- Even better active noise cancellation
- More balanced, tighter sound
- Much-improved voice call quality
The Bad
- Design is very plasticky for $400
- No major new features over 1000XM4
- Bulky, awkward carrying case
Battery life: 30 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (charging), 3.5mm headphone jack (audio)
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 have a completely different design from their predecessors. The changes result in greater comfort when you wear them on your head for extended periods of time — like on a flight or at the office.
Noise cancellation has been further improved from the already-stellar performance of the WH-1000XM4, putting Sony at the front of the pack compared to all major competitors. Sound quality is more detailed and balanced than the older XM4; the low end is still punchy but tighter and less boomy than before. The XM5 offer excellent voice call performance, and they can connect to two devices simultaneously, so you can stay clued in on what’s happening on your phone when you’re working away on your laptop or tablet.
Sony’s headphones also include unique features like “speak to chat,” which automatically pauses your music and pipes in ambient audio whenever you start talking. Or you can hold one hand over the right ear cup to activate quick attention mode, which is convenient when grabbing a coffee or listening to airport announcements. And like other high-end headphones, the XM5 can detect when they’ve been removed from your ears for auto-pause.
Earlier this year, Sony introduced the WH-1000XM6, and while they offer incremental improvements over the XM5 in terms of sound and ANC performance, they’re also more expensive at $449.99. The XM5, meanwhile, can regularly be found for $300 or less. Weighing price versus performance, the XM5 are a better value, and it’s why they remain at the top of our list.
Read our full WH-1000XM5 review.
The best noise-canceling headphones for travel
$279
The Good
- Exemplary comfort
- Top-tier noise cancellation
- Improved transparency mode clarity
- Better voice call quality than NCH700
The Bad
- Immersive Audio is sometimes enjoyable but often bad
- Immersive Audio drains battery faster
- No USB-C audio support
- Case has annoying indentations
Battery life: 24 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (charging), 2.5mm headphone jack (audio)
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are basically a blend of the company’s prior Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and QuietComfort 45 that borrow the best traits from both — while throwing in a new “immersive audio” listening mode. Like past Bose cans, they’re very light and comfortable on your head, even when worn for long stretches of time. Best of all, unlike the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, these can be folded to make them easier to travel with.
Their 24-hour battery life is more than adequate, and Bose has added support for the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec for improved audio fidelity on Android devices.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
The immersive audio feature works well on some songs, but less so on others. It’s worth experimenting with, but even if you leave it off entirely, you’re left with best-in-class noise cancellation, pleasing sound, and a helpful “aware” transparency mode.
Read our full Bose QC Ultra Headphones review.
The best wireless headphones for iPhone owners
$450
The Good
- High-luxury design
- Terrific, balanced sound quality
- Very effective noise cancellation
- Dependable and foolproof controls
- Spatial audio for immersive entertainment
The Bad
- Heavier than many competitors
- No 3.5mm jack
- Wired listening requires $35 cable
- Case is an abomination
- Lacks latest AirPods Pro features
Battery life: 20 hours / Multipoint: No / Audio codecs: AAC, SBC / Connectors: Lightning (audio and charging)
There was definitely some sticker shock when Apple introduced a $549 set of noise-canceling headphones in 2020. The AirPods Max cost significantly more money than any of our other recommendations. But Apple’s build quality is on another level: these trade the plastic you’ll find in many noise-canceling headphones for steel and aluminum, and the ear cups are a breathable mesh fabric. They’re hefty headphones, there’s no denying that. But aside from Apple refusing to include a headphone cable in the box, there’s nothing about the AirPods Max that feels cheap. And I appreciate the simplicity of using the digital crown for controls instead of relying on hit-or-miss gestures like taps and swipes.
The most important part is that the AirPods Max deliver audio quality that’s up there with the best high-end Bluetooth headphones. They have an immersive, wide soundstage and fantastic dynamics, and you’ll find yourself hopping around your music library just to hear what they bring out in your favorite songs.
Apple’s noise cancellation is on par with Sony and Bose, and no one does transparency mode better; at times, it can make you think you’re not wearing headphones at all. Extra features like Spatial Audio (surround sound for movies and TV shows) and automatic switching between Apple gadgets help make it a bit easier to swallow their daunting price.
But the AirPods Max do have faults. The carrying case is abysmal, battery life is only average for the category, and just like regular AirPods, they’re designed with Apple’s ecosystem in mind. It gets much harder to justify dropping $550 on them if you live outside the iPhone and Mac universe.
Also, it’s worth noting that Apple introduced a new pair of AirPods Max with USB-C charging and five new color options in September. We’re currently testing the latest model, but given just how little they differ from Apple’s existing over-ear headphones, we don’t anticipate markedly different performance. That said, they do support lossless audio and ultra low latency thanks to a recent firmware update, which, technically, isn’t something you’ll find on the Lightning model.
Read our full Apple AirPods Max review.
The best-sounding wireless headphones
$275
The Good
- Stylish, standout design
- Excellent sound quality
- Supports wired USB-C audio
The Bad
- No regular headphone input
- Doesn’t include LDAC support
- Your ears might get sweaty
Battery life: 30 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (audio and charging)
If sound quality is priority number one, then Bowers & Wilkins has you covered with the PX7 S2e headphones. They exhibit superb, detailed sound quality that some people prefer to the AirPods Max. The Bowers & Wilkins cans are true to the company’s legacy and style, with a fine-crafted design that exudes quality. And the newer “e” variant has a revamped digital signal processing that can bring out the best audio quality from streaming music.
I prefer their physical buttons over the tap/swipe ear cup gestures of Sony’s WH-1000XM5. With 30 hours of battery life, they’re more than competitive with mainstream, less expensive picks. And the sound profile is delightfully warm and will bring out the most from your favorite music. The main downside of the PX7 S2e is that there’s no traditional 3.5mm or 2.5mm output for a headphone cable. You can still listen wired over USB-C, however.
Read our full Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review.
The noise-canceling headphones with the best battery life
$250
The Good
- Much-improved comfort
- Better noise cancellation than before
- Marathon 60-hour battery life
The Bad
- Terribly generic design
- No more physical button controls
- Headphones can power on unexpectedly
Battery life: 60 hours / Multipoint: Yes / Audio codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC / Connectors: USB-C (audio and charging), 2.5mm headphone jack (audio)
Sixty hours. They can last for up to 60 hours on a single charge. That’s really all you need to know about the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones if you’re looking for an endurance champ. But they also sound terrific and prove extremely comfortable over long listening periods. This combination doesn’t come cheap, but you can occasionally find some good deals on them.
Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless headphones edge out Bowers & Wilkins on comfort thanks to their lighter design, and the noise cancellation is slightly better. Next to the Sonys and Bose’s QC Ultra Headphones, it doesn’t get much cozier. These are headphones you can wear for multiple hours without any fatigue or pressure on your ears.
Sennheiser’s sound signature is a bit more expressive and puts more emphasis on bass than B&W, but that upper treble range still comes through crystal clear. My only real nitpick with the Sennheisers is that they tend to occasionally power on inside the case and automatically connect to my phone for no apparent reason.
Both the B&W and Sennheiser headphones support multipoint connectivity and a range of Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive.
Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review.
Update, December 4th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and several new related links.
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Valve has announced the winners of the 2025 Steam Awards and, unsurprisingly, Hollow Knight: Silksong, took home the Game of the Year honors. It was also given the “Best Game You Suck At” award, which, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Given the relentless fawning over Silksong since its release in September, an event that nearly brought the entire digital video game distribution system to its knees, that it would win Game of the Year felt like something of a forgone conclusion.
The Best Game on Steam Deck was awarded to Hades II (an award we’d already unofficially granted it). The mechanics of Hades lend it to being played in short bursts, and the stylized graphics scale down well. Silent Hill f won the Outstanding Visual Style award and, while there’s no denying it’s a gorgeous title, I can’t help but feel like Dream BBQ, with its uniquely hallucinatory visuals, got robbed. Check out the full list of winners and nominees here at the Steam Awards 2025 landing page.
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The University of Phoenix has confirmed a major data breach affecting nearly 3.5 million people. The incident traces back to August when attackers accessed the university’s network and quietly stole sensitive information.
The school detected the intrusion on Nov. 21. That discovery came after the attackers listed the university on a public leak site. In early December, the university disclosed the incident, and its parent company filed an 8-K with regulators.
The scope is large. Notification letters filed with Maine’s Attorney General show 3,489,274 individuals were affected. Those affected include current and former students, faculty, staff and suppliers.
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DATA BREACH EXPOSES 400,000 BANK CUSTOMERS’ INFO
The University of Phoenix data breach exposed sensitive personal and financial information tied to nearly 3.5 million people. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What happened and how attackers got in
According to the university, hackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Oracle E-Business Suite. This application handles financial operations and contains highly sensitive data.
Based on the technical details shared so far, security researchers believe the attack aligns with tactics used by the Clop ransomware gang. Clop has a long track record of stealing data through zero-day flaws rather than encrypting systems.
The vulnerability tied to this campaign is tracked as CVE-2025-61882. Investigators say it has been abused since early August.
What data was exposed
The university says the attackers accessed highly sensitive personal and financial information. That includes:
- Full names
- Contact information
- Dates of birth
- Social security numbers
- Bank account numbers
- Routing numbers
This type of data creates a serious risk. It can fuel identity theft, financial fraud and targeted phishing scams.
700CREDIT DATA BREACH EXPOSES SSNS OF 5.8M CONSUMERS
Stolen University of Phoenix records could be used by criminals to launch targeted phishing and identity theft attacks. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Nearly 3.5 million people affected
In letters sent to affected individuals, the university confirmed the breach affects 3,489,274 people. If you are a current or former student or employee, watch your mail closely.
These notifications often arrive by postal mail, not email. The letter explains what data was exposed and includes instructions for protective services.
We reached out to the University of Phoenix for comment, and a rep provided CyberGuy with the following statement:
“We recently experienced a cybersecurity incident involving the Oracle E-Business Suite software platform. Upon detecting the incident on November 21, 2025, we promptly took steps to investigate and respond with the assistance of leading third-party cybersecurity firms. We are reviewing the impacted data and will provide the required notifications to affected individuals and regulatory entities.”
Free identity protection is now available
The University of Phoenix is offering affected individuals free identity protection services. These include:
- 12 months of credit monitoring
- Identity theft recovery assistance
- Dark web monitoring
- A $1 million fraud reimbursement policy
To enroll, you must use the redemption code provided in the notification letter. Without that code, you cannot activate the service.
This attack fits a larger Clop campaign
The University of Phoenix breach is not an isolated case. Clop has used similar tactics in past campaigns involving GoAnywhere MFT, Accellion FTA, MOVEit Transfer, Cleo and Gladinet CentreStack.
Other universities have also reported Oracle EBS-related incidents. These include Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
The U.S. government is taking notice. The U.S. Department of State is now offering a reward of up to $10 million for information linking Clop’s attacks to a foreign government.
Why colleges are prime targets
Universities store massive amounts of personal data. Student records, financial aid files, payroll systems and donor databases all live under one roof.
Like healthcare organizations, colleges present a high-value target. A single breach can expose years of data tied to millions of people.
MAKE 2026 YOUR MOST PRIVATE YEAR YET BY REMOVING BROKER DATA
Affected University of Phoenix students and staff should act quickly to monitor accounts and protect their identities. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Steps to stay safe right now
If you believe you may be affected, act quickly. These steps can reduce your risk.
1) Watch for your breach notification letter
Read it carefully. It explains what data was exposed and how to enroll in protection services.
2) Enroll in the free identity protection
First, use the redemption code provided. Because Social Security and banking data are involved, credit monitoring and recovery services matter. Even if you do not qualify for the free service, an identity theft protection service is still a smart move.
In addition, these services actively monitor sensitive details like your Social Security number, phone number and email address. If your information appears on the dark web or if someone tries to open a new account, you receive an alert right away. As a result, many services also help you quickly freeze bank and credit card accounts to limit further fraud.
See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com
3) Use a data removal service
Because this breach exposed names, contact details and other identifiers, reducing what is publicly available about you matters. A data removal service can help remove your personal information from data broker sites, which lowers the risk of targeted phishing or fraud tied to the stolen University of Phoenix records.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com
4) Monitor financial accounts daily
Check bank statements and credit card activity for unfamiliar charges. Report anything suspicious immediately.
5) Consider freezing your credit
A credit freeze can stop criminals from opening new accounts in your name. It is free and reversible. To learn more about how to do this, go to Cyberguy.com and search “How to freeze your credit.”
6) Be alert for phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software
Expect more scam emails and phone calls. Criminals may reference the breach to sound legitimate.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
7) Secure your devices
Keep your operating systems and apps up to date, as attackers often exploit outdated software to gain access. In addition, enable automatic updates and review app permissions to prevent stolen personal data from being combined with device-level access and causing further harm.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The University of Phoenix data breach highlights a growing problem in higher education. When attackers exploit trusted enterprise software, the fallout spreads fast and wide. While free identity protection helps, long-term vigilance matters most. Staying alert can limit damage long after the headlines fade.
If universities cannot protect this level of sensitive data, should students demand stronger cybersecurity standards before enrolling? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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LG unveiled a whole new line of gaming monitors ahead of CES on Friday. The UltraGear evo line are all high-end monitors covering a range of technologies, but united by 5K resolution and AI upscaling.
The three flagships under the new branding are the 39GX950B, the 27GM950B, and the 52G930B. The first number in the model name indicates the size. The rest of the letters and numbers, well, I’m sure they mean something to someone.
The 39-inch GX9 is an ultrawide 21:9 5K2K dual-mode OLED screen. It can run at its full resolution at 165Hz, or jump to 330Hz for fast-twitch games at WFHD. The 27-inch GM9 uses “New” MiniLEDs, which promise to deliver brighter images compared to OLED, without the blooming often associated with MiniLEDs. Lastly, the 52-inch G9 is an absolutely massive curved display that delivers a 12:9 panoramic view at 240Hz in its native 5K2K resolution.
The GM9 model is particularly interesting since LG makes the panels for Apple’s Pro Display XDR, and word is that the monitor is finally getting a long-overdue update in the near future.
All three monitors will be on display at CES next month, but there’s no word on pricing or availability just yet.
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