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.
Technology
Judge sides with Anthropic to temporarily block the Pentagon’s ban
After Anthropic’s weeks-long standoff with the Pentagon, the company won one milestone: A judge granted Anthropic a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit, which sought to reverse its government blacklisting while the judicial process plays out.
“The Department of War’s records show that it designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk because of its ‘hostile manner through the press,’” Judge Rita F. Lin, a district judge in the northern district of California, wrote in the order, which will go into effect in seven days. “Punishing Anthropic for bringing public scrutiny to the government’s contracting position is classic illegal First Amendment retaliation.”
A final verdict could be weeks or months out.
Anthropic spokesperson Danielle Cohen said in a Thursday statement, “We’re grateful to the court for moving swiftly, and pleased they agree Anthropic is likely to succeed on the merits. While this case was necessary to protect Anthropic, our customers, and our partners, our focus remains on working productively with the government to ensure all Americans benefit from safe, reliable AI.”
“I do think this case touches on an important debate,” Judge Lin said during the Tuesday hearing. “On the one hand, Anthropic is saying that its AI product, Claude, is not safe to use for autonomous lethal weapons and domestic mass surveillance. Anthropic’s position is that if the government wants to use its technology, the government has to agree not to use it for those purposes. On the other hand the Department of War is saying that military commanders have to decide what is safe for its AI to do.”
On Tuesday, Judge Lin went on to say, “It’s not my role to decide who’s right in that debate… The Department of War decides what AI product it wants to use and buy. And everyone, including Anthropic, agrees that the Department of War is free to stop using Claude and look for a more permissive AI vendor.” She added, “I see the question in this case as being … whether the government violated the law when it went beyond that.”
It all started with a memo sent by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Jan. 9, calling for “any lawful use” language to be written into any AI services procurement contract within 180 days, which would include existing contracts with companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI, and Google. Anthropic’s negotiations with the Pentagon stretched on for weeks, hinging on two “red lines” that the company did not want the military to use its AI for: domestic mass surveillance and lethal autonomous weapons (or AI systems with the power to kill targets with no human involvement in the decision-making process). The rollercoaster series of events that followed has included a barrage of social media insults, a formal “supply chain risk” designation with the potential to significantly handicap Anthropic’s business, competing AI companies swooping in to make deals, and an ensuing lawsuit.
With its lawsuit, Anthropic argues that it was punished for speech protected under the First Amendment, and it’s seeking to reverse the supply chain risk designation.
It’s rare, and potentially even unheard of until now, for a US company to be named a supply chain risk, a designation typically reserved for non-US companies potentially linked to foreign adversaries. Anthropic’s designation as such raised eyebrows nationwide and caused bipartisan controversy due to concerns that disagreeing with a presidential administration could potentially lead to outsized retribution for a business in any sector.
Anthropic’s own business has been significantly affected by the designation, according to its court filings, which say that it has “received outreach from numerous outside partners … expressing confusion about what was required of them and concern about their ability to continue to work with Anthropic” and that “dozens of companies have contacted Anthropic” for guidance or information about their rights to terminate usage. Depending on the level to which the government prohibits its contractors’ work with Anthropic, the company alleged that revenue adding up to between hundreds of millions and multiple billions could be at risk.
During Tuesday’s hearing, both companies had a chance to respond to Judge Lin’s questions, which were released in a document the day prior and hinged on matters like whether Hegseth lacked authority to issue certain directives and why Anthropic was named a supply chain risk. The judge also asked, in her pre-released questions, about the circumstances under which a government contractor could face termination for using Anthropic’s technology in their work — for instance, “if a contractor for the Department uses Claude Code as a tool to write software for the Department’s national security systems, would that contractor face termination as a result?”
On Tuesday, the judge also seemed to admonish the Department of War for Hegseth’s X post that caused a lot of widespread confusion per Anthropic’s earlier court filings, stating that “effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic.”
“You’re standing here saying, ‘We said it but we didn’t really mean it,’” Judge Lin said during the hearing, later pressing on the question of why Hegseth wrote the above barring contractors from working with Anthropic instead of just simply designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk.
In a series of questions on Tuesday, Judge Lin asked whether the Department of War plans to terminate contractors on the basis of their work with Anthropic if it’s separate from their work with the department, and a representative for the Department of War responded, “That is my understanding.”
Judge Lin asked, “Let’s say I’m a military contractor. I don’t provide IT to the military. I provide toilet paper to the military. I’m not going to be terminated for using Anthropic — is that accurate?” The representative for the Department of War responded, “For non-DoW work, that is my understanding.” But when the judge asked whether a military contractor providing IT services to the Department of War, but not for national security systems, could be terminated for using Anthropic, the representative for the Department of War did not give a concrete answer.
During the hearing, Judge Lin cited one of the amicus briefs, which she said used the term “attempted corporate murder.” She said, “I don’t know if it’s ‘murder,’ but it looks like an attempt to cripple Anthropic.”
“We are continuing to be irreparably injured by this directive,” a lawyer for Anthropic said during the hearing, citing Hegseth’s nine-paragraph X post.
In a recent court filing, the Department of Defense alleged that Anthropic could ostensibly “attempt to disable its technology or preemptively alter the behavior of its model either before or during ongoing warfighting operations” in the event it felt the military was crossing its red lines — a theoretical situation that the Pentagon said it deemed an “unacceptable risk to national security.” The judge’s pre-released questions seem to challenge that statement, or at least request more information on it, stating, “What evidence in the record shows that Anthropic had ongoing access to or control over Claude after delivering it to the government, such that Anthropic could engage in such acts of sabotage or subversion?”
Technology
Drone food delivery launches in New Jersey
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You place a food order, check your phone, and instead of a driver pulling up, a drone lowers your meal to your front yard. That scenario is already playing out in the Garden State. But before you get too excited, this is still a limited test.
Grubhub just launched New Jersey’s first drone-powered food delivery pilot, and it is getting plenty of attention. The three-month program kicked off on March 18 in Green Brook, just a few miles from Middlesex. If you live within about 2.5 miles of the location, you may be able to try it yourself.
Even better, you will not pay anything extra to choose the drone option.
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YOUR DOORDASH ORDER MIGHT ARRIVE FROM THE SKY AS DRONE DELIVERIES TAKE OFF
Grubhub launches a three-month drone delivery test in New Jersey, offering faster drop-offs with no added cost. (Grubhub)
How the drone delivery program works
The program is based out of Wonder’s Green Brook location, which operates a multi-restaurant kitchen. That means your order can come from one of 15 different food concepts, all prepared in the same place.
Here is how it works step by step:
- You order through the Grubhub app
- You select drone delivery if you are eligible
- Your food is prepared and secured by trained staff
- A drone flies it along a pre-approved route
- The order is lowered safely to the ground using a tether
You can track everything in real time, just like a regular delivery. It feels familiar, but the final step looks very different.
Why this could be faster than your usual delivery
Timing matters when you are hungry. That is where drones may have a real advantage. Unlike drivers, drones do not deal with traffic, stoplights or parking. They fly directly to your location using optimized flight paths.
Grubhub says deliveries should arrive faster than traditional methods. While that will vary based on conditions, the goal is simple. Less waiting, more eating. This test will help the company see if that promise holds up in real neighborhoods.
AIR TAXIS IN THE US COULD LAUNCH THIS SUMMER
New Jersey residents within range can order food by drone, with real-time tracking and tethered drop-offs. (Grubhub)
The tech behind the delivery drones
The program uses the DE-2020 drone from Dexa, a company that specializes in autonomous delivery systems.
This is not a hobby drone. It is a fully automated aircraft built for commercial use.
Key features include:
- FAA-certified operations for safety and compliance
- Secure communication systems during flight
- Controlled drop-off using a tether system
- Pre-planned routes to reduce noise and disruption
Before each flight, crews check that food is packaged and secured properly. That step helps prevent spills or issues mid-air. In short, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than a simple takeoff and landing.
We reached out to Grubhub, and a spokesperson shared the following statement:
“Our partnership with Dexa represents a major step forward in Grubhub’s commitment to delivery innovation,” said Abhishek “PJ” Poykayil, SVP of customer delivery operations at Wonder and Grubhub. “By connecting Grubhub’s marketplace expertise, Wonder’s innovative mealtime platform, and Dexa’s expansive drone technology, we’re proud to introduce a faster and more efficient way for New Jersey diners to experience food delivery without compromising safety or reliability.”
We also reached out to Dexa for more insight into the technology behind the program. CEO and founder Beth Flippo shared the following with CyberGuy:
“At Dexa, we’re proud to be powering the underlying autonomous technology that enables this new generation of on-demand delivery. Our partnership with Grubhub brings together their industry-leading logistics network with our advanced autonomy platform, which is designed to safely navigate complex environments, optimize real-time routing, and operate reliably without the need for continuous human intervention. This is a meaningful step toward a future where autonomous systems are woven seamlessly into everyday life, from delivering food and goods to supporting transportation, infrastructure and critical services. As consumers continue to expect faster, more efficient and more sustainable options, autonomy will play a central role in meeting those expectations at scale.”
FORGET DRONES, THIS STREET-SMART ROBOT COULD BE FUTURE OF LOCAL DELIVERIES
Autonomous drones designed by Dexa deliver meals from a central kitchen, bypassing traffic in a new suburban pilot program. (Grubhub)
Why companies are pushing drone delivery now
This move is not random. It is part of a bigger shift in how companies think about delivery. You and I want speed, convenience and reliability. At the same time, businesses want to reduce costs and scale faster. Drone delivery sits right in the middle of that.
It removes many of the delays tied to traditional delivery. It also opens the door to new models, especially in suburban areas where distances are manageable.
We are already seeing this play out in other parts of the country. Companies like Wing, backed by Google’s parent company Alphabet, have been testing and expanding drone deliveries for food, retail and small packages in select U.S. markets.
This New Jersey test is another step in that direction, and it shows how quickly the space is evolving.
What this means to you
Even if you are not in Green Brook, New Jersey, this still matters. Here is why:
You may get faster deliveries
If this works, shorter delivery times could become the new normal.
You could see more delivery options
Apps may soon offer choices like driver, robot or drone depending on your location.
It could change delivery costs
Right now, there is no added fee. In the future, pricing models may shift based on speed and demand.
Your neighborhood may see more drones
That raises questions about noise, safety and privacy that communities will need to address.
This is not only about food. The same technology could expand to groceries, retail and even medical supplies.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
It is easy to see drone delivery as some sort of cool experiment. But something bigger is starting to take shape right above us. For the first time, the sky is becoming part of everyday delivery. Today it is takeout. Tomorrow it could be groceries, last-minute essentials or even urgent supplies. If this technology proves reliable, and we get comfortable with it, the way you get what you need could change faster than you expect. So the next time you hear a faint buzz overhead, you may want to look up. It might not be a plane. It could be your dinner on the way. The real question is not if drones will become part of daily life. It is how soon you will be tracking one to your doorstep.
Would you trust a drone to deliver your next meal? Why or why not? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Technology
Netflix is raising prices again
Netflix’s prices just went up, with its cheapest, ad-supported tier now reaching $8.99 / month (up from $7.99 / month), according to an updated support page spotted earlier by Android Authority. The standard and premium plans are also getting a hike, going from $17.99 to $19.99 / month and $24.99 to $26.99 / month, respectively.
Netflix didn’t share its reasoning for the price hike this time around, as it last cited delivering “more value for our customers.” It’s also unclear when the price hike will go into effect for existing subscribers. The Verge reached out to Netflix with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
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