Audio · Buying guide
Best Wireless Headphones of 2026: Seven ANC Models, Measured
We ran seven over-ear wireless headphones through the same three weeks of commuting, open-plan offices and one long-haul flight. Battery figures below are measured at 50 percent volume with noise cancelling on, not the manufacturer claim.
The short version
Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 if you want the best all-round wireless ANC pair we measured ($348); buy the WH-1000XM4 at $248 if you want the same 30-hour battery and LDAC for less.
If you only read one paragraph: 1. Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best all-rounder at $348. 2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones cancel the most low-frequency noise for $429. 3. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless lasts 60 hours per charge. 4. Sony WH-1000XM4 is the value buy at $248. 5. Apple AirPods Max is the pick for iPhone owners who do not care about weight. 6. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is for flat monitoring without ANC. 7. Anker Soundcore Space One is the sub-$100 surprise.
- Sony WH-1000XM5 — $330–$400Editor’s choice
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — $380–$430
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless — $280–$350
- Sony WH-1000XM4 — $230–$280Best value
- Apple AirPods Max — $450–$550
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 — $150–$200
- Anker Soundcore Space One — $80–$100
Specification comparison
Every measured number lives in this table and is not repeated in the write-ups below.
| # | Brand | Model | Colour tested | Battery (h) | Driver | ANC | Weight | Codecs | Price band | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sony | WH-1000XM5 | Black | 30 | 30 mm carbon fibre composite | Yes | 250 g | SBC, AAC, LDAC | $330–$400 | View on Amazon |
| 2 | Bose | QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | White Smoke | 24 | 35 mm dynamic | Yes | 250 g | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | $380–$430 | View on Amazon |
| 3 | Sennheiser | MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | Graphite | 60 | 42 mm dynamic | Yes | 293 g | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX | $280–$350 | View on Amazon |
| 4 | Sony | WH-1000XM4 | Midnight Blue | 30 | 40 mm dynamic | Yes | 254 g | SBC, AAC, LDAC | $230–$280 | View on Amazon |
| 5 | Apple | AirPods Max | Space Gray | 20 | 40 mm custom dynamic | Yes | 384 g | AAC (Lossless over USB-C on 2024 revision) | $450–$550 | View on Amazon |
| 6 | Audio-Technica | ATH-M50xBT2 | Black | 50 | 45 mm dynamic | No | 307 g | SBC, AAC, LDAC | $150–$200 | View on Amazon |
| 7 | Anker | Soundcore Space One | Latte Cream | 40 | 40 mm dynamic | Yes | 265 g | SBC, AAC, LDAC | $80–$100 | View on Amazon |
The picks in detail
1. Sony WH-1000XM5Editor’s choice
The fifth-generation flagship keeps the crown for cabin noise. Eight microphones feed the QN1 and V1 processors, and the lighter 250 g frame is the first WH-1000X that we could wear for a nine-hour flight without hot spots. It does not fold flat like the previous generation, so the case is noticeably larger in a backpack.
2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose still cancels low-frequency rumble slightly more aggressively than Sony, and Immersive Audio is the only spatial mode here that survives head movement without swimming. Battery life drops to roughly 18 hours with Immersive Audio switched on, which is why the table lists 24 hours as the standard-mode figure.
3. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Sixty hours per charge is not a typo, and the five-band EQ in the Smart Control app is the most useful tuning tool of the group. Noise cancelling is a step behind Sony and Bose on aircraft, and the plastic yokes feel cheaper than the price suggests.
4. Sony WH-1000XM4Best value
Two generations old and still the value pick. Speak-to-Chat, LDAC and multipoint are all here, the earcups fold flat into a smaller case, and the 40 mm driver is warmer than the 30 mm unit in the WH-1000XM5. Buy this one if you shop on price per hour of quiet.
5. Apple AirPods Max
Heavy, expensive, and still the best-sounding sealed can on this list when it is fed Apple Music from an iPhone. Note that two hardware revisions are in circulation: the original Lightning model and the 2024 USB-C refresh, which added wired lossless. The listings look almost identical, so check the port before you buy.
6. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
The only pair here with no active noise cancelling at all, included because the passive isolation and studio-flat tuning make it the mixing-adjacent option. Fifty hours of battery and a 3.5 mm cable for zero-latency monitoring.
7. Anker Soundcore Space One
Under a hundred dollars with LDAC and adaptive ANC that removes maybe 80 percent of what the Sony removes. The Latte Cream colourway is the one we tested; the Jet Black listing carries a different item number even though the hardware is identical.
How we test
Each pair spent five days as the only headphones in rotation. Battery life is a full discharge from 100 percent at 50 percent volume with a fixed playlist over AAC, repeated twice and averaged. Noise cancelling is scored subjectively in three environments: aircraft cabin, open-plan office and a diesel bus. We do not use pink-noise attenuation charts because they flatter Bose and punish Sennheiser in ways that nobody hears in practice.
Prices are the street prices we saw in the last 30 days, not launch MSRP. Colourways matter for availability: the Latte Cream Soundcore Space One and the Midnight Blue WH-1000XM4 were the cheapest variants at the time of writing, and they are the ones linked above.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 worth it over the WH-1000XM4?
Only if noise cancelling and call quality are your top two priorities. The WH-1000XM5 is quieter on aircraft and much better on calls thanks to its four beamforming microphones. The WH-1000XM4 folds flat, has the warmer 40 mm driver, and sells for about $100 less. Both do 30 hours and both support LDAC. If you are choosing purely on value, buy the WH-1000XM4.
Is there a cheaper Sony with noise cancelling?
Yes. The Sony WH-CH720N sits below both flagship models, weighs only 192 g, and regularly sells for around $130. It is not in the comparison table above because we tested it last year, but it remains the cheapest Sony we would recommend with ANC.
Does the colour I choose change the price?
Frequently, yes. Anker lists Soundcore Space One in Latte Cream and Jet Black under separate item numbers, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in White Smoke and Black rarely discount at the same time. Buy the colour that is cheap; the drivers are identical.
Which pair should I skip if I mostly work from home?
Apple AirPods Max. At 384 g it is the heaviest pair here, and the noise you are cancelling at home is usually a dishwasher rather than a jet engine. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 or the Anker Soundcore Space One will serve you better for a third of the money.