What's On My Mind: Noise-Canceling Headphones and My Productivity Routine

The Nothing Headphone (1) White brings a distinctive look and long endurance, and in our testing its 35-hour battery with ANC on (and up to 80 hours with ANC off) made it great for extended workdays away from a charger. We found the overall sound to be good and codec support including LDAC is a plus, but the heavier 329g build proved fatiguing during marathon sessions. During our review its mix of strong battery life and average comfort resulted in a middling 6.5/10 — stylish, but consider weight if you plan all-day wear.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds impressed us with excellent ANC and high-resolution codec support like LDAC, making them a focused, detailed in-ear choice for music-forward listeners. During our review the comfortable, lightweight fit supported long listening bursts, yet our experience shows connection dropouts and shorter battery life compared with rivals limit reliability during long meetings. We also found the fixed touch controls a bit inflexible, so while the sound and noise reduction earn praise, the 7/10 score reflects those practical trade-offs for on-the-go professionals at $199.99.

If budget and battery life are priorities, the Sony WH-CH720N offers a bargain option that scored 6.5/10 in our testing thanks to an impressive endurance and lightweight build. We found battery life can stretch up to about 50 hours with ANC off and roughly 35 hours in regular use, so these are great for long commutes. During our review the active noise cancellation performed well for the price, but sound can feel flat and the plasticky build may not satisfy those seeking premium durability.

For strong battery life and solid ANC without breaking the bank, the Space Q45 is a compelling pick: in our testing it delivered up to 50 hours of playtime with ANC engaged and effective noise reduction for focused work. We found the ultra-soft earcups comfortable and the adjustable headband useful for longer sessions, though microphone performance and the lack of aptX can hinder call clarity and video sync. During our review the headphones scored 7.5/10 — a reliable, comfortable option if you prioritize endurance and ANC over pristine call audio.

Affordable yet capable, the Cleer Ally Plus II scored a solid 7.5/10 in our review for delivering warm, balanced sound and effective ANC at a budget price. In our testing the earbuds produced clear vocals and reliable noise reduction, and the battery life of about 11 hours plus 22 extra from the case kept us mobile all day. We found the bulky fit can be uncomfortable for smaller ears and that the lack of AAC may disappoint Apple users, while ambient mode sometimes introduces a faint hiss.

When focus is non-negotiable, the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 earned an impressive 8.5/10 in our testing thanks to standout ANC and a balanced, detailed sound profile. Our experience shows these earbuds excel at drowning out café chatter and conference room noise, and the comfortable fit with multiple ear tips made long wear easy. During our review we noticed the 6-hour battery with ANC on limits marathon sessions, and the charging case is bulkier than competing compact models, plus there’s no aptX or LDAC support.

The Mpow H19 IPO targets budget-conscious users and scored 5.5/10 in our hands-on review: it's light and comfortable for casual listening but shows its compromises. During our testing the 30-hour battery kept playback going, and the lightweight 240g build felt easy on the neck, yet we found annoying ear pressure and heat buildup during longer sessions. Our experience also flagged Bluetooth connectivity hiccups on extended calls and at range, so these are best for short commutes rather than heavy daily use.

For a budget-friendly distraction blocker, the Soundcore Q20i delivers surprising value — our experience shows its hybrid ANC and comfortable fit bring real focus gains for just $39.99. We found the 40-hour battery and fast charging to be excellent for long commutes or marathon work sessions, and the lightweight design makes it easy to wear all day. During our testing the plastic build and middling mic performance revealed where compromises lie, but for the price and a 7.5/10 score it’s a smart starter pick.

If you need long-lasting over-ear comfort on a budget, the Soundcore Q30 is a standout: in our testing it balanced respectable ANC with a remarkable 40-hour runtime and a fold-up design that made it genuinely travel-friendly. We found the earcups comfortable for extended use and the included carrying case useful for commutes, though sound prefers mids over deep bass and there’s no visual battery indicator. During our review the Q30 earned an 8/10 for being a practical daily driver below premium models, especially for travelers wanting comfort and endurance at $85.98.

The 1MORE SonoFlow surprised us by punching above its price with well-balanced audio and truly impressive battery life — in our testing it reached up to 50 hours with ANC on and 70 hours without, which made it ideal for long trips and heavy daily use. We found the noise cancellation effective for travel and the sound quality better than expected at this tier, although the plastic construction and fiddly on-device buttons feel less premium. During our review the SonoFlow earned a 7.5/10 as a practical, long-lasting choice for budget-minded listeners.

Don't let the sleek silhouette fool you — the Momentum 4 Wireless earned an 8/10 in our testing for balancing stellar sound and marathon battery life. We found the 60-hour runtime with ANC enabled is a genuine game-changer for long workdays, and support for high-resolution codecs like aptX Adaptive keeps music detailed. During our review the headphones delivered rich, balanced sound, though some users report the ear cups feel small and touch controls can be fiddly, and its noise cancellation lags slightly behind top competitors.

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 is a premium pick that scored 8/10 in our review by refining what made its predecessor great: DSEE Extreme upscales compressed tracks and an improved adaptive ANC uses 12 microphones for smarter reduction of background noise. We found the redesigned hinge adds comfort for long sessions, but during our testing larger heads may notice a slightly tight fit. While audio and noise control justify the price for many, our experience shows the upgrades are evolutionary rather than revolutionary compared to the XM5.

If you value build quality and design, the Beoplay HX earns attention with luxurious materials and a premium finish, though it scored 7/10 in our testing. During our review we found the sound to be refined and clear, but some listeners may miss the bass emphasis that adds punch to pop and electronic tracks. Our experience shows the 35-hour battery is reliable for travel, yet the active noise cancellation feels less effective than rivals at this price point, so weigh style against raw ANC performance.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 Pro earned a 7.5/10 in our evaluation for delivering terrific sound and crisp, natural transparency that helps when you need to stay aware during work breaks. In our testing voice calls came through clearly, making these a strong companion for remote meetings and commutes. We found the design uninspired and the noise cancellation sits in the midtier range rather than class-leading, and our experience notes the lack of true multipoint connectivity can be a drawback if you frequently hop between devices.

For Apple users prioritizing sonic detail and seamless device pairing, the AirPods Max stands out as our top-rated choice with a 9/10 score for its exceptional soundstage and industry-leading ANC. During our testing the clarity of highs, warmth of mids, and punchy bass made music and calls feel immersive, and integration across Apple devices is effortlessly smooth. We found the cans are heavier than many rivals, which impacts marathon comfort, and our experience shows limited codec support and a minimalist Smart Case are notable compromises for the price.

Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra impressed us enough to earn an 8.5/10 thanks to class-leading noise cancellation and exceptional comfort that makes long work sessions painless. In our testing the ANC consistently reduced ambient sounds across busy cafés and transit, and the Immersive Audio feature added a wider, three-dimensional soundstage during music and movies. We found battery life sits around 24 hours, which is respectable but not class-leading, and our experience notes the premium price and occasional spatial wandering of vocals may not suit every listener.

If you want top-tier noise control for deep focus sessions, the Sony WH-1000XM5 shines — in our testing its exceptional active noise cancellation and sleek, comfortable design made long workdays feel noticeably quieter. We found the 40-hour battery life reliable for back-to-back meetings and travel, and support for LDAC helps preserve audio detail when your device allows it. During our review the lack of foldability and limited aptX support stood out as practical downsides, and while it earned an 8.5/10, the premium $399.99 price may be a barrier if portability and codec flexibility are priorities.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are our highest-scoring in-ear ANC option, earning a 9.5/10 for delivering best-in-class noise cancellation and rich, dynamic audio that helped us stay focused in busy cafés and transit. During our review the six-hour continuous battery plus 24 hours from the case covered a day of calls and focused sessions, and the immersive soundstage made music feel engaging. We found touch controls overly sensitive and the bulky fit can be uncomfortable for some users, but if audio fidelity and supreme ANC are your priorities, these are hard to beat at $299.