Best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds for 2021 – CNET [CNET]

Active noise cancellation headphones, also known as ANC headphones, produce a mirror image sound wave in your ear to electronically counteract or “cancel out” external noise. Noise isolation and cancellation technology works best in environments where there’s a sustained din as background noise, like the droning of a jet engine — which is why Bose ANC Earbuds became a status symbol at airports.

The technology used to be restricted to full-size over-ear headphones. But in just the past few years, it’s been shrunk down to earbud size. Sony’s 2018 models, the WF-SP700N and WF-1000X, were the trailblazers, but Apple’s AirPods Pro have taken noise canceling wireless earbuds mainstream. To that end, we’ve rounded up the best noise cancelling wireless earbuds, all of which I’ve personally used. As more competitors keep coming after Apple AirPods, we’ll see many more models of noise cancelling earbuds hit the market, and we’ll update this list accordingly. 

Looking for ANC headphones in all styles, including on-ear headphones or over-ear headphones? Check out the best noise-canceling headphones of 2021. Keep reading here for the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds. 

Watch this: Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds are a big-time upgrade

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