1. SONY WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4 are light-weight headphones designed for comfort and are surprisingly light-weight. While they look no different from their predecessors, their noise cancellation has improved drastically. This model has been upgraded with many new features, including auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor, multipoint pairing, and DSEE Extreme upscaling. The design is simple, no risk there, and limited color options. It’s easier to spot a loyal sony user because of their headphones resembling each other. Other than the limited color options, Sony WH-1000XM4 stands out as the best headphones 2020 has to offer. The cherry on the cake is Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format for spatial audio. With this price range, one should indeed consider buying them without any second thoughts. They will make a great Christmas gift for your loved ones.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 30 hoursNFC: YesFrequency response: 4Hz to 40kHzSensitivity: 104.5dBWireless range: 30 meters (98ft)Drivers: 1.57-inchDriver type: Dome-typeCable length: 3.94 ftImpedance: 47 ohmAcoustic design: ClosedWeight: 8.95 oz
Why Should You Buy It?
Affordable Best ANC in the market.Great Battery life.
2. Bose 700 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Tough competition to Sony WH-1000XM4, Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 offers an incredible battery life and surprisingly good noise canceling at a reasonable price. They also have many color options to choose from, and the futuristic aesthetics takes it all for me. This is Bose’s best performance so far in the headphones category, and the credit goes to the following feature. They cancel the surrounding noise during a phone call, too, and not just for you! Traditionally, this is how ANC headphones work. When you get on a phone call, they shall omit the background noises for you, but not for the other person on the line; he can still hear the unwanted sounds around you. Not if you buy yourself a pair of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700! Do not think twice if you are into sales or marketing or run a business and have many calls to attend. With the current pandemic situation, you might have to turn a date night into a meeting; and these pairs will do wonders for you and your clients.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 20 hoursNFC: YesFrequency response: N/ASensitivity: N/AWireless range: 33 ftDrivers: N/ADriver type: N/ACable length: N/AImpedance: N/AAcoustic design: ClosedWeight: 254g
Why Should You Buy It?
Outstanding ANCLot of color options to choose fromLight-weight
3. Jabra Elite 85h Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
The most affordable in this category, Jabra Elite 85H, offers you 36-hour battery life, breath-taking looks, and lots of personalization – all at the price tag of $149.What more can you possibly ask for? The tech-specifications may be a little edgy and could have been better. I have to give this to them, though, for this is Jabra’s debut in the Active Noise Cancellation category, and they have met most of the requirements just fine. I wouldn’t go easy on Jabra for this one because their competition is a debut in the market too. However, I look forward to further high-end premium ANC headphones in the Jabra family. You should consider buying these if this is your first pair of premium headphones, for they cost cheaper than Airpods Pro too, and you couldn’t expect more in that price range.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 36 hoursNFC: N/AFrequency response: 10Hz to 20kHzSensitivity: N/AWireless range: 10 meters (33ft)Drivers: 40mmDriver type: N/ACable length: N/AImpedance: N/AAcoustic design: ClosedWeight: 0.65 pounds
Why Should You Buy It?
Outstanding Battery LifeANC on-point
4. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless Headphones
If you are looking to buy headphones for their appeal and do not care much for their tech specifications or noise cancellation, then these are the best suited for you. Sennheiser Momentum 3 are the coolest looking headphones that I have compared so far. In terms of sound quality, these are perfect. You can listen to your tracks in excruciating details, bass on-point, and overall a great experience. You will be missing excellent built-in quality and a premium finish if you don’t buy these. However, if ANC is your primary concern, there are better variants to look for.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 30 hoursNFC: N/AFrequency response: 10 – 30,000 HzSensitivity: N/AWireless range: N/ADrivers: 43.6mmDriver type: Full rangeCable length: 1.2mImpedance: 20kOhmsAcoustic design: ClosedWeight: 310g
Why Should You Buy It?
Pleasing aestheticsGreat Battery Life
5. Bowers and Wilkins PX7 Over-Ear Headphone
Other stylish noise-canceling headphones in the list, Bowers and Wilkins PX7, have an above-average performance to be considered for this list. While they may be a little too pricey, but their top-notch sound quality, decent noise-cancellation, and pleasing aesthetics are definitely worth the money. They also add aptX Adaptive for improved stability and high-quality aptX HD for streaming purposes, making them a great steal. Their limited-edition Carbon Edition variant was a steal for sure. You must consider buying them if the price is not your primary concern.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: 17 hoursNFC: YesFrequency response: 6 – 22,000 HzSensitivity: N/AWireless range: N/ADrivers: 42mmDriver type: N/ACable length: N/AImpedance: 20kOhmsAcoustic design: ClosedWeight: 0.67 lbs
Why Should You Buy It?
Stylish looksPowerful Bluetooth connection
Which AirPods Max Alternative are you buying?
These are some of the best active noise-canceling headphones on the market. All the variants have something unique on their plate to offer, making it tough to pick one. I cannot wait for thorough AirPods Max tests to come out and scrutinize their potentials. You may also like to read:
Best AirPods Max AccessoriesBest AirPods Max Tips and TricksAirPods Max cases to Protect Expensive HeadphonesHow to fix AirPods Max condensation issue
