With the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, Bose created a pair of headphones that block out everything, without it being uncomfortable (like the AirPods Max) or compromised by gizmos ( Sony WH-1000XM5 ). It just works.

We've lab tested the three best pairs of noise-cancelling headphones you can get and are here to tell you how they stack up on ANC, audio quality, comfort, connectivity, and more.

XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are your top two options. A pair of headphones with strong noise-canceling capabilities is essential for anyone who needs to occasionally tune out the world around them.