# Noise cancelling earbuds that actually work

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/tech/earbuds/noise-cancelling-works/
Category: Tech > Wireless earbuds. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 101 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Oct 2022 to Oct 2026.

**Question:** Which noise cancelling earbuds really block out noise?

**Short answer:** Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) has the best record for noise cancelling: 37 of 37 shoppers who mentioned it said it blocked out the noise around them, and the most reviewers weighed in on it. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is the best pick sold on Amazon at 18 of 21, and Apple AirPods 4 has the weakest record here at 21 of 27. A clear majority of shoppers were happy with all three. This page only counts earbuds sold with noise cancelling.

**What stands out:** Apple sits at both ends of this list. The Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) is unanimous at 37 of 37, while 16% of Apple AirPods 4 reviews call the cancelling weak.

## Ranking (shoppers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Blocks noise | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) | 37 of 37 | 100% | no |
| 2 | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds | 18 of 21 | 86% | yes |
| 3 | Apple AirPods 4 | 21 of 27 | 78% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)

Every one of the 37 shoppers who judged the noise cancelling said it worked. 30% also praise the sound and 25% call it comfortable. Price is the complaint that comes up, in 5% of reviews.

- Praised for: Good sound (30%), Comfortable (25%), Stay in (15%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 2. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Connection trouble is the issue here, not the noise cancelling. 35% of reviews mention connection issues and 22% say the pair stopped working, yet 18 of 21 still said it blocked noise well. 61% praise the sound, and Bose's own site is unanimous at 9 of 9, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Good sound (61%), Comfortable (22%), Good value (13%)
- Complaints: Connection issues (35%), Stopped working (22%), Uncomfortable (13%)
- Reports counted: 23

### 3. Apple AirPods 4

Noise cancelling worked for 21 of 27, but 6 called it weak, which makes this the weakest record here. 13% praise the sound and 11% call it comfortable. Others mention falling out (5%) and battery problems (5%), each at small shares.

- Praised for: Good sound (13%), Comfortable (11%), Good value (5%)
- Complaints: Stopped working (5%), Weak sound (5%), Fall out (5%)
- Reports counted: 38

## Questions

**Which earbuds block noise well?**

Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) has the best record at 37 of 37, then Bose QuietComfort Earbuds at 18 of 21 and Apple AirPods 4 at 21 of 27. Shoppers tend to mention noise cancelling when it stands out, good or bad, so read the shares as a guide and not a test.

**Do AirPods 4 block noise well?**

Mostly, but Apple AirPods 4 has the weakest record here at 21 of 27, and 16% of its reviews call the cancelling weak. Check the listing for active noise cancelling before you buy.

**What goes wrong with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds?**

Shoppers rarely blame the noise cancelling, since 3 of 21 called it weak. The complaints are connection issues in 35% of reviews and the pair stopping working in 22%.

**Why isn't a budget pair on this page?**

This page only ranks earbuds sold with noise cancelling. Pairs without it can still block some sound with a snug fit, but that is a different thing, so we leave them out here.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/