8 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones in Singapore (2026): Sony, Bose, AirPods Max and More, From S$99.90

Sony's sixth-generation flagship is the safest buy for most people.WHY IT WINS: it runs on Sony's HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3, which drives 12 microphones and adjusts the noise cancelling in real time to how the cups sit on your head. Battery is rated at up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on, and a 3-minute charge on a USB-PD charger gives about 3 hours. Unlike the XM5, the XM6 folds again, so the case is smaller in a backpack.THE PRICE: the list price is S$649, but Sony's own store and Challenger both sell it at S$509 (21% off), in black, silver, blue, olive gray, smoky pink and sand stone at Challenger.EXTRA SAVINGS: Sony Store's PayLater by Grab code PAYLATERIT8 takes another S$8 off a S$250 spend, valid till 31 March 2027. Sony also sells S$99 Premium Care extended cover for it.BEST FOR: commuters and frequent flyers who want the strongest all-round noise cancelling.

Bose remains the name people reach for on a 13-hour flight, and the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra sits light on the head with plush, deep cushions.WHAT'S NEW: battery rose to 30 hours with noise cancelling on (from 24 on the first generation), and a USB-C cable now carries lossless audio at up to 48kHz, which is handy for laptops and gaming. Bose's Immersive Audio spatial mode cuts battery to roughly 23-24 hours.THE PRICE: Challenger sells it at S$499, down from S$599, in midnight violet and driftwood sand (black, white stone and desert gold were out of stock online on 11 October). Oddly, the older first-generation model costs more there at S$569.05, so check the name says 2nd Gen.CHEAPER BOSE: the plain QuietComfort Headphones are S$379 (was S$499). Bose has no online store in Singapore, so buy from a retailer.BEST FOR: long flights and anyone who finds Sony's clamp too tight.

The XM6 replaced it, but the XM5 is still one of the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy, and it is now the bargain of this list.THE PRICE: Challenger sells it at S$329, down from S$589, in black, blue, silver and smoky pink. That is S$180 less than the XM6.WHAT YOU GET: 30 hours of battery with noise cancelling on, eight microphones, multipoint pairing to two devices and the same Sony app.THE CATCH: the cups swivel flat but do not fold, so the carry case is bulkier than the XM6's, and the noise cancelling is a step behind on low rumble. Sony's own store no longer lists the XM5, so this is a while-stocks-last price.BEST FOR: anyone who wants flagship-level quiet for about half the original price.

Sennheiser's Momentum 4 is the audiophile's pick, with a warmer, more detailed sound than the Sony or Bose and a huge battery.WHAT YOU GET: up to 60 hours with noise cancelling on, double the Sony and Bose, so a week of commuting on one charge is realistic. It supports aptX Adaptive for Android phones and has a customisable EQ in Sennheiser's Smart Control app.THE PRICE: S$349 on Sennheiser's own Singapore store and at Challenger, down from S$499, in black, graphite, white, brown and teal.STEP UP: the newer Momentum 5 is S$569.05 at Challenger (list S$599).THE CATCH: the noise cancelling is good but a notch below Sony and Bose on a plane.BEST FOR: music lovers and people who hate charging.

Launched in March 2026, the AirPods Max 2 keep the aluminium-and-mesh design but move to Apple's H2 chip.WHAT'S NEW: Apple says the noise cancelling is up to 1.5x more effective than the original, and it adds Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation for calls and a Digital Crown press that works as an iPhone camera remote. With an iPhone, iPad or Mac you also get instant pairing, auto-switching and Personalised Spatial Audio.THE PRICE: S$749 at Apple and at Challenger, and we found no discount on the AirPods Max 2 anywhere on 11 October.THE CATCH: battery is still rated at about 20 hours, the lowest here, and the aluminium cups make them heavier than the plastic rivals. Apple offers 12- and 24-month instalments on purchases over S$500.BEST FOR: committed Apple users who will use the ecosystem features every day.

Nothing's cheaper over-ear, launched in March 2026, brings the brand's chunky see-through styling down to a mid-range price.WHAT YOU GET: adaptive noise cancelling, LDAC hi-res audio for Android phones, Bluetooth 5.4, memory-foam cushions and IP52 dust and splash resistance. Nothing rates the battery at up to 135 hours with noise cancelling off (much less with it on), and a 5-minute charge gives about 5 hours.THE PRICE: Challenger sells it at S$219, down from S$259, in black, white and yellow (pink was out of stock online on 11 October).THE CATCH: to hit the price Nothing dropped the wear-detection sensor, so music does not pause when you take them off, and at 310g they are not light.BEST FOR: Android users who want a big battery and a design that stands out.

Marshall's Monitor III wraps proper noise cancelling in the brand's black-leather-and-gold-script amp styling.THE HEADLINE: Marshall rates it at up to 70 hours with noise cancelling on and 100 hours with it off, the longest of any pair here, and a 15-minute charge gives about 12 hours. Charging is over USB-C, and there is an app EQ plus a soundstage mode.THE PRICE: Challenger sells it at S$479, down from S$519, in black and cream.THE CATCH: the noise cancelling is solid for a bus or office but behind Sony and Bose on a plane, and the sound is tuned bright and punchy rather than neutral.BEST FOR: rock and pop fans, and anyone who forgets to charge.

If you want to try noise cancelling without spending flagship money, the JBL Tune 770NC is the easy answer.THE PRICE: Challenger sells it at S$99.90, while JBL's own Singapore store lists it at S$208, so you save more than half. Black, blue, purple and white are all in stock online.WHAT YOU GET: adaptive noise cancelling, JBL Pure Bass tuning, multipoint pairing and a fold-flat design, with JBL rating the battery at up to 70 hours (about 44 hours with noise cancelling on).THE CATCH: the plastic build and thinner pads feel budget, and the noise cancelling takes the edge off a bus rather than silencing a plane.STEP UP: the JBL Live 780NC is S$249 (was S$299).BEST FOR: students, kids and a spare pair for the office.