Best noise canceling headphones for airplanes

Your passport is ready, and you’ve packed your bags. You got through security and made it to the gate. Getting on the plane, you remember, no matter where you’re flying, airplane cabins are noisy. Ambient noise like engine hum and cabin chatter can be intrusive, and there might even be a crying child within earshot if you’re really unlucky. Flights can take a long time, so get comfortable with the best noise canceling technology. We’ve considered the factors that particularly impact folks when up in the air and whittled down the list to make your flight more pleasant—strap in for takeoff.

The best noise canceling headphones for flying on an airplane are the Sony WH-1000XM5

With its excellent isolation and active noise canceling (ANC) technology and its comfortable fit, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is our pick for the best noise canceling headphones for air travel. It also happens to be one of the best headphones, period. But for flights, the headband of the WH-1000XM5 is supportive and light, while the ear cups effectively seal around your ears without a lot of pressure, making it easy to wear for hours, even if you fall asleep.

Boasting 31 hours and 53 minutes of battery life on a single charge, the WH-1000XM5 will last most around-the-world trips. It may not be the most extended battery life we’ve tested, but considering what the battery is powering: DSEE Extreme, ANC, and Sony 360 Reality Audio, the figure is impressive. Using the Sony Headphones app, you can hone in on your EQ preferences, control preferences, noise canceling preferences, and codec choices.

A Bluetooth 5.2 connection with LDAC, AAC, or SBC codecs suits any accompanying device and ensures you won’t run into latency issues. Furthermore, Sony continues to support hardwired connections by including a detachable cable with a 3.5mm headphone jack. This allows you to plug into in-flight entertainment media consoles to watch TV or movies. The only downside to contend with is the price, and unlike the previous Sony flagship, Sony WH-1000XM4, this pair does not collapse into a smaller footprint. Although, it’s worth noting that if you wear the headphones around your neck on the plane, it may not matter to you if they fold up.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have a long battery life

Sennheiser has airplanes in mind with the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. The first sign that Sennheiser has designed the headphones for flying is the airplane adapter included in the package for use with the detachable 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable. While the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless does not have class redefining ANC on tap, it still cancels out a lot of environmental noise. Our review found that the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless feels comfortable with glasses, and the leatherette and fabric combination works well for longer listening sessions.

With an awe-inspiring battery life of 56 hours and 21 minutes, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is ready for several trips without needing a top-up charge. The fact that the case has ample storage and some rigidity to protect your investment does not go unnoticed, even though the headset lacks hinges to fold down. For many, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless’s excellent sound quality pushes the Sennheiser cans to the forefront. In addition, the AAC, SBC, and extensive aptX support (aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive) means you don’t need to be concerned about whether latency will crop up as an issue with videos.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have features to spare

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are among the best headphones for flying, thanks to their exceptional active noise canceling (ANC) capabilities and comfort features tailored for travel. You’ll notice that the large, dense ear pads do a great job sealing to your head, leading to excellent isolation, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones do a rock-solid job of dispelling outside noise.

Comfort is paramount during long-haul flights, and the QuietComfort Ultra headphones don’t disappoint. They are designed with wide, soft-padded ear cups that comfortably encompass the ears, providing superior noise isolation and comfort. The headphones are impressively lightweight at 253g, minimizing head and neck strain during extended wear. The angled dynamic drivers also consider ear positioning, enhancing the overall wearing experience.

Furthermore, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a travel-friendly choice with their robust battery life, ensuring that they last for the duration of long flights without the need for frequent recharging. Including a compact carrying case with space for cables makes them easy to store and transport, adding to their convenience as a travel companion.

Apple users may want to check out the AirPods Max

We know it’s not cheap, but the Apple AirPods Max is still an incredibly comfortable, stylish, and effective noise canceling headset. Apple has produced soft mesh ear cups that airily conform to the shape around your ears while isolating out high-pitched noise.

You’re unlikely to find yourself without audio, with just over 21 hours of battery life. However, on the list of downsides, the AirPods Max requires a separate purchase of a Lighting to 3.5mm adapter if you are interested in plugging into the airplane’s entertainment system. If you mainly connect your Apple device, the H1 chip and AAC codec will ensure your connection remains stable. The AirPods Max is totally in its element for air travel.

What about the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)?

Each pair of headphones on this list takes up more space than a set of true wireless earbuds, like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). In terms of packing light, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) fits in virtually any pocket. The latest Apple buds possess some excellent noise canceling capabilities, too. For iPhone users, the H2 chip integration means you can reliably enjoy whatever media you’ve got on your device.

Of course, there are downsides compared to over-ear headphones, such as long-term comfort and shorter battery life (5 hours and 43 minutes). Also, the Bluetooth-only connection prevents you from plugging into any media console the airline provides. That said, if you’re hopping on a relatively short flight and your iPhone is readily packed with your favorite podcasts and movies downloaded, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) can cancel airplane noise very well.

Save your money with the Anker Soundcore Life Q30

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones are an excellent choice for air travelers seeking a balance of quality, comfort, and value. The active noise cancelation significantly reduces low and mid-frequency noise, minimizing cabin noise on the plane. They are also comfortable to wear for hours at a time, with ample padding around the ears if you end up falling asleep.

The transport mode is the most useful of the three available ANC modes since it blocks out frequencies that passive isolation alone struggles to attenuate.

Our standardized testing confirmed battery life at an impressive 46 hours and 35 minutes (ANC on), which should be sufficient for most trips. But if you do need more juice, the fast charging capabilities provide another four hours of listening time with just a five-minute top-up.

For only $80, you also get a hardshell carrying case, offering convenient storage and protection during travel. And with the ability to EQ the audio through the Soundcore app, travelers can adjust the sound profile more to their liking.

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus are good value for travel

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus headphones offer a solid choice for travelers, especially those looking for middle-ground active noise canceling (ANC) capabilities without breaking the bank. Priced under $300, these headphones come with a softshell carrying case, making them relatively travel-friendly, although their inability to fold up might be a slight inconvenience for some. They feature touch controls for easy operation and offer both wired (via a USB-C port and a 2.5mm TRS socket) and wireless Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, ensuring versatility during travel.

With an impressive battery life of over 53 hours with ANC on, travelers won’t have to worry about frequent charging. The ANC performance is decent, attenuating about 80% of outside noise, suitable for reducing the hum of an airplane or train, though not entirely eliminating it. While they may not compete with top-tier ANC headphones in noise cancelation, their comfort, battery life, and connectivity options make them a practical choice for air travelers seeking good value.

Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($149 at Amazon): Striking up a nice balance between price and feature set, these cans include a surprisingly good app with an equalizer, as well as good ANC. That you get LDAC and AAC codecs mean it pairs with any operating system, while the 3.5mm cable means you can use it with the airplane media player.
• Anker Soundcore Life Q20 ($59 at Amazon): This is the headset to get if you want barebones, no-nonsense active noise canceling (ANC) on a budget. The lack of bleeding-edge features and an outdated USB port may be a drag, but this headset does very well for the price.
• Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 ($379 at Amazon): This pair of premium headphones cancels out noise handily. It does not fold down and isn’t as comfortable to wear as the QuietComfort 45, which is unfortunate, given that the aesthetics are slicker. For the accident-prone, the IPX4 rating is a nice feature.
• Monoprice BT-600ANC ($84.99 at Amazon): For most casual listeners, these are the best bang for your buck headphones. The combination of great isolation and noise cancelation, decent sound, and premium features is a sight for sore eyes in the sub-$100 headphone category.
• Shure AONIC 50 ($298 at Amazon): For the folks who wear glasses, the AONIC 50 has been tested as providing a pleasant fit. It’s made of premium materials and sounds good, with a huge slew of high-quality Bluetooth codecs and wired listening options.
• Sony WH-1000XM4 ($278 at Amazon): The older sibling of the WH-1000XM5 topping our list, this set doesn’t isolate noise quite as well, although it still does a very good job canceling noise generally. It also has the added benefit of folding hinges to take up less space in your bag.
• Sony WH-XB910N ($148 at Amazon): First off, by default, these headphones are too bassy for most listeners, but they are comfortable, but you can use the Sony Headphones app to improve the sound with EQ. It costs less than the flagship WH-1000XM5, which makes it worth a closer look.

What you should know about noise canceling headphones for flying on an airplane

Airplanes are loud, but with the advent of ANC, the din of the cabin need not bother you as much. Technically, you can use noise canceling headphones on a plane and probably have a better experience than non-noise-canceling headphones. With that said, if you’re shelling out the dough, we have a few tips to make your purchase more wisely.

Some simple features to keep in mind when looking for noise canceling headphones for flying, besides the noise canceling feature, include getting closed-back headphones. All ANC headphones have closed-backs, but this is a reminder to leave the open-back headphones at home. Using open-back headphones will annoy your seatmates because they will hear virtually everything you’re listening to. Not to mention, all cabin noise will still reach your ears.

We recommend going for over-ear headphones rather than on-ear headphones. They may take up less room, but on-ear headphones typically aren’t comfortable over long periods. In addition, from an engineering perspective, it’s simply more challenging to create an isolating seal when the ear cup pushes against your ear rather than hugging around it as with over-ear headphones. That’s also why on-ear headphones feel less comfortable, as a general rule. They’re fine for short periods but cause discomfort on a long flight. Save yourself a literal headache, and choose closed-back over-ear headphones.

What you need to know about noise canceling and flying in an airplane

Given that airplane cabin noise runs the gamut of 60dB up to 114dB, averaging 85.6dB, it makes sense that you should want to turn it down. Ideally, your noise canceling headphones will have both good isolation and ANC. Isolation typically blocks high-pitched sounds, like crying babies or constant chatter. It achieves this effect by creating a seal around your ear. Because airplanes involve prolonged listening sessions, you’ll want to balance effective isolation and comfort.

For instance, some headphones can isolate very well but have vice-tight grips, which do not bode well for hours on end. This is particularly true for people who wear glasses because some headphones clamp down too hard for comfort.

Whereas isolation blocks those incidental high-pitched sounds, you’ll want ANC that comprehensively filters the midrange and low-pitched noises in the airplane cabin. In particular, you want your ANC to cover around 1000Hz and below. ANC is well suited for the cabin environment and the droning sounds of the aircraft’s engine. Considering that ANC works by inverting waveforms to “cancel” out the noise, a droning waveform with little variation (unlike the baby crying) is the perfect application of the technology. You want to ensure that whichever headset you pick affects the critical lower frequencies because not all ANC is created equal.

Battery life is important for flying, but so is a headphone jack

You might have moved on and away from the headphone jack, but in-flight entertainment has not necessarily moved with the same speed. Indeed, some flights feature apps that allow passengers to access media from devices and laptops, in which case your Bluetooth headphones will do just fine, but not all airplanes have this. So, you’ll want to make sure your headphones can use a headphone jack. In addition, check that the headphones you pick don’t have any odd quirks like turning off the ANC when you plug in a cable, for instance.

If the in-flight entertainment of your choice consists of downloaded podcasts, music, and videos on a personal device, then you’ll want to check that your headphones have the battery life to last your flight. Nobody wants to get caught with a dead battery during a show. Bluetooth headphones have reached a point where you don’t need to worry if the battery will last your flight if fully charged. However, if you’re planning to board with noise canceling earbuds, you’ll want to check that the battery life can handle the length of your flight. In imperfect circumstances, a fast charge function might be important if you board with a battery that is not fully charged, eking out an hour or two from a few minutes of charging.

Which accessories will make your noise canceling headphones better for flying?

Everyone has their preferences and rituals with flying, but you may want a couple of items to improve the experience. For your headphones, you probably want a case. Some of our selections already come with a case. Typically, you should look for something that occupies minimal real estate in your bag but offers some protection from crushing. Internal pockets in a case can help keep your accessories together, like the charging cable.

You might’ve noticed that some airplanes use an unusual two-pronged connector for the built-in media players. To save you the hassle of purchasing the crummy earphones airlines offer, get an airplane adapter. It’s small and pretty cheap. You can stow it in your headphones case when not in use.

Check with your airline about capacity limits, but a battery power bank can improve most travelers’ experiences. Some cabins have USB ports for convenient charging, but it’s common to discover the one at your seat doesn’t work. Since many folks fly with power-hungry devices, keeping a battery pack on hand can help if your headphones’ battery drains before you land.

How we test the best noise canceling headphones for flying on airplanes

We subject all our headphones to the same set of tests, from standardized battery life tests to measuring frequency responses and noise canceling efficacy with our Bruel & Kjaer 5128. In addition to using our objective measurements to support our findings, we review each set of headphones hands-on to see how well they perform their intended uses. Some products are better on paper than in reality, so we test and try everything we review.

How we choose the best noise canceling headphones for flying on airplanes

We’ve selected the best noise canceling headphones for flying on airplanes by consulting our staff’s extensive knowledge and comparing all of our objective tests. The Best list here is not representative of a single individual’s opinions. Instead, it is the culmination of our shared expertise as an organization, as informed by objective measurements and reviews. For this list, we consider individual travelers’ variable and unique needs with necessary features. For example, we look for good noise canceling, comfort, and connectivity.

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