We’ve tested tons of noise-cancelling headphones and these are the ones we’d take on a plane

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Flying was ne'er nan astir stress-free measurement to travel, but acknowledgment to never-ending hose delays, unruly passengers, and nan unthinkable shrinking hose seat, it tin beryllium a nightmare. If you're fresh to upgrade your flying experience, picking up a brace of noise-cancelling headphones tin spell a agelong way.

You decidedly person options: plentifulness of headphones, from over-ear headphones to wireless earbuds, connection progressive sound cancellation. And successful 2024, it's not excessively difficult to find ANC headphones that costs nether $100. That said, we do urge spending a small much to bask maximum calm astatine 35,000 feet, which is why we've tested and vetted nan champion headphones for travel.

How overmuch should I walk connected noise-cancelling headphones?

If you want to find nan champion noise-cancelling headphones for flying, you should beryllium prepared to salary $250 to $500. Premium headphones connection improved progressive sound cancellation, customizable settings, and transparency modes that let you to perceive those all-important gross announcements.

Many cheap headphones declare to connection "noise-cancelling" features, but a random brace of $50 over-ear headphones is much susceptible to letting sounds astir you through, struggling to link easy and move betwixt devices, aliases simply wearing much uncomfortably.

After all, ANC connected its ain won't prevention nan time — otherwise, we'd conscionable nonstop you to our guideline to nan best noise-cancelling headphones. For agelong flights, comfortableness is besides key. It won't matter if your headphones artifact sound if you only want to deterioration them for 2 retired of 5 hours of your flight. And because this is simply a flying-focused roundup, we did springiness other points to headphones pinch thoughtful creation that makes retention easy.

If that $250-plus value scope feels wholly retired of nan question, we've included a mates of budget earbuds successful nan under-$100 category, but they travel pinch tradeoffs. If you're okay pinch a mid-range pick, see buying wireless earbuds pinch ANC alternatively of over-ear headphones.

If nan costs of a brace of headphones is off-putting, you tin ever hold for a waste to start. We spot headphones from Bose, Sony, and Apple get marked down year-round — if you don't want to support your eyes peeled yourself, Mashable's deals coverage is simply a awesome spot to find immoderate noteworthy headphone deals.

What are nan champion noise-cancelling headphones for flying?

Noise-cancelling headphones are astatine their astir useful connected airplanes. It's difficult to find a moment's bid erstwhile truthful overmuch is going connected astir you. Frequent flyers whitethorn for illustration to remainder aliases work, and nan champion measurement to hole for either is by utilizing nan champion ANC headphones to artifact retired nan chaos. 

Because shopping for headphones shouldn't beryllium arsenic stressful arsenic heading to nan airport, we've done extended testing to bring you nan apical options. So, publication connected to find nan champion noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes successful 2024 — each based connected Mashable's hands-on headphones reviews.

Best overall: Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.

Who it's for:

If you're looking for over-ear headphones that sound awesome and tin easy springiness you each time wear, nan Bose QuietComfort Ultras deterioration arsenic comfortably for a afloat time of activity arsenic they do for a cross-country flight. They're decidedly an investment, but we deliberation nan Ultras are worthy it (especially erstwhile they're connected sale) acknowledgment to their semipermanent wearability and beardown sound cancellation.

Why we picked this:

Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard here. Personally, I've owned, used, and loved Bose QuietComfort headphones for years. (I antecedently tested nan QC 35 IIs and nan QC 45s, some standouts successful nan section of ANC headphones.) But, pinch nan Ultras, I consciousness for illustration Bose really stepped up nan QuietComfort line. They're durable but still supremely comfortable. I've worn them pinch earrings each time and connected a five-hour formation while wearing glasses, and not erstwhile did I acquisition immoderate soreness aliases discomfort.

Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino besides tried retired nan headphones, and she had a akin experience, calling nan Ultras "the astir comfortable headphones I've ever worn." Beyond comfort, they connection bully sound cancellation, which is cardinal for flying. Mangino was little impressed than I was, noting that "while nan sound cancellation is really bully astatine blocking retired low-pitched noises, it can't wholly artifact high-pitched sounds unless you move up nan sound to unhealthy volumes." When I wore them connected a flight, they importantly reduced nan hum of nan airplane's motor and my chap passengers, but I work together that they do champion pinch little pitches. They surely artifact sound amended than past QuietComfort models.

Sound-wise, Mangino nailed it erstwhile she described it arsenic "rich" and capable to let nan small specifications shine. Bose's first walk astatine spatial audio is fine, but we deliberation nan modular settings are bully enough. However, nan on-ear controls of these headphones could decidedly usage immoderate work. They didn't reliably move on, and we had to edifice to alternating short and agelong presses for them to powerfulness up and link to our devices. Their multipoint relationship tin besides beryllium spotty pinch 2 devices connected, but this is apt to beryllium little noticeable connected a flight.

The deficiency of passive playback pinch a wired relationship was noticeable, however. Thankfully, these person a decent artillery life that should beryllium capable to get you done wired and wireless listening. Another recreation bonus: The earcups fold in, allowing nan headphones to return up little abstraction successful your bag. That besides gives them an separator compared to nan Sony WH-1000XM5s, which tin only dishonesty flat.

Battery life: 24 hours | App-connected: Yes

Budget pick: Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Who it's for:

While having progressive sound cancellation astatine nan fresh while walking mightiness sound great, spending hundreds of dollars sounds decidedly little so. (Airline tickets are costly enough, convey you.) If you're not looking for nan astir elite ANC, sound, aliases build quality, nan Anker Soundcore Life Q20s don't break nan bank. And while they whitethorn not person much premium features, we recovered they wore comfortably and sewage nan occupation done.

Why we picked this:

The Life Q20s are a fraction of nan value of nan different headphones connected our list, but their merits spell acold beyond their fund status. The cushioned receptor pads make them easy to deterioration comfortably for nan magnitude of a agelong flight. The progressive sound cancellation is beardown capable to artifact retired ambient airplane sounds, and nan artillery life is besides impressive. It took america respective days of usage to tally it down listening astatine astir 50 percent measurement — and that was with noise-cancelling engaged.

Plus, dissimilar higher-end headphones successful this guideline (namely, nan Bose QC Ultras), these headphones support passive playback via a 3.5 millimeter aux cable. In different words, if you do hap to tally retired of artillery connected your flight, you're not wholly retired of luck. As for nan existent listening experience, these headphones supply a amazingly well-balanced sound, but if you don't for illustration really they sound retired of nan box, you are unluckily retired of luck. Part of nan logic they timepiece successful astatine specified a bully value (and moreover much truthful when they're connected sale) is because these headphones are an older model, truthful they're not compatible pinch nan Soundcore app and its equalizer features. Overall, these headphones epitomize nan connection decent — but that's not a sound against them astatine all.

Battery life: 40 hours | App-connected: No

Best earbuds for travel: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Who it's for:

If you're not an over-ear headphone stan, nan Bose QuiteComfort Ultra earbuds connection likewise awesome sound cancellation and comfortableness arsenic our apical pick, nan QuietComfort Ultra headphones. If you for illustration to thin against nan model to nap during flights aliases conscionable request a lower-profile group of headphones truthful you tin recreation a spot lighter, nan QC Ultra buds are nan measurement to go. They're besides a cool $130 little than our apical pick, making them easier connected nan wallet.

Why we picked this:

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds were conscionable released successful October 2023, and they've already snagged a Mashable Choice award for their stellar sound cancellation, comfortable fit, and awesome Immersive Audio tech. Per accustomed for nan brand, Bose's ANC drowns retired a ton of inheritance noise, making these buds a cleanable fresh for flights. In his review of nan QC Ultra buds, Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth mentioned that Bose's sound cancellation is truthful bully that he often wears these buds moreover erstwhile he's not playing music.

"When I want to return a nap connected a level aliases attraction connected my work, I popular successful these earbuds and fto nan noise-cancelling cocoon lavation complete me," Werth says. "Do they connection 100 percent sound dilution? No, but each but nan loudest and closest sounds should disappear. On airplanes, they importantly reduced noise, making it overmuch easier to return a nap. I person to pass my partner erstwhile I'm putting connected these earbuds, different she'll deliberation I'm giving her nan silent treatment."

In position of complaints, we noticed that nan creation of nan lawsuit makes it a spot difficult to region nan buds. We besides knowledgeable immoderate finicky Bluetooth relationship during semipermanent testing, but these are insignificant qualms — nan pros of nan QC Ultra buds perfectly outweigh nan cons.

Battery life: Six hours (Up to 24 pinch charging case) | App connected: Yes

Best sound quality: Sony WH-1000XM5

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

Who it's for:

Sony's flagship over-ear noise-cancelling headphones are nan WH-1000XM5. Though they're not an basal upgrade for those who already ain nan ultra-popular WH-1000XM4s, nan improved sound cancellation and fuller sound make these nan stronger prime for airplane recreation successful 2024.

While nan ANC is solid, it's not a standout among different high-end noise-cancelling headphones. However, they still battalion awesome sound cancellation and stellar audio value for music. Considering sound cancellation is astir effective successful tandem pinch music, these headphones should entreaty to euphony lovers and audiophiles. In her review of nan Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, Mashable's Deputy Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern said nan XM5s were "probably nan best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tried," making them a awesome prime for folks who return pridefulness successful their Spotify playlists.

Why we picked this:

Besides sounding amazing, they connection exceptional recreation functionality pinch nan "quick attention" mode, activated simply by covering your correct receptor cup, allowing you to perceive gross alteration announcements and formation attendants without wholly stopping your music. Voice adjunct support, crisp telephone quality, and a awesome artillery life of up to 30 hours complete nan package.

Though they look great, nan biggest drawback is that these headphones don't fold up, and nan carrying lawsuit is rather tall, though slim. For evident reasons, that's not perfect for travel. Still, if premium sound value is much important than portability, they're not that overmuch bulkier than different headphones connected this database (and they're still much travel-friendly than nan AirPods Max). We besides admit that, dissimilar nan Bose QC Ultras, they support passive playback and mostly person a little finicky clip connecting via Bluetooth aliases pinch aggregate devices, meaning you won't walk half your formation trying to fig retired why you can't link to your phone. The headphones besides outshine AirPods Max and Bose pinch their artillery life, offering 30 hours full to nan Max's 20 hours and nan Ultras' 24 hours.

It's by acold nan champion artillery life of headphones connected our list, though not nan absolute champion we've ever seen from over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. That grant goes to nan Dyson OnTrac headphones, but we deliberation they're a small excessively bulk to reasonably urge arsenic a bully brace of recreation headphones.

Battery life: 30 hours | App-connected: Yes

Best for Apple loyalists: Apple AirPods Max

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan Apple AirPods Max.

Who it's for:

These headphones are costly arsenic each hell, but for those heavy successful nan Apple ecosystem who want a brace of over-the-ear headphones, they could very good beryllium worthy nan price. Plus, nan sound cancellation is beautiful great. Apple did conscionable merchandise a "new" type of nan Maxes successful Sept. 2024 pinch a USB-C charging larboard and a caller group of colorways, but we're continuing to urge nan 2020 type arsenic they're much apt to beryllium connected waste and connection nan nonstop aforesaid capacity arsenic nan newer version.

Why we picked this:

The AirPods Max aren't conscionable a beautiful brace of headphones. With nan thief of 8 microphones, these headphones supply fantabulous progressive sound cancellation. Switching into transparency mode happens pinch nan push of a button, truthful there's nary messing pinch finicky touch controls to perceive what's going connected astir you. In summation to ANC, they person awesome sound value and support for spatial audio will make cinephiles happy.

Their artillery life, however, is simply a spot lacking compared to likewise priced headphones, acknowledgment to nan truth that they person nary powerfulness button. (They're besides missing a headphone jack, truthful a Bluetooth adapter will beryllium a must if you for illustration to bask in-flight entertainment). They will spell into a low-power mode, but you tin ne'er wholly move them off. However, this does let for easy switching successful betwixt devices, and for nan "Find My" characteristic to ever work. Plus, 20 hours of artillery isn't bad, arsenic that should past for moreover nan astir long-haul flights. In a pinch, 5 minutes of a complaint tin get you an hr and a half of artillery life.

The carrying lawsuit is unfortunately, arsenic erstwhile Mashable Tech Reporter Brenda Stoylar wrote successful her review, "possibly nan dumbest point Apple has ever designed," truthful these headphones are astir apt champion for group who don't mind wearing them astir their cervix for nan entirety of their trip.

Battery life: 20 hours | App-connected: Yes

Mashable Deals

Best earbuds for Apple users: Apple AirPods Pro

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan Apple AirPod Pros.

Who it's for:

If you for illustration thing much low-key than a bulky brace of over-the-ear wireless headphones, opt for a brace of earbuds for recreation instead. Though this usually intends sound cancelling takes a large hit, that's not nan lawsuit pinch nan second-gen Apple AirPods Pro. Mashable Tech Reporter Stan Schroeder deemed these, "the first brace of earbuds I'd really see taking connected an airplane," owed to nan value of their ANC.

Why we picked this:

The ANC ante has been upped pinch nan latest Pros, which connection moreover much sound-blocking powerfulness than nan already awesome first-generation model. The creation remains fundamentally nan same, truthful you tin easy stow nan charging lawsuit successful your container aliases pocket. Plus, pinch past year's upgrade, nan USB-C charging port apt intends you person to lug astir 1 little cable. Adaptive transparency mode allows you to perceive extracurricular sound erstwhile much pinch a property of nan stem, while still dampening unwanted noise. To adhd to nan aural experience, these buds do person spatial audio, though that characteristic is infamous for moving awesome pinch immoderate songs and not moving astatine each pinch others.

Plus, nan easy pairing AirPods are known for being moreover much businesslike acknowledgment to nan upgraded H2 spot recovered successful these earbuds. The particularly awesome point astir AirPods is that though they're expensive, they do spell connected waste regularly passim nan year.

Battery life: 6 hours (up to 30 hours pinch charging case) | App-connected: Yes

Best fund earbuds: Anker Soundcore Life P3i

Who it's for:

Just because you don't person a ton of rate to walk doesn't mean you should effort to alert without any sound cancellation. The Anker Soundcore Life P3i earbuds won't alteration your life, but they'll do a bully capable occupation to springiness you a small much bid while you're up successful nan clouds.

Why we picked this:

Budget headphones tin often uncover their value tag done their performance, but we're not amazed that nan aforesaid folks down our inexpensive headphone prime delivered successful nan earbuds class arsenic well. The Life P3i earbuds are immoderate of our favorite fund earbuds successful general, offering awesome sound for their value tag, including an app that lets you take betwixt 21 EQ presets (we for illustration Treble Booster). Anker could've stopped location and apt made these buds worthy it, but they besides person a artillery life that outdoes nan AirPods Pro and customizable touch controls for each earbud.

So what's nan waste and acquisition off? Well, these earbuds not only person zero multipoint connection, but you'll request to manually disconnect them from 1 instrumentality earlier reconnecting to another. If you're chiefly utilizing these connected planes, that shouldn't beryllium excessively overmuch of an issue. They besides person 1 different awesome flaw: The ANC does person immoderate hiss to it. If that's not a dealbreaker for you (and it shouldn't beryllium astatine this value point), past these buds connection amazingly bully value.

Battery life: 7 hours pinch ANC, 8.5 without (36 hours pinch charging case) | App-connected: Yes

How we trial noise-cancelling headphones for flying

All 7 of these headphones were hands-on tested by Mashable editors and writers, including past and existent tech reporters, elder tech editors, arsenic good arsenic shopping reporters and editors. All of these headphones were chosen pinch nan pursuing criteria successful mind:

• Comfort: As we mentioned above, progressive sound cancellation becomes overmuch little enjoyable if nan headphones delivering it compression your caput for nan entirety of your flight. Any headphones that weren't favored for semipermanent deterioration didn't make our list.

• Battery life: If your headphones' artillery is going to dice 30 minutes into your flight, they're not going to trim it for moreover nan shortest of trips. Our picks were typically successful a higher value scope that person amended artillery life and speedy complaint options for nan times erstwhile you hide to juice up your headphones nan nighttime earlier you leave.

• Active sound cancellation quality: There are little costs options for ANC, but not each progressive sound cancellation is delivered nan same. That's why we focused connected picks that either offered aggregate levels of ANC, aliases delivered a beardown level of ANC connected its own, that didn't require euphony to make a noticeable difference.

• Portability: Over-the-ear headphones are going to present nan champion sound cancellation possible, but they are bulky. To support these picks travel-friendly, we looked for headphones that fold up aliases that travel pinch sleek carrying cases.

• Durability: Taking your headphones pinch you done TSA lines conscionable opens them up to much deterioration and tear, truthful we went for higher-cost picks that are apt to past nan journey. Plus, we made judge to take headphones that will past you for years, truthful nan upfront finance is worthy it.

Recent testing updates

For Sept. 2024, we didn't alteration our lineup, deciding against including nan Dyson OnTrac headphones — though we really for illustration their agelong artillery life, we ideate nan script is uncommon erstwhile you'll beryllium without charging entree for complete 55 hours — plus, they're a small excessively bulky and costly to urge specifically arsenic a bully brace of recreation headphones.

As of Aug. 2024, nan Bose 700 headphones are nary longer our prime for nan champion adjustable ANC headphones, arsenic they're nary longer connected shop shelves aft being discontinued astir a twelvemonth ago. At nan clip of writing, we don't person a replacement arsenic galore headphones do not connection levels of adjustable ANC for illustration nan 700s did. RIP.

In June 2024, we besides phased retired nan Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones from our recommendations. We knew they were being discontinued, but arsenic of this penning you tin nary longer find them connected virtual shop shelves. We'll beryllium testing retired nan newer Bose QuietComfort headphones to spot if they're a worthy replacement.

In May 2024, we tested retired nan Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e headphones. Though we were wowed by their high-end creation and awesome sound floor plan out-of-the-box, we felt only middling astir their progressive sound cancellation and noticed that their Bluetooth relationship wasn't unchangeable erstwhile paired to much than 1 device. For $399 headphones, we expect amended connected some these fronts, which is why we opted not to see them successful this roundup, and would alternatively urge nan Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for a blend of fantabulous sound and ANC.

In April 2024, we added nan Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones into our lineup of hands-on tested products. (Prior to this update, we recommended them based connected investigation and customer reviews.) We've besides precocious added nan Anker Soundcore Life P3i earbuds arsenic a fund action for those who for illustration not to usage over-ear headphones.

Other much caller additions see nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, which we added successful Nov. 2023. As of Feb. 2024, we tested nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and nan JBL Tour One M2 headphones, and added nan former. The JBL headphones didn't make nan trim moreover though we liked their agelong artillery life, comfort, and amazingly functional multipoint pairing — we conscionable didn't deliberation nan $300 value tag matched up to nan value of nan progressive sound cancellation. It wasn't bad, but it didn't wow us, and if you're consenting to walk that much, we'd urge going pinch Bose headphones instead.

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