As a travel blogger and frequent flier, I’ve tried out my fair share of noise-cancelling headphones. Some have been total duds, but others have been absolute lifesavers on long flights.
If you’re tired of being stuck on a plane with nothing but the sound of your own thoughts (or worse, the sound of your screaming child) for company, it might be time to invest in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones
In this article, I’ll share my personal experience with some of the best noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes and help you find the perfect pair for your next trip.
- Industry-leading noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology
- Next-level music with Edge-AI, co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback)
- Touch Sensor controls
Sony WH-1000XM4
- Industry-leading noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology
- Next-level music with Edge-AI, co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback)
- Touch Sensor controls to pause play skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls
- Speak-to-chat technology automatically reduces volume during conversati
WH-1000XM4 from Sony is the perfect headphone to take with you when you go on long trips. With an incredible 30 hours of battery life, it makes the perfect headphone for long trips.
In addition, the battery can charge within ten minutes and give you five hours of playback time.
Due to its excellent fit for long flights, I have kept it as my top recommendation. As a result of my experience and usage, I find this to be the perfect companion for flights
The headphones are controlled by a touch sensor. Simply tap or swipe the panel to pause, play, or skip tracks, turn the volume up and down, activate the voice assistant, or make a call.
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 also comes with an in-flight plug adapter, which is a big bonus.
As a result, you will have complete control over the in-flight entertainment system.
An additional bonus is the durable carrying case included with these headphones. Separate compartments in the case hold the cable and headset.
You can easily carry these headphones anywhere without worrying about damaging them.
Beats Studio 3
- Compatible with iOS and Android devices.
- Pure adaptive noise canceling (pure ANC) actively blocks external noise
- Real-time Audio calibration preserves a Premium listening experience
- Up to 22 hours of battery life enables full-featured all-day wireless playback
- Apples W1 chip and industry-leading Bluetooth technology keep you connected farther with fewer drop-outs
- 10-minute charge gives 3 hours of play
High-quality construction and superior sound make Beats Studio3 headphones worth their price.
The famous Beats company created the Studio3 headphone in order to satisfy audio enthusiasts with the best sound quality possible.
The Beats Studio 3 headphones are incredibly easy to use. There is an on-ear control and a microphone on the headset for making calls, controlling music, and accessing Siri.
Both iOS and Android devices are supported by Beats Studio3.
It also comes with a wonderful noise-cancellation feature. The unit can actively block outside noise.
During a flight you can listen to music or watch movies with excellent sound quality.
They have long-lasting batteries, which make them suitable for long flights.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
- Powerful noise cancelling headphones: 11 levels of active noise cancelling let you enjoy music, podcasts, videos & calls without distractions
- Astonishing sound: Crisp, clear details. Deep, full bass. These wireless headphones produce exciting, lifelike sound that’s full and balanced at every volume level
- Unrivaled voice pickup: A revolutionary microphone system adapts to noisy and windy environments so your voice always sounds crystal clear on calls
- Up to 20 hours of non-stop music: Get up to 20 hours of wireless battery life on a single cha
For travelers who value performance and comfort, Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 headphones are worth the investment.
Bose noise-canceling headphones are known for providing superior noise cancellation, and these headphones have more adjustability than any others we’ve tested.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) can be adjusted on a scale from 0 to 10. This means you have more flexibility to find a setting that works for you if intense noise cancellation causes discomfort (what we call “eardrum suck”) or if you just want more sense of your surroundings.
Moreover, the lightweight, noise-canceling headphones have a combination of touch controls and physical buttons that are easy to use without looking.
Additionally, you can use them in wired mode with the ANC engaged, for example, to access an in-flight entertainment system.
In addition to folding flat, the case provides easy storage. They have a few flaws, however: the sound quality is good, but not as crisp as on the best over-ear headphones we’ve tested.
Additionally, the app is a bit frustrating, and the battery doesn’t last as long as we’d like-though at 20 hours, you’ll get through an extended flight.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
- Advanced Noise Cancellation Technology
- Ultimate Noise Cancellation Experience
- Hi-Res Music: Hear every detail of your favorite songs thanks to Life Q30’s 40mm drivers
- 40-Hour Playtime
- Pressure-Free Comf
If you use your headset about two hours a day, Anker Life Q30 will last almost a month on a single charge!
You can choose from three noise cancellation modes, each tailored to the environment.
Like the Beats Studio3, the Anker Life Q30 doesn’t feature adaptive noise-canceling. Instead, you get to choose your preferred mode.
By using Transport mode, you can reduce airplane engine noise. Outdoor mode is for reducing traffic and wind noise. Indoor mode is to reduce human voices.
In contrast, the headset has highly flexible silk diaphragms. Their bass reproduction is thumping while their treble reproduction is crisp and clear.
In my experience, this is one of the best headphones under $200.
The Soundcore App lets you customize the sound on this budget-friendly headset. It also has 22 presets.
It is equipped with Transparency mode, multi-point connection, NFC Pairing and many other advanced features.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
- Three levels of world-class noise cancellation for a better listening experience in any environment
- Alexa-enabled for voice access to music, information, and more
- Noise-rejecting dual-microphone system for clear sound and voice pick-up
- Balanced Audio performance at any volume
- personalized settings, access to future updates, and more through the Bose connect app
- Bose AR-enabled — an innovative, audio-only version of augmented reality
- For iPhone, iPad, and Android users, be sure your product’s firmware is up to date through the Bose connect app. Then you can access a showcase of Bose ar-enhanced apps with Links to download them.
As opposed to the Sony WH-1000XM4, these headphones lack touch controls.
They do, however, contain a striking AR facility.
With AR technology, the headphones can track your location and your head movements. Afterwards, it creates audio experience that suits the surrounding environment.
Everything is done automatically. You don’t have to touch your phone at all. Everything will be handled by the Bose AR automatically.
Furthermore, its waterproof feature makes it suitable for use as a gym headphone.
Apple Airpods Pro
- Richer Audio Experience – Apple-designed H2 chip pushes advanced audio performance even further, resulting in smarter noise cancellation and more immersive sound
- Next-level Active Noise Cancellation – Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous AirPods Pro
- Sound All Around – Personalized Spatial Audio surrounds you in sound tuned just for you. It works with dynamic head tracking to immerse you deeper in music and movies.
- Higher Level Of Control – Now you can swipe the stem to adjust volume. Press it to play and pause music or to answer and end a call
- A Leap In Battery Life
- A More Capable Case
The AirPods Pro is the successor to Apple’s highly successful first-generation AirPods. The Pro version offers even better audio quality and high-tech features.
AirPods Pro is designed to sync quickly to your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device, as they are light as a feather and incredibly easy to use. Also, these pods are more comfortable than Airpods 1st gen, since they come with multiple ear tips that can be custom fitted to your ear size and shape.
The inside of the earphones also has a small pressure valve to help reduce the pressure inside the ear, helping your ears remain comfortable for longer airplane travels.
One of the most noteworthy additions to the AirPods Pro is the active noise cancellation function, which can be fully customized by yourself for satisfaction.
Set your music player to transparent mode to allow you to hear everything around you, or turn it off to eliminate the ambient sounds around you and lose yourself in your music.
SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2
- Enjoy unrivaled high-end stereo sound created by Sennheiser’s unique 7 mm dynamic Earbud audio drivers.
- Switch off your surroundings and focus on the deep bass, the natural mids and the clear treble thanks to Active Noise Cancellation providing you with high-fidelity sound even in noisy environments
- Experience uninterrupted play time with the new 7-hour battery life that can be extended up to 28 hours with the charging case for your wireless headphones
- Control your exceptional sound with customizable touchpad technology built into both earbuds hands free via voice control or with your smart devices
With its comfortable in-ear design, the SENSHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 offers a high level of wireless comfort. This makes them ideally suited for outdoor activities.
MOMENTUM True Wireless 2’s battery life of 7 hours is somewhat disappointing. Compared to the other headphones, it is a lot shorter.
Although the battery is below average, you can take the charging case on a long flight. It will provide you with 28 hours of added battery life.
The earbuds, however, provide a comfortable fit. A selection of four sizes are included with them. Hence, you can choose the one that’s most suitable for your needs and get the perfect fit.
The bulky design of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 might feel uncomfortable on small ears.
JBL TUNE 750BTNC
- JBL Pure Bass Sound
- 15H battery life with BT+NC and 2H recharging time
- Hands-free calls and Voice Assistants
- Lightweight and foldable des
Another great headphone for a mid-budget is the JBL TUNE 750BTNC. Not only is it suitable for commuting, but it can also be used for gaming.
This pair of headphones lacks app support, in comparison to the SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 and QC35 headphones II.
They are remarkable for their compatibility, however. The devices can be paired with any Bluetooth device, as well as Xbox One and PS4 consoles.
A TRRS audio cable of 18 inches allows you to connect a microphone directly to a wired connection. You can thus play a game on a PC, PS4, or Xbox while talking to others through audio chat.
I have used these headphones to play “Call of Duty Modern Warfare.” It was an amazing experience!
They also leak very little sound, which is another great feature of these headsets.
With this device, you are able to listen to music at a high volume without disturbing your co-passengers.
Bowers & Wilkins PX Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
- ADAPTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION
- Battery life- Up to 22 hours BT/ANC. Up to 29 hours BT/no ANC. Up to 33 hours ANC/wired. Up to 50 hours wired/no ANC
- FEEL MORE OF YOUR MUSIC
- SMART POWER - With a 22-hour battery life, PX is always ready; put it down and it goes into power-saving sleep mode; pick it up and youre good to go. PX is the smartest Bluetooth headphone on the mark
In search of something a bit different? With these really great noise-canceling headphones, Bowers & Wilkins has shown itself to be a David against the Goliath of big brand names like Sony and Bose.
They offer an enjoyable user experience, and easy-to-manage audio playback system, and a reliable Bluetooth connection so you can enjoy your music on your travel by air.
B&W made a serious effort to ensure no noticeable drop in sound quality – even using the same drive units found in the revered P9 headphones by the same brand. Additionally, they are angled to ensure a natural stereo sound.
Also, the PX is stylish and smart. Want to stop listening? Simply raise an ear cup — and it stops playing the minute you put them away.
This pair of headphones from Bowers & Wilkins offers an impressive 22-hour battery life, and instant power saving sleep mode, and an app designed specifically for Bowers & Wilkins headphones.
Microsoft Surface Headphones
- Lightweight, breathable, and a comfortable size
- Your built in assistant can do it for you. Just ask Microsoft Cortana to play your favorite artist, set a reminder, make a call, get answers to questions, and more. Compatibility Windows 10, iOS, Android, MacOS
- Use your voice and simple, intuitive controls to adjust the volume, skip tracks, mute your mic, or hang up calls
- Keep it quiet with active noise cancellat
Surface Headphones feature an eye-pleasing color and a top-rated design from Microsoft. This affordable headset offers one of the best noise-canceling capabilities.
Surface Headphones deliver slightly less treble than the Apple AirPods.
The headphones are still top-of-the-line in terms of other features.
Solidly constructed, they boast a high level of durability. These headphones feature plastic earcups and thin metal headbands. To top it off, leather padding is provided for extra comfort.
Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2
- Rich Immersive Audio: From music to movies
- Use and Battery Time: Enjoy your listening time taking you through the longest workdays or redeye flights with up to 24 hours of music, movies and calls on a single charge.
- On Demand Active Noise Cancell
Although they aren’t the prettiest, these are worth considering if you want more bass per dollar. The low notes are thumping while the midrange is crisp and clear, making these a good choice for rock and EDM fans.
BackBeat Pro 2’s design is lightweight and practical, but not as aesthetically pleasing as some of its major competitors. Even so, the sound quality more than compensates for the loss of looks, so it’s all up to you which is more important to you.
Last but not least, the 24-hour battery life of this set will last you for weeks, and you can charge it via USB.
How To Choose The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones For Airplane?
It is important that you examine the following points carefully before buying the ideal headset.
Headphone Types
Individuals have different preferences when it comes to headphones. It may be preferable to wear on-ear headphones instead of over-ear headphones.
You should therefore pick a style that matches your taste. If you are a workout freak do not forget to check out our selection of Best over ear headphones for working out.
Battery Life
It is crucial to have long battery life when traveling. The last thing you want is a dead headphone in the middle of your journey.
Hence, you must consider the battery features and decide if they are suitable for you.
How Good Is Noise Cancellation?
Each headphone has a different noise cancellation property based on its sound profile.
Therefore, make sure you pick a product that meets your requirements.
Even though noise-canceling headphones are great for sleeping on a plane, you need to be aware of their disadvantages as well.
The following are the primary facts to check carefully. It will then be easier to select the proper headphones for you if you know your needs.
- Industry-leading noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology
- Next-level music with Edge-AI, co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback)
- Touch Sensor controls
FAQ
Are noise-canceling headphones good for planes?
You may want to consider noise-canceling headphones if you are afraid of flying. They are great for creating your own private space. They also make your music sound more realistic. For people who are dealing with stress, noise-canceling headphones can be a great option.
Can you use wireless noise-canceling headphones on a plane?
Yes, you can use wireless noise-canceling headphones on airplanes. Similar to Bluetooth keyboards, Bluetooth headphones are short-range devices. Bluetooth devices cause minimal aircraft interference, so they are most of the time allowed.
Do noise canceling headphones help with flight anxiety?
Yes, if you have a fear of flying, noise-canceling headphones might help.
Can I use noise-cancelling headphones during takeoff?
Although noise-cancelling headphones are useful, they cannot be used during takeoff or landing and they do not protect against pressure changes.
What is the best small ear headphone for Airplane?
JBL Tune 510BT Is a good option for small ears, If you need a detailed guide you can check out our article on Best Wireless Headphone for Small Ears