The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Travel (2023)

Noise-cancelling headphones have made their way from being exclusively for those flying in the first or business classes to becoming a travel essential to pack for journeys in the rear of the aircraft, find your inner peace while on the road or in the air by bringing along a pair of headphones from the below list of the ten best noise-cancelling headphones for travel.

The below list provides the best headphones with a focus on the different features available in the market right now. Whether you are focused on noise cancellation, style, audio quality, or minimalist designs, there are sets available to block out the hum of an engine or a crying baby.

All of the below-listed headphones include active noise cancellation and connect wirelessly through Bluetooth. In addition, the list is separated between options for different priorities, with some offering better quality sound others with better noise cancellation.

Features to Consider

Battery Life: Especially important for multi-leg long-haul flights, most of the headphones on this list offer more battery life than the longest flights. However, an important consideration is how often you would like to change yours. With phones, cameras, laptops, and tablets, another item to charge while traveling increases the likelihood that you forget to charge something.

Connectivity: Bluetooth connectivity is the new standard, making for an easy wireless experience. Those who love to enjoy inflight movies should consider options that include connecting by auxiliary cable, which many earbud options do not offer.

Sound Quality: Naturally, the sound quality of a premium pair of headphones must be at the high-end, though there are varying degrees of quality amongst the top models. Some manufacturers put a heavy focus on a variety of features, especially noise-cancellation, while others look to deliver premium sound quality for audiophiles.  

Weight and Size: The days of having a heavy set of over-ear headphones are mostly behind us, with the below over-ear options coming in between…. While all of the earbud options are coming in at a smaller size, the charging cases on some options may exceed the sweet spot of fitting into a pocket.

Over-Ear vs. Earbuds: The critical consideration for travelers is the choice between over-the-ear models and much smaller in-ear options. The age-old superior sound quality vs. packing space and portability is a decision for everyone to make themselves. With all over-ear models coming in protective cases, there is no way around the commitment to bag space for those models.

The 10 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Travel

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Best Overall – Sony WH-1000XM4

The Sony WH-1000XM4 combines exceptional sound quality with fantastic noise cancellation in a sleek and understated design that offers the best overall option on the market at an incredible value. 

Continuing the success of Sony’s top-tier line of over-ear headphones, the WH-1000XM4 is feature-rich with the addition of multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, a long battery life, SBC, AAC, LDAC, and wired playback. 

Those looking for the best noise-cancelling headphones for travel should look no further than the WH-1000XM4.

Best Noise Cancellation – Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Still the best in the game with active noise cancellation, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 were released in 2019, setting a new standard for Bose. With a more sleek look than Bose’s QuietComfort models, the 700 offers excellent sound quality but truly stands out with its active noise cancellation. 

The touch-sensitive playback controls and USB-C charging port make for an easy-to-use experience for those looking for simplicity, while the 20 hour charge time is plenty for travel but limited compared to peers.

Best Luxury Headphones – Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95

Bringing together a stylish design with powerful sound, excellent adaptive active noise cancellation, and incredible battery life of up to 38 hours while using noise cancellation, the Beoplay H95 is Bang & Olufsen’s flagship headphones, with its name being a nod to the brand’s 95th anniversary. 

Offering a true luxury feel, with the titanium drivers complemented by lambskin and memory foam ear pads, the H95 is one of the industry’s finest options, with the price remaining the only apparent downside.

Best Value – Sony WH-1000XM3

Even though it has been surpassed in performance by Sony’s next iteration in the same line of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM3 remains an excellent option, though at a slightly more affordable price point.

With sound quality and noise cancellation that still stand out in the market, and a design that is almost indistinguishable from the Sony WH-1000XM4, the Sony WH-1000XM3 offers a perfect balance of quality, features, and value. 

Best Overall Earbuds – Sony WF-1000XM4

Similar in the balance of features offered by Sony’s top-tier over-ear headphones, the Sony WF-1000XM4 manages to hit the sweet spot of sound quality, noise cancellation, battery life, and fit, making them a great option for those looking for the best noise-cancelling headphones for travel in a smaller package.

The sound quality on the Sony WF-1000XM4 stands out amongst a field of wireless earbuds that are typically more likely to disappoint, with call quality that makes these an easy option for working from home. In addition, the battery life of the earbuds is reasonably longer than the Apple AirPods Pro, with 8 hours of use and 16 hours with the charging case. Altogether Sony has found a great combination of features for a very reasonable price.

Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds – Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds

Exceptional active noise cancellation in a little package, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are an excellent alternative for those who aren’t willing to sacrifice the bag space needed for large headphones.

With improved sound quality over the previous iterations and a tight and comfortable in-ear fit, the QuietComfort Earbuds are a worthy consideration for those considering options from Sony or Apple yet looking for best-in-class noise cancellation.

The case size is just large enough that it won’t comfortably slip into your pocket, and the charging capability is capped at 6 hours with the earbuds and 12 hours with the case, lacking behind the competitor’s battery life.

Best for Apple Fans – Apple AirPods Pro

The Apple AirPods Pro improves the previous generation of AirPods with improved sound quality, better noise cancellation, and a better in-ear fit. In addition, the new design reduces the likelihood of the AirPods falling out over the previous version. At the same time, there is an improved call experience even in louder areas due to the three microphones in each AirPod. 

Pairing across multiple apple devices simultaneously, the Apple AirPods Pro offers the best experience for Apple fans with numerous devices, allowing the ability to watch a movie on your laptop and answer a call instantly.

Best Value Style & Sound – Bowers and Wilkins PX7 Wireless

The best combination of a stylish design with outstanding sound quality and impressive noise cancellation for a great price, the Bowers and Wilkins PX7 Wireless headphones offer the best value for those who want it all. 

With aptX Adaptive Bluetooth connectivity, the PX7s provide flawless pairing with smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Though the 30-hour battery life is not the longest on the market, it still exceeds many competitors. 

The design is what sets the PX7 apart, with a smart fabric and carbon fiber finish that puts it in a class with some of the luxury headphones available, though in a price range comparable to the likes of Sony or Bose. 

Best Headphones for Audiophiles – Shure Aonic 50

For most consumers out there, nearly every set of headphones on this list will offer mind-blowing sound quality to the sound-geeks out there, Shure Aonic 50 should be the only choice. 

While the headphones offer many standard features like noise cancellation, blue tooth connectivity, and a stylish design, the Aonic 50 easily separates itself with its sound. The headphones are dialed in from an audio perspective, with crisp highs matched with deep bass. 

With limited additional features that are standard with comparable models, and the Aonic 50 offering only 20 hours of battery, sound quality is the reason to buy these. 

Best for Battery life – Jabra Elite 85H

Finally, we finish this list with the best option for those who don’t want to worry about charging their headphones every time they stop. The Jabra Elite 85H offers an impressive 36-hour battery life, limiting the need to charge through most weeklong trips, and for use across the longest of flight itineraries, making these some of the best noise-cancelling headphones for travel.

Beyond its battery, the Elite 85H stands out in its active noise cancellations, putting it amongst the other options on this list. While it may not offer the loudest bass, in line with the Shure Aonic 50, it is water-resistant, making it a great trip essential to make it through those unexpected Southeast Asian downpours.

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