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From the budding jet setter to the seasoned commuter, there’s one indispensable travel companion that elevates every journey: the humble headphones.
Fellow travellers aren’t naïve to the chorus of excitement and restless chatter of airports and cabins. But when it’s time to truly escape to your own private bubble, especially after a long-tired commute where your social battery hummed its last drum – noise-cancelling headphones can feel like a quick escape. These sleek gadgets have quietly transformed the in-flight experience by alleviating distracting ambient sounds and enriching your audio experience through new, cutting-edge technology.
Today’s top models combine impeccable sound quality with thoughtful features, including extended battery life, ergonomic design, and a fit that promises hours of uninterrupted listening.
After extensive research, we’ve curated a collection of the best noise-cancelling headphones designed for air travel and long commutes: each selected for its comfort, performance, and ability to turn your next long-haul flight into a holiday of its own.
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Editor’s picks: best noise-cancelling headphones
- Best in-class noise cancellation: Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones
- Best battery life: Dyson OnTrac headphones
- Best affordable option: JLab JBuds Lux ANC over-ear headphones
- Best noise-cancelling earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds
Best noise-cancelling travel headphones for 2025
Best noise reduction headphones for airplanes:
01
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones
Best for: top noise-cancelling
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have garnered widespread acclaim for their exceptional noise cancellation, making them a top premium choice among competitors. Their minimalist design also earns the discerning globetrotter’s tick of approval, offering a sleek look with a lightweight feel. Use the Bose app to control volume, modes, and EQ levels, allowing you to easily tailor the sound to your liking. Plus, with a 24-hour battery life, they’re the perfect pair for an immersive listening experience. If you’re keen to block out the world, this is your chance.
Note the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is now available to order at Bose, offering 30 hours of battery life as opposed to 24, though only a two per cent increase in noise reduction.
Battery life: Up to 24 hours of battery life and up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio
Other key features:
- Three different modes: Quiet Mode, Aware Mode and Immersion Mode
- Mic system for clear calls
- Touch control
- Battery charging time up to three hours, while quick 15-minute charge gives you up to two hours play time
- 90-day risk free trial
- Compatible with Bose app
- Comes with carry case
Also available at:
02
Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless noise cancelling headphones
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Best for: an immersive and cinematic sound experience
Whether you’re listening to your favourite tunes or streaming your favourite shows, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones deliver a premium listening experience with customisation tailored to your needs. They offer up to 30 hours of music playback with noise-cancelling activated, while a quick 10-minute charge provides approximately five hours of use. Other key features include spatial, cinematic sound, an easy-to-access mute and unmute button, and intuitive controls. The headphones can even detect when you’re speaking, pausing the music so you can seamlessly engage with your surroundings. While positioned at the premium end of the market, the combination of top-tier noise cancellation, sound quality, and features makes the investment worthwhile.
Battery life: Up to 30 hours
Other key features:
- Ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously
- Compact folding design
- Continue to listen to music while charging
- Mute button on headphones
- Get three hours worth of charge after just three minutes
- Carrying case included
- Cinematic, spacial sound for an immersive experience
- Control headphones with natural head gestures or control with your voice
Also available at:
Best noise reduction headphones for battery life:
03
Dyson OnTrac headphones
BLACK FRIDAY SALE: save $400 on Dyson OnTrac headphones at Dyson
Best for: impressive battery life
Unveiled only late last year, the Dyson OnTrac headphones have already stacked up well against competitors. Their distinct design and technical features make them a standout, particularly the impressive 55-hour battery life. You can also get nine hours of use from just a 30-minute charge, easing the stress for type-B jet setters frantically charging their headphones in the airport lounge after boarding has commenced. And don’t be fooled by first impressions, they’ve also got serious style, thanks to customisable ear cushions and outer caps.
Battery life: 55 hours
Other key features:
- Bluetooth technology for wireless connectivity
- 9 hours of battery life from a 30-minute charge
- USB-C cable charging
- Comes with a durable and slimline case
- Four colour combos plus a variety of additional ear cushion colours available
- Compatible with Dyson app
Best affordable noise-cancelling headphones:
04
JLab JBuds Lux ANC over-ear headphones
Best for: underrated quality
For quality that isn’t sacrificed for price, JLab JBuds Lux ANC over-ear headphones are the perfect companion for travelling afar. They’re lightweight and comfortable, and their cups feature a wider opening to accommodate your ears compared to other models. You can also control the sound using the multifunctional buttons or via the JLab app. While not as technically advanced as more premium competitors, customer reviews highly praise this model, considering it excellent value for money, with strong specs, long battery life, and effective noise-cancelling for the price.
“Love these headphones! Got them for a great price and they are worth it! I’ve never been dissappointed with a Jlab product so far,” said one five-star review.
Battery life: Up to 70 hours, plus 40 hours with ANC on
Other key features:
- Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling up to 35dB
- Be Aware mode for listening in
- Spacial audio
- Mic for clear calls
- Customise your experience via the JLab app
- Rotating ear cuffs for easy storage
- Available in a variety of colours
Also available at:
05
Sony WH-CH720N wireless headphones
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Best for: affordability without compromising on quality
While not at the top of the food chain in terms of pristine sound quality, the Sony WH-CH720N wireless headphones still deliver a warm, bass-forward sound and effective noise cancellation. They offer up to 35 hours of battery life with noise-cancellation on. With support from the Sony Headphones Connect app, the headphones can recognise and adapt to frequently visited locations, such as your workplace, gym, or favourite café, automatically adjusting sound modes to suit the environment. You can also control your headphones using Google Assistant or Alexa, or use the intuitive on-device buttons to play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust volume.
Battery life: Up to 35 hours
Other key features:
- Connect to two devices simultaneously
- Buttons conveniently placed so you can play, stop, or skip through tracks and adjust volume
- Hands-free control with Google or Alexa
- T-minute quick charge will give you up to 60-minutes extra play time
Also available at:
More top travel headphones:
06
Sonos Ace headphones
Best for: home audio integration
The noise cancelling is solid and relatively on par with its competitors, but the Sonos Ace actually stands out more for its ability to adjust to individual factors such as hair, glasses, or hats, thereby improving their performance. As part of the Sonos brand, the Ace headphones can also wirelessly stream audio from compatible Sonos soundbars directly to the headphones, a feature that contributed to their recognition as a TIME 2024 Best Invention. While options like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony WH-1000XM6 may offer more refined noise cancellation and broader compatibility, the Sonos Ace is a strong contender, especially if you’re already invested in the Sonos ecosystem.
Battery life: Up to 30 hours
Other key features:
- Connectivity via Bluetooth
- Get up to three hours of playback in just 3 minutes
- Noise cancelling adapts to your surroundings by detecting and neutralising external sounds
- Comes with spatial audio and dynamic head tracking
- Smooth, stainless steel headband
- Slide-controls to manage volume, and button to answer calls
- Two devices can be paired at the same time
- Sleek travel case with cable pouch
07
Apple AirPods Max
Best for: the keen Apple user
For those interested in staying within the Apple ecosystem, the Apple AirPods Max are a strong choice, known for their exceptional sound quality, active noise cancelling capabilities, and premium build – crafted with anodised aluminium ear cups and a stainless steel headband. With up to 20 hours of listening time and easy automatic switching between devices, these headphones seamlessly integrate into your personal tech catalogue.
Battery life: Up to 20 hours
Other key features:
- Connectivity via Bluetooth
- Personalised spacial audio with dynamic head tracking for an immersive experience
- Sound sealed by bespoke fit ear cushions
- Easy access to transparency mode with the touch of a button
- A five‑minute charge delivers around 1.5 hours of listening.
- Automatically switch between your computer and phone when taking a call
- Compatible with Siri
Also available at:
Best noise reduction earbuds for travel:
08
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds
Best for: top quality in-ear sound
Recognised for their exceptional noise-cancelling and immersive sound capabilities, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are a premium choice among competitors. The CustomTune technology automatically adjusts the noise cancellation by analysing the shape of your ears, adapting to any distortion and personalising the sound quality to your preference. Designed with comfort in mind, the unique umbrella-shaped ear tips are super soft yet still effectively seal out outside noise.
Battery life: Up to six hours, plus extra three charges (18 hours) stored in case
Other key features:
- CustomTune technology automatically adjusts the noise cancellation to your preferences
- Choose between nine combinations of stability bands for a contoured fit
- Two hours of listening time with 20-minutes of charging
- Tap or swipe earbuds to control music and volume
- Connect to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth
Also available at:
09
Sony WF-1000XM5 noise cancelling wireless earphones
Best for: high-resolution audio
Whether you’re flying high on a plane or running against the wind, these handy noise-cancelling earphones deliver premium, true noise-cancelling capabilities. The buds are small enough to fit snug in your ear and lighter than previous models, ensuring a secure fit. You can even configure these wireless earbuds to resume Spotify music playback or Endel personalised soundscapes with just two or three taps, no phone required. With rich, pristine sound and an IPX4 water-resistance rating, all that’s left is you and the music.
Battery life: Up to eight hours, plus 16 hours stored in case
Other key features:
- Water and sweat resistant
- A specially designed driver unit lets you experience rich, finely-tuned vocals
- Configure the wireless earbuds to quickly access your favourite music
- Easily control headphones by using natural head gestures
- Ergonomic design perfectly matches human ear for a stable fit
- Six microphones across both ears help deliver perfect noise cancellation
- Three-minute quick charge will give you up to 60 minutes of listening time
Also available at:
10
Nothing CMF Buds 2
Best for: good value
The CMF Buds Pro 2 are an insider’s best-kept secret. While extremely affordable, they still deliver impressive noise cancellation. The design is smooth, lightweight, and easy to carry, featuring two holes for a lanyard to pass through. With up to 55 hours of total playback time, including charges from the compact charging case, these earbuds are ideal for travellers and commuters who want long-lasting battery life without constantly reaching for the charger. For those looking for a budget-friendly pair of noise-cancelling earbuds with solid performance and thoughtful design features, the CMF Buds Pro 2 are a standout choice.
Battery life: Up to 13.5 hours with a single charge, 55 hours total
Other key features:
- 7.5-hours of playback with a 10-minute charge
- Six HD mics with clear voice technology and wind noise reduction
- Can connect to two devices at once
- ChatGPT integration
- Water and dust resistant
- Compatible with the Nothing X app
Also available at:
- $99 at Amazon
How noise-cancelling works
Essentially, noise-cancelling headphones use a feature called active noise cancellation (ANC) to block out background sounds. This works through the implementation of tiny microphones inside the headphones that listen to noises around you, like the hum of airplane engines or people talking, and then the headphones create a sound that cancels it out. This works especially well for low, constant sounds like engine rumble on an airplane. The shape and padding of the headphones can also help block some higher-pitched noises. While sudden or sharp sounds might still get through, these headphones make long flights much more comfortable by reducing the constant noise that can make your ears tired.
Are noise-cancelling headphones good for flying?
Noise-cancelling headphones are great for flying as they can filter out cabin noises and even bring relief to flight anxiety by creating a more peaceful environments and reducing sensory overload. They are perfect for frequent travellers who undertake long flights and value comfort, sound quality, and peaceful in-flight experiences.
Many frequent flyers report that noise-cancelling headphones help reduce the fatigue that often comes from prolonged exposure to the consistent loud noise on planes, making the flight feel less exhausting. However, while they can enhance comfort and help you rest, noise-cancelling headphones don’t directly reduce jet lag, which is primarily caused by disruption to your internal body clock.
Do noise-cancelling headphones actually block noise?
Premium noise-cancelling headphones are effective at blocking ambient noises; however, their effectiveness depends on both the technology and your environment.
Noise-cancelling headphones work by using active noise cancellation (ANC) technology, which uses microphones to pick up on background noise. The headphones then generate sound waves that are the exact inverse of the detected noise, effectively cancelling it out. ANC is more effective against low-frequency sounds but can sometimes be less effective against sudden and irregular noises. The fit and design of the headphones also play a crucial role in determining how effective your noise-cancelling headphones are.
