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10 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones For Airplane

Do you love to tune your favorite music while traveling on a plane? If yes, then this article is for you.

Noise-canceling headphones are a perfect companion to achieve pure quietness. You can filter out the sound of other passengers and enjoy the uninterrupted environment.

Therefore, a good pair of headphones is a travel essential for many travelers. And currently, if you are looking for one, go through this article.

Here, I will review the 10 best noise cancelling headphones for airplane. Hence, you can find enough information to buy a suitable headset for you.

Let’s start the discussion now.

List: 10 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones For Airplane

Before going into the details, I want to give a short overview of my top 10 headphones.

Catch a glimpse of them to get the primary idea.

Name Overview Our Ratings Details
Top Recommendation
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Industry Leading Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones
  • Noise Cancelling Feature: Adaptive with NC optimizer.
  • Connection Technology: Bluetooth/ Wired.
  • Type: Over-Ear.
  • Weight: 254 g.
  • Battery Life: 30 Hours.
5
Overall Good
Beats Studio3
  • Noise Control: Adaptive Noise Cancellation.
  • Connectivity Technology: Wireless, Wired.
  • Type: Over-ear.
  • Battery Life: 22 hours.
  • Weight: 260 g.
4.5
Noteworthy Service
Soundcore by Anker Life Q30
  • Noise Control: Hybrid active noise canceling.
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wired, NFC.
  • Type: Over-ear.
  • Play Time With ANC On: 40 Hours.
  • Weight: 260 g.
4.5
Best For Adaptiveness
Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling
  • Noise Cancelling Feature: Both active and passive noise cancellation.
  • Connection Technology: Bluetooth, Wired.
  • Type: Over-Ear.
  • Weight: 235 g.
  • Battery Life: 20 Hours.
5
Perfect In-Ear Headphone
SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 with Active Noise Cancellation
  • Noise Cancellation Feature: Single-Mic ANC.
  • Connection Technology: Bluetooth.
  • Type: In-Ear.
  • Weight: 45 g.
  • Battery Life: 7 Hours.
4
Lightweight Design
AKG Noise Cancelling Headphones N60NC Wireless Bluetooth – Black – GP-N060HAHCAAA
  • Noise Cancellation Feature: Active noise cancellation.
  • Connection Technology: Bluetooth.
  • Type: On-Ear.
  • Weight: 199.4 g.
  • Playback Time: 15 Hours.
5
Widely Compatible
JBL TUNE 750BTNC – Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Noise Cancellation
  • Noise Cancellation Feature: Active noise cancellation.
  • Connection Technology: Bluetooth, Wired.
  • Type: Over-Ear.
  • Weight: 220 g.
  • Battery Life: 15 Hours.
5
Excellent Build-Quality
Microsoft Surface Headphones
  • Noise Cancellation Feature: Adjustable ANC + passive noise cancellation.
  • Connection Technology: Bluetooth, Wired.
  • Type: Over-Ear.
  • Weight: 290 g.
  • Music Listening Time: 18.5 Hours.
4
Satisfying Performance
Toshiba Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
  • Noise Cancellation Feature: Noise Reduction up to 20 dB.
  • Connection Technology: Bluetooth.
  • Type: Over-Ear.
  • Weight: 154 g.
  • Battery Life: 20 Hours.
3.5
Best For Low-Budget
MONODEAL J19 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
  • Noise Cancellation Feature: Element Noise up to 85%.
  • Connection Technology: Wired.
  • Type: On-Ear.
  • Weight: 430 g.
  • Battery Life: 20 Hours.
3

Now that you get an overall view, you might want to learn more about them.

Hence, to remove all your curiosity, I’m going to describe the exclusive features of these headphones one by one.

You will also see their key specs, pros, and cons.

At first, have a look at my top recommended headphone.

1. Top Recommendation: Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Industry Leading Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM4 is a perfect headphone to take with you on your long trip. It comes with an incredible 30 hours of battery life.

Moreover, you can get five hours of playback time with only ten minutes of charge.

Since it’s one of the best headphones for a long flight, I have kept it as my top recommendation.

Now I’m going to tell you the specs of these headphones.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones

Key Specifications

  • Color: Black, Blue, Silver.
  • Headphone Type: Closed, dynamic.
  • Bluetooth Version: 5.0.
  • Bluetooth Range: 10 m.
  • USB Cable: Type C.
  • Audio Codec: SBC, AAC, LDAC.
  • Driver: 40 mm, dome type.
  • Magnet: Neodymium.
  • Diaphragm: Aluminum coated LCP.
  • Frequency Response: 4 Hz- 40 kHz.
  • Sensitivity: 105 dB/ mW.
  • Wearing Style: Circumaural.
  • Cable Length: 1.2 m.
  • Charging Time: 3 Hours.
  • Battery Life with ANC Off: 200 Hours.

The headphone comes with a touch sensor control. You can pause/ play/ skip tracks, turn the volume up and down, activate the voice assistant, or even make a call just by tapping or swiping the panel.

You will also be happy to know that Sony WH-1000XM4 contains an in-flight plug adapter.

As a result, you can comfortably enjoy the in-flight entertainment system with your own headset.

Warning: Don’t use the in-flight adapter to charge your headphone. It will severely damage the device.

These top-rated headphones also provide a durable carrying case. The case has separate compartments for keeping the wire and the headset.

Thus, you can take this headphone anywhere you want without damaging it.

Pros

  • Outstanding sound feature.
  • Dual noise sensor technology.
  • Super controlling feature.
  • Support multiple pairing.

Cons

  • The sound will pause if you talk.

The WH-1000XM4 is a well-known product of Sony.

The features, services, and everything are impressive about these headsets.

Let’s move on to our next option.

2. Overall Good: Beats Studio3

The high build quality and the superior sound feature indeed justify the price of these premium headphones.

The famous Beats developed the Studio3 headphone to serve the best quality to audio enthusiasts.

Explore the key specs of this headphone in the following segment.

Beats Studio3

Key Specifications

  • Bluetooth Version: 4.0.
  • Color: Blue, Matte Black, Red, White, Defiant Black-Red, Midnight Black, Shadow Gray.
  • Design: Closed-back.
  • Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth.
  • Wired Connector: 3.5 mm AUX cable.
  • App Support: Beats.
  • Audio Chip: Apple H1 headphone chip.
  • Cable: USB 2.0 charging cable.
  • Battery Type: Lithium Polymer.
  • Fast Charging: 10 minutes charge for 3 hours playback.
  • Battery Life with ANC Off: 40 hours.

Controlling the Beats Studio3 headphone is so easy. It contains on-ear controls and a microphone to maintain calls, control music, and activate Siri.

Beats Studio3 is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices.

Moreover, the headphone comes with a fantastic noise-canceling feature. It can actively block ambient noises.

You can enjoy music or movies with outstanding sound quality on a plane.

Their battery life is also enough for a long flight.

Pros

  • Hi-Fi audio.
  • Adaptive noise cancellation feature.
  • Wide wireless range.

Cons

  • Doesn’t support multi-device pairing.

Because of the adaptive feature, this headphone is perfect for traveling.

It is also suitable for office use.

Anyway, have you ever thought it would be great if you owned a wireless headphone with unlimited charge?

My next headset can fulfill your dream partially.

Go through the details of it and get a precise idea.

3. Noteworthy Service: Soundcore by Anker Life Q30

If you use your headset for about 2 hours daily, Anker Life Q30 can run nearly a month with a single charge!

It also comes with three noise cancelation modes that work according to your environment.

You will learn about it more but first, let me tell you about their key specs.

Soundcore by Anker Life Q30

Key Specifications

  • Color: Black, Blue, Pink.
  • Bluetooth Version: 5.0.
  • Audio Code Format: SBC, AAC.
  • Operating Range: 15 m.
  • Charging Time: 2 Hours.
  • Play Time With ANC Off: 60 Hours.
  • Battery Capacity: 720 mAh.
  • USB Cable Type: USB-C.
  • Quick Charging: 5 mins charge for 4 hours playtime.
  • Impedance: 16 ohms.
  • Driver: 40 mm dynamic.
  • Frequency Response: 16 Hz – 40 kHz.
  • Audio Cable: 3.5 mm AUX cable.
  • App Support: Soundcore App.
  • Dimension: 7.68 x 7.09 x 3.07 inches.

Anker Life Q30 doesn’t come with adaptive noise-canceling technology like the Beats Studio3. Instead, it will let you choose your noise cancelation mode.

The Transport mode reduces airplane engine noise. Outdoor mode is for minimizing traffic and wind sound. And the last one is Indoor mode which blocks human voices.

Transport mode can block out up to 95% engine noise.

On the other hand, the headset contains highly flexible silk diaphragms. They reproduce thumping bass as well as clear and crisp treble.

Just listen to Sun Flower by Post Malone with this headset. You will be able to feel every beat of it.

Pros

  • Affordable price.
  • Praiseworthy ANC feature.
  • Incredible battery feature.

Cons

  • Bulky design.

This budget-friendly headset supports the Soundcore App for sound customization. Besides, you can also choose from 22 EQ presets.

Life Q30 has Transparency mode, multi-point connection, NFC Pairing, etc., all the advanced features everyone likes to have.

Well, this time, I will review a travel noise-canceling headphone of Bose.

4. Best For Adaptiveness: Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling

Bose QuietComfort 35 II comes with the Bose Connect App. The app allows you to adjust the noise cancelation level. It can also manage the Bluetooth connection and enable music sharing.

Look at the key specs of them right away.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling

Key Specifications

  • Colors: Black / Silver / Blue.
  • Number Of Mics: 2.
  • Wired Input: 3.5 mm connector.
  • Cable Length: 119.9 cm.
  • Battery Type: Lithium-Ion.
  • Charging Time: 2.3 Hours.
  • DC Input Power: 5 VDC at 1 A.
  • Charging Port: Micro-USB.
  • Charging Cable Length: 30.48 cm.
  • Building Materials: Fabric, Nylon, Steel.
  • IPX Rating: IPX4.

Unlike Sony WH-1000XM4, these headphones don’t have touch controls.

However, they contain a striking AR facility.

The AR technology of these headphones collects information about your location and head gestures. After that, it creates an audio experience that suits the environment around you.

The entire process is automatic. Hence, you don’t need to touch your phone. The Bose AR will do everything spontaneously.

Pros

  • IPX4 waterproof.
  • Support Bose Connect App.
  • Bose AR-enabled.

Cons

  • Average sound quality.

The QC35 headphones II is one of the best Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones for airplanes.

Moreover, it can also work as a gym headphone because of its water-resistance feature.

In case you like lightweight in-ear headphones for your airplane travel, you can go for the next headphone.

5. Perfect In-Ear Headphone: SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 with Active Noise Cancellation

SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 comes with a comfortable in-ear design. That’s why they are suitable for any outdoor use.

You can take them with you while running, cycling, hiking, or doing exercise.

Their key specs are as follows.

SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 with Active Noise Cancellation

Key Specifications

  • Color: White / Black.
  • Bluetooth Version: 5.1 compliant.
  • USB Standard: USB-C.
  • Speaker Type: Sennheiser 7mm dynamic driver.
  • Frequency Response: 5 Hz- 21 kHz.
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 Hz- 10 kHz.
  • Charging Time: 1.5 Hours.
  • Battery Time With Charging Case: 28 Hours.
  • Audio Codec: SBC, AAC, aptX.
  • App support: Sennheiser Smart Control app.

The 7-hours battery life of MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 is slightly disappointing. It is a lot less than the other headphones I have mentioned today.

Although the below-average battery is not enough for a long flight, you can take the charging case with you. Thereby, you will get an additional 28 hours of battery life.

SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 can be controlled with a voice assistant.

On the other hand, the earbuds ensure comfortable wear. They come with four different-sized ear tips. Hence, you can choose the suitable one and get a perfect fit.

Pros

  • Support fast charging.
  • Built-in equalizers.
  • IPX4 splash resistance.

Cons

  • ANC could be better.
  • Does not support multi-pairing.

This SENNHEISER headset is capable enough to support your daily life. But it might feel uncomfortable for small ears because of the bulky design.

However, you can check out my previous article about comfortable earbuds for small ears if you need them.

On the other hand, if you don’t have tiny ear canals, you can wear these without any worries.

You will surely be satisfied with the two years of warranty feature. If anything happens within this time the SENNHEISER support team will help you.

Thus, buying this top-rated headphone is totally worth the budget.

This time, let’s check out an on-ear noise-canceling headphone in the next segment.

6. Lightweight Design: AKG Noise Cancelling Headphones N60NC Wireless Bluetooth – Black – GP-N060HAHCAAA

The AKG N60NC headphone is a  real deal for mid-budget. The on-ear design is more compact than any over-ear headphone.

Take a look at their key specs now.

AKG Noise Cancelling Headphones N60NC Wireless Bluetooth - Black - GP-N060HAHCAAA

Key Specifications

  • Color: Black.
  • Bluetooth Version: 4.0.
  • Impedance: 32 Ohms.
  • Sensitivity: 111 dB.
  • Maximum Input Power: 30 mW.
  • Frequency Response: 10 Hz- 22 kHz.
  • Battery Capacity: 610 mAh.
  • Wired Connection: 3.5 mm Stereo Mini-Jack.
  • Cable Length: 1.2 m.
  • Bluetooth Transmitter Frequency Range: 2402 MHz− 2480 MHz.

If you want long-wearing comfort, then you need to go for over-ear headphones.

Since AKG N60NC is an on-ear headphone, it puts direct pressure on your ear.

As a result, you might feel uncomfortable after a few hours.

However, the headphone is pretty lightweight, and you can wear it in your short listening sessions without any nuisance.

Besides, the clamping force of this headphone is 0.6 lbs. The headband will not sit too tightly on your head. You will also like their breathable ear cups that produce less heat than an over-ear headset.

These headphones are portable too. The ear cups are foldable. And they also come with a carrying pouch.

Therefore, the N60NC is always ready to go with you whenever you want.

Pros

  • Elegant design.
  • Studio-quality sound.
  • Worth the price.

Cons

  • Slightly uncomfortable for extended use.

The AKG N60NC headphones are quite flexible for regular use. You will get an above-average sound experience from them.

Our next headphone is JBL TUNE 750BTNC.

Now, I’m going to mention the features it offers to us.

7. Widely Compatible: JBL TUNE 750BTNC – Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Noise Cancellation

JBL TUNE 750BTNC is another great headphone for mid-budget. The headset is not only suitable for commuting, but it can also meet your gaming needs.

See the key specs to learn more about them.

JBL TUNE 750BTNC - Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Noise Cancellation

Key Specifications

  • Color: Black, Blue, White, Coral.
  • Bluetooth version: 4.2.
  • Driver Diameter: 40 mm.
  • Sensitivity: 95 dB.
  • Impedance: 32 Ohms.
  • Bluetooth Frequency: 2.402 GHz-2.480 GHz.
  • Battery Capacity: 610 mAh.
  • Charging Time: 2 Hours.
  • Battery Life With ANC Off: 22 Hours.

Unlike the SENNHEISER Momentum True Wireless 2 and the QC35 headphones II, these headphones don’t have app support.

However, they are extraordinary for their compatibility. They can be connected with any Bluetooth-enabled device and also with Xbox and PS4.

Moreover, the ⅛ inches TRRS audio cable allows you to use the built-in microphone in a wired connection. Thereby, you can do audio chat with others while playing a game on PC, PS4, or Xbox.

I have played the famous game  “Rise of the Tomb Raider” wearing this headphone. And the experience was really awesome!

Pros

  • Well-balanced sound profile.
  • Provide pure bass.
  • Good stability.

Cons

  • Not so suitable for people with a bigger head.

Another great thing about these headsets is, they leak very little sound.

So, you can listen to music at a high volume without bothering your co-workers.

Anyway, do you know that Microsoft develops headphones?

Maybe, you never heard it before. But Microsoft put their hands on the headphone industry too. In fact, their headphones are equipped with top-notch features.

Let’s see the details of Microsoft Surface Headphones.

8. Excellent Build-Quality: Microsoft Surface Headphones

With an eye-soothing color and top rated design, Microsoft develops their Surface Headphone. These inexpensive noise-canceling headphones are one of the best headsets for airplane travel.

Are you curious about their key specs? Take your eyes below to know about them.

Microsoft Surface Headphones

Key Specifications

  • Color: Gray.
  • Bluetooth Version: 4.2.
  • Wired Connection: 3.5 mm audio cable.
  • Noise Cancellation: up to 30 dB.
  • Passive Noise Cancellation: 40 dB.
  • USB Cord Length: 1.5 meters.
  • Audio Cable Length: 1.2 meters.
  • Sound Pressure Level: 115 dB.
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz- 20 kHz.
  • Pairing: 2 devices at a time.

In between AKG N60NC and  Microsoft Surface Headphones, AKG provides more well-balanced sound. The treble response of Surface Headphones is slightly inferior.

Despite that, other features of these headphones are top-notch.

They come with a solid build quality. The ear cups are plastic-made, and the headbands are built with a thin metal frame. On top of that, they are well-padded with leather materials.

Microsoft Surface Headphones can survive a few accidental drops.

Overall, the headset is durable, and it lasts for a long time.

Pros

  • Easy to use control system.
  • Enable fast charging.
  • Comfortable to wear.

Cons

  • Average battery life.

Well, so far, I have talked about high-budget to mid-budget headphones.

This time I will review a low-priced headphone for you.

9. Satisfying Performance: Toshiba Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones

Toshiba Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones are splendid for cancelling noise. You will be able to enjoy movies, series, podcasts, and others with decent sound quality.

Now, explore their key specs.

Key Specifications

  • Color: Black, Blue, Rose Gold.
  • Bluetooth Version: 5.0.
  • Bluetooth Protocol Support: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP.
  • Bluetooth Range: 10 m.
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz- 20 kHz.
  • Battery Capacity: 500 mAh.
  • Recharge Time: 3 Hours.
  • Charging Way: USB DC5V.

These headphones are pretty comfortable for long-wearing sessions. But certainly, not as comfy as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

Yet, as a seven times cheaper headphone, it does not offer any less.

This Toshiba headphone offers outstanding playback time and talk time. It provides a continuous 20 hours of service on a single charge.

Besides, their calling quality is also good. You can use them for conducting virtual meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or any other online platform.

Pros

  • Super comfortable.
  • Allow voice-over command.
  • Lightweight.

Cons

  • Average noise cancelling feature.

You can go for this headphone if you want a basic noise-canceling headset within a super affordable budget.

At this point, there is only one headphone left to review.

So, let’s see the performance of our last item.

10. Best For Cheap Budget: MONODEAL J19 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

MONODEAL J19 is the headphone that honestly surpasses their price. Despite the budget, the headphone provides powerful and balanced sound with the perfect active noise-cancellation feature.

Now, take a good look at their key specs.

MONODEAL J19 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Key Specifications

  • Color: Black.
  • Driver Diameter: 40 mm.
  • Modes: Noise reduction state/ common headset state.
  • Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion battery.
  • Audio cable: 3.5 mm.
  • Extra Accessories: Airplane joint.
  • Charging Cable: USB cable.

In this article, we have seen the headphones that come with both wired and wireless or only wireless connections. MONODEAL J19 is an exception in this case.

These headphones only work in wired mode. And so, if you need a headphone for wired usage, this will be a great option for you.

If the battery runs out, MONODEAL J19 can still work on the common state (noise cancelling turned off mode).

Although MONODEAL does not promise long time support like SENNHEISER, you will be happy to get the 12-months warranty.

Furthermore, they also offer a 45 days money-back guarantee. So, trying these basic pairs of headphones is totally risk-free.

Pros

  • Compact and very lightweight.
  • Can operate without battery power.
  • Comes with an airplane joint.

Cons

  • No wireless connectivity.

Finally, I have finished reviewing the 10 best rated noise cancelling headphones for airplane travel. I hope you get the core idea about all of them.

Now it’s your turn to choose the best one for you from the list.

Although I have mentioned my top recommended headphone, it’s possible that you don’t want to buy that one.

For this reason, I’ll tell you my other three best choices so that it will be helpful for you to decide.

Best Choices

According to my preference, the following three are more suitable noise-canceling headphones for flying.

  1. Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling
  2. AKG Noise Cancelling Headphones N60NC Wireless Bluetooth – Black – GP-N060HAHCAAA
  3. JBL TUNE 750BTNC – Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Noise Cancellation

All of them are the best active noise cancelling headphones for airplane travel. You can go for one without any worries.

Anyway, do you know what are the features that you need to observe before buying the best headphones for plane?

Just keep reading, you will get to know everything about it.

How To Pick-Up The Best Headphones For Plane?

You need to examine the following facts carefully before choosing the perfect headphone for you.

Select Your Convenient Headphone Type

Actually, the headphone preferences of each person are different. Someone might prefer the on-ear headphone to over-ear or vice-versa.

To keep this in mind, I’ve included in-ear, over-ear, on-ear headphones on my list.

Therefore, select one according to your taste.

Be Sure About The Battery Life

Battery life is the most crucial thing, especially for travel. Obviously, you don’t want a dead headphone in the middle of your journey.

So, look at the battery features and determine whether they are suitable for you or not.

Is The Noise Cancellation Feature Well Enough?

According to the sound profile of a headphone, the noise cancellation property is different for each headphone.

Because of that, go for the one that meets your requirements.

But remember, although the noise-canceling headphones are good for sleeping on the plane, still, you need to be aware of the disadvantages.

Well, these are the primary facts that you need to check thoroughly. And if you do, it will be easier for you to buy the right headphone for you.

Let’s conclude the write-up now.

Conclusion

Until now, you have got enough information about the best noise cancelling headphones for airplanes.

Thereby, just follow the buyer’s guide and remember your primary needs. You will find your desirable headphone right away.

Thank you all for reading this article till the end.

Frequently Asked Questions:

It actually depends on the airline and the type of your headphone. Some airlines allow the standard jack and some are not.

Therefore, if your aircraft does not allow the standard jack, you may require an adapter.

Yes, you can use it.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows Bluetooth accessories. As a result, you can use AirPods or any other Bluetooth headset on an airplane.

In-flight entertainment systems usually have a 3.5 mm jack. You have to connect a Bluetooth transmitter to the jack and pair it with your headphones.

After that, you can listen to airplane movies with your wireless headphone.

Almost all airlines give you headphones to listen to the in-flight music system. However, some airlines might charge an extra fee for this service.

So, it’s better to bring your own headphone with you.

iPhone earbuds will work on airplanes if you use a Bluetooth transmitter. As the earbuds operate only with Bluetooth technology, it has no plug adapter.

Because of that, you need a Bluetooth transmitter to use the in-flight entertainment system.

Basically, if an airline allows you to take their headphones with you, that means the headphones are quite cheap and low-quality.

But with some modifications, you can use them at home to meet your basic needs.

The fun fact is, if you know how to modify these free headphones, you can even sell them for a couple of dollars.

There are two reasons behind it. One of them is theft prevention.

Since the headphones only connect to the two-pronged jack, they are not suitable for other audio devices. That’s why no one wants to steal it.

Another reason is it ensures continuous functioning even if a connection breaks.

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