Updated April 2026 | 3 min read
I have tested four pairs of noise-canceling headphones across more than 40 flights, 15 countries, and one 18-hour flight to New Zealand that nearly broke me. The right headphones make long-haul flights bearable. The wrong ones make you wish you had spent the extra $100.
What Actually Matters on a Plane
Audiophile sound quality does not matter at 38,000 feet. What matters:
Active noise cancellation (ANC) strength. Engine noise is low-frequency. Babies crying is high-frequency. You need ANC that handles both.
Comfort for 8+ hours. Ear cups that feel fine at hour one but create pressure points at hour six are useless for long-haul.
Battery life. The New Zealand flight is 18 hours. If your headphones die at hour 12, you are listening to engine noise for the rest.
Multipoint connection. Switching between your phone and laptop without re-pairing saves more frustration than you think.
The 4 Headphones I Have Used
1. Sony WH-1000XM5 — The Best Overall
I have worn these on every long-haul flight since I bought them. The ANC is the strongest I have tested — it cuts engine noise almost completely and handles mid-range frequencies (conversations, cart announcements) better than the Bose. They fold flat but do not fold into a compact shape like the XM4 did, which is annoying for packing.
Battery life is 30 hours. I have never come close to killing them on a trip. Multipoint works flawlessly between my phone and laptop. The touch controls occasionally trigger in a bag, which I solve by putting them in the included case.
Excellent for 10+ hours. The ear cups are larger than previous versions and the headband pressure is light.
Sony WH-1000XM5 on Amazon — around $280-350
2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra — Runner Up
The Bose QC Ultra has a slight edge in comfort. The ear cups are softer and the clamping force is lighter than the Sony. If you wear glasses, this matters. ANC is strong but slightly less effective than the Sony at cutting low-frequency engine noise. The Immersive Audio feature is a gimmick on planes — skip it and save battery.
Battery life is 24 hours, which is enough for any single flight but cutting it close on back-to-back long-haul days.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra on Amazon — around $350-380
3. Apple AirPods Max — The Luxury Pick
If you are deep in the Apple ecosystem and money is not a factor, the AirPods Max sound phenomenal. The ANC is excellent and the build quality is beautiful aluminum. Spatial Audio works well for movies on a plane.
The problems: they are heavy (385g vs 250g for Sony), the Smart Case is ridiculous (does not protect the headband), and the battery is only 20 hours. At $549, they cost nearly double the Sony for marginally better sound that you cannot appreciate on a noisy plane.
AirPods Max on Amazon — around $499-549
4. Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — For Packing Light
Sometimes you do not want to carry over-ear headphones. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro are the best noise-canceling earbuds I have used on flights. ANC is surprisingly strong for earbuds, and they are tiny enough to keep in a pocket. Battery is 7 hours with ANC (30 with the case), which covers most flights.
The tradeoff: earbuds press against your ear, which becomes uncomfortable after 4-5 hours for me. I use these for flights under 6 hours and switch to the Sony for anything longer.
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro on Amazon — around $180-250
Quick Comparison
Sony WH-1000XM5 (best ANC, 30hr battery, $280)
Bose QC Ultra (softer cups, lighter clamp)
AirPods Max (but heavy and expensive)
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro (earbuds, surprisingly strong ANC)
The Accessory That Changed Everything
A Bluetooth transmitter for airplane screens ($20-30) lets you use your wireless headphones with the seatback entertainment system. Without it, you are stuck with the terrible airline earbuds or watching without sound. I bring this on every flight now.
Keep Reading
- How to Survive an 18-Hour Flight
- Seat Selection Strategy for Long Haul
- Our Actual Travel Gear
- Best Travel Backpacks 2026
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator.
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Written by Jenna Fattah
I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me