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Best noise cancelling headphones for flying
Our top pick is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. On a plane you want low engine rumble gone, all-day battery and comfort for hours. We favor models experts measured as cancelling low frequencies best and owners trust on long flights.
The short answer
Our top pick for flying is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless: it suits you if you want long listening sessions and rarely want to think about charging. If you want the least hassle over the years, look at the Sony WF-1000XM5.
Quick answers
What is the best noise cancelling headphones for flying?
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. It suits you if you want long listening sessions and rarely want to think about charging.
Based on: Highest score of the 13 noise cancelling headphones we rank for flying.What is the most reliable noise cancelling headphones for flying?
The Sony WF-1000XM5. It's the least likely to give you trouble.
Based on: Reliability 81; problems mentioned by 8% of owners.How much should I spend on a noise cancelling headphones for flying?
The top-rated ones start around $179 and go up to about $429. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the lowest-priced of the leaders.
Based on: US prices quoted in expert reviews and at Amazon.com for the six highest-scoring models.What should I look for in a noise cancelling headphones for flying?
On a plane you want low engine rumble gone, all-day battery and comfort for hours. We favor models experts measured as cancelling low frequencies best and owners trust on long flights.
Based on: What expert reviews and owners stress for this need.The ranking
60% overall score · 40% fit for this need- 01
EXPOWNREL79Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Superb battery and comfort, rich sound, but noise cancelling isn't class-best
79 for this need4 of 7 expert reviews recommend it for this86% of owner mentions are positive - 02
EXPOWNREL78Sony WH-1000XM6
Superb noise cancelling and rich sound, with a snug fit and premium price
74 for this need1 of 14 expert reviews recommend it for this93% of owner mentions are positive - 03
EXPOWNREL82Apple AirPods Pro 3
Superb noise blocking and comfort, best enjoyed with an iPhone
73 for this need1 of 12 expert reviews recommend it for this87% of owner mentions are positive - 04
EXPOWNREL79Sony WF-1000XM5
Superb sound and strong quiet, as long as they fit you
72 for this need2 of 11 expert reviews recommend it for this81% of owner mentions are positive - 05
EXPOWNREL75Sony WH-1000XM5
Superb noise cancelling and sound, with comfort and durability caveats
71 for this need7 of 9 expert reviews mention it as a strength89% of owner mentions are positive - 06
EXPOWNREL78Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Superb noise blocking and all-day comfort, at a premium price
70 for this need1 of 13 expert reviews recommend it for this89% of owner mentions are positive - 07
EXPOWNREL79Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Supremely comfortable everyday quiet, but calls and battery lag behind
69 for this need3 of 9 expert reviews mention it as a strength89% of owner mentions are positive - 08
EXPOWNREL79Soundcore Sleep A30
Tiny, comfortable sleep earbuds that quiet snoring well, but pricey
69 for this need6 of 8 expert reviews mention it as a strength69% of owner mentions are positive - 09
EXPOWNREL68Sonos Ace
Supremely comfortable, strong noise cancelling, with some software quirks
69 for this need1 of 10 expert reviews recommend it for this91% of owner mentions are positive - 10
EXPOWNREL79Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Excellent sound and quiet, at their best with a Samsung phone
68 for this need1 of 13 expert reviews recommend it for this79% of owner mentions are positive - 11
EXPOWNREL81Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Best-in-class quiet in a bulky earbud with only average battery life
67 for this need1 of 15 expert reviews recommend it for this84% of owner mentions are positive - 12
EXPOWNREL73Apple AirPods Max
Superb sound and quiet for Apple fans, if you can handle the weight
66 for this need5 of 13 expert reviews mention it as a strength92% of owner mentions are positive - 13
EXPOWNREL65Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
Strong noise cancelling and loads of features, but durability worries
59 for this need1 of 8 expert reviews recommend it for this61% of owner mentions are positive
Fit = share of expert reviews that recommend it for this, plus what owners report on the related topics. How we score.