The best noise cancelling headphones for flying help you tune out all the distracting sounds around you. Anyone who ever flew on a plane knows that the sound of the plane and the people around add up to a lot of sound. Longhaul flights become exhausting after a while, so rest’s important. And, even those late-night domestic hops often see irritable and crying kids after your long business day.
With modern technology, noise cancelling headphones not only cut out the bulk of the noise but allow you to listen to anything you choose. Relax in your own private space inside your head to any music you chose. Did you know that the special headphones were originally designed with flight in mind? Actually, pilots used them to tune out the low-frequency sounds of their environment. You might not eliminate the shrieks of upset kids totally, but like magic, it fades to at least tolerable.
Certainly, when using them they reduce the overall pitch of the sounds, especially those of low-frequency. Replacing that with your own vibes simply helps reduce the stress of constant sound around you. You’re far less likely to get all worked up and angry with the people around you if you slip off into a quieter place in your own mind. While they’re more pricey than ordinary headphones and earbuds, they’ll certainly do a lot for soothing any frayed nerves in-flight on your vacation to places like the Bahamas, or closer to home.
Ready to consider these useful aids? Then take a look at the best noise cancelling headphones for flying that we tracked down on Amazon.
Boltune Bluetooth 5.0 Over Ear Wireless Headphones (404)
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Coming in at affordable price range, the Boltune Bluetooth 5.0 Over Ear Wireless Headphones incorporates great AMS as3435 technology. Eliminating most of the background sounds in the flight cabin allows you to relax and listen to your own choice of music. Wireless headphones make it much easier to handle. Plus, the design doesn’t put too much pressure on your head. Enjoy up to thirty hours of play-time after just one hour of charging. That’s thanks to the 500mAh battery.
Stylish in silver and black, the earmuffs are comfortable and adjustable with a 90-degree rotation feature. The comfort factor puts this on our list of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying. Plus, you don’t need music to drown out the majority of the background sound. Put it in non-music noise reduction mode if you like.
What we love
- The bass – brings deep and meaningful sound of a strong immersive kind when listening to music.
- Sound quality and comfort – These headphones are comfortable, and they become more so with time after using them for a while. The active noise cancellation works quite well.
- The case – It comes with a strong and solid case which makes it durable.
Pros
- The controls on the headphones work well and you don’t need to be too tech-savvy to figure it out.
- The battery life is one of the top features of these headphones that put it on a par with more expensive versions.
- Lightweight, they fit easily into a small bag or backpack.
Cons
- The sound you hear isn’t completely soundproof for those sitting next to you, which makes them annoyed.
- It only pairs to one device at a time, not more than that. One will cancel out the other.
COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones (404)
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The Cowin E7 comes with a microphone and Deep Bass Wireless. With headphones over ear, silver and black, they also come with comfortable earpads and a 30-hour playtime. When pairing, users get guided by voice-prompting and the Bluetooth connections stable. Bluetooth that really works is one of the features that people like about the product.
The device’s Active Noise Cancelling feature reduces much of the sounds in a flight cabin such as the engines, but you’ll still hear announcements or conversations with the cabin crew.
At 13.6 ounces, it’s quite lightweight, and size-wise, it’s easy enough to pack, coming in at 6.5 x 3.6 x 7.1 inches. The headphones come with a Micro USB cable and a 3.5mm audio cable.
What we love
- The noise canceling inflight almost completely mutes the sound of the plane’s engines.
- The comfort features are pleasing to the eye and easy on the ears. Stylish aluminum and soft black earmuffs make it attractive.
- It pairs with laptops easily, something others in the price range don’t do very efficiently, making this one of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying in its price range.
Pros
- Voice quality during phone conversations works well with no complaints from people on the other end of the conversation.
- The bass comes over as excellent with a crisp quality when used without the noise cancelling.
- The earpieces sit comfortably for long hours which is useful when flying. The ability to tilt them left or right means they don’t rub and irritate.
Cons
- When you switch to NC (noise cancelling) the lovely bass disappears almost completely.
- Keep the volume down as people next to you, or even some distance away hear the music you’re listening to.
- If it’s just peace and quiet you want, without music, the sound of the plane’s engines is probably better than the NC constantly hissing.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling headphones
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Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling headphones come with up to 22 hours of listening time. Or, without using the noise cancelling feature, it could run to 40 hours. The product comes with a built-in mic and controls. Plus, it has Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
For comfort, the ear pads are soft and cushioned, yet sturdy. All in black, the product is easily portable and looks good. It also comes in shadow gray. With an Apple W1 chip, the sound quality’s reportedly excellent.
What we love
- The sound is well-balanced and good quality.
- The battery life makes this an excellent option while on long haul flights.
- The headphones pack into a tidy pod, ideal for traveling.
Pros
- The product really works well in-flight, as outside talking sounds become almost inaudible.
- Switching between Apple devices without having to disconnect is a major plus.
- The sound tends not to leak out to your fellow travelers as it comes with excellent solation.
Cons
- Phone call quality seems low even from nearby calling, making it not ideal for travel.
- Where the headband and earpiece meet, seems to be a weak spot resulting in breakages.
- The sound volume could be tweaked a bit louder.
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VIPEX Active Noise Cancelling Headphones (404)
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The VIPEX Active Noise Cancelling Headphones come with Bluetooth 5.0, wireless over-ear headphones, 30 hours of playing time and comfortable earpads. A popular feature includes hands-free calls. It comes with a folding design that saves space and makes it ideal for travel. The battery life puts it on our list of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying.
The product weighs in at 1.15 pounds. The headphones come with buttons for Power, Volume and Noise Cancelling. They can also be used to track back or forward when listening to music. All in black, the product also pairs easily to other devices like phones and tablets.
What we love
- Crisp and quality sound comes even if engaging the NC function.
- The product functions as well as other more expensive brands.
- Simple, it’s easy to set up for use with a computer or phone.
Pros
- The extremely comfortable headset means you can use it for hours with discomfort.
- The product reduces ambient sound significantly.
- Lightweight, portable, and producing decent sound, they suit air travelers.
Cons
- The sound volume is a bit low.
- Bluetooth connection has an infrequent tendency to drop.
- It looks great but the product isn’t robust enough to prevent breakages.
Philips Noise Cancelling Headphones
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Philips Noise Cancelling Headphones Wireless comes with Bluetooth and over the ear, with an inbuilt microphone and Google Assist. As the mic comes with echo cancellation, it works well when talking. The 8000 series comes in black and weighs in at 1.66 pounds.
It comes in a case, is foldable for easy transportation, and the active noise cancellation means you can still talk while listening to music. It also charges fast and delivers around 24 to 30 hours of playtime. The touch controls sit on the ear pad housing.
What we love
- The google assist feature’s very easy to use, by simply placing your hand over the ear-cup.
- With the Active Noise Canceling turned on, it delivers around 25 hours run-time.
- Volume control’s achieved with a swipe up or down on the touchpad.
Pros
- Comfortable and soft ear pads cover the ears for great external sound elimination.
- Music comes with excellent high-quality sound.
- It takes just a press of a button to activate Noise Cancelling or the Awareness modes, making it one of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying.
Cons
- The anticipated 30-hours of runtime’s more likely to pan out at about 24 hours.
- It comes with a micro USB and not with USB C.
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Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
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Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones come with wireless over ear Bluetooth headphones. It boasts up to 40 hours of playtime, with deep bass. The memory foam ear cups make for comfort. We chose it for our list of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying as you could listen to more than 600 tracks on long-haul trips.
The product boasts internal and external microphones great for canceling out much of the noise in-flight. Foldable, and with a travel pouch it weighs in at 0.58 lb.
What we love
- It definitely reduces that never-ending low rumble of airplane engines.
- Voice prompts are clear and easily audible.
- The price range is about right for what you get.
Pros
- The headphones are light and don’t sit uncomfortably.
- The product delivers great bass.
- The sound delivery’s as good as more expensive products.
Cons
- There’s a tendency for the ANC to make a crackling sound with sudden movement.
- If you don’t like too much bass, it might not be ideal for you though the mid-range is okay.
- If you try and use it in the wind, somehow that windy sound gets amplified.
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Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM3ct
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Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM3 comes with Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headphones. It’s got a mic and Alexa voice control, plus reportedly leading industry Active Noise Cancellation. It comes in a silver color.
Stepping it up in price from previously mentioned products, this Sony product brings up to 30 hours of playtime with fast charging. 10 minutes on charge should deliver around five hours. It weighs in at nine ounces.
What we love
- The casing is small enough to easily fit in your backpack.
- Like the Bose products, the headphones sit very comfortably without discomfort.
- Noise cancellation works very well.
Pros
- Cupping your hand over the earpad allows normal conversation through without background hissing.
- Phone call clarity is excellent.
- The Touch gesture facility makes it very easy to swap between applications and raise or lower volume.
Cons
- Bluetooth connection sometimes seems very slow.
- Sometimes the pitch is uncomfortably high on the treble.
- Ambient sounds tend to seep through to the listener on the other end of a call.
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Sennheiser HD 4.50 SE Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
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Sennheiser HD 4.50 SE Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones comes in black. It weighs 15.8 ounces and the dimensions are 5.9 x 3.1 x 8.7 inches. It comes with accessories like a case, charging cable, etc. The battery life lasts between 55 to 20 hours.
The product also comes with a wired connector which also works with NC. Plus, the earpads are comfortable. Head comfort’s the reason we chose this for our list of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying
What we love
- The product seems to made of very good build quality.
- We also liked the very good sound quality when listening to music.
- The NFC connectivity is instant and a great feature.
Pros
- They won’t slip around and fall off your head when you move.
- Folding up small makes the product useful when flying on a plane. (Another why reason it’s on our list of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying).
- Voice calling capability works well without little outside interference.
Cons
- The bass quality seems a bit disappointing.
- The button to skip songs and tracks is awkward with a reversed situation (EG back to skip forward).
- Bluetooth connectivity range is limited to about 10m.
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Sony WH-CH700N
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The Sony WH-CH700N Wireless over the ear headphones come with Bluetooth, Noise Canceling and Alexa Voice Control. The voice control assists with hands – free applications. A metal slider allows for adjustment of the headphones for personal comfort.
The product weighs 0.53 lb and the dimensions are 8.71 x 2.72 x 10.28 in. It’s available in black or blue.
What we love
- Sitting on the plane, there’s only a little sound leakage which means nearby passengers won’t get irritated on that flight to visit the best that Los Angeles has to offer.
- The sound quality’s unusually good for wireless headphones.
- The extended battery life is good even with ANC on.
Pros
- Lightweight, they don’t feel uncomfortable wearing them.
- You can use the sony app to modify the sound settings via your mobile phone.
- While they don’t fully cut external sound, you don’t need to blast your volume too high to cut them out.
Cons
- The earpads are plastic and not durable. They also make your ears sweaty.
- The bass could be a lot more punchy.
- Using them with a PC is complicated and irritating.
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Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
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Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, come with noise cancelling and the Alexa voice control. The product also boasts an audio-only version of augmented reality.
The product comes in black, measures 3.2 x 6.7 x 7.1 inches, and weighs in at 0.52 lb. The Bose AR can be unlocked using the firmware update through the Bose Connect app.
Comfortable earpads and excellent sound are pluses. Plus, the hands-free from your phone function’s useful. That puts this on our list of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying. Grabbing a long-haul flight to Rome in Italy? Then this is a very good choice when it comes to noise cancelling.
What we love
- The noise cancelling feature’s excellent blocking out most chatter around you.
- Battery life is extensive even when using the noise cancelling feature.
- The added 1/8″ cable means you can listen to music if the battery dies.
Pros
- Nose clarity by phone is brilliant
- The noise cancelling doesn’t crack, pop or hiss like many other brands.
- The voice function tells you how much battery power you have available.
Cons
- Complaints surround a “pressure-like” ANC feeling that tends to give a headache.
- The sound quality on music playback’s good but can’t match the Sony Products.
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COWIN E7 PRO [Upgraded] Active Noise Cancelling Headphones (404)
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The COWIN E7 PRO [Upgraded] Active Noise Cancelling Headphones come with excellent microphone performance. The bass responds well with large-aperture drivers and the sound delivered over ear is crisp. The ear cushions are comfortable with the ear-swivelling cups. The headphones are durable and comfortable.
The Bluetooth 4.0 offers fast and stable connections. The dimensions are 6.54 x 3.62 x 7.13 in and it’s lightweight at 0.8 lbs. It also boasts up to 30 hours of playtime.
What we love
- They offer good bass considering the price point.
- Noice cancelling features still allow you to remain aware of what’s going on.
- The microphone works well, especially during phone calls.
Pros
- The noise canceling works for flying. This seems specially designed for that low-frequency rumbling that intrudes without it.
- The mid-range levels of music playback are quite good.
- Bluetooth connection seems very stable and reasonably fast.
Cons
- While most music plays back in beautiful quality, the bass seems a bit “muddy.”
- On occasion, sudden movements can cut off the sound.
Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700
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Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700, comes with Alexa Voice Control. The product looks stylish in black. At the higher end of the price range, they promise great quality.
The Bose 700 comes in a carrying case and the dimensions are 8.6 x 7 x 2.4″ The full battery charging time’s around 2. hrs. 15 minutes gives a life of about 3.5 hours.
What we love
- You can connect to more than one device at a time.
- The appearance is clean, professional, and solid.
- The noise cancelling is excellent and mostly functions as promised.
Pros
- Speaker adjustment’s super-easy with sliding the cups down or up.
- Noise cancelling comes with three levels, so you can select the setting you prefer.
- The noise cancelling features don’t change the music output or distort it.
Cons
- There’s no folding option, so it’s not ideal for travel by air as you need the case handy.
- You need to remove any gloves or mittens to make the touch sensor work.
- The headphones won’t work unless you download the Bose App.
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Plantronics Wireless Noise Cancelling Backbeat – Headphones (Black & Tan) (Pro 2)
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The Plantronics Wireless Noise Cancelling Backbeat – Headphones (Black & Tan) (Pro 2)” They sit in this spot on our list of the best noise cancelling headphones for flying for a number of reasons. The main reason is the price range. Not too cheap and yet not at the top of the price range, the value for money’s good.
The wood veneer is two-toned and quite different. The product weighs in at 0.62 lbs and the dimensions are 8.1 x 7.8 x 9 in. They are plastic but look and feel durable and come with padding on the ear pads for comfort. Removing the headphones automatically pauses the music. The battery life is in the region of 24 hours.
What we love
- It pairs easily with other devices, usually without any hitch.
- Need to take a call? Just pick up the headphones and put them on.
- Bass is good and sound quality very good for the price range.
Pros
- The noise cancellation works well when flying and removes that irritating low-frequency buzz.
- Very comfortable with the over the ear cups.
- It connects/pairs to more than one device and seldom falters in that regard.
Cons
- Not foldable and comes in a soft carry bag.
- Some external sounds filter through during phone calls.
- The ANC is not quite as up there as the more expensive Sony range.
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