Active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones are a necessary travel companion for some – they have speakers that reduce unwanted background noise so you can enjoy your movies or listen to music in peace while you fly. It only takes a crying baby, a person snoring loudly, or the droning of an aircraft engine to ruin the flight experience.
That’s why we’re recommending the top noise-canceling headphones to buy in 2023 to drown out unwanted noise for a more pleasant flight.
Apple AirPods Max (S$762)
If you’re a user of Apple products, the Apple AirPods Max comes highly recommended. These headphones can be easily set up with just one tap when used with Apple devices to deliver both top-of-the-line ANC performance and excellent sound quality via its in-house designed dual neodymium 40mm driver. The adaptive EQ feature will further enhance the music-listening experience by automatically adjusting the frequencies.
The Apple AirPods Max comes in many colours and is housed in a sleek, stainless steel frame that results in a hefty 384.8g. It is Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, has a battery life of up to 20 hours, and is charged using lightning to USB-C cable.
Bose QuietComfort45 (S$499)
The Bose QuietComfort 45 is another great option for aeroplane travel. The headphones allow users to seamlessly switch between “Quiet Mode” or “Aware Mode” with just a touch of a button, giving you the choice of maximum noise cancellation or when you need to hear what is in your environment in one simple action. Weighing in at 240 grams, it boasts a compact swivel-fold design for easy travel, which means less head fatigue as you keep them on through the flight.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 has a battery life of up to 22 hours and requires two and a half hours to charge fully through USB-C. The headphones are Bluetooth 5.1 compatible and hold 40mm drivers for great sound quality.
Sony WH-1000XM5 (S$499)
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best overall noise-canceling headphones you can buy today. It is lightweight at 250g, offering a comfortable fit. The headphones are Bluetooth 5.2 compliant, allowing the possibility of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio to be integrated with future firmware updates. It also holds 30mm neodymium drivers for excellent sound quality, with the AI-powered ANC performance granting personalized noise cancellation that suppresses ambient noise like in-flight chatter and engine drones while extracting your voice clearly.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers various quality-of-life features like its “Speak to Chat” feature as well, which lets ambient sound at the moment you start talking to someone around you. You can also pause and play your audio instantly just by taking your headphones off and putting them back on. With these features, you don’t have to worry about feeling awkward when the flight attendant tries to catch your attention.
Finally, there’s no need to worry about the headphones running out of battery mid-flight as they can last up to 30 hours. You will be able to fully charge your headphones within 3.5 hours with a USB-C cable.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (S$485)
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is a more recent entry in the list. The headphones are Bluetooth 5.2 compliant and offer support for LE audio, the next generation of Bluetooth Audio that enhances wireless audio performance. Switching between the two different modes of adaptive noise cancellation and transparency is a straightforward affair – simply touch the earcups, and it’s all done.
What sets these headphones apart from the rest is the long battery life. Going strong at 60 hours of use, it can be fully charged through USB-C within 2 hours. This means that a single use of the headphones can last even your return flight.
The 293-gram Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless promises quality sound with its 42mm drivers.
Bose QuietComfort35 II (S$368)
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II may be a part of the older generation of Bose’s line of Active Noise Cancellation headphones, but they are equally reliable. Being the lightest among all entries in the list at 236g, the headphones still promise sound qualities that can rival the others.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II has a long battery life of up to 20 hours and can be fully charged within 2.5 hours through the provided micro-USB cable. The headphones have a compact swivel-foldable design and their noise-cancellation capabilities can be controlled through the Bose Connect App. It even has a 3.5mm jack, making it perfect for non-wireless like in-flight entertainment systems.
Honourary mention: Sony WH-1000XM4 (S$375)
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the previous generation of Sony’s flagship noise-canceling headphones. Just like its successor, these headphones offer excellent ANC performance and amazing sound quality with their 40mm drivers. Although they lack the Speak to Chat feature, the Quick Attention feature allows users to place their hands over the ear cups which will turn the volume of your audio down and let ambient sound in.
The Sony WH-100XM4 is Bluetooth 5.0 compliant, has a battery life of up to 30 hours, and requires three hours of charge time. Armed with a swivel foldable form factor, the device is designed to be compact and brings a welcome touch of convenience to your air travel experience, especially for those looking for a more affordable alternative to the XM5 (though not by much).
There’s no need to be an audiophile to enjoy pleasant travels with quality audio – any ANC headphones with good sound quality, a comfortable fit, and battery life that can last you the flight will do just fine. If you’re looking for a smarter traveling experience overall, check out the top 11 travel gadgets you can bring with you on your trip this year.
Crack open a cold one with Joey, because the moment you approach him, he will start talking about film and video games for days. He spends his waking moments during the weekends meditating on how the latest movie he’s watched or game he’s played has impacted his worldview.
Sasha Nair
A'bidah Zaid
Zinho De Costa
