Improved tech, longer battery life, and lighter weight make this wave of headphones markedly better than the last. We spent 33 hours flying at cruising altitudes to find the best. From Bose QuietComfort 35 II to Beats Tudio3s, here’s how five of the top noise-canceling headphones performed up in the air.
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The bright-sounding Sony won our test with noise cancellation that eliminates more than just engine drone. We love the quick recharge (10 minutes for five hours of run time), backed by the longest battery life in our test (30 hours) and comfortable, collapsible thick-foam ear cups.
[$350; sony.com]
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These are the standard for travelers for good reason: They’re extremely comfortable, with a lightweight build (8.3 ounces) and luxurious Alcantara ear cushions. But even with Alexa and Google built in, they fall short of Sony in battery life (20 hours), recharge rate, and effective noise canceling.
[$350; bose.com]
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Fast and easy pairing is a plus for the Beats—with the latest iOS, they require just a tap. The sound is polished and crystalline, but they don’t fold flat for traveling, and their noise canceling lets in more clamor than the competitions.
[$350; beatsbydre.com]
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We had high hopes for the latest set from this pro-audio heritage brand, recently acquired by Samsung, but were disappointed by their inconsistent Bluetooth pairing and sonics that sounded just middle-of-the-road. They fold up and do well at hushing engine drone and cabin noise, though.
[$350; samsung.com]
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These weigh two ounces more than the competition, have slightly bulkier ear cups, cost about $50 more, and have the shortest battery life (up to 15 hours). But air-bound audiophiles should accept those shortcomings be- cause the payoff is a sound that’s clear and lively.
[$399; nadelectronics.com]
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