Best Travel Headphones · Best Overall
1
Sony
9.4
★★★★★
Editors' Score
Sony WH-1000XM6
- ✓ANC: QN3 processor + 12 mics — #1 ANC tested, blocks jet engines completely
- ✓Battery: 30 hrs with ANC — enough for 3 long-haul flights
- ✓Foldable: Redesigned hinges for compact travel packing
- ✓Sound: Co-created with mastering engineers — studio-quality
- ✓Smart: Speak-to-Chat pauses music when you talk — great for airports
- ✓Multipoint: Connect phone + laptop simultaneously
There's no other way to say it: The Sony WH-1000XM6 are the best noise-cancelling headphones we've tested so far.— BGR
Sony's WH-1000XM6 returns as the unbeatable travel buddy — fantastic sound, a comfy foldable design, and top-tier noise-cancellation that turns roaring jet engines to a quiet whisper.— T3 / Rolling Stone
Best Comfort · Best for Long Flights
2
Bose
9.3
★★★★★
Editors' Score
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- ✓Comfort: Lightest premium ANC headphones — wears like cashmere
- ✓ANC: ActiveSense 2nd Gen — most effective on human voice and plane noise
- ✓Battery: 30 hrs with ANC — extended vs. 1st gen
- ✓Spatial Audio: Immersive Audio mode for movies
- ✓USB-C: Lossless audio + fast charge in 15 min
- ✗No fold: Ear cups swivel flat but don't fold compact
For the traveller, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra remains unmatched. The headphone equivalent of first class: indulgent, refined, and eerily effective.— The Gentleman's Journal
Bose's second-gen QC Ultra Headphones are the headphones you can wear all day without fatigue — superb comfort and still the gold standard for ANC on human voices.— Rolling Stone
3
Bowers & Wilkins
9.1
★★★★★
Editors' Score
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
- ✓Sound: Audiophile-grade — aptX Lossless / aptX Adaptive for lossless wireless
- ✓Design: Full metal + woven fabric — most premium looking travel headphone
- ✓ANC: Improved over Px7 S2 — effective on engines and HVAC
- ✓Battery: 30 hrs with ANC on
- ✓App: 5-band EQ customization
- ✗Price: $479 — the most expensive pick here
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 stands out in every department — sleek design, spot-on sound accuracy, and a build quality that impresses. Our all-around champion for 2026.— T3
For listeners who prioritize audio fidelity above all else, the Px7 S3 delivers audiophile-grade sound alongside very good noise cancellation in a stunning premium package.— Technobezz
4
Sennheiser
8.9
★★★★½
Editors' Score
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- ✓Battery: 60 hrs — by far the most travel-ready battery here
- ✓Sound: Audiophile 42mm driver — brilliant dynamics and musicality
- ✓Comfort: Lightweight fold-flat design, cushioned headband
- ✓ANC: Adaptive noise cancellation — greatly improved vs. Momentum 3
- ✓Calls: 4 digital beamforming mics for crystal-clear voice
- ✗ANC: Trails Sony and Bose at the very top for ANC power
Sure, there are headphones that last longer than 60 hours... but they don't offer the combo of great battery life, ANC, and good sound quality you'll find in the Momentum 4.— Engadget
For audiophiles who want to travel without recharging for a week, the Momentum 4 is the definitive choice — 60 hours of rich, detailed sound.— Gentleman's Journal
5
Apple
8.8
★★★★½
Editors' Score
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)
- ✓iPhone: Best Apple Watch integration — Spatial Audio follows your head
- ✓Sound: 40mm Apple-designed drivers — premium audiophile quality
- ✓ANC: Computational audio ANC — excellent on flights
- ✓Build: Aluminum + stainless steel — most premium materials here
- ✓Battery: 20 hrs ANC — sufficient for international flights
- ✗No fold: Bulky for packing — smart case required
For iPhone users who demand the best listening experience and seamlessly connect their AirPods Max to every Apple device, these are unparalleled.— Wareable
The AirPods Max are the Hermès cufflinks of the audio world — understated, precise, and reassuringly Apple. For iPhone users, they're the premium travel headphone.— Gentleman's Journal