Top Travel Headphones and Earbuds for Frequent Fliers in 2023

Traveling can be a stressful and noisy experience, especially if you have to deal with long flights, crowded airports, and loud passengers. That’s why having a good pair of headphones or earbuds can make a huge difference in your comfort and enjoyment. Whether you want to listen to music, watch movies, or catch up on podcasts, you need headphones or earbuds that deliver high-quality sound, long battery life, and effective noise cancellation.

Here are some of the best options for frequent fliers in 2023, based on expert reviews and user feedback.

Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These over-ear headphones are widely praised as the best travel headphones on the market, thanks to their excellent sound quality, impressive noise cancellation, and comfortable fit. They have a battery life of up to 37 hours, a touch-sensitive control panel, and a smart feature that pauses the music when you take them off or speak to someone. They also come with an airplane adapter and a sturdy carrying case.

Best Budget: Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. These over-ear headphones offer great value for money, as they have decent sound quality, active noise cancellation, and a battery life of up to 40 hours. They also have a foldable design, a USB-C charging port, and a companion app that lets you customize the sound and noise cancellation modes.

Best Premium: Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless. These over-ear headphones are the latest model from Bose, which is known for its high-end noise cancellation technology. They have a sleek design, a balanced sound profile, and two noise cancellation modes: Quiet Mode for blocking out all distractions, and Aware Mode for letting in some ambient sounds. They have a battery life of up to 24 hours and support fast charging.

Best Earbuds for ANC: Apple AirPods Pro. These true wireless earbuds are ideal for travelers who prefer a more compact and discreet option. They have an ergonomic design that fits snugly in your ears, and they feature active noise cancellation that adapts to your environment. They also have a transparency mode that lets you hear what’s happening around you, and a spatial audio feature that creates an immersive soundstage. They have a battery life of up to 4.5 hours per charge, and up to 24 hours with the wireless charging case.

Best Mid-Priced Earbuds: Jabra Elite 75t. These true wireless earbuds are another great choice for travelers who want portability and performance. They have a durable and water-resistant design, a balanced and customizable sound profile, and passive noise isolation that blocks out most background noises. They also have a long battery life of up to 7.5 hours per charge, and up to 28 hours with the charging case.

Best for Apple: Beats Studio Buds. These true wireless earbuds are designed to work seamlessly with Apple devices, as they support Siri voice control, spatial audio, and Find My integration. They also have active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and a balanced sound profile that suits most genres of music. They have a battery life of up to 8 hours per charge, and up to 24 hours with the charging case.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, travelandleisure.com, 10best.usatoday.com