Ever travelled on a plane and just sat there without doing anything? The noise of the engine can be pretty annoying. Fight the boredom with these best Headphones for Airplane Travel under $100.
Traveling is part of life, as public transport is becoming more convenient and fast. But it is still not as fast as you would want it to be; it still takes time to travel far distances, even on a plane. It can get boring, but with the best Headphones for Airplane Travel under $100, the trip can be a pleasant one.
Airplane travel is usually pretty smooth unless you have motion sickness; but if you can fight that off, it is pretty easy. Although the constant whirring of the engines, albeit pretty light; can be annoying. And if by any chance a baby is on board and starts crying, that just ruins the whole flight.
Fortunately to counter that, you can always use headphones to watch a movie or listen to music. Though normal headphones might block out the constant whirring of the engine, it will not block out a baby’s crying. For that, you would need something like headphones with ANC.
Why Are Noise Cancelling Headphones Preferred for Airplane Travel?
Whether it is airplane travel, or travel by any other means of public transport; it gets noisy. On an airplane, the sound of the engine isn’t as loud, but it’s constant and annoying. Headphones might be able to counter this; but headphones without noise cancellation cannot block out noise.
For this reason, the best Headphones for Airplane Travel have ANC. Noise cancellation works with help of frequency detection and reproduction. Sound travels in waves, and waves cancel each other out. So the headphones first detect the frequency of the noise and reproduce it to cancel it out.
Also, passive noise cancellation also helps in this process by isolating your ears from the noise. Headphones do that with good-fitting ear cups and ample clamping force. The force is enough to block out noise but not tight enough to start hurting your ears.
How to Choose the Best Headphones for Airplane Travel Under $100?
Compatibility
Usually, ANC headphones are wireless and use a Bluetooth connection to connect to your device. If you are planning on using it for anything other than airplane travel you better check compatibility. If you are thinking of using it on a console, chances are it might not detect the headsets with a wireless connection.
But most wireless headsets connect without any problems with laptops and smartphones. Some high-end headsets also feature NFC for instantly pairing with smartphones that support this kind of connectivity.
Some headphones also feature a wired mode which uses a 3.5mm input for connection. Most devices that have a 3.5mm port will work fine in this mode.
Build
Build quality is important regardless of the price point of the product. This is specifically the case with ANC headphones; it is supposed to be made out of strong and flexible materials. That way when it stretches on any part of the entire build it does not break or snap due to stress. Usually, high-end headphones can stretch and flex easily to fit on heads of all sizes.
The build materials also determine the passive noise cancellation in such headphones. Soundproof materials improve noise isolation.
Ergonomics
To ensure a relaxing and comfortable flight your headsets must also be comfortable as well. Comfort matters a lot when choosing your headphones.
If the headphones are not comfortable for the wearer they will not be able to use them for too long. Clamping force needs to be just right where it does not exert too much pressure. But it cannot be very loose either that it falls off easily. Also, the ear cushions should be breathable otherwise they will trap heat.
Appearance
Although a secondary thing compared to functionality, appearance is also important. You would not want to look very weird wearing something with an awkward appearance. Even edgy gamer headphones would not be preferable to wear on the everyday commute.
That is why most of these headphones have a general and decent design. This allows you to wear them without feeling awkward and in most situations.
Best Headphones for Airplane Travel under $100 Reviewed
1. Avantree ANC031 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
Avantree ANC031 active noise-canceling headphones are a budget pair ideal for travel. Although it is not made by a renowned brand they are still really good at doing their job. The job being isolation of noise thanks to a great noise cancellation feature.
It has a great battery life of up to 28 hours and also can be used in a wired mode in case you run out of battery or forgot to charge. The headsets are quite comfortable with a perfect clamping force that they do not fall off. And it is not too tight as to be uncomfortable to the ears.
The build quality is great as these flex without issues. Also, the sound quality is pretty neat, the bass is deep and clean the highs are also clear as well. If we had any complaints about these headsets it would be they do not fold to be more portable. Otherwise, these are one of the best Headphones for Airplane Travel.
Pros
- Good battery life
- Good noise isolation
- Great ergonomics
- On-ear volume controls
- LED indicator for ANC
Cons
- Not very portable
- ANC could be better
2. Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH700N
Sony is not a new name in the audio world in fact it is one of the top brands where it comes to audio products. The Sony WHCH700N are budget versions of the high-end wireless headphones. Although it lacks some features compared to the expensive models. But it is one of the best Headphones for Airplane Travel.
While testing these lasted 35 hours making them one of the best battery life headphones we reviewed compared to others. With NFC you can easily pair up with a supported device within seconds. The ear cushions are plush and comfortable, the clamping for is just right making these headphones very ergonomic.
Although it does lack cushioning on the headband which is a shame as these are really good headphones. The ANC works really well compared to competitors in the same price range. They do not fold, however, the earcups do swivel making them a bit less portable.
If we had a bigger budget we would either opt for the WHCH710N or other higher-end models for their rich features. But in the current price tag, these do the job good enough.
Pros
- Great battery life
- NFC connectivity
- Great noise cancellation
- Strong build
Cons
- Not foldable
- Headband lack cushioning
3. JLab Audio Studio ANC On-Ear Wireless Headphones
These are a great example of why budget items can also be of great quality. JLAB Audio Studio ANC Wireless Headphones are not only inexpensive but also very comfortable and great sounding. They look quite attractive and sound really awesome. We are kind of fans of the design since they are the most unique pair we have reviewed so far in this specific category.
The metal sliders are very durable and the clamping force is not too tight. However, this design does not allow the ear cups to swivel. But they do fold inside making them very portable and easy to carry on flights.
The ANC on these works great to block out ambient engine noise during a flight. The ear cushions are very soft and plush befitting the name cloud foam which is used for advertising them. These have a very good battery life and can last the longest of flights no problems whatsoever.
If you are in the market for something good looking and good sounding, then the JLab Audio Studio ANC On-Ear Wireless headphones are for you.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Plush ear cushions
- Ample battery life
- Great noise isolation
- Nice portability
Cons
- The design might not be to everyone’s liking
- No swivel
4. Sony MDRZX110NC Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony caters from the high end to the budget audience. These headsets by Sony seem to be targeted towards the budget audience as they cost less than $50.Although they are not wireless they have very effective noise cancellation for ambient plane engine noise.
Even though they are not wireless the ANC does require a battery. It has 80 hours of battery life for the noise cancellation which will last you more than a week without charging. The clamping force on these does not seem very good though as they come off very easily. But the low price does demand a few compromises.
The headband is also very uncomfortable due to not having any cushioning. They do however fold down to a portable size allowing them to be carried on flights easily. The noise isolation and noise cancellation for the price point is what attracted us towards these headphones.
Pros
- Very inexpensive
- Average ANC for the price
- Soft ear cushions
- On-ear controls
Cons
- Uncomfortable headband
- Loose clamping force
5. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
Although Anker is not one of the big names in audio brands, it is slowly gaining a foothold in the U.S market. Anker audio products seem to be very reliable and also come with great customer support for when things go wrong, which mostly they don’t. Also all Anker products come with their standard 18-month warranty.
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is one of the best Headphones for Airplane Travel regardless of being budget-friendly and inexpensive. The battery life on these proves why Anker is such a popular brand when it comes to power banks. It has a battery life of over 40 hours with ANC and Bluetooth enabled.
Although you would expect inexpensive headphones to not sound good these sound amazing with real life-like sound clarity. The noise cancellation is also superb compared to some of the more renowned brands at the same price point. For how much they cost, people would believe the ANC would be useless or something. But it’s the other way around mostly.
The Soundcore series of headphones might be one of the most successful products of the Anker brand. And these headphones specifically show why Anker is slowly gaining popularity. Overall these are one of the best headphones for everyday use.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Great sounding
- Comfortable fit
- Great ANC
- More than great battery life
Cons
- Ear cushions trap heat
Conclusion
Although airplane travel is the fasted method of commuting it can get unpleasant and rather dull without phone use. To combat that these headphones are the Best Headphones for Airplane Travel.
Choosing any one of these without hesitation would not be a mistake on your part because we thoroughly tested them for reviewing purposes. All of these headphones are superb and budget-friendly, making your flight much more comfortable and relaxing.
