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Best noise-cancelling headphones for long-haul: Bose, Sony or Bowers & Wilkins
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px8, compared on what a 12-hour flight asks for: quiet, comfort and battery.
The short version
For the quietest cabin, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) or the Sony WH-1000XM6. Reviewers split on which blocks more. For comfort over many hours, the Bose, according to WIRED and TechRadar. For build and sound, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8, with somewhat weaker noise cancelling and a higher price.
| Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) | Sony WH-1000XM6 | B&W Px8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price, Oct 1 2026 | $449 at bose.com | $459.99 at sony.com | $749 at bowerswilkins.com |
| Our level | Tour | Curve | House |
| Claimed battery, noise cancelling on | Up to 30 h (23 with Immersive Audio) | 30 h | 30 h |
| Audio over USB-C | Yes | No | Yes |
Battery figures are the makers' claims. USB-C audio matters if you want lossless playback from a phone or laptop; on a plane, the 3.5mm cable matters more.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
TechRadar calls the noise cancelling class-leading and the comfort as good as these things get, and says rivals at the price sound a little fuller but are heavier and less comfortable over the long haul. WIRED gave it 9 out of 10, praising plush comfort, top-tier noise cancelling and lossless audio over USB-C. Its reviewer found it more comfortable than the Sony. Both describe it as a modest update on the first version. Battery rose from 24 to 30 hours, and you can now listen while it charges. Gripes: Cinema mode sounds artificial, and the EQ is still basic.
Bose lists it at $449 and up to 30 hours, 23 with Immersive Audio on. Retailers have discounted it at times.
Sony WH-1000XM6
PCMag gave the XM6 its Editors' Choice and found its noise cancelling largely beat the original QuietComfort Ultra. It welcomed the return of folding earcups, which make for a slimmer case, and noted the case closes with a magnet instead of a zip. Sony claims 30 hours with noise cancelling on, 40 with it off. SoundGuys measured 37 hours and 14 minutes in its own standardised battery test.
The catches, per SoundGuys: comfort was its biggest gripe, with pads that leave little room between ear and housing. There is no audio over USB-C, though a 3.5mm cable is included, which is what you'll use for a seatback screen with an adapter. WIRED's reviewer also found the Sony less comfortable than the Bose. Comfort is personal, so try a pair if you can. Ours is the Sandstone colour at $459.99 on Sony's site; reviewers listed it at $449.99 at launch.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
What Hi-Fi? gave the Px8 five stars in 2022 and still recommended it in a 2025 update. It praises the Nappa leather and the materials generally, the 40mm carbon-cone drivers and comfort over extended use. On noise cancelling it says things are quiet on trains, but sudden noises get through, and that Sony and Bose do it better. It tested both a USB-C cable and a USB-C to 3.5mm cable.
Engadget found the Px8 a little heavier than the cheaper Px7 S2 and began to feel the weight on a flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta. Its noise cancelling was up to the job on a plane, with Bose and Sony blocking more. On battery, it still had 40% left at the 30-hour mark.
One thing to know: the Px8 is no longer Bowers & Wilkins' newest. The Px8 S2 launched in 2025 at $799. Engadget says it improves sound and call quality, adds high-resolution music over USB-C and keeps the 30-hour battery, but finds the bass too heavy. The original Px8 was $749 and in stock on bowerswilkins.com on October 1, 2026.
Battery on a real long-haul
This part is our own arithmetic. The longest scheduled flights run around 18 to 19 hours. Any of these three at its claimed 30 hours covers that one way, with time left for the airport at both ends. The Bose drops to 23 hours if you leave Immersive Audio on, which is still enough. Engadget found the Px8 beat its claim, with 40% left at 30 hours. SoundGuys' 37-hour result for the Sony suggests it will too. All three charge over USB-C, so one cable and a seat socket or power bank covers the return.
Case size
For a one-bag trip, case size matters as much as battery. PCMag says the XM6's folding earcups make for a slimmer case than the XM5's. TechRadar credits the Bose frame's articulation with good portability. We found less on the Px8's case, so check the dimensions on Bowers & Wilkins' site if space is tight.
How to choose for a long flight
- Sleep on overnight flights: the Bose, for the comfort reports.
- Hate engine drone above all: the Sony or the Bose. Read both reviews; they disagree.
- Listen closely and like materials: the Px8, accepting less quiet and more weight.
- Pack an airline adapter and the wired cable whichever you choose. Seatback screens still need a wire.
