oh man, i totally get the struggle... I did a 12 hour haul last year and was stuck between those two as well. For your situation, I would suggest the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones look sleek, but the XM4s actually fold up much smaller which is huge for saving bag space. Since you wear glasses, I found the XM4 padding a bit softer on my frames during long stretches. Plus, the XM4s are usually around $270 now while the 5s are like $400, so the value is highkey better. Battery life is basically 30 hours on both, so you'll definitely last the whole flight to Tokyo without stress. Just make sure to charge 'em fully before boarding tho. I guess my lesson learned was that the newest tech isnt always the most practical for travel. gl!

I totally agree with the point about the folding design being a life saver for travel because space is basically everything in a carry on. One thing I want to add from a reliability perspective is that if you are doing a 14 hour haul plus layovers you should really look at the Sennheiser+MOMENTUM+4+Wireless+Headphones&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Headphones instead. They have like a 60 hour battery life which is insane and basically means you dont have to worry about them dying even if you forget to charge them at the airport hotel which is a huge relief honestly. I always worry about the battery stability and safety on long flights when stuff gets hot but these stay super cool and the build feels really solid like they wont just snap if you roll over on them while sleeping. Since you wear glasses the pressure is usually the first thing that kills the vibe but these have really deep cups that dont press your frames into your skull as much as some of the slimmer models. Plus having that extra battery overhead is just safer for long trips because you never know when you will be stuck on the tarmac for three hours with no power outlets tho. Just make sure you double check the firmware updates before you leave so the sensors stay stable during the altitude changes because that can sometimes be a bit wonky with high tech gear.

For your situation, I'd suggest comparing the pricey ones mentioned to budget alternatives. The Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones (~$120) are way lighter for glasses, while Soundcore by Anker Space Q45 Noise Cancelling Headphones (~$149) have an insane 50hr battery. Flagships maybe have slightly better ANC, but these save u $200. Honestly, the Sony CH720N is the best choice for comfort on a 14-hour flight. Happy with how they handle engine noise! peace

Tbh, if you are sticking with the top brands, you are basically guaranteed a good experience for a long-haul flight. From a market perspective, Sony has really cornered the market on that specific drone-blocking tech. I do think it is worth looking at the overall brand vibes before you commit though because they all have different priorities.

• Sony is generally the best for pure tech features and that app control stuff
• Bose usually wins on the ergonomics and weight distribution which helps with glasses
• Apple is super seamless but honestly feels a bit heavy for a 14-hour stretch I have tried almost everything on the market over the last few years and I keep coming back to Sony for international stuff. Even their older high-end stuff holds up better than most brands newest releases. Just get whatever the latest flagship from Sony fits your budget and dont overthink it too much. The noise canceling across their whole premium line is so good now that you will definitely be able to sleep through the engine noise. (at least that has been my experience) And really, once you get into that premium price bracket, the differences in isolation are pretty marginal for most people anyway. Just go with Sony, you can't go wrong.

> I’m torn between the WH-1000XM4 and the newer XM5s. Comfort is my biggest concern since I’ll be wearing them for hours on end, and I’m worried about how they’ll feel with my glasses. Building on the earlier suggestion, I am literally in the exact same boat right now and it is so frustrating!! I have been looking at these Sony models versus other top brands for weeks and I still cannot make up my mind because of my glasses too. It is seriously amazing how hard it is to get a straight answer on which brand actually feels better for a 14 hour haul. I have been dealing with this same headache for a month now and tbh I am just as stuck as you are! I just want to find something that wont crush my frames.

I am in the exact same boat as you for my upcoming travel plans. Finding a balance between effective noise reduction and the physical pressure on my glasses frames has been quite the challenge over the years. I have been very satisfied with a few DIY adjustments to my current gear though:

• Swapping the stock ear pads for thicker aftermarket versions
• Using a small amount of padding on the temple tips of my glasses These small changes really work well and I have no complaints about the seal. If you want a brand that prioritizes that lightweight feel, just get any travel model from Bose. You honestly cant go wrong with their ergonomics for long flights...