For your situation, I would suggest sticking with the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. I've been flying internationally for years and honestly, the folding design is a total life saver for carry-on space. The newer Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are great too, but they dont fold—they only lay flat—which makes the case way bulkier in ur bag. Here is why the XM4 wins for long hauls:
- Portability: They pack down much smaller than the XM5.
- Comfort: The padding is super soft for sleeping against a window.
- Value: You can usually grab them for around $250-280 now, which is a killer deal. Tbh, the noise cancellation on both is top-tier for engine hum, but the XM4 just feels more rugged for travel. The XM5 has a thinner headband that kinda digs in after hour 8, iirc. Anyway, gl with the decision! 👍

Just sharing my experience: I went through this exact same dilemma last year when I started traveling more for work. NGL, I was soooo close to dropping the full $400 on the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, but as someone who's always looking for the best deal, I just couldnt justify it. I mean, the ANC is slightly better on the XM5, but is it $150 better? Probably not for a beginner like me lol. In my experience, I found a "renewed" pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones for way cheaper, and honestly, they're perfect for those 12-hour hauls. I've used them on flights to Tokyo and the battery barely hits 50% by the time we land. Plus, I'm always worried about breaking stuff in my carry-on, so the folding thing is huge. If youre looking to save some serious cash, maybe check out the Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones too? They're much lighter on the wallet, though the noise cancelling isnt quite as "vault-like" as the flagship ones. Anyway, just my two cents! 👍

So I’ve been deep-diving into the market research for these types of sets for a while, and honestly, Sony is usually the default pick for travelers. But after testing a bunch of gear myself, I’ve realized that the "best" specs on paper don't always translate to the best experience at 35,000 feet. Tbh, while the isolation tech is top-tier, the comfort can be a real hit-or-miss depending on your head shape. I’ve found that some brands in this space prioritize a really light clamping force, whereas others tend to go for a tighter seal to maximize the silence. That seal is great for the engine hum, but it can get *super* sweaty after a few hours if the earcups don't breathe well. Before you pull the trigger, I gotta ask: what’s your tolerance for "ear pressure"? Some people really hate that suction feeling that high-end ANC creates during long stretches. Also, are you planning on using these with a bunch of different devices, or just your phone? I’ve noticed some brands are way smoother at switching between a tablet and a phone mid-flight, which is a total lifesaver when you're jumping between movies and music.

Saw this earlier and wanted to weigh in since I basically live on planes these days. If youre looking purely at performance for those marathon flights, here is how I see it. The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones are the winner for absolute silence. That new multi-mic system is scary good at killing the high-pitched sounds like the galley noise or crying kids, not just the engine drone. But honestly, the headband is pretty thin. I find it starts to hurt the top of my head after hour six or seven. If comfort for sleeping is the priority, I still reach for my Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. The ear cups are just deeper and the padding feels more substantial when you're leaning against a window or a neck pillow. Plus, the sensor that pauses your music when you take them off is way more reliable on these. If you want something lighter so your neck doesnt get sore, the Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones are a sleeper hit. They dont have that premium heavy feel, which is actually a plus when youre trying to stay comfortable in a cramped economy seat for 12 hours. The noise canceling is solid, even if it isnt quite as vault-like as the flagship ones.

yo, stumbled upon this and felt like i had to chime in cuz long-haul flights are literally the worst if your gear fails. WARNING: be careful with the newer, non-folding Sony model. since it doesn't collapse, the hinges are a huge weak point if youre stuffing your bag. i’ve seen folks crack the headband just trying to squeeze it into a tight carry-on... definitely not worth the stress imo. here’s what i suggest for those long stretches: • honestly, the older folding version is way safer for travel. it's much more compact and the case actually fits in a bag without taking up all the space.
• for sleeping, the older one is kinda better too. it feels more "locked in" when youre leaning against a travel pillow.
• make sure to disable the "automatic ambient sound" stuff. it can get confused by the engine hum and jump between modes, which is super distracting when you're trying to zonk out. but yeah, definitely lean toward the folding one for peace of mind. good luck!!

But yeah, I totally agree with the point about comfort being the real deal-breaker. Like, what’s the point of silence if your ears are throbbing after two hours? Honestly, before you drop huge money on the latest and greatest, have you considered just doing a bit of DIY on an older pair? I’m pretty new to this, but I realized you don’t always need a pro service or a brand-new set when things start wearing out. So basically, here’s what I’ve been looking into for my travel gear:
* Getting third-party cooling gel pads to swap in yourself
* Watching some quick videos on how to deep clean the internal mics
* Just refreshing the headband with a cheap wrap instead of buying new I’m still a bit of a beginner at fixing stuff, but it’s SO satisfying to make a pair feel like new again without spending a fortune. Anyway, do you think it's worth it to try and maintain them yourself or is it better to just buy whatever the newest Sony is? But yeah, you really can't go wrong with Sony for travel regardless!

Exactly what I was thinking

Yeah, that's so true about specs on paper not always being the reality in the air. Tbh, I've noticed that for ANC, it's not just about the raw numbers, you know? Like, some headphones might have amazing specs for cancelling low-frequency hums, which is perfect for plane engines, but then they're kinda weak on higher-pitched stuff like baby cries or cabin chatter. And vice-versa. So it's not just "better ANC" it's *what kind* of noise it cancels best. For travel, you really need that broad spectrum cancellation, especially for the constant drone. That’s where the bigger brands usually shine, they've done their homework on typical travel noise profiles. So if you're going for something focused on planes, you probably want to lean towards offerings from the companies known for strong overall noise isolation, even if it's not their absolute newest model, sometimes an older generation from a top brand is just perfectly tuned for that environment.

TIL! Thanks for sharing

Following this thread

Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.