The Most Comfortable Headphones in 2023

The Most Comfortable Headphones in 2023

Good headphones are essential for any trip, second only to your passport. They block out noise on flights, keep you company while running, and help you focus. However, free headphones on planes can be uncomfortable. Luckily, many comfortable options are available, including Sony’s WH-1000XM4 for noise cancellation. Check out this list for other comfortable options and styles optimized for long-distance calls.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones offer ultimate comfort with a light plastic headband and comfortable earcups. They provide excellent sound quality and noise canceling; the buttons are on the earcups. An extra wire allows you to connect them to in-flight entertainment systems.

Key Features

  • Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
  • Transparency: Yes
  • Battery: 30 hours
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Codec code: SBC, AAC, LDAC
  • Built-in mic and controls: Yes
  • Driver unit: 40mm HD Driver Unit
  • Water resistance: No
  • Weight: 254g

Design:

  • Earcups: super comfortable and soft, stable fit, and foldable design.
  • Headband: solid and adjustable to fit any head size
  • Voice control: use your voice assistant to control features without using your hand, and it’s available for google assistant and Amazon Alexa.
  • Touch Control: automatically turn the volume down to hear other people talking to you, and place your hand over the earcup
  • App: customize your sound preference with the app

Performance:

  • Active Noise Cancellation: HD noise canceling processor QN1 blocks external noise well. Atmospheric pressure optimizing features activate when traveling.
  • Adaptive sound control: an intelligent function that automatically adjusts the ambient Sound for you to listen in a better experience.
  • Microphone: advanced pickup voice and delivers clear voice quality while on phone calls.
  • 360 reality audio: immerse yourself in the best sound quality.
  • Speak to chat: automatically stop the music whenever you speak without taking them off.
  • Auto pause: the proximity sensor and two acceleration sensors in the headphone automatically pause music when you turn them off.

Pros:

  • Multi-devices connectivity
  • Free code to use free four months in Amazon Music
  • Powerful ANC customized

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • No aptX or aptX HD support
  • USB-C port cannot be used for Audio

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of USD 348.00

2. Bose QuietComfort® 45 Most Comfortable Headphones

Bose is known for its comfortable headphones, and the QuietComfort 45 over-ear set is the most comfortable one yet, beating even the newer Bose 700 model. As an owner of the older wired QuietComfort 35 model, I can attest to the pleasure of blocking out the world with noise cancellation while editing. The newer model improves on noise canceling and also offers wireless connectivity.

Key Features

  • Adaptive Noise Cancelling: Yes
  • Transparency: Yes
  • Battery:  22 hours
  • Built-in mic and controls: Yes
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1
  • Codec code: SBC, AAC
  • Drivers: 45 mm
  • Weight: 240g

Design:

  • The ear cups are crafted from luxurious leather plush to ensure comfortable all-day wear.
  • The headband is durable and retains its shape even if accidentally dropped.
  • Touch controls on the earcups enable voice assistant activation and complete music management.
  • Hands-free control is possible by pressing and holding the earcup to activate the voice assistant.

Performance:

  • Iconic quiet is achieved through adaptive noise canceling, allowing you to enjoy listening to your music without distractions. The EQ is also adjustable to customize your listening experience.
  • The transparency feature lets you hear your surroundings through the headphones without removing them.
  • Four microphones isolate and focus on your voice during conversations, ensuring clear communication.
  • Advanced technology produces realistic and clear Sound with a friendly frequency response, enhancing the music listening experience.

Pros:

  • Multi-devices connection
  • Bose music app

Cons:

  • No on-ear detection sensor
  • Lack of bass

Pricing: 

Available at Amazon for only USD 258.88

3. SENNHEISE – Momentum 4 Wireless

Most Comfortable Headphones

These headphones are built to last, with a soft headband and memory foam earpads covered in leather. The set includes a compact case, and the foldable headband ensures secure and durable travel. Sennheiser’s NoiseGard technology eliminates background noise, providing superior sound quality and a peaceful sleeping environment while traveling. Additionally, the microphones enhance your voice and filter out background noise, allowing for confident on-the-go conversations.

Key Features

  • Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
  • Transparency: Yes
  • Battery: 60 hours
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2
  • Codec code: AAC, SBC, aptX
  • Built-in mic and controls: Yes
  • Driver unit: 42 mm
  • Water resistance: No
  • Weight: 292 g

Design:

  • Earcups: extensive and super soft for comfortable wear during extended use
  • Headband: solid and flexible, with stainless steel hinges and sliders
  • Carrying case: provides secure protection for the headphones
  • Touch control: easily control music, calls, and volume without using your phone
  • Bluetooth: solid and stable connection with Bluetooth 5.0
  • Voice control: enable your voice assistant with a press and hold of both volume buttons
  • App: customize sound preferences with the companion app

Performance:

  • Active Noise Cancellation: blocks external Sound for improved focus and sound quality, perfect for long sessions
  • Transparency: lets you stay aware of your surroundings without taking off the headphones
  • Microphone: advanced pickup and delivery of your voice for clear phone calls
  • Sound quality: balanced and perfect Audio for focused listening
  • Battery life: 10 minutes of quick charging offers 1.5 hours of playback
  • Intelligent detection: auto-pauses music when headphones are taken off and resumes when put back on

Pros:

  • Comfortable for long hours
  • Premium design
  • Convenience controls
  • Long battery life

Cons:

  • No support for aptX codec
  • No multiple-device connection support

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of USD 294.00

4. Soundcore Life Q30 Most Comfortable Headphones

Most Comfortable Headphones

Anker’s Q30 over-ear headphones provide exceptional noise cancellation at an affordable price, blocking out 95% of low-frequency ambient Sound. They come in black, blue, and pink and include a sturdy carrying case similar to high-end Bose headphones. The Anker app’s Sleep Mode feature offers 11 ambient sounds to help you sleep, and with a battery life of up to 40 hours and a Bluetooth range of up to 65 feet, they’re perfect for long flights. The included cable also allows you to connect to in-flight entertainment systems.

Key Features

  • Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
  • Transparency: Yes
  • Battery: 40 hours
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Codec code: AAC, SBC
  • Built-in mic and controls: Yes
  • Driver unit: 40mm dynamic
  • Water resistance: Yes (IPX7 Waterproof)
  • Weight: 265 g

Design:

  • Earcups:  made from memory foam, soft and comfortable to wear in long hours
  • Headband: a lightweight frame, solid and secure without pressure on your head
  • Voice control: enable your voice assistance phone’s default and control features only using voice
  • Touch Control: control music playlist, skip/pause or even pick up the call by using the right earcup
  • Set up: fast pairing and easy to connect to Android phone
  • Soundcore App: choose your preferred Mode, and customize your white noise
  • Muli-Point connection: connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, switching devices quickly.
  • Cases: convenience and keeping headphones secure and protected against daily wear

Performance:

  • Active Noise Cancellation: isolates outside noise well, and it works best depending on the situation with three modes:
    • Transport Mode: Cancel up to 95% of outside noise, and enjoy listening to music while traveling
    • Outdoor Mode: block all the traffic and city noise while walking on the street, just you and music.
    • Indoor Mode: This Mode helps you focus on the playlist and block all the background noise surrounding you.
  • Transparency: pressing on the earcup to activate, communicating with people without taking them off
  • Microphone: pick up your voice clearly and deliver through the phone calls
  • Sound quality: Hi-Res audio offers excellent good quality. Listen to every detail of the music because of the 40mm dynamic

Pros:

  • Great noise cancellation
  • long battery life
  • Multiple sound modes
  • Affordable
  • Trendy color

Cons:

  • Average microphone performance
  • Connectivity issues

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of USD 85.99

5. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

Most Comfortable Headphones

I personally love Apple’s AirPods Pro and never leave home without them. They are incredibly lightweight and comfortable, and I even wore them on a nine-hour flight from Italy without any discomfort (I did need to recharge them halfway through, though). The active noise cancellation sets them apart from the AirPods 3, making them perfect for tuning out distractions, like chatty people in cafes.

Key Features

  • Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
  • Battery:  6 hours
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3
  • Transparency: Yes
  • Water resistance: IPX4
  • Spatial Audio: Yes
  • Built-in microphone: Yes

Design

  • Eartips: super comfortable and soft ear tips that are made from silicone.
  • Touch Control: hold and switch from noise cancelling to transparency mode, control playlist, adjust volume, etc.
  • Connectivity: Easy to connect with Apple devices, including sharing music.
  • Accessibility: Always on ‘Siri,’ with a conversation boost feature detecting human voice and communicating without taking off.
  • Notification: Siri will alert your essential message through headphones
  • Water Resistance: AirPods Pro and MagSafe Case are IPX4, sweat, and waterproof.

Performance

  • Noise Cancellation: Twice better performance, blocks all the unwanted Sound, which helps improve your sleep quality.
  • Noise Cancellation Microphone: detected human voices and counters before reaching your ear.
  • Transparency: the power of H2 reduces loud noise like sirens, and you can still be aware of the world around you.
  • Audio: listen to the best audio sound quality but still be able to hear low frequencies sound if you want to.
  • Spatial Audio: tracking the device with all surrounding you
  • Adaptive EQ: able to listen to every frequency

Pros:

  • Free Apple Music for six months
  • Personalized Spatial Audio
  • Water-resistant
  • Available in Active noise cancelling and Adaptive transparency
  • Modern and luxury design

Cons:

  • Focused on IOS
  • Limited features on Android
  • Expensive

Pricing: 

Buy now at Amazon for only USD 228.99.

6. Sony WF-1000XM4 Most Comfortable Headphones

Most Comfortable Headphones

For those who enjoy dozing off to music, podcasts, or meditations, Sony’s earbuds provide a comfortable and snug fit, with top-notch noise-canceling technology to block out surrounding sounds. While they may not completely drown out crying babies, they offer better noise-cancellation than other earbuds. With a longer battery life than the AirPods Pro and a high-quality microphone, they’re also perfect for virtual meetings.

Key Features

  • Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
  • Battery:  8 hours
  • Transparency: Yes
  • Water resistance: Yes
  • Built-in microphone: Yes
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2
  • Audio codecs supported: SBC, AAC, LDAC

Design

  • Eartips: made of high-quality foam material, soft and elastic, that is also part of you’re noise cancelling too
  • Earbuds: small, fit in the ear, provide extreme comfort, especially in the helmet, and won’t pressure your ear
  • Touch Control: control music playlist via the touch control on the earbuds
  • Connectivity: easy to pair with any device, even a PC
  • Instant pause/play: auto-pause music when you take off one side
  • Sustainability: plastic-free in packaging, 99% is made of paper
  • Water Resistance: IPX42 handles sweat, dust, and water well
  • Speak to chat: auto reduce volume when you start the conversation

Performance

  • Noise Cancellation: the new Integrated Processor V1 cancels unwanted noise well and provides an immersive experience for you
  • Microphone: Dual noise sensor microphones pick up your voice without distracting phone calls
  • Transparency: able to hear the world around you even you’re on the music
  • Sound quality: supported by high-resolution Audio with  6mm drivers that produce excellent sound quality, rich and balanced well
  • Spatial Audio: music surrounding you and stable sound quality even though you move your head

Pros:

  • Best performance in noise cancelling feature
  • 360-degree and high-res audio support
  • Free Amazon Music
  • extremely comfortable

Cons:

  • No Bluetooth® Multipoint connection,

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of  USD 198.00

Summary

Our top priority is comfort, stability, a pleasing design, and adjustability to fit individual preferences. While excellent sound quality is desirable, comfort is our key factor.

Fortunately, some excellent manufacturers prioritize comfort in their products. However, some companies seem to prioritize adding more technology over ensuring comfort.

We aim to find headphones that provide a comfortable and unique listening experience, allowing us to relax and enjoy our music.