Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QC45 for airplane noise cancelling review

This is for the road warrior who flies more than they sleep. You want silence on a 787, not just a spec sheet. I took both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QC45 on six flights over three weeks — short hops, red-eyes, and a brutal 11-hour haul to Tokyo. Here is what actually happens at 35,000 feet.

Buyer’s Guide: What Actually Matters on a Plane

Don’t buy headphones based on marketing buzzwords. Here’s the short list of what counts when the engines spool up.

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) Depth

Planes produce a constant low-frequency drone — think 100Hz to 400Hz. The best ANC targets that range specifically. Test results from audio forums like RTINGS show the Sony XM5 cuts roughly 10-15% more low-frequency noise than the QC45. That sounds small, but on hour six, that difference is the line between fatigue and peace.

Comfort and Clamp Force

Heavier headphones cause neck strain. Tighter clamps give you a headache by hour three. The Bose QC45 weighs 240 grams. The Sony XM5 weighs 250 grams. Both are light, but the Bose has a lower clamp force, which means less pressure on your glasses frames. If you wear sunglasses or prescription specs, this is a tiebreaker.

Battery Life and Charging Speed

You don’t want to hunt for an outlet in a terminal. The Sony XM5 gets 30 hours with ANC on. The Bose QC45 gets 24 hours. Both have quick-charge features: 3 minutes of charging gives you 3 hours on the Sony, and 2.5 hours on the Bose. For a trans-Pacific flight, the Sony wins by a comfortable margin.

Call Quality in Noisy Cabins

If you take work calls from the sky, this matters. The Sony XM5 has 8 microphones and a better beamforming algorithm. In my test, the person on the other end heard me clearly over the cabin hum. The Bose QC45 sounds hollow and distant when the plane is loud. This is a clear win for Sony.

Multipoint and Connectivity

Both support multipoint — connecting to your laptop and phone at the same time. The Sony XM5 is slightly more reliable when switching between a MacBook and an iPhone. The Bose QC45 occasionally drops the connection on the older Bluetooth 5.1 chip. Neither has an issue with latency for video.

The Contenders: Tested and Ranked

1. Sony WH-1000XM5 — The Long-Haul Champion

The XM5 is the best ANC headphone you can buy for a plane. Period. The noise cancelling is not just marketing fluff. In my test, the cabin noise dropped to a faint whisper. I could hear my own breathing. The engine drone, the air conditioning hiss, even the crying baby two rows back — all muted to a level where a podcast at 20% volume was perfectly clear.

The design changed from the XM4. You get a slimmer, less foldable hinge. That means it doesn’t fold flat into a bag as neatly. The headband is wrapped in a soft synthetic leather, and the ear cups are plush. I wore them for the full 11-hour Tokyo flight without any hotspot pain on my ears.

Battery life is class-leading at 30 hours. The USB-C charging is fast. The touch controls on the right ear cup are intuitive — swipe to skip, tap to pause. The only negative is the price. At $348, it’s $70 more than the Bose. And there is no IP rating, so sweat and rain are a risk if you use them on the way to the gate.

Verdict: Buy this if you fly long-haul more than twice a month and want the quietest cabin experience money can buy.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45 — The Comfort King

Bose wrote the book on ANC. The QC45 is the refined version of the legendary QC35 II. The noise cancelling is still excellent — it kills the mid-frequency noise like chatter and clatter very well. But against the constant low-frequency jet engine roar, it’s a step behind the Sony. On the same flight, I had to turn the volume up about 15% higher on the Bose to match the Sony’s perceived quietness.

Where the Bose wins is comfort. At 240 grams, it’s lighter, and the clamp force is noticeably gentler. I forgot I was wearing them during a 4-hour layover. The ear cups are deeper, so if you have larger ears, this is the safer pick. It also folds flat, making it much easier to slide into a backpack side pocket.

The downsides: 24-hour battery life is fine but not great. The plastic build feels cheaper than the Sony. And the microphone quality is dated. On a windy boarding bridge, the person on the call said I sounded like I was in a tunnel.

Verdict: Buy this if you prioritize all-day comfort, wear glasses, or pack light and need foldable cans.

3. Sony WH-1000XM4 — The Budget Smart Pick

The older XM4 is still on sale for around $228, and it’s a steal. The ANC is about 90% as good as the XM5. It collapses into a more compact shape than the XM5, making it better for travel. The battery life is the same 30 hours. The only real downgrades are the older Bluetooth 5.0 chip and slightly bulkier ear cups.

If you’re on a budget but refuse to suffer with bad noise cancelling, this is the one to get. It’s the same ANC performance as the Bose QC45 for less money.

Verdict: The value king. Get this if the XM5 is over budget.

4. Bose QuietComfort Ultra — The Premium Alternative

If you want Bose but need the latest tech, the QC Ultra is the upgraded QC45. It adds spatial audio and a better ANC chip. The ANC is closer to the Sony XM5 now, but not quite there. The comfort is still class-leading. The biggest issue is the price — $429 is a lot to pay for a marginal upgrade over the QC45.

Verdict: Only buy this if you want Bose’s best and don’t care about the price premium.

Comparison Table

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for sleeping on a plane?

The Bose QC45. It’s lighter and has less clamp force, so you can sleep with your head against a window without pressure pain. The Sony’s ANC is quieter, but the physical comfort of the Bose wins for sleeping.

Can I use these with the in-flight entertainment system?

Yes, but you need a Bluetooth transmitter dongle like the AirFly. Both the Sony and Bose support wired mode via a 3.5mm cable, but the ANC doesn’t work in wired mode on the Bose QC45 unless the battery is on. The Sony XM5 works in wired mode with ANC on.

Do these leak sound?

Neither leaks much at moderate volumes. At 80% volume, someone sitting next to you on a plane won’t hear your music over the cabin noise. On a quiet train, the Sony leaks slightly less than the Bose.

Bottom Line

If you fly long-haul and want the quietest cabin experience, buy the Sony WH-1000XM5. The ANC is the best in the industry, the battery lasts a full Tokyo-to-New York flight with power to spare, and the call quality is usable. If you’re on a budget, the Sony WH-1000XM4 gives you 90% of that performance for $120 less. Only pick the Bose QC45 if your head is sensitive to clamp pressure or you absolutely need headphones that fold flat. For everyone else, the Sony XM5 is the clear winner at 35,000 feet.

#1

Best Overall

Sony WH-1000XM5 ($10)

★★★★★ 5/5

Pros: Best-in-class ANC, 30hr battery, excellent mics

Cons: Pricey, doesn't fold flat, no IP rating

💰 $298-$348🎯 Long-haul flyers

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#2

Runner Up

Bose QC45 ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: Featherlight, low clamp force, folds flat

Cons: Weaker low-freq ANC, poor call mics

💰 $249-$279🎯 Comfort-sensitive users

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#3

Also Great

Sony WH-1000XM4 ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: 90% of XM5 ANC, folds flat, 30hr battery

Cons: Older Bluetooth, slightly bulkier

💰 $208-$248🎯 Budget travelers

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#4

Also Great

Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: Better ANC than QC45, top comfort

Cons: Expensive, marginal upgrade over QC45

💰 $379-$429🎯 Bose brand loyalists

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