I am a big music listener when I travel and ever since Apple removed the headphone jack from their phones, and other companies followed suit, I have always dreaded the fact that there aren't many great options out there when it comes to wireless headphones and earbuds designed for travel.
I was always on the lookout for wireless headphones and earbuds that have a long enough battery life to last me a long flight or bus ride, were comfortable enough to wear for long hours on end, and had good enough sound quality for me to enjoy, and I found none until recent years.
Since 2016, wireless technology has improved significantly, and with high competition from brands, wireless earbuds and headphones have become more and more viable for travel. So much so, that I decided to switch entirely to wireless earbuds for travel and haven't looked back since.
Within this post, I will take you through some of the best travel wireless headphones and earbuds, explaining why they are great, and helping you decide which one is the right headphone/earbud to get for travel.
Without further ado, let's take a look at all the best wireless headphones/earbuds you can buy right now:
Quick Summary: The best travel headphones and earbuds to buy
| Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
🏅 Editor's Choice
Best All-Around
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
|
Features
|
Check PriceLearn More |
|
Best Earbuds Money Can Buy
Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds
|
Features
|
Check PriceLearn More |
|
Best Headphones Money Can Buy
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
|
Features
|
Check PriceLearn More |
|
Best Value
Sony C500 Earbuds
|
Features
|
Check PriceLearn More |
|
Best Design
OnePlus Buds Pro
|
Features
|
Check PriceLearn More |
|
Most Affordable
Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2
|
Features
|
Check PriceLearn More |
|
Best for iPhones
Apple Airpods (Third-Gen)
|
Features
|
Check PriceLearn More |
What to Look for in Travel Headphones?
Long Battery Life
One of the greatest complaints I have with wireless earbuds and headphones is their poor battery life. When I travel, I often find myself in situations where I have a lot of downtime, whether it be waiting for flights, being on long-haul planes, or going on long bus rides.
It was one of the main reasons why it took me this long to switch to wireless earbuds for my travel. Fortunately, the battery life on these devices has improved dramatically in recent years, and there are now many headphones and earbuds out there that can last an entire long-haul flight plus some more.
For travel wireless earbuds and headphones, you are going to have to look for earbuds that last as long as possible so you do not have to keep charging them while you are traveling. So, be sure to look for the ones that have a playback battery life you can accept.
Good Noise Cancellation
While traveling, you are going to want to get earphones/headphones that have a good enough noise cancellation feature, whether it be active or passive, to help filter out surrounding background noises. These noises can be extremely loud, especially when you find yourself on a plane or a local bus in South America that often blasts Reggaeton music the entire trip.
Keep in mind that a headphone/earphone with active noise cancellation (ANC) feature will often drain the battery faster, and you are going to have to find the best balance between having a long battery life or having good noise cancellation.
There is also a passive noise cancellation earphone/headphone that fits in your ear in a way that passively blocks background noises. It may not be as good as ANC, but it can be a good compromise for longer battery life.
Comfort
Last but not least, since you will often find yourself wearing wireless earbuds/headphones for a long period of time during your many downtimes, you are going to have to find a device that fits your ear best and allows you to wear them comfortably for long hours on end.
Some wireless earbuds/headphones are better at adapting to different ear shapes than others, so be sure to find one that can fit your ears comfortably and without falling off when on the move.
With the three criteria we have established above, here are the seven best travel wireless earbuds/headphones that strike the perfect balance between battery life, sound quality, and comfortability:
7 Best Travel Wireless Headphones & Earbuds to Buy
1. Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is the one that I found to strike the perfect balance between battery life, noise cancellation, and comfort without being too expensive.
Even though there are newer Samsung earbuds out there, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus still holds the position as the king of battery life with an 11-hour-long playback time, one of the longest battery lives on this list.
The earbud case also contains one extra charge, which will give you about 20 hours in total. However, with such a long playback battery life already, I rarely ever have to charge the earbud during the day. I often use it extensively every day when I travel, switching between listening to music on my phone and laptop.
I often go on multi-day hikes wearing one Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus earbud without using the case, and it lasts me more than 22 hours of playback time on a single charge – 11 hours per one earbud as I switch between them.
With the case, I can extend it to more than 44 hours without having to charge the case. This reduces the inconvenience of having to charge another device every day when I travel, which is something I dreaded with other wireless earbuds.
Although the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus don't come with ANC (active noise cancellation), their in-ear design fits comfortably well with my ears and is proven to be enough to block out all the background noises when I fit them completely.
It is also not overly expensive, with the retail price at around 150 USD. It comes with excellent touch control through a dedicated app, works great on both Android and iPhones, and the sound quality is great enough for me. If you are looking for the best all-around travel wireless earbuds, this is the one to get.
2. Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds
If money is no object and you are looking for the very best earbuds that are compact and lightweight, have the best noise cancellation in the industry, and offer the best sound quality from such a small device, the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are the best wireless earbuds money can buy right now.
With the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds, you get top-of-the-class noise cancellation that turns a noisy bus into a quiet and peaceful place, something no other earbuds can do.
Not to mention, its excellent battery life, with over 8 hours of continuous playback even with ANC turned on. With ANC off, you can go for more than 12 hours, making these the longest-lasting earbuds on this list. You can charge the earbuds twice with the case, totaling 24 hours of playback with ANC and 36 hours without ANC.
With all of these top-of-the-class features, you can also expect to pay a top-of-the-class price point to get it with the earbuds going for $278 USD at retail.
Again, if you are looking for the very best earbuds in the industry and you don't mind the price, the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are the best option for you.
3. Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
If you don't mind the bigger size of headphones when you travel and money is no object, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones are the best wireless headphones in the industry at the moment.
It has a whopping 30-hour battery life of continuous playback, and it comes with quick charge technology that allows you to get 5 hours of battery life in only 10 minutes of charging.
The noise cancellation is phenomenal on the Sony WH-1000XM4 with its over-ear design and a dedicated Noise Cancelling Processor that allows it to completely block background noise in real-time.
The sound and voice quality is also the best out of all the options here with Sony's LDAC codec, which allows you to stream significantly higher quality audio wirelessly from your devices.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphone is also the most expensive device on this list, with a price of 348 USD, but you are definitely getting your money's worth with it. As I said, if money is no object and the size of a headphone doesn't bother you, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is the best travel headphone for you.
4. Sony C500 Earbuds
If you like what Sony is doing with their earphone and headphone products but cannot justify paying more than 100 USD for wireless earbuds/headphones, the Sony C500 earbuds offer you great value for money. They come with impressive sound quality, great battery life, and the awesome build quality Sony is known for.
With the Sony C500 earbuds, you will get around 10 hours of continuous playback and an additional 10 hours with a charging case, which is longer than most earbuds at the same price point.
The sound quality is excellent, as you can come to expect with Sony earbuds, and the small and lightweight body does make it quite comfortable to wear for a long period of time.
That said, due to its low price point, Sony has to sacrifice certain features like ANC, auto-pause when removing earbuds, and the voice quality is not as great as Sony's other premium earbuds.
But with the retail price at $99 USD, you can't go wrong with the Sony C500 earbuds if you are looking for something that is under $100 USD. You can check for the discounted price with the link below:
5. OnePlus Buds Pro
Now, for the most underdog earbuds on this list, the OnePlus Buds Pro, is another great option for those who are looking for unique earbuds that have great designs, an extremely lightweight and comfortable form factor, good battery life, basically everything you look for in travel earbuds.
OnePlus Buds Pro have a continuous playback battery life of 5 hours with ANC on, 7 hours without it, and the beautifully-designed charging case holds an additional 28 hours with ANC and 38 hours without ANC – enough for long journeys.
The greatest feature of all is its best-in-class fast charging technology that allows 10 hours of usage in just 10 minutes of charging, making it the fastest charging earbuds on this list.
OnePlus Buds Pro cost about 139 USD, which is on par with other earbuds on this list. So, if you are looking for unique earbuds that, I guarantee you, not many have, and that come with all the expected features like noise cancellation, long battery life, and a great fit, the OnePlus Buds Pro are a good option for you.
6. Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2
If you are looking for something that is even cheaper than 99 USD but still has great battery life, sound quality, and comfort, the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 is the underdog earbud you should definitely consider.
It may not be the best at most features, especially when compared with other more expensive devices on this list, but it does well at most at a price of a little under 50 USD.
The Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 delivers over 7 hours of battery life with continuous playback, which is average. However, its charging case holds a whopping 12.5 additional charges, totaling 100 hours of playback on a single charge.
That is an impressive number of charges you can use before you have to charge the case. You can travel in a remote area for days with these earbuds, and you might not even have to charge the case when you are done.
When it comes to the price-to-performance ratio, with the price being less than 50 USD, you can't get a better deal than the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2. Hit the link below to see the recent price:
7. Apple Airpods (Third-Gen)
Now, if you are an iPhone user and you are looking for earbuds that work seamlessly with your device and come with deep integration and functions that you can't find with devices from other manufacturers, the Apple AirPods (third-generation) are still the best option for you.
When it comes to ease of use and great integration with the Apple ecosystem, the Apple AirPods still lead the way with their exclusive and super convenient features like the auto-pairing-to-nearby-iPhones feature, audio sharing, seamless device switching, and the ability to use the Find My feature to locate missing earbuds.
The Apple Airpods also excel at delivering great sound quality and a pretty good battery life, with 6 hours of continuous playback and around 30 hours in total using the charging case. It is priced at around 170 USD. Plus, the design of the third-generation Apple Airpods is less clunky and as unique as it comes.
If you are an iPhone user and find the exclusive features intriguing, the Apple Airpods (third-gen) might be a good option for you. However, if you are using an Android phone, I don't think the price is worth it, as there are several other options available that come with better battery life, sound quality, and a more affordable price point.
Further Reading for Resources
Looking for more articles to help you with your travel, whether it be camera gear or clothing? Here is a collection of articles you might like:
- Ever wondered what a full-time travel blogger like myself carries in my camera bag? Check out: What's In My Camera Bag in 2025?
- For the best hybrid travel camera to buy, the Sony a7R V with its 61-megapixel sensor and video capabilities is hard to beat. Check out my review here: A Traveler's Review: The Sony a7R V Camera
- If you are looking for a secondary camera to vlog or help you with time-consuming processes like timelapse, you might want to check this out: A Traveler's Review: DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
- Looking for the very best travel full-frame camera to buy for your next trip? How about the Sony a7C, the smallest full-frame camera with an EVF in the world! Check out my review: A Traveler's Review: The Sony a7C Camera
- For APS-C camera owners out there, check out: What's In My Camera Bag? - A Gear Guide to the Sony APS-C Cameras.
- Want to start a YouTube channel and looking to buy new cameras for travel vlogging? Check out: 8 Best Cameras For Travel Vlogging to Buy.
- Looking to buy a new travel camera but not sure where to start? Check out our camera guide on 10 Best Travel Cameras to Buy.
- Bought a new camera and not sure what camera accessories to buy? Check out: 14 BEST Sony Camera Accessories You Should Buy.
- Looking for a good-looking and functional camera strap to buy? You are going to love the Langly Tactical, Premium Leather, and Paracord camera straps. Check out my review here: A Traveler's Review: Langly Camera Straps.
- Finding a great camera bag you can travel with is not as easy as it sounds. If you are looking for one, here are the 10 Best Camera Bags for Travel, Backpacking, and Hiking You Should Buy.
- Now, if you are looking for a camera sling/shoulder bag instead of a full-fledged camera backpack to travel with, here are the 11 Best Camera Sling/Shoulder Bags For Travel.
- Looking for the most versatile camera sling bag? Check out: A Traveler's Review: WANDRD Roam (Rogue) Sling.
- For a smaller setup, the Nomatic McKinnon Sling is a great camera bag to check out. Here is A Traveler's Review: Nomatic McKinnon Camera Sling 8L.
- If you are looking for gifts to buy for your photographer loved ones, check out: 12 Cool Gifts To Buy For Travel Photographers.
- Traveling light with camera gear is all about balancing between what you need and what you want. Here are the 8 Best Tips For Traveling Light With Camera Gear.
- After years of research, I finally found the most beautiful camera backpack of all! Check this out: A Traveler's Review: Langly Alpha Globetrotter Camera Backpack.
- Are you looking for the best travel camera for your next trip? Why not consider the Sony a6500? Here's why the Sony a6500 is the best travel camera.
- If you want to carry just one lens when you travel, here is why the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 is the best travel lens to get for your Sony a6600 or a6500.
- This is the one lens I never knew I needed, but now that I have it, I can't travel without it! A Traveler's Review: The Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Lens.
- An ultra-wide lens is perfect for travel, and there is no better lens than the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens. Here is why: Traveler's Review: Sony 10-18mm F4 lens.
- Full-frame or APS-C Cameras? Here’s my take on which camera format to pick for travel: 5 Reasons Why I'm Sticking With a Sony APS-C Camera
- Wondering which Sony Mirrorless camera is right for you? The Best Sony Travel Cameras to Buy in 2025.
- Just bought a new Sony mirrorless camera? Check out: 15 Tips & Tricks for Your New Sony a7C, a7III, and More.
- Wondering which lenses to buy for your Sony cameras? Check out The Best Travel Lenses For Sony a7III, a7C, a7RIV, and More.
- Looking for a compact and lightweight travel telephoto lens for wildlife and landscape? You are going to love this lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens.
- If you are looking for a review of the first Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens and want to see if it is worth buying now, check out: A Traveler's Review of the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens.
- The king of travel lenses has arrived. The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is, hands down, the best travel all-purpose zoom lens I have ever owned. Here's why: A Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens.
- Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS lens is hands down the best telephoto lens to get for your Sony cameras, but it comes with an extremely high price tag. Here is a complete traveler's review of the lens: A Traveler's Review: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS Lens.
- Looking for a lightweight and affordable landscape/architecture travel lens that is also extremely capable? Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens.
- Looking for the best travel portrait lens to buy for your next trip? You can't beat the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens.
- Picking a camera body is one thing. Picking the lenses is a whole different game. Here is the ultimate guide to the best travel lenses for the Sony a6500.
- Looking for the best street and travel photography lens? Here is why Sigma 56mm F1.4 is The Best Travel Photography Lens For Sony APS-C.
- GoPro is good and all, but did you know that there are many other GoPro alternatives that are better and cheaper? Here are the 8 Best GoPro Alternatives You Should Buy in 2025.
- Looking for a great drone to travel with? Why is the DJI Mavic Mini the Best Drone For Travelers?
- The best travel drone just got even better. Here is A Traveler's Review of The DJI Mini 2, and why it is the best travel drone to buy.
- Already have a Mavic Mini or looking to buy one? Here are 25 Tips and Tricks for New DJI Mavic Mini Owners.
- For more travel drone options, make sure to check out the 8 Best Drones For Travel To Buy In 2025.
- You can't travel without a backpack, and if you're looking for one, check out my guide on the best Herschel Supply backpacks for travelers.
- If you like hiking and going on adventures for weeks on end, you are going to need a bigger backpack. Here is Why the Osprey Atmos AG is the Best Hiking Backpack to Buy.
- If you are into making travel videos, here is my ultimate advanced filmmaking gear guide.
- Planning to go on your first-ever hiking trip? Here is How to Pack for Hiking and Camping.
- Technical hiking gear doesn't have to be ugly. Here is a guide to hiking gear that actually looks good on you.
- If you are a lightweight traveler and are looking for powerful gear to go with your setup, check out the extremely lightweight photography gear guide.
- Looking for gift ideas for your traveler friends or family members? Here are 16 Best Gifts to Buy for Travelers/Backpackers.
- Or, if you are into gadgets, here is a quick guide on 10 tech gadgets you should buy this year.
- Looking for an Airbnb alternative for a better and more authentic stay in a place you are visiting? Here are the 8 Best Airbnb Alternatives to Use.
- Want to know the secrets on how to travel the world cheaply? Check out: 16 Best Tips on How to Travel the World Cheaply.
- If you are a blogger as well and are looking for free travel images to spice up your content, check out the 9 Best Websites to Find Free Travel Images.
- Looking to plan your first backpacking trip around the world? Check out: How To Plan A Backpacking Trip.
- For more resources like this, visit my Resources page.
- Want to learn how I was able to take so many good pictures of myself while I travel solo? Check out: How To Take Great Pictures of Yourself.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.