If you want longer stated battery life and flexible one-earbud use, choose JLab Go Air Pop+; if you need active noise cancellation for airplane listening, choose Sudio N3. For airplane travel, I’d make the decision around noise: the Sudio’s ANC targets background sound, while the JLab offers more stated total playtime and lets you keep one earbud free.
Neither is an open-ear design, so neither is my pick for someone specifically seeking the best open ear earbuds for airplane use. For an in-ear option, though, these two serve different priorities.
• JLab Go Air Pop+: Its strongest point is 35+ hours of total stated playtime and the ability to use either earbud independently. The trade-off is that it has no noise control, so it does not offer ANC for a noisy cabin.
• Sudio N3: Its main advantage is active noise cancellation, paired with silicone tips in four sizes. Its trade-off is 30 hours of stated playtime, less than JLab’s 35+ hours.
• Choose JLab if you value longer stated battery life, app-based EQ options, or taking calls with one earbud while keeping the other ear free.
• Choose Sudio if reducing background noise is your priority, especially for flights, and you want multipoint connection for multiple devices.
The JLab Go Air Pop+ makes the stronger case for endurance and everyday flexibility. JLab lists 9+ hours of playtime per earbud and 26+ additional hours from the USB-C charging case, for 35+ hours total. That’s a useful combination for long stretches away from an outlet, whether you’re moving between work, commuting, and errands or taking a trip with several listening sessions.
Its EQ3 gives you three sound profiles: Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced. You can also adjust EQ settings and manage touch controls through the JLab app. Bluetooth 5.3 is listed, with compatibility described for iOS, Android, and PC. Dual Connect lets you use either bud on its own, and each earbud has a MEMS microphone and built-in voice assistant access. Those details make the JLab the more flexible pick if calls and one-ear listening are part of your routine.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The Sudio N3 is the more focused choice for listening in noisy surroundings. Its stated feature set includes active noise cancellation and an in-ear design with silicone tips in four sizes. For airplane use, that makes it the more relevant option of these two if you want noise reduction while listening. ANC is not the same as an open-ear design, however: the Sudio is still an in-ear earbud, so it is not the best open ear earbuds for airplane option for someone who wants to hear their surroundings naturally.
Sudio lists 30 hours of playtime and multipoint connection, which can help if you move between multiple devices and would rather not repeatedly connect and disconnect. The product information also lists Bluetooth 5.4, touch controls, and a wireless charging case. Its stated water protection is described as sweat and splashproof, and Sudio says the earbuds use 20% recycled plastics. Those are useful details for buyers who want one pair for daily listening as well as travel.
The main trade-off is the shorter stated total playtime compared with the JLab’s 35+ hours. Sudio’s four silicone-tip sizes give you more listed fit options than JLab’s three, but comfort still depends on how the tips fit your ears. I’d choose the N3 if ANC is the deciding feature, not simply because a larger range of tip sizes guarantees a comfortable fit. For shoppers searching for the best comfortable earbuds for airplane, a range of tip sizes is a helpful starting point, but it cannot establish which pair will feel best for an individual.
• Best for airplane listening with ANC → Sudio N3. It is the only one of these two with active noise cancellation listed.
• Best for longer stated total playtime → JLab Go Air Pop+. JLab lists 35+ hours total, compared with Sudio’s 30 hours.
• Best for using one earbud at a time → JLab Go Air Pop+. Dual Connect supports independent use of either bud.
• Best for switching between multiple devices → Sudio N3. Its multipoint connection is designed for connecting with multiple devices.
• Best for changing your sound profile → JLab Go Air Pop+. The three EQ3 options are Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced, with further adjustment through the JLab app.
• Best for more listed silicone-tip sizes → Sudio N3. It comes with four sizes; JLab lists three gel-tip sizes.
• Best for sweat and light rain resistance → JLab Go Air Pop+, with its stated IPX4 rating. Sudio is described as sweat and splashproof, but no IP rating is provided.
• Best for a one-earbud call routine → JLab Go Air Pop+. Each bud has a MEMS microphone, and the independent-use feature is a clear fit for keeping one ear free.
I’d choose the Sudio N3 for airplane listening because ANC gives it the feature that matters most to me in a noisy cabin. Its 30-hour stated playtime and multipoint connection make it a capable travel and everyday option, though the JLab lasts longer on its stated total-playtime figure.
If I wanted more battery life, app-based EQ, or easy one-earbud use, I’d buy the JLab instead. But for my airplane recommendation, I’d take the Sudio N3: noise cancellation outweighs the JLab’s extra stated playtime for this particular use.
The Sudio N3 is the clearer fit if you want active noise cancellation, which is listed as a feature. The JLab has no noise control listed, although it offers longer stated total playtime.
Yes. JLab lists built-in voice assistant access, with Siri and Google noted in its product information. It also has a microphone in each earbud and supports using either bud independently.
JLab lists 35+ hours total: 9+ hours per earbud and 26+ additional hours from the case. Sudio lists 30 hours of playtime, so JLab has the longer stated total.
No. The Sudio N3 is described as an in-ear earbud with silicone tips and active noise cancellation. If you’re specifically looking for an open-ear design, neither product matches that description.
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