Edifier ES850NB

The Edifier ES850NB over-ear headphones serve up an incredible 92-hour battery life, impressive sound, and solid noise cancellation for around $150. However, a loose fit for smaller heads and inconsistent ANC modes keep them from being a slam-dunk recommendation. If you can overlook the build and fit quirks, they're a budget battery champion.

If you've been hunting for 'best budget noise cancelling headphones with long battery life,' the Edifier ES850NB is probably popping up everywhere, and for good reason. These over-ear cans pack a staggering 92 hours of playback (ANC off) into a lightweight 260g frame, and they support Hi-Res Audio over LDAC at a price that hovers around $140 to $160, though price listings across vendors look a little glitchy with one showing $42,081 (obviously ignore that). With hybrid ANC claiming up to -45dB of noise reduction, Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, and a foldable design, on paper they out-spec cans twice the price.

Dig into the details and you'll find 40mm titanium-coated drivers, a claimed frequency response up to 40kHz, and three sound effect modes (Music, Game, Spatial). The feature list is deep: a 3.5mm wired option, fast charging that gives you 11.5 hours from a 15-minute top-up, and AI noise cancellation for calls. It's the kind of spec sheet that makes you wonder if there's a catch.

Well, there is. While the benchmarks are top-tier in categories like battery (98th percentile in our database) and sound quality (94th percentile), user sentiment sits at a disappointing 37th percentile. A lot of owners love the noise cancellation and comfort for long sessions, but a recurring chorus of complaints about loose fit on smaller heads, inconsistent ANC modes, and a build that feels a bit flimsy drags down the real-world experience. So, is this a hidden gem or a cautionary tale? Let's get into it.

On our performance ladder, the Edifier ES850NB is a study in extremes. The battery is an absolute monster—98th percentile means it outlasts nearly every over-ear headphone we've tracked, including flagships like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra. You can easily go a week of heavy use without stressing about a charge, and the quick-charge feature is genuinely helpful. Sound quality lands at the 94th percentile; the 40mm drivers deliver crisp detail, an open soundstage, and support for LDAC lets hi-res tracks shine. However, bass response is more neutral than thumpy, so if you're after skull-rattling low end, these won't satisfy.

Noise cancellation scores at the 93rd percentile, and in ideal conditions it's impressive, silencing airplane hums and office chatter effectively. But here's the kicker: many users, and our testing confirms, that ANC consistency varies across modes. Wind reduction works okay, but sometimes the transition between high and medium ANC introduces odd pressure or a faint hiss. Touch controls are responsive but prone to picking up noise when you adjust the earcups—something that gets annoying fast. Connectivity is solid with Bluetooth 5.4 and multipoint (92nd percentile), but call quality is a weak spot; the mic is mediocre (67th percentile) and AI noise cancellation for calls struggles in noisy environments.

Price is where things get confusing. The vendor spread shows a ludicrous range from $140 to over $42,000, but the real street price (on Amazon and elsewhere) sits around $140 to $160. At that level, the Edifier ES850NB pack a feature set that rivals headphones costing twice as much. For sheer battery life, they're virtually unchallenged. If you can live with the fit quirks and don't need stellar call quality, you're getting 90% of the premium ANC experience for cheap. Just keep an eye on the listing—prices seem to fluctuate, and the best deal we've seen is on Amazon around that $140 mark.

Stacked against the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Edifier wins on battery by a landslide (92h vs. ~30h) and comes surprisingly close on sound, but Sony's ANC is more polished and consistent, and their mics are leagues better for calls. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 offers richer, more dynamic sound and a more premium build, but again can't touch the Edifier's battery endurance. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra has more refined ANC and spatial audio tricks, yet you'll pay north of $350. If you're after a budget champ, the ES850NB holds its own, but the Technics EAH-A800 present a strong middle ground with better comfort and ANC stability, though at a higher price. For most people, the Edifier's main hurdle is fit—if you don't have a larger head, you'll need to step up to something like the Sony or Sennheiser for a secure, comfortable seal.

If you have a smaller head or need a snug, secure fit for workouts or commuting, look elsewhere—the ES850NB is notorious for sliding around. Also skip if call quality matters: the mic performance is mediocre and you'll sound tinny to colleagues. Bass lovers will find the low-end lacking; consider the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 or even the Soundcore Space One for more thump. And if seamless, set-and-forget ANC is critical, Sony or Bose are worth the extra cash.

Should you buy the Edifier ES850NB? If you need marathon battery life, solid noise cancellation, and hi-res wireless audio on a tight budget—and your head is on the larger side—these are a killer deal. They're perfect for long-haul travel, open offices, or just forgetting to charge for a week. The touch-to-chat feature and quick charging are nice bonuses.

But if you have a smaller head, or you need dead-reliable ANC that doesn't fluctuate between modes, or you rely on headphones for frequent calls, you'll probably end up frustrated. The same goes for bassheads or anyone who can't stand hearing every finger tap amplified through the earcups. At this price, the Edifier punches above its weight in a few key areas but leaves some real-world annoyances on the table.