November 24, 2025
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Best Budget Noise-Cancelling Headphones 2025: Silence Without the Spend
Noise-cancelling headphones were once strictly premium territory. Not anymore. Today's sub-£100 options deliver genuinely impressive ANC, solid sound, and battery life that puts some flagship models to shame. Whether you're battling a noisy commute or just need to focus at your desk, here's what to look for and our top picks.
What Actually Matters at This Price
The noise cancelling on the best budget options is surprisingly strong, often the best tested under £100. SoundGuys Modern affordable ANC handles low-frequency drone (think train rumble, aeroplane engines, office aircon) remarkably well. Where you'll compromise is build quality — expect more plastic — and out-of-the-box sound tuning. Most budget cans ship bass-heavy, but companion apps let you EQ things to taste. At around £80, you can get excellent battery life, solid active noise canceling, and sound customisation using a companion app. SoundGuys
Battery life is another bright spot. Many budget options deliver 55-80 hours of playback, which all but eliminates charging anxiety on long trips. TechRadar
Our Top Picks
Sony WH-CH720N (around £70-99) — A budget-friendly beast with sound quality and listening enjoyment comparable to headphones costing two to four times as much. RecordingNow At just 192g, they're Sony's lightest ANC over-ears, meaning all-day comfort. These fill a gap in the market by offering ANC, good build quality and even better sound at a reasonable price. What Hi-Fi? Battery stretches to 35 hours with ANC enabled.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30 (around £50-80) — The perennial budget champion. You get excellent battery life of 40+ hours with ANC, solid noise canceling, and full sound customisation via the Soundcore app. SoundGuys The metal headband feels much more premium than the price suggests RecordingNow, and the included hardshell case is a nice bonus.
EarFun Wave Pro (around £60-80) — Some of the best-sounding headphones tested for their price, with outstanding battery life, solid build quality and comfortable fit. TechRadar These deliver solid audio and ANC for a bargain — with Bluetooth multipoint, LDAC support, and nearly four times the battery life of some premium competitors. CNN Up to 80 hours without ANC; 55 with.
1MORE SonoFlow (around £50-70) — A comfortable pair of over-ears where ANC is good, sound is great, and you'll get an impressive 70 hours of battery life with ANC off, 50 with it on. TechRadar LDAC support for hi-res streaming and a hard carrying case sweeten the deal. These headphones punch well above their weight and are excellent value. TechRadar
The Bottom Line
You no longer need to spend £300+ for effective noise cancellation and enjoyable sound. Any of these options will make your commute quieter and your music more immersive — with money left over for the albums to fill them.