Best Over-Ear Headphones UK (2026)
Over-ear headphones trade the portability of earbuds for bigger drivers, longer battery life and usually stronger noise cancelling. This guide compares headphones tested by Expert Reviews, whose reviewers say they have tested hundreds of pairs over 15 years, from budget picks to premium audiophile options.
We have not hands-on tested these products. Our picks are based on published independent tests and reviews, listed at the bottom of this page. How we pick.
Our top pick
Sony WH-1000XM6
Best overall
Expert Reviews' overall winner. It's extremely comfortable with great noise cancelling and first-rate audio, though voice pickup on calls is only average.
- Extremely comfortable
- Great ANC
- First-rate audio
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Best overall | ANC, foldable, 30hr battery with ANC on | Check price |
| Anker Soundcore Life Q30 | Best budget | ANC, strong battery life | Check price |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) | Best noise cancellation | ANC, wireless | Check price |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | Best sound quality | ANC, wireless, premium build | Check price |
| Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless | Best for longevity | ANC, user-replaceable battery, 57hr battery with ANC on | Check price |
| Apple AirPods Max 2 | Best for iPhone users | ANC, H2 chip, USB-C | Check price |
| Nothing Headphone (a) | Best battery life | ANC, 75hr battery (ANC on), 135hr (ANC off) | Check price |
| Marshall Monitor III ANC | Best for durability and style | ANC, 70hr battery | Check price |
Our picks in detail
Best overall
Sony WH-1000XM6
Expert Reviews' overall winner. It's extremely comfortable with great noise cancelling and first-rate audio, though voice pickup on calls is only average.
- ANC
- Yes
- Design
- Foldable
- Battery life
- 30 hours (ANC on)
Pros
- Extremely comfortable
- Great ANC
- First-rate audio
Cons
- Average voice pickup on calls
Best budget
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
A long-running budget favourite with effective noise cancelling, a bumper battery life and soft earcups, though Expert Reviews notes they look cheap.
- ANC
- Yes
Pros
- Effective noise cancelling
- Bumper battery life
- Soft earcups
Cons
- Look cheap
Best noise cancellation
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2)
Expert Reviews rates the noise cancellation as phenomenal, with a fantastic fit and eye-catching colour options, though the build quality is underwhelming for the price.
- ANC
- Yes
Pros
- Phenomenal noise cancellation
- Fantastic fit
- Eye-catching colours
Cons
- Underwhelming build quality
Best sound quality
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
Incredibly detailed sound in a very comfortable, luxurious build, though its noise cancellation is only middling next to dedicated ANC specialists.
- ANC
- Yes
Pros
- Incredibly detailed sound
- Very comfortable
- Luxurious build
Cons
- Middling noise cancellation
Best for longevity
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless
A crisp-sounding, impressively noise-cancelling headphone with a user-replaceable battery, so you're not stuck when the battery eventually degrades, though it's a heavy build.
- ANC
- Yes
- Battery
- User-replaceable, 57 hours (ANC on)
Pros
- User-replaceable battery
- Crisp sound
- Impressive ANC
Cons
- Heavy build
Best for iPhone users
Apple AirPods Max 2
Great sound quality and effective ANC in a well-built design with the H2 chip, though battery life is mediocre compared with rivals.
- ANC
- Yes
- Chip
- H2
- Charging
- USB-C
Pros
- Great sound quality
- Well-built design
- Effective ANC
Cons
- Mediocre battery life
Best battery life
Nothing Headphone (a)
Exceptional battery life with solid ANC and engaging audio, though its spatial audio modes are disappointing.
- ANC
- Yes
- Battery life
- 75 hours (ANC on), 135 hours (ANC off)
Pros
- Exceptional battery life
- Solid ANC
- Engaging audio
Cons
- Disappointing spatial audio modes
Best for durability and style
Marshall Monitor III ANC
A strong mid-range and treble sound with unbeatable durability and intuitive controls, in Marshall's classic design, though the earcups get warm.
- ANC
- Yes
- Battery life
- 70 hours
Pros
- Strong mid-range and treble
- Unbeatable durability
- Intuitive controls
Cons
- Earcups get warm
Buying guide
Over-ear headphones or earbuds?
Over-ear headphones generally offer stronger noise cancelling, longer battery life and bigger, richer-sounding drivers, but are bulkier to carry. Earbuds are far more portable and better suited to exercise, at some cost to battery life and bass depth.
How much does noise cancelling quality vary?
It varies a lot. Some headphones here, like the Bose, are rated as having phenomenal ANC, while others are only middling. If blocking out noise on commutes or flights is your priority, check the specific ANC rating rather than assuming all ANC headphones perform the same.
Does a replaceable battery matter?
Rechargeable batteries degrade over years of use. A model with a user-replaceable battery, like the Sennheiser Momentum 5 here, can be kept going for much longer rather than becoming e-waste once the battery weakens.
Do I need Bluetooth multipoint?
Multipoint lets a headphone stay connected to two devices at once, such as a laptop and a phone, and switch between them automatically. It's a convenience feature worth checking for if you regularly swap between devices.
Sources
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