Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under £50 in the UK (2024 Tested Picks)

The Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 is the best noise cancelling headphone under £50 in the UK, priced at £45 on Amazon. It wins on hybrid active noise cancellation, a 40-hour battery life with ANC on, and Hi-Res Audio certification, beating more expensive rivals on value. Comfortable memory-foam earcups and Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint pairing make it a complete package for under £50.

Our top picks at a glance

Product	Price	Best For	Key Spec	Rating
Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones	£44.99	Best overall	Hybrid ANC, 40h battery, Hi-Res Audio	4.6/5
JBL Tune 660NC Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones	£49.99	Best for JBL sound	Active Noise Cancelling, 55h battery, JBL Pure Bass	4.3/5
JLab Studio Pro Wireless ANC Over-Ear Headphones	£34.99	Best ultra-budget	Active Noise Cancelling, 50h+ battery, custom EQ	4.2/5
Edifier W600BT Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones	£39.99	Best balanced sound	Hybrid ANC, 36.5h battery, 40mm titanium drivers	4.4/5
Mixcder E7 Pro Active Noise Cancelling Headphones	£29.99	Best cheap option	Active Noise Cancelling, 30h battery, hi-fi stereo	4.0/5

Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — Best overall

The Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 has been the default sub-£50 ANC recommendation in the UK for several years, and after testing it against the JBL Tune 660NC, JLab Studio Pro, Edifier W600BT and Mixcder E7 Pro, it remains the most complete package. Its four-microphone hybrid ANC system measurably cuts low-frequency rumble on the London Underground and drowns out café chatter, and Soundcore claims a 90% noise reduction figure that feels accurate in practice. Battery life is the headline stat: 40 hours with ANC switched on and 60 hours without, easily outlasting the JBL 660NC’s 44-hour ANC figure. Sound quality is warm and bass-forward, with 40mm dynamic drivers delivering Hi-Res Audio playback over wired connection. Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint pairing lets you connect a laptop and phone simultaneously, a feature missing on the JLab and Mixcder. Bass Boost mode adds sub-bass thump for workouts, though purists will prefer the default signature. Build is mostly plastic at 268g, and the microphone struggles in wind, but at £45 on Amazon UK, the Life Q20 is a no-brainer for commuters, students and home office workers who want genuine ANC without crossing the £50 line.

Pros:

• Hybrid ANC outperforms every other headphone in this price bracket
• 40-hour battery with ANC is class-leading
• Bluetooth multipoint is genuinely useful for office use

Cons:

• No AAC codec, so iPhone users get SBC only
• Microphone quality is weak outdoors

Check price on amazon.co.uk

2. JBL Tune 660NC Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones — Best for JBL sound

Price: 49.99 | Rating: 4.3/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The JBL Tune 660NC sits right at the £50 ceiling on Amazon UK and delivers JBL’s signature Pure Bass sound with effective active noise cancellation. Battery life is excellent at 55 hours without ANC and 44 hours with it on, narrowly beating the Soundcore Life Q20 in ANC-off mode. The 166g on-ear design is the lightest in this roundup, but the on-ear fit creates pressure that becomes uncomfortable past the two-hour mark, unlike the over-ear Life Q20 or JLab Studio Pro. ANC performance is decent for traffic and air-conditioning hum but less effective against voices and keyboard clatter. Google Fast Pair speeds up Android pairing, and Alexa is built in. Sound is energetic with boosted bass and treble, which suits pop, hip-hop and EDM but can sound fatiguing for classical or acoustic tracks. At £49.99, it is a strong alternative to the Life Q20 for JBL fans, but the on-ear fit and weaker ANC make it our second pick overall.

Pros:

• Lightweight 166g design is great for commuting
• 55-hour total battery life is class-leading without ANC

Cons:

• On-ear fit causes ear fatigue
• ANC is weaker than over-ear rivals

Check price on amazon.co.uk

3. JLab Studio Pro Wireless ANC Over-Ear Headphones — Best ultra-budget

Price: 34.99 | Rating: 4.2/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

At £34.99, the JLab Studio Pro ANC is the best ultra-budget noise cancelling headphone we tested. It offers real active noise cancellation with three modes (ANC on, ANC off, Be Aware transparency) controlled through the JLab app, and battery life stretches past 50 hours per charge, beating every other model in this guide. Sound is customisable through the app’s EQ presets, and the Cloud Foam earcups are genuinely comfortable for long listening sessions. The trade-offs are predictable: ANC is mild compared to the Soundcore Life Q20 or Edifier W600BT, particularly on low-frequency noise, and the plastic build creaks a little. Charging is via the older MicroUSB port rather than USB-C, which is the only real anachronism in an otherwise modern package. For students, casual commuters and anyone who wants to try ANC without spending over £35, the JLab Studio Pro is the smartest budget choice in the UK.

Pros:

• Under £35 with working ANC
• 50+ hour battery life is outstanding for the price

Cons:

• ANC is noticeably weaker than £45+ rivals
• MicroUSB charging is dated

Check price on amazon.co.uk

4. Edifier W600BT Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones — Best balanced sound

Price: 39.99 | Rating: 4.4/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Edifier W600BT at £39.99 is the audiophile’s pick in this roundup. Its 40mm titanium-coated drivers and aptX codec support deliver a more balanced, detailed sound than the bassy Soundcore Q20 or V-shaped Mixcder E7 Pro, with clearer mids that benefit vocals, podcasts and acoustic music. Hybrid ANC is genuinely effective against constant low-frequency noise like aeroplane engines and air-conditioning, though slightly less so for the Soundcore. Bluetooth 5.1 provides a stable connection, and Edifier’s build quality is reassuringly solid at 270g. The 36.5-hour battery is the shortest in this guide, but still well above average. For listeners prioritising sound quality and codec support over battery life, the W600BT is the best £40 ANC headphone available in the UK.

Pros:

• Balanced, detailed sound with aptX support
• Solid Edifier build quality

Cons:

• 36.5h battery trails the field
• Slightly heavy at 270g

Check price on amazon.co.uk

5. Mixcder E7 Pro Active Noise Cancelling Headphones — Best cheap option

Price: 29.99 | Rating: 4.0/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Mixcder E7 Pro at £29.99 is the cheapest ANC headphone in this guide and proves that active noise cancellation is now achievable for under £30 in the UK. It includes a hard travel case, which is rare at this price, and offers 30 hours of battery life. ANC performance is the weakest in our test group, particularly against low-frequency rumble, and the V-shaped sound signature can sound harsh at higher volumes. Build is plasticky and the hinges feel fragile, so handle with care. For shoppers who want a low-risk first step into ANC or a spare pair for the office, the E7 Pro is acceptable value, but anyone able to stretch to £35 should pick the JLab Studio Pro for meaningfully better ANC and battery life.

Pros:

• Under £30 with included hard case
• Accessible entry into ANC headphones

Cons:

• Weakest ANC in this roundup
• Plastic build feels fragile

Check price on amazon.co.uk

How to choose

Choosing noise cancelling headphones under £50 in the UK comes down to three priorities. First, check the ANC type: hybrid ANC (feedforward and feedback microphones) is more effective than single-mic ANC, especially on the Soundcore Life Q20 and Edifier W600BT. Second, prioritise battery life if you commute or travel, with the JLab Studio Pro’s 50+ hours and the JBL 660NC’s 55 hours leading the field. Third, consider codec support: the Edifier W600BT’s aptX delivers better Bluetooth audio quality than the SBC-only Soundcore and JLab. Over-ear designs generally provide better passive isolation and ANC than on-ear models, and Bluetooth 5.0+ ensures a stable connection to your phone. Finally, buy from Amazon UK or Argos for easy returns under UK consumer law.

Frequently asked questions

Are noise cancelling headphones under £50 actually any good?

Yes. The Soundcore Life Q20 and Edifier W600BT offer hybrid ANC that genuinely reduces engine and fan noise, though they cannot match the Sony WH-1000XM5. Expect 60-90% reduction of consistent low-frequency sounds rather than complete silence.

Which headphones cancel the most noise under £50 in the UK?

The Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 at £45 cancels the most noise in this price range, using four microphones and hybrid ANC to cut up to 90% of ambient low-frequency sound according to Anker’s testing.

Can I get noise cancelling headphones for under £30?

Yes, the Mixcder E7 Pro is available for £29.99 on Amazon UK with active noise cancellation, though its ANC is weaker than the Soundcore Life Q20 and JLab Studio Pro at £35.

Is the Soundcore Life Q20 better than JBL Tune 660NC?

For most UK buyers, yes. The Life Q20 has stronger hybrid ANC and over-ear comfort, while the JBL 660NC has slightly longer 55-hour battery life and JBL’s bass-heavy sound signature, but its on-ear fit causes fatigue.

Do cheap noise cancelling headphones work on aeroplanes?

Yes, the Soundcore Life Q20 and Edifier W600BT are both effective against aeroplane engine drone thanks to hybrid ANC. They are not as strong as Bose or Sony’s flagship models but provide noticeable relief on UK and short-haul European flights.

What is the best noise cancelling headphone for studying in the UK under £50?

The Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 at £45 is our top pick for studying, thanks to over-ear comfort, 40-hour battery and hybrid ANC that reduces keyboard noise and café chatter. The Edifier W600BT is a strong alternative for clearer audio at £40.

Are over-ear or on-ear noise cancelling headphones better under £50?

Over-ear models like the Soundcore Life Q20, JLab Studio Pro and Edifier W600BT generally provide better passive isolation and more effective ANC than on-ear designs such as the JBL Tune 660NC, as the earcups fully surround the ear.

Do noise cancelling headphones under £50 block voices?

All sub-£50 ANC headphones are much better at reducing low-frequency constant noise like engines, fans and traffic than at blocking voices. The Soundcore Life Q20 is the strongest in this category but cannot fully silence nearby conversations.

How we chose

We evaluated 17 noise cancelling headphones available on Amazon UK and major UK retailers priced under £50 in March 2024, then narrowed the list to five models representing the best balance of ANC performance, battery life, sound quality and value. Each headphone was tested for active noise cancellation against real-world sources including London Underground noise, café chatter and aeroplane cabin drone on a four-hour flight. Battery life claims were verified against manufacturer specifications and where possible against published UK customer reviews. Prices were checked on Amazon UK, Argos and Currys at the time of writing and are accurate to within £2. Sound quality was assessed across pop, classical, podcasts and spoken-word content, and build quality was judged on materials, hinge strength and comfort over two-hour listening sessions.