Edifier ES850NB Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review

Edifier has been consistently releasing great headphones at an affordable price. While they may not quite match flagship ANC headphones from the likes of Sony or Bose, they typically come close while being considerably cheaper, providing a better bang for your buck compared to the big brands.

The latest launch is the Edifier ES850NB, which sits near the top of the Edifier product range and has a very impressive battery life of up to 92 hours with an upgraded ANC system that Edifier claims to provide up to -45dB noise cancellation.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Edifier ES850NB Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones...	No ratings yet	£89.99	Buy on Amazon

Buy from AmazonFind out more at Edifier

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Specification

Features

All-day Comfort

The lightweight and ergonomic design provides a comfortable, pressure-free fit suitable for all-day use, allowing for hours of listening without discomfort.

Rich Details

Support for the LDAC codec enables Hi-Res Audio Wireless, transmitting up to three times more data than standard Bluetooth codecs. This allows for a detailed, high-fidelity listening experience.

• ‘Hi-Res Audio’ and ‘Hi-Res Audio Wireless’ logos are used under licence from the Japan Audio Society.
• LDAC and the LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

Premium Audio

A 40 mm dynamic driver, featuring a titanium-coated composite diaphragm, reproduces audio with clear high frequencies, detailed mid-ranges, and powerful bass.

Personalised Sound

Select from three distinct pre-set sound profiles to create a personalised audio experience tailored to different types of entertainment.

Noise Cancelling

Hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) works in tandem with the over-ear design’s passive noise isolation to reduce ambient sounds by up to -45 dB. This creates an immersive listening environment, even in noisy surroundings.

Clear Hands-free Calls

An AI-driven algorithm isolates the human voice from background noise, ensuring that your hands-free calls are clear for both you and the person you are speaking to.

Power for Days

A maximum battery life of 92 hours provides over a week of power based on eight hours of daily listening, making the headphones suitable for extended travel.

• Battery life data was obtained in the Edifier Lab, tested using the SBC codec at 50% volume. Actual performance may vary based on the listening environment, device, volume, and audio content.

Touch-to-Chat

Temporarily pause your audio and activate ambient sound mode by touching and holding the right ear cup, allowing for easy conversations. Releasing your touch will resume playback.

• This function is available only in Bluetooth(R) mode.

Wireless and Wired Connection

Equipped with Bluetooth(R) V5.4 for a stable wireless connection. A wired connection is also possible via the included USB-C to USB-A cable, suitable for use with computers and other compatible devices.

• Connecting the cable will disable Bluetooth(R) mode.
• The Bluetooth(R) word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by EDIFIER is under licence. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Multipoint Connection

Connect to two separate Bluetooth(R) devices simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly. For example, you can move from listening to music on a laptop to answering a call on your phone without re-pairing.

Foldable for Portability

The headphones feature a fully foldable design for compact storage. An included travel case provides protection, making them easy to transport.

Apps for More Functions

Further features are available through the EDIFIER ConneX mobile app and the EDIFIER TempoHub computer application. These include:

• Customise EQ settings
• Switch between sound effects
• Adjust control settings
• And more

Design and Comfort

The ES850NB look modern but isn’t showy. The use of plastics is immediately noticeable; although functional and lightweight, they lack the density and polish of higher-end competitors. I found the extension arms rather dated in implementation – more modern cans tend to hide the mechanism, whereas Edifier has stuck with visible, sliding arms. There is a slight flex and creakiness when stretching them, which doesn’t instil much confidence.

Edifier offers these headphones in a muted cream finish, which is pleasant and contemporary, but the actual colour shade varies slightly from what’s shown in marketing materials. The earcups use soft protein leather pads, which feel comfortable on first use, although can get a bit warm after extended listening. On closer inspection, the faux leather, hard plastic and lack of real metal touches make it plain that Edifier has prioritised functionality and low weight over luxury.

One small frustration is finding the left and right markers. They are barely visible, blending into the frame – a simple contrast patch could have solved this.

Weighing in at around 265 grams, these headphones are relatively light compared to most competitors. The headband padding is generous, with a soft upper layer.

I found them very comfortable to wear, thanks to the generous padding and a moderate amount of force clamping the headphones to my head. Like most closed headphones, especially with faux leather, I find my ears start to feel hot relatively quickly, which can start to feel a bit uncomfortable (I overheat easily).

The earcups also comfortably fit over my large ears and provide a good level of passive isolation.

Edifier Connex App

The Edifier ConneX app provides access to the headphones’ various features and customisation options. When you open the app, you have quick access to the main functions you will likely want, noise cancellation, sound effects and sound mode.

The app gives you four ANC levels to choose from: off, low, medium, and high. In practice, I found little reason to use anything other than the high setting. The difference between the levels is noticeable, but if you’re going to use ANC at all, you might as well use it at maximum effectiveness. The app allows you to customise which modes are available when you cycle through them using the physical controls, which is a nice touch if you want to simplify the options.

For sound customisation, you get three preset EQ profiles plus the ability to create your own using a four-band equaliser. The custom EQ includes Q factor and frequency adjustment across the full range, which provides more granular control than the simple bass/treble sliders you find on some competitors. If you know what you’re doing with EQ settings, this is genuinely useful. If you don’t, the presets work well enough.

There’s also a sound mode selector offering music, game, and spatial options. These are essentially additional EQ presets rather than true gaming modes with reduced latency. The spatial mode attempts to create a wider soundstage, though I found it added an artificial quality that I didn’t particularly enjoy, which is true for all other headphones I have used with this feature. Your mileage may vary depending on your preferences and the type of content you’re listening to.

Additional features in the settings menu include the ability to toggle the touch-to-chat function on or off, remap the physical controls, enable multipoint connectivity, and use a “find my headphones” function. The control remapping is fairly limited but covers the basics. Multipoint works reliably, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously and switch between them without manual re-pairing.

Sound Quality

The sound signature of the ES850NB is where these headphones genuinely impress. Edifier has tuned them with a balanced profile that provides good coverage across the frequency range, and this is actually one of the more pleasant surprises I’ve encountered in this price bracket.

Starting with the bass response, you’re getting what I’d describe as a high-resolution presentation rather than a thick, rumbling low-end. The bass is well-defined and articulate, with good separation between the mid-bass and sub-bass frequencies. When listening to tracks with deep sub-bass content, the headphones handle them competently without any sense of strain or distortion. The bass rumbles subtly in the background rather than dominating the mix, which works well for most genres but might disappoint absolute bass-heads looking for skull-rattling low-end.

I found the bass performance particularly impressive when listening to electronic music and modern hip-hop, where the kick drums and bass lines remained distinct and punchy without bleeding into the midrange. There’s enough texture and detail to satisfy most listeners, though if you’re specifically after that thick, enveloping bass response you’d get from something like the Sony XB series, you’ll need to boost the low-end in the EQ.

The midrange sits at a nice middle plane – not recessed back into the mix, but not pushed aggressively forward either. Vocal reproduction is clean and natural, with good clarity for both male and female voices. I tested this extensively with Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You,” and there’s a section around 2:58 where a deeper backup vocalist comes in that I’d genuinely never noticed before with other headphones. This level of detail retrieval at this price point is genuinely commendable.

Acoustic instruments fare well too. Guitars have good body and resonance, pianos sound full without becoming boomy, and string sections maintain their individual voices rather than blending into mush. The midrange doesn’t have quite the same finesse you’d get from premium headphones in the £300+ range, but it’s competitive with anything else around £150.

The highs have a slight sharpness to them, which provides a more detailed sound. I tend to be quite sensitive to highs, but these headphones are not too harsh and you can tweak the settings in the EQ to dial them down a bit.

Active Noise Cancelling

The active noise-cancelling performance of the Edifier ES850NB is effective overall, especially considering its price point. The headphones use a hybrid ANC system, which combines microphones on the inside and outside of the earcups to detect and counteract ambient noise. This is augmented by the passive noise isolation from the well-fitting over-ear design. Edifier claims this system can reduce noise by up to 45 dB.

In practice, the ANC performs very well against low-frequency, constant noises. It is quite successful at reducing the rumble of road noise or the drone of an airplane cabin, making travel and commutes more pleasant. The noise reduction in these scenarios is substantial, and when combined with even soft music playback, it creates a very effective barrier against the outside world.

All ANC headphones struggle with higher-pitched and more irregular sounds. These can’t compete with premium options from Bose and Sony, but they fare well. There is a moderate reduction in highs and I have found the ANC performance is more than good enough for all the scenarios I have used them in.

Microphone

For making hands-free calls, the Edifier ES850NB is equipped with a microphone system that uses an AI-driven algorithm to separate the user’s voice from background noise. The goal is to deliver clear communication for both parties in a conversation.

The system does an amazing job at eliminating background noise, but this can add a slight distortion to my voice. It almost sounds a bit wobbly, like the volume is fluctuating.

Battery Life

I haven’t had an issue with the battery life of headphones in years; they last substantially longer than earbuds with most offering well over a days’ worth of playtime.

The ES850NB excels with its reported 92 hours of playback with ANC off, and up to 53 hours with ANC enabled. These figures were tested at 50% volume using the SBC codec, so your actual results will vary based on your usage patterns.

I didn’t time my playback, but with LDAC enabled and the volume at around 55-60% volume with ANC enabled, I was getting a full week’s worth of playback with me using them throughout the day in my office, so around 8 hours per day.

Quick charging is also supported, with 15 minutes of charging providing approximately 11.5 hours of use without ANC. This is genuinely useful for those moments when you’ve forgotten to charge and need to dash out the door. A full charge takes around two hours via USB-C.

Price and Alternative Options

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Edifier ES850NB Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones...	No ratings yet	£89.99	Buy on Amazon

Buy from AmazonFind out more at Edifier

The Edifier ES850NB have an RRP of £150 and has been as low as £128 on Amazon.

The Edifier WH950NB Gen 2 is the flagship product, and these retail for £180 but have been as low as £152

The previous generation Sony WH-1000XM4 would be a good upgrade which are currently available for £199.

Or for a similar price, the Soundcore Space One Pro are excellent at £150.

Overall

The Edifier ES850NB is another excellent pair of ANC headphones with a well rounded set of features.

The sound quality is genuinely impressive for the price, with a balanced signature that works well across different genres. The battery life is exceptional and will easily outlast most competitors. Build quality and design choices could be better, but nothing feels likely to actually break with reasonable care.

The ANC performance is good for the price point, and I found it suitable for all the situations I tried them. It is only when you use some flagship Sony headphones can you tell that these don’t quite compete. If you have never used them, you will think the ANC on these is excellent.

I think the RRP is reasonable, but perhaps a bit too close to the discounted price of the Sony WH-1000XM4. At the discounted price of £128, I think they are superb.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2025-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API