Noise-Cancelling Headphones Worth Buying Right Now
Space Q45 nails the budget ANC brief: long battery, decent noise blocking, and none of the Sony tax.
Shortlistd Editorial
Editor
By Editorial Team | April 2026
If you want to shut out train noise, office chatter, and cabin drone without paying flagship money, the best answer is usually the one that does the basics properly. The Soundcore Space Q45 is that pair: strong ANC, long battery life, and a price that doesn’t make you feel stupid.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Product | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Soundcore Space Q45 | £74.99 | Commuting, flights, and all-day desk use on a sane budget |
| Best upgrade | Sony WH-1000XM5 | £248 | Better sound, cleaner ANC, and more polished calls |
| Best budget | Soundcore Life Q30 | £54 | Saving the most money while still getting usable ANC |
Based on hands-on research, expert review consensus (RTings, Wirecutter, relevant subreddits), and current pricing.
Best overall: Soundcore Space Q45
Soundcore Space Q45 — £74.99
This is the sweet spot if you want noise-cancelling headphones that make noisy places tolerable without becoming a second mortgage. The Space Q45 scores 7.9/10, and that feels fair: it does the practical stuff well, especially for commuting and travel.
Why we picked it:
- Adaptive ANC can cut up to 98% of background noise, and you can tune it in the app instead of living with one harsh setting.
- Battery life is properly useful: up to 50 hours with ANC on and 65 hours with ANC off, plus 5 minutes of charging for 5 hours of playback.
- LDAC support and 40 mm drivers give you more than basic budget-headphone sound, especially if your phone supports higher-quality Bluetooth audio.
The trade-off: it still doesn’t touch Sony or Bose for refinement, call quality, or how cleanly it handles noise when the environment gets genuinely ugly.
Buy the Soundcore Space Q45 if you want the easy, sensible buy for travel and office noise.
Best upgrade: Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony WH-1000XM5 — £248
This is where you spend more for obvious, daily-use gains: better ANC, better polish, and a more convincing all-round listen. Wirecutter and Tom’s Guide both still place the XM5 near the top because it’s the model that makes noisy commutes feel properly removed from your day, not just softened.
Worth it if: you use headphones for hours every day, care about cleaner sound, and would rather pay once than keep wondering whether you should have gone premium.
Best budget pick: Soundcore Life Q30
Soundcore Life Q30 — £54
The Life Q30 gets you into the ANC club for less money, and that’s the point. It’s the cheaper route if you mainly want to dull engine noise and office hum, but it is a step down in refinement, fit, and overall finish.
Worth it if: you want the lowest sensible spend on over-ear noise cancelling and can live with a more basic experience.
How we chose
We looked for headphones that solve the real problem: reducing noise on trains, planes, and at desks without forcing you into flagship pricing. The deciding factors were ANC strength, battery life, app control, sound quality, and current availability, cross-checked against review consensus from RTings, Wirecutter, SoundGuys, and Tom’s Guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are noise-cancelling headphones actually worth it for commuting? Yes, if you regularly deal with engine rumble, crowded-carriage noise, or open-plan office chatter. They don’t make the world silent, but they take the edge off enough that you can listen lower and feel less drained.
Should you spend more on the upgrade pick? Only if you’ll notice the difference every day. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is better, but the Space Q45 is the smarter buy if you mainly want strong ANC and long battery life for far less money.
How long will the Space Q45 last between charges? Up to 50 hours with ANC on, or 65 hours with ANC off, which is enough for several workdays and a few trips before you need the cable again.
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