Best Headphones Under 150: What Should You Buy?

A £150 budget now stretches well beyond basic wireless listening. You can get adaptive noise cancellation, long battery life, multipoint, app-based EQ and higher-bitrate Bluetooth options without moving into premium pricing.

That makes choosing the best headphones under 150 less about chasing the longest feature list and more about deciding which features actually improve your day.

For UK buyers, the biggest differences usually come down to where you listen, how long you wear your headphones, and whether calls, travel or noise reduction matter most. This guide explains what to prioritise at this price and top soundcore options to consider.

Key Takeaways

• The best wireless headphones under 150 can now include adaptive ANC, multipoint, app-based sound controls and 40 hours or more of ANC-on battery life.
• Compare battery life with ANC switched on if noise cancellation will be part of your normal commute, workday or travel routine.
• Comfort depends on more than weight. Ear-cup space, cushion softness, headband pressure and how the headphones sit with glasses all matter over longer sessions.
• Under £150, soundcore offers options for different listening needs, from Space 2 with travel-focused comfort and long ANC battery life to Space One with adaptive ANC and Q30 with flexible multi-mode noise cancellation.

What to Look for in Headphones Under £150

The best headphones under £150 should already cover the essentials well, so you do not need to settle for good sound while giving up useful everyday features.

At this price, focus on how well the headphones handle sound, noise cancellation, battery life, comfort and connectivity rather than choosing by one headline specification.

Look for Effective ANC, Not Just an ANC Mode

Active noise cancellation is common below £150, but performance varies considerably. Good ANC should noticeably reduce steady low-frequency sounds such as train rumble, aircraft cabin noise and traffic, while stronger systems also take the edge off voices and other changing background sounds.

If you regularly move between home, office and public transport, adaptive ANC is particularly useful because it can adjust the cancellation level as your surroundings change. A transparency or ambient mode is also worth having when you need to hear announcements or speak to someone without removing the headphones.

Aim for at Least 40–50 Hours With ANC

Battery life becomes much more useful when the quoted figure reflects how you will actually use the headphones. If you normally keep ANC switched on, check the ANC-on runtime rather than relying on the larger number advertised with noise cancellation disabled.

Around 40–50 hours with ANC is already enough for several working days or a long trip without frequent charging. Fast charging is a useful extra: even 5–10 minutes of charging can provide several more hours of listening on some models.

Check Whether You Can Adjust the Sound

A good pair of headphones should sound balanced enough out of the box, with clear vocals, controlled bass and enough detail for music, films and spoken content. However, sound preference is personal, which makes a companion app with an adjustable EQ especially valuable.

Rather than choosing headphones simply because reviews describe them as “bass-heavy” or “neutral”, look for models that let you change the tuning. Preset EQ modes, manual EQ and personalised hearing profiles give you more room to adapt one pair of headphones to different music and content.

Judge Comfort by More Than Weight

Weight matters, but it does not tell you whether headphones will remain comfortable after two or three hours. Pay attention to the clamping pressure, earcup depth, cushion material and headband padding as well.

The earcups should surround your ears without pressing heavily against them, while the headband should distribute pressure rather than creating one concentrated point on the top of your head. Swivelling or rotating earcups can also help the headphones sit more naturally and pack more easily into a bag.

Check the Connections You Will Actually Use

For everyday use, Bluetooth multipoint is one of the most useful features in this price range. It allows compatible headphones to stay connected to two devices, such as a laptop and phone, so you can move between a meeting and a phone call without pairing again.

A 3.5 mm AUX connection is also useful for laptops, handheld consoles, in-flight entertainment and other devices where Bluetooth may not be available.

Treat Call Quality as a Separate Feature

Good ANC does not automatically mean good microphone performance. ANC controls the background noise you hear, while the microphone system determines how clearly other people hear your voice.

If you use headphones for work calls, check whether the model uses multiple microphones, beamforming or AI-based voice processing to reduce surrounding noise. This matters particularly when calling from busy offices, cafés or outdoors.

Do Not Pay Extra for Features You Will Rarely Use

Features such as spatial audio, wear detection, personalised sound profiles and high-resolution Bluetooth codecs can add value, but they should come after the fundamentals. Within a £150 budget, strong ANC, long battery life, comfortable earcups, reliable Bluetooth and useful sound adjustment will usually have a greater effect on everyday use.

For long listening sessions, it is also worth protecting your hearing regardless of which headphones you choose. RNID recommends taking regular listening breaks, keeping volume within a safe range and using noise cancellation where appropriate so you do not need to raise the volume simply to compete with background noise.

Best soundcore Headphones Under £150

A £150 budget already gives you access to adaptive ANC, long battery life, app-based sound customisation and useful everyday connectivity. The right choice comes down to where you listen most and which features will make the biggest difference in that setting.

soundcore Space 2

Long journeys are where the soundcore Space 2 makes the most sense. It combines a pressure-relieving over-ear fit with Adaptive ANC 3.0, up to 50 hours of playback with ANC on and a travel-ready design built for flights, train journeys and extended listening.

Best for: Flights, long journeys and extended listening when comfort, strong low-frequency ANC and long battery life matter.

Key features:

• Travel-focused noise cancellation: A four-stage low-frequency noise-cancelling system targets engine hum, traffic rumble, air-conditioning noise and Underground travel.
• All-day comfort: An ergonomic headband and upgraded protein-leather cushions with slow-rebound memory foam help reduce concentrated pressure during longer listening sessions.
• Up to 50 hours with ANC: Get up to 50 hours of playback with noise cancellation on or 70 hours with ANC off. A five-minute charge provides up to four hours of listening.
• Detailed, customisable sound: 40 mm double-layer diaphragm drivers deliver crisp highs and powerful bass, while the soundcore app lets you fine-tune EQ and other listening settings.
• Flexible everyday connectivity: Bluetooth 6.1 supports dual-device connection, while AUX gives you a wired option when needed.

soundcore Space One

Daily commuting and busy shared spaces are a natural fit for the soundcore Space One. Its adaptive noise cancellation responds to changing surroundings, while the upgraded noise-cancelling structure is designed to reduce distracting mid- and high-frequency sounds such as nearby voices.

Best for: Daily commuting, cafés, office listening and everyday use when changing background noise is a frequent distraction.

Key features:

• Adaptive ANC: The system detects external noise and sound leakage and automatically adjusts noise cancellation as your surroundings change.
• Improved voice reduction: Its upgraded noise-cancelling structure targets mid- and high-frequency sounds, helping reduce nearby conversations in busy environments.
• Comfortable everyday fit: 8° rotating earcups adapt more naturally to different head shapes, while the integrated headband distributes pressure across longer sessions.
• 40-hour ANC battery: Enjoy up to 40 hours of playback with ANC on or 55 hours with ANC off, with a five-minute charge providing up to four hours of listening.
• Personalised sound: 40 mm drivers support LDAC, while HearID and EQ controls in the soundcore app let you tailor the listening profile.
• Useful everyday connectivity: Multipoint keeps two compatible Bluetooth devices connected, while AUX provides a wired listening option.

soundcore Q30

If you want flexible noise control for different parts of the day, the soundcore Q30 gives you three dedicated ANC modes for transport, outdoor and indoor environments. It also combines long battery life, memory-foam cushioning and multipoint connectivity in a practical everyday over-ear design.

Best for: Everyday listening, commuting and home or office use when you want flexible ANC modes and a broad set of practical features.

Key features:

• Three ANC modes: Transport mode targets engine noise, Outdoor mode handles traffic and wind, while Indoor mode is tuned for busy offices and other shared spaces.
• Hybrid noise cancellation: Dual noise-detecting microphones on each side help reduce low-frequency background noise.
• Soft over-ear comfort: Memory-foam ear cushions provide softer contact around the ears for longer listening sessions.
• 40 mm silk-diaphragm drivers: The drivers deliver robust bass with clear mids and highs, while custom EQ lets you adjust the sound in the app.
• Long everyday playback: Get up to 50 hours with ANC on or 80 hours in standard mode, with a five-minute charge providing up to four hours of listening.
• Flexible connectivity: Multipoint lets you stay connected to two devices, while AUX provides a wired listening option.

Conclusion

The best headphones under £150 should give you strong everyday performance without paying for features you will rarely use. Space One suits commuting, office use and general listening, while Space 2 is well suited to longer journeys with extended ANC battery life and a comfortable, travel-friendly design.

Whichever you choose, focus on the features that matter most to your routine, including noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, sound adjustment and connectivity.

FAQs

Can you get good ANC headphones under £150?

Yes. Headphones under £150 can now combine adaptive ANC with transparency modes, app-based EQ, multipoint Bluetooth and long battery life. The more useful question is how the ANC behaves in your normal environment. Commuters may prioritise low-frequency engine and rail noise, while office users may care more about speech and mixed background sound. Fit also affects how well an over-ear ANC system can work.

Should I buy wired or wireless headphones?

Choose wireless headphones if you value mobility, phone connectivity, ANC, multipoint and app-based controls. A wired connection is useful when you want a direct link to older laptops, in-flight entertainment or other devices with a headphone socket. You do not necessarily have to choose one or the other: many wireless over-ear models in this price range also include AUX, giving you both options in one pair.

Are £150 headphones good for travelling?

Yes. Around £150, you can find headphones with adaptive ANC, 40-50 hours of ANC-on battery life, fast charging, foldable or rotating ear cups and protective cases. For travel, focus on the features that reduce friction across a whole journey: enough battery to leave ANC on, a comfortable fit, a practical case or folding design, and a wired option for entertainment systems that do not support your preferred Bluetooth setup.