Edifier ES850NB
Audio November 6, 2026
The Edifier ES850NB are an attractive pair of headphones that aren’t trying to impress you with gimmicks. Instead, it gets the basic needs right and then adds on a few genuinely useful extras. The battery life is excellent, with up to 92 hours of listening when noise cancelling is switched off, or around 53 hours with ANC running. In real terms, that means you can use them for days without worrying about where you left the charging cable.
The 40mm dynamic drivers give the ES850NB a clean, easy going sound with decent bass and plenty of clarity through the vocals. They also support LDAC and Hi-Res Audio Wireless, so compatible phones can make the most of higher quality streaming. The sound has enough detail to satisfy more picky listeners, but it never feels like you need to analyse every note.
The hybrid active noise cancelling is strong enough to take the edge off traffic and general office noise, while ambient mode lets you hear what is going on around you when needed. Touch to Chat is a handy extra too, quickly lowering your music and letting outside sound in without having to remove the headphones.
Bluetooth 5.4 keeps the connection stable, and multipoint lets you stay connected to two devices at once. The Edifier ConneX app gives you more control over the sound and settings, while USB C can also be used for wired digital audio.
At around 265g, they are fairly light for over ear headphones, and the padding is comfortable enough for longer sessions. They do get a little warm after a while, especially if you are wearing them for hours but at this time of year I’d welcome that.
It’s hard to find anything we didn’t like about the ES850NB. The battery lasts ages, the ANC works well and the sound is detailed without becoming tiring. They are simply very easy headphones to live with. RRP £149.99
