Pay $95.99 or pay $586.72 — both boxes say wireless headphones and both promise peace and quiet. The gap between them is real, though: how much of a bus engine actually disappears, whether the battery survives a Sydney-to-London leg, and whether the person on the other end of your call hears you or the train announcement behind you.
This guide covers the decisions that matter — over-ear versus earbuds, what active noise cancelling (ANC) genuinely does, battery life, multipoint and call quality — then matches real picks to real situations: the daily commute, the open-plan office, long-haul travel and late-night TV at home.
How to choose: the five things that matter
Over-ear or earbuds?
Over-ear headphones seal around your ears, so they block a chunk of noise before the electronics even switch on. That passive seal, plus bigger drivers and bigger batteries, makes them the better choice for flights, long office days and serious listening. The trade-off is bulk — they live in a bag, not a pocket — and they run warm through an Australian summer.
Earbuds win on portability. They disappear into a pocket, work at the gym, and a good pair of ANC earbuds handles a commute surprisingly well. If you're torn, think about where you'll wear them most: at a desk or on a plane, go over-ear; everywhere else, earbuds.
What ANC actually does (and doesn't)
Active noise cancelling uses microphones to detect incoming sound and plays an inverted signal to cancel it out. It is remarkably effective on constant, low-frequency noise — jet engines, bus rumble, air conditioning, train drone. It is much weaker on sudden sounds and human voices, which is why a good physical seal still matters. Most ANC models also offer a transparency or ambient mode that pipes outside sound back in, handy for platform announcements or the barista calling your order.
Battery life
Over-ears typically run 20 to 40 hours per charge; earbuds manage 5 to 11 hours in the buds themselves, with the charging case adding two or three full top-ups. Switching ANC on usually costs 20 to 30 per cent of the quoted runtime, so check the ANC-on figure, not the headline number. Quick-charge support is genuinely useful for travel — a few minutes plugged in can cover a whole domestic flight.
Multipoint
Multipoint lets your headphones hold connections to two devices at once — usually a laptop and a phone — and switch automatically when a call comes in. If you take calls at a desk, it's the feature you'll appreciate most day to day, and it has trickled down to budget level: even the $95.99 Sony WH-CH520 has it.
Call quality
ANC helps you hear your caller; it does nothing for what they hear. That depends on the microphone array and how well the headset filters wind and background noise from your voice. Flagship models from Sony, Samsung and Beats do this noticeably better than budget pairs — if you spend hours on calls, that justifies the extra spend more than sound quality does.
The picks: matched to how you'll use them
Best overall and for travel: Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 ($722.00, down from $762.74) remains the benchmark: class-leading ANC, up to 30 hours with cancelling on, multipoint, and a microphone array that keeps calls clear on a windy street. It suits frequent flyers and anyone who wants one pair that does everything at the highest level — and the saving of around $176 takes real sting out of the flagship price.
Best earbuds, especially with a Samsung phone: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro ($440.99, was $617.38) are small, light and seriously capable, with strong ANC and an IPX7 rating that shrugs off sweat and rain. Paired with a Galaxy phone they add 24-bit audio and seamless switching between your devices. Best for commuters who want flagship-grade cancelling without wearing headphones all day.
Best for switching between iPhone and Android: Beats Studio Pro
The Beats Studio Pro ($390.64, down from $547.35) plays equally nicely with iOS and Android, with one-touch pairing on both, and adds USB-C wired listening for lossless audio. Battery runs up to 24 hours with ANC on and 40 with it off. Suits listeners who like an energetic, bass-forward sound and refuse to be locked into one ecosystem.
Apple-friendly over-ear for less: Beats Studio3
The Beats Studio3 ($285.76, was $371.49) uses Apple's W1 chip for instant pairing across iPhone, iPad and Mac, with adaptive noise cancelling and up to 22 hours of ANC listening. It's the sensible pick for Apple households that want over-ear comfort and cancelling without flagship money — you save close to $99 at this price.
Budget ANC earbuds: Samsung Galaxy Buds Core
At $120.00 (down from $156.00), the Samsung Galaxy Buds Core are the cheapest way into genuine active noise cancelling in this list. Cancelling at this price won't silence a jet, but it takes the edge off buses and open-plan chatter, and one-touch pairing with Samsung phones keeps setup painless. Also available in white at the same price.
Compact everyday earbuds: Sony WF-C510
The Sony WF-C510 ($125.99, was $176.38) skips ANC in favour of an Ambient Sound mode, a tiny case and up to 11 hours per charge — 22 with the case. It suits anyone who actually wants to hear traffic and platform announcements, or simply wants reliable Sony sound for not much money. There's a blue version at the same price.
Budget on-ear with a huge battery: Sony WH-CH520
No ANC here, but the Sony WH-CH520 ($80.99, down from $134.38) counters with up to 50 hours of battery, multipoint and a light on-ear fit. It's the pick for students, work-from-home calls and anyone who values set-and-forget battery life over silence.
Open-ear for runners and riders: House of Marley Liberate
The House of Marley Liberate open earbuds ($155.99, was $218.38) sit outside the ear canal, so you hear cars, bikes and other footpath users at all times — the opposite philosophy to ANC, and the safer one for exercising outdoors. They're built with House of Marley's signature sustainable materials and recharge between sessions like standard true wireless buds.
Late-night TV without waking the house: Oricom TV7400
Not noise cancelling, but solving the same problem in reverse: the Oricom TV7400 ($286.40, down from $400.96) is an amplified wireless headset that connects to your TV, with its own volume and tone control so dialogue stays clear while the room stays silent. It's ideal for households with different bedtimes, or anyone with mild hearing loss who keeps reaching for the volume button, and the fast-charging cradle keeps it topped up between sessions.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Travel and best overall ANC | $586.72 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro | Flagship earbuds, Samsung phones | $440.99 |
| Beats Studio Pro | iPhone-and-Android switchers | $421.04 |
| Beats Studio3 | Apple households on a budget | $329.84 |
| Oricom TV7400 | Late-night TV listening | $286.40 |
| House of Marley Liberate | Running and cycling awareness | $155.99 |
| Sony WF-C510 | Compact everyday earbuds | $125.99 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Core | Cheapest ANC earbuds | $120.00 |
| Sony WH-CH520 | Battery life on a budget | $95.99 |
Noise-cancelling FAQs
Does noise cancelling block out voices?
Only partially. ANC is tuned for constant low-frequency noise — engines, hums, rumble. Voices are irregular and mid-frequency, so some chatter gets through even on flagship models. In an open-plan office, combine ANC with quiet music or background audio and you'll get close to silence.
Over-ear or earbuds for a long-haul flight?
Over-ear, if you can spare the bag space. The passive seal blocks more engine noise before ANC even starts working, and a 30-hour battery comfortably outlasts a Sydney–London run with a stopover. Earbuds are the better fallback if you sleep leaning against the window.
Does ANC drain the battery?
Yes — expect roughly 20 to 30 per cent less runtime with cancelling switched on. Manufacturers usually quote both figures, so compare the ANC-on numbers when you're shopping, because that's how most people actually use them.
Do I need to spend more than $400?
Only if you fly often, spend hours on calls or want the deepest silence available. The $120.00 Galaxy Buds Core show that decent ANC no longer demands flagship money — the extra spend buys stronger cancelling, better microphones and better sound, not the basic feature itself.
The short version
Commuters should start with ANC earbuds, frequent flyers and desk workers with over-ears, and outdoor exercisers with an open design that keeps them aware of traffic. Every pair above is in stock and dispatched from Sydney, with 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty. Browse the full headphones range to compare colours and current prices across the wider line-up.
Related guides
Prices correct at publication and may change. Stock levels update daily.