Finding the right pair of headphones can be a bit of a “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” situation. Whether they’re too big, too small, too expensive or too techy — there are many factors that make a pair just right.
After much trial and error, I have learned that my favorite over-ear headphones are ones that feel comfortable on the ears for hours, don’t demand downloading an app or any sort of extra technical work, have solid, but straightforward noise-cancelling and rarely need to be charged. If these sound like qualities you look for too, you’re in luck. My tried-and-true pair that checks all these boxes, the JLab JBuds Lux, are currently on sale for up to 38% off at Amazon and Walmart, making them as low as $49.99, depending on the color.
Planes, hostels and city streets — these babies have become a travel essential.
Last year, on a two-week solo trip to Vietnam, I swore by these headphones to drown out everything from snoring seatmates to busy traffic. They’re lightweight and not cumbersome to wear, with the brand’s “cloud foam” earcups that feel like little pillows around your ears. I’ve worn them on 14-hour plane rides, 8-hour bus trips, and even whole nights sleeping in crowded bunk-bed hostels. Compact in size, they’re easy to fold and pack up and don’t feel bulky or heavy when on the ear.
I am not techy and do not enjoy extra gadgets or steps when trying to listen to my podcasts, and I can proudly say these headphones connect seamlessly to my devices. And when something freaky happens with the Bluetooth (as it always seems to, no matter what device you’re using), I find it’s always pretty painless to reconnect the headphones to my phone or computer, saving my heart rate from jumping in a fit of rage.
But trust me, the best part isn’t even their audio abilities.
I recently borrowed a friend’s pair of extremely expensive headphones and was shocked at how quickly the battery died, especially since I hadn’t turned them off when I went to bed. I didn’t realize how spoiled I’ve become from my JLab’s, which barely need to be charged and don’t need to be turned off. Like, I didn’t even know it was a thing to have to turn your headphones off, let alone charge them every day because my headphones seem to last forever!
The brand says they actually last for over 70 hours of playtime, or 40 hours of active noise-canceling, but I swear they last longer. I can use them for a few hours every single day and not worry about the battery for at least a week, if not more. I charge them so infrequently that I often forget which cord they use and have to check the input when they’re running low. (It’s a USB-C, and you’ll get a cord with your headphones.) And while they do have a power button, when I come home and throw them on the couch, they’ll automatically shut off after a bit. A perfect feature for those of us who are a little forgetful.
The active noise cancellation is another major improvement from previous budget headphones.
They are certainly not going to give you a sensory deprivation tank, absolute silence vibe, but as someone with sensory issues, who’s particularly sensitive to noise, I find these to be a great option if you’re trying to sleep on the road, work around others or want to tune out the world while you’re on a run. They also offer spatial audio, with a smart feature that automatically adjusts to the environment around you and a “be aware” mode that lets in a little more outside sound for safety.
Also, unlike so many things these days, no app is required.
While you can use the brand’s JLab app (and other sound apps like Dolby Atmos, Tempest 3D AudioTech and Windows Sonic) to perfect and customize your sound, you don’t need to download the app to use the headphones.
I appreciate my physical control buttons on the headphones that let me change the volume, play, pause and switch the audio settings, without me ever needing to mess with an app or even pick up my phone. I especially like this when I’m on walks or commuting and my phone is tucked away somewhere. They’re also great for taking phone calls while I’m walking, and I’ve never had anyone I’m chatting with say they can’t hear me or that I sound fuzzy.
If you’re looking for a solid pair of headphones that are low-maintenance yet high-quality, I recommend this option from JLab — especially at this price.
Read from other fans of the JLab JBuds Lux wireless headphones with active noise cancelling, and grab a pair for yourself while they’re on sale.
“These are by far the best headphones i have ever purchaced! nice crisp sound and 3 options for noise cancelation/alert/or low. Life battery for me i have notice is around 5 days .They are extremely comfortable over the ears. Would recommend buying this over the overpriced named brands.” — Rafael, Walmart reviewer
“These JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones are fantastic! The sound quality is clear and balanced, and the hybrid active noise cancellation works really well for blocking out background noise. They’re comfortable to wear for long periods, and the battery life is impressive. I also like the customizable touch controls and the sleek cloud white design. Overall, a great value for the price.” — Sat, Amazon reviwer
“These are great! I had low expectations since I’ve had some cheap JLab buds before and they weren’t incredible, but these surpassed my expectations. They’re relatively comfy, sound good, and last like FOREVER on a charge. Physical buttons are nice and actually offer a bunch of functionality with volume, play/pause, noise cancelling, and extra actions when holding or double-clicking any of them. Audio over USB-C is a great touch as well. Noise cancelling is effective if not mind-blowing, and the ‘be aware’ pass through is effective. Overall, they’re a great deal, especially on sale.” — Cassidy, Amazon reviewer
Want more options? Check out this list of reviewers’ favorite noise-cancelling headphones, by former shopping writer Kristen Adaway.
A pair of affordable headphones that reviewers say have great sound quality (20% off)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Get more bang for your buck with these Tozo headphones that are under $50 at full price. The headphones offer 60 hours of battery life, supports wired and wireless listening, are foldable and have soft protein leather ear cups for a comfortable feel. Reviewers rave about the sound quality, especially considering their price compared to some higher-end brands. You can buy these headphones in seven colors. According to our price trackers, these are 20% off.
Promising review: "We had previously purchased Tozo ear buds and were quite pleased with their sound quality and battery life. Since we were so impressed with the earbuds, we didn't hesitate to buy these Headphones. The quality is first rate and I haven't heard another headphone that sounds better. The battery life beats most of their competitors and I can't get over the high quality sound. The fact that you can use these connected by bluetooth or cord is a big bonus too!
For the price and quality, these are quite hard to beat! We've bought two so far.." — B. Williams
A premium option from a trusted audio brand
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Fully customize your music listening experience with these Bose headphones that offer full noise cancellation. You can set the bass, mid-range and treble levels to your preference and essentially create your own concert. They offer up to 24 hours of battery life.
Promising review: "I needed noise cancelling headphone for when I go into the office as it can be noisy there & it is hard to concentrate. So when I wear these headphones I don’t hear anything! And they really keep the charge for a long time which is terrific! And they are very comfortable to wear. And they come with a great case that is very portable for traveling. Highly recommend!" — tvgirl
A budget-friendly option with thousands of accolades
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
With active noise cancellation, high quality sound, strong bass and a whopping 40-hour playtime on a single charge, these headphones are a great budget option for wireless listening. They come in blue, black, pink and silver.
Promising review: "The sound is very clean and deep. It had extra bass if you like it and the noise canceling is amazing. I am impressed by the quality of sound and the price. Don’t think twice and get them. The headphones themselves are great made and good quality. They are also very comfortable around the ears with that super soft memory foam. I have buds but after a while they slide of my ear and make it sore so this is a much better choice." — Sara
These foldable JBL headphones with up to 70 hours of battery life
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
JBL's Tune 770NC headphones are lightweight, have adaptive noise canceling, can be folded up for easy transport and boast a seriously long battery life (up to 60 hours of continuous playtime, longer with speed charge). You can also choose preset EQ modes or adjust the EQ curve yourself using the JBL headphones app. The ear cups also have buttons to control the headphones, and have an aux cord if you ever prefer or need to listen with a wire. You can grab a pair of these in four colors.
Promising review: "I bought these headphones because ear buds don’t fit in my ears that great. The sound is so good for the price and the noise cancelation works really good too! I use mine everyday and love them! They are comfortable and charge quickly." — Tawn
A reviewer-approved set with a near-perfect star rating
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
These Beats wireless headphones offer noise cancellation and up to 22 hours of battery life. They even come with a carrying case so you can take them on the go to make calls, control music and use Siri.
Promising review: "I work in manufacturing and all other headphones or ear buds I have purchased didn't cancel out the loud machines. These headphones are amazing! The sound quality is great! Even sounds wonderful on a low volume so I can hear my music and the people around me. They are also very comfortable! They surround my ear instead of sitting on top and smashing them! Highly recommended!" — Kim
Apple’s luxury TikTok-viral headphones
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
The surprisingly stylish Apple AirPods Max headphones feature active noise cancellation, spatial audio and memory foam ear cushions for a comfortable fit. They come in five colors.
Promising review: "Love these headphones, the buds never fit in my ears properly so these over the ear are my favorite. I fly a few times a week for work and these are the best headphones on the plane. I never realized how loud the plane was until I turned the noise cancellation off mid flight just to see if it actually worked." — Jackie Griffith
A pair of headphones from a beloved brand with over 48,000 5-star reviews
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
These wireless Sony headphones have dual noise sensor technology, which uses two microphones on both ear cups to capture ambient noise. You can use the touch sensors on these headphones to control music playback and take calls. With up to 30 hours of battery life and a feature that pauses your music when you remove them from your ears, these headphones will instantly become your new favorites.
Promising review: "I’m very picky with headphones and I can never find any that don’t hurt my ears and head but THESE are amazing. The noise cancelling helps to isolate any noise and even without hearing anything they are perfect for people with anxiety. It really helps to concentrate even to sleep in. I love them and are worth the money." — SkylarG
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)