Edifier ES850NB Headphones Review: Meet the King of Comfort

Edifier ES850NB Headphones Review: Blending style, ease of wear, and powerful performance without breaking the bank.

{Tech} for Travel

When it comes to personal audio, Edifier has built a reputation for delivering well-designed headphones at prices that often undercut the bigger household names.

In 2023, the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 marked a significant step up, featuring planar magnetic drivers and audiophile-grade tuning. It demonstrated that Edifier could compete in the premium space, even though the price positioned it outside the brand’s traditional value segment. Then came the Edifier W820NB ANC, a lightweight over-ear option that blended accessibility, long listening stamina, and active noise cancelling.

Fast forward to 2025, and Edifier has unveiled the ES Series, a new collection designed to merge high-fidelity sound with modern styling. The range includes the ES20, ES60, and ES300 speakers, as well as the exceptionally comfortable ES850NB Over-Ear Wireless Headphones.

Edifier has positioned the ES850NB Over-Ear Headphones as the flagship wearable in its new ES Series, pairing refined styling with a spec sheet that prioritises practicality. They don’t just look the part; the engineering has been tuned to strike a balance between sound quality, battery life, and long-term wearability.

Inside each earcup is a 40mm dynamic driver with a titanium-coated composite diaphragm, engineered to produce a balanced sound profile with improved detail across bass, mids, and highs. The headphones carry both Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless certification, ensuring support for high-fidelity playback. With LDAC, listeners can stream up to three times the data rate of standard Bluetooth audio, while AAC and SBC maintain compatibility across other devices.

Noise control is another central feature. The ES850NB features a hybrid active noise-cancelling system that can reduce external sounds by up to –45dB. Ideal for travel. Alongside ANC, users can switch to Ambient Sound Mode to let external audio filter through, or run in Standard Mode when noise reduction isn’t needed. Calls are supported by AI noise reduction technology, designed to improve speech clarity during conversations.

Battery performance is one of the biggest upgrades. The ES850NB provides up to 92 hours of playback time with ANC disabled, or approximately 53 hours with ANC enabled. Charging is handled via USB-C, providing users with long-lasting stamina suitable for extended trips without the need for constant recharging.

At 265 grams, the ES850NB are lightweight for the class. The foldable earcups feature memory foam ear cushions wrapped in skin-friendly leather, paired with a generous headband padding, making them easier to wear for long periods. A hard-shell travel case is included for extra protection.

Wireless performance is powered by Bluetooth 5.4, offering stable connectivity and multipoint pairing, which allows two devices, such as a laptop and smartphone, to remain connected simultaneously.

Controls consist of physical earcup buttons and the Edifier ConneX mobile app. Available on iOS and Android, the app enables ANC adjustments, EQ customisation, firmware updates, and battery monitoring.

Touch-to-Chat lowers the playback volume and activates external microphones when you want to talk, without needing to remove the headphones.

At launch, the ES850NB Headphones will be available in Black, Ivory White, Brown, and Pink.

I’ve spent the entire summer with these headphones to give them a proper workout. For this Edifier ES850NB Headphones Review, I took them on a handful of flights and an intra-Europe rail trip, along with plenty of daily use.

That mix of travel and routine listening gave me a clear picture of how they perform in real-world situations, from noisy stations and aircraft cabins to long days working at my desk.

The result?

A pair of headphones that impress in some areas, fall slightly short in others, but ultimately prove themselves a dependable travel companion.

When it comes to sound, the ES850NB sits in an interesting middle ground. When I first put on the ES850NB headphones, the sound struck me as well-balanced. There’s enough bass to give the music a bit of punch, but it doesn’t overpower.

Voices and instruments still come through clearly, and the higher notes don’t get lost or feel harsh. In practice, that means I could switch from a bass-heavy playlist to a podcast or an acoustic album without needing to tweak the EQ; everything stayed clear and enjoyable.

Where it felt less convincing was with the active noise cancellation, which was good but not great. In quieter spaces, it effectively reduces hums and chatter, but on planes and trains, the system lets more noise through than some of the other high-end headphones.

Still, the hybrid ANC paired with Ambient Sound Mode gave me the flexibility to adapt.

If I had to pick one standout feature, it would be the wearability. The memory foam ear cushions felt like they had been designed especially for my head type and size. They moulded gently without clamping too tightly.

I never felt the need to take them off for relief, and the leather wrapping also adds a premium touch that was very soft on the skin and far less sweaty than synthetic alternatives.

In the summer heat, these headphones proved impressively breathable for an over-ear model and were far easier to wear than other, more expensive options. Many headsets I’ve used start to feel heavy after a few hours of use, but the ES850NB headphones stayed light enough to forget I was even wearing them.

It’s genuinely one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones I’ve tested.

Battery life is another area where the ES850NB really delivered. Edifier’s claim of 53 hours with ANC on held up in my use, with the headphones regularly lasting over a week before needing a charge.

On longer trips, they gave me peace of mind because I didn’t have to hunt for a power outlet every day.

While I never measured out the full 92 hours claimed, it was clear the stamina was in that ballpark. For most travellers, that number is more of a “nice to have” as they will seldom use these headphones without ANC.

But even at 53 hours, this kind of endurance is a game-changer. And with USB-C charging, even if you do need a top-up, you’ll have a cable on hand anyway!

Practicality is well thought out, with the folding mechanism being both smooth and sturdy. The included hard-shell travel case feels premium and looks as good as any other in this price range.

There is only one way to fold and insert the headphones into the case with the ’empty’ corner left purposely so the expandable pocket on the inner lid has room to hold the included USB charging cable without pressing against the earcups.

I liked how compact they became once folded, and overall, the case was easy to travel with, even in a packed backpack where bag space is tight.

The companion Edifier ConneX app is available on both Android and iOS and ties the experience together.

Switching between ANC modes and sound effects is presented to you the moment you open the app, keeping it clean and straightforward to use. Tapping into my user profile then allowed me to make EQ adjustments, which provided the sound with a little more punch when needed.

I’ve always appreciated that Edifier keeps its app simple, no bloated menus, just the core functions you actually use.

And when you do want more control over the ES850NB headphones, the settings panel provides button configuration, feedback volume, and even a “Find My Product” option, in case you mislay your headphones. However, you still need to be within Bluetooth range of them.

As someone who reviews headphones for a living, I have the benefit of having used both the best and worst ANC headphones available. The Edifier ES850NB sit somewhere in the middle for Active Noise Cancellation, which is one of the most important factors for travellers.

It’s fair to say that if these are your first foray into the ANC market, then they’ll blow you away, but if you’re a seasoned user, you will find them lacking.

However, what they lacked in overall ANC performance, they more than made up for in comfort.

Some headphones are double the price of the ES850NB’s, and are far more uncomfortable to wear for anything longer than a movie. Edifier has really nailed the padding and engineering around the headband and earcups.

Features	Edifier ES850NB
Dimensions	195x168x80mm
Weight	265 g
Colour Options	Black Ivory White Brown Pink
Driver	40 mm Dynamic Titanium-Coated Composite Diaphragm
Codec Support	LDAC AAC SBC
Modes	Noise Cancellation High/Medium/Off Ambient Sound Wind Reduction
Features	Hybrid ANC (up to −45 dB Reduction) Touch-to-Chat Quick Talk AI Call Noise Reduction Hi-Res Audio & Hi-Res Wireless Certified
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4 Multipoint Connection USB-C
Battery	Up to 92 hrs (ANC Off) Up to 53 hrs (ANC On) USB-C Charging
App Support	Android iOS
What’s in the Box	ES850NB Headphones Hard-Shell Travel Case USB-C Charging Cable User Manual
Website	edifier.com

The Edifier ES850NB Over-Ear Headphones are priced at $169/£149 and are available at edifier.com and local Amazon stores.