Insight Junction

By Kieran Kearey 09/1/26 16 min read

This post compares some of the best headphones on Amazon (based on information gathered between 02/1/26 and 08/1/26).

*Product details such as prices, discounts, category rank, reviews, etc may change over time. Additionally, I will earn a commission from the links in this post, at no cost to you*

*All pros and cons are based on findings from real customer reviews*

The headphones are ranked using a weighted score model. Each criterion (e.g., price, review amount and star rating number) has a different weight % that totals to 100%. The final score determines the ranking, and the highest score is “the best” headphone. For this post, I have decided that review amount is the most significant and so have weighted it at 50%, Price is 20% and Star rating is 30%.
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Sony MDR-ZX110 – £13

The weighted score model determined that these Sony headphones are “the best” option. They are £13, have 98,852 customer reviews, a 4.5 star customer rating, 68% of reviews are 5 star and 3% are 1 star. These headphones (apart from one more) have significantly more reviews than the rest, and it still holds a pretty good star rating.

Overall, customers say that these headphones have an excellent sound quality, are lightweight, comfortable, have a foldable design and are very affordable. Some customers are disappointed that the headphones are on-ear rather than over-ear, and there’s complaints that there’s not any sort of on controls on them.

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Pros:
– Excellent Sound Quality
– Outstanding Value
– Lightweight
– Comfortable
– Foldable Design
– Durable for everyday use
– No sound leakage
– Wired connection
– Compatible with PCs, laptops, phones, tablets, iPods, consoles

Cons:
– On-ear design
– Cable is relatively short
– Cable is thin
– No volume controls
– No mic
– No Bluetooth
– Not ideal for studio work
– Some units broke sooner than expected

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Sony WH-CH520 – £30.49

The weighted score model determined that these Sony headphones are the second “best” in the list. They are £30.49, have 36,818 customer reviews, a 4.6 star customer rating, 75% of reviews are 5 star and 3% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are pretty decent with comments commending how long the battery lasts, how comfortable they are, how good the sound quality is and how the app for it is easy to use. There are customer complaints about there being either no noise cancelling or no active noise cancelling. Furthermore, there were some complaints about the buttons being poorly designed and that there were durability issues in some cases.

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Pros:
– Outstanding battery life, lasting days
– Comfortable fit
– Excellent sound quality
– Great value for money
– Solid Bluetooth Connection
– Easy paring once app is installed
– Companion app is functional and easy to use
– Good noise isolation/noise cancelling
– Lightweight and sturdy
– Good adjustment range
– No cable required (wireless)
– Foldable
– Good passive noise isolation

Cons:
– Some customer complaints that there is either no noise cancelling at all, or no active noise cancelling
– Noise cancelling isn’t perfect, but its good for the price
– Over-ear/on-ear pressure can cause discomfort after very long sessions
– No wired option
– Button/touch controls are poorly designed
– Build materials not premium
– Tight on-ear fit for users with large ears or glasses
– Some durability issues reported
– Can’t be used while charging
– Compatibility issues reported

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Soundcore Q20i – £48.31

Next up, is the Soundcore Q20i. They are £48.31, have 49,183 customer reviews, a 4.6 star customer rating, 78% of reviews are 5 star and 2% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are good. Like the previous headphones, these are said to have an impressive battery life, along with lots of praise for how comfortable and durable they are. There are however some complaints about durability, sound quality and that the controls can be awkward.

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Pros:
– Excellent value for money
– Outstanding battery life (40hrs with ANC, 60hrs without ANC)
– Fast charging
– Impressive sound quality (Customisable EQ on app)
– Comfortable over-ear fit
– Dual-device Bluetooth connection
– Transparency/Ambient mode works well
– Easy Bluetooth pairing
– Wired AUX option
– Durable build for a budget headset
– Reliable brand

Cons:
– ANC disabled when using AUX cable
– Supplied AUX cable is low quality
– Microphone quality is average
– Physical power control requires long button press
– ANC not top-tier
– Not lightest headphones
– Controls are awkward
– Charging failures on some units
– Build quality issues on some units
– Some issues with sound quality

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Soundcore Q30 – £79.99

Next up, is the Soundcore Q30. They are £79.99, have 90,203 customer reviews, a 4.5 star customer rating, 72% of reviews are 5 star and 3% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are pretty decent. There’s a lot of pros with these headphones, like how comfortable they are, how good the build quality is considering that they are budget headphones, that the battery is great, and more. However, I was surprised how many issues were reported despite how much at least the 5 star reviewers praised them (This is assuming the reported issues are all genuine and true).

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Pros:
– Extremely comfortable
– Lightweight
– Excellent for sensory sensitivities
– Adjustable noise cancellation levels via app
– ANC reduces noise without total isolation
– Can use noise cancellation with no audio
– Great sound quality for the price
– Strong bass with customisable EQ
– Soundcore app is useful and intuitive
– Very fast and reliable Bluetooth connection
– Supports dual-device connection
– Wired mode available
– Outstanding battery life
– Comfortable even when wearing glasses
– Good build quality for a budget headset
– Solid accessories (carry case & cables)
– USB-C Fast charging
– Excellent value for money
– Effective transparency mode
– Easy pairing across phone, PC and TV
– Portable folding design

Cons:
– Issues with durability like headband & ear-cup hinges cracking easily & supposedly frequent breakages even with light use
– Wired mode has no volume control
– ANC not usable when wired
– Buttons are small and can be fiddly
– Touch/gesture controls not always obvious
– Ear cup material feels average to some users
– ANC not total silence
– ANC effectiveness varies by environment
– ANC behaviour inconsistent
– No clear low-battery warning
– Overlong voice prompts & annoying jingles
– Buttons poorly placed and hard to distinguish
– Touch sensor triggers accidentally
– Pauses other audio when other devices makes sounds
– Too loose for many users
– Poor microphone quality
– ANC & controls reported to be unusable in rain
– Transparency mode sounds artificial
– Supposedly not suitable for outdoor walking
– People say that reliability issues appear just after warranty ends

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LORELEI X6 – £15.99

Next up, is the LORELEI X6. They are £15.99, have 16,082 customer reviews, a 4.3 star customer rating, 65% of reviews are 5 star and 6% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are decent. Customers praise these headphones for it’s comfortable fit, simplicity to use, folding and lightweight design, clear and loud sound, and more. However, these are lower rated than the previously listed headphones, with a lower amount of 5 star reviews and a higher amount of 1 star reviews. There seems to be a fair bit of issue with these headphones, with customers saying that they have poor durability, inconsistent sound quality, poor microphone quality, that it’s uncomfortable for many users and that people with large heads find it too small. I personally would not have listed these headphones so high, but because of the very low price and slightly higher customer review amount, the weighted score determined it was one of the better headphones.

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Pros:
– Excellent value for money
– Comfortable fit
– Lightweight
– Clear, loud sound
– Simple plug-and-play
– No battery required
– Good cable length
– Folds for portability
– Sturdy enough for daily use
– Suitable for TV, Laptop, Phone, MP3 Players
– Comfortable for hearing aid users

Cons:
– Poor durability
– Inconsistent sound quality
– Uncomfortable for many users
– Microphone quality poor
– Cable issues
– Sound leakage at moderate volumes
– Common failure point where ear cup meets headband
– Not suitable for adults with large heads

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OneOdio Wired – £34.99

Next, is the OneOdio. They are £34.99, have 18,110 customer reviews, a 4.4 star customer rating, 68% of reviews are 5 star and 3% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are pretty good. Although 5 star reviews are a bit lower than some of the other headphones, customers praise these quite a bit by saying they’re very comfortable, are wearable for long sessions, have multiple cables included, have really good sound quality for the price, are simple to set up, and more. There are also a good amount of complaints like poor build quality, cable issues, poor sound, very poor noise isolation, sound leakage, ears hurting quickly after use, etc.

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Pros:
– Outstanding sound quality for the price
– Punchy bass with clear mids and highs
– Very comfortable fit
– Lightweight and wearable for long sessions
– Works well with TV, PC, consoles and audio interfaces
– Good noise isolation for wired headphones
– Excellent value for money
– Includes multiple detachable cables (3.5mm & 6.3mm)
– Long cables ideal for instruments and home setups
– Wide headband adjustment
– Sound leakage minimal when worn
– Simple, plug and play
– No charging
– No pairing

Cons:
– Swivel joints frustrate users
– Complaints of poor build quality
– Hinges prone to squeaking, cracking or snapping
– Cable faults common
– Sound quality inconsistent
– Significant sound leakage
– Very poor noise isolation
– Ears hurt after some use
– No onboard volume control
– Uncomfortable for glass wearers
– “Hi-Res” branding widely criticised as misleading

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KVIDIO – £16.99/£19.99

Next up is the KVIDIO. They are £16.99 with Prime Membership and £19.99 without, have 13,279 customer reviews, a 4.5 star customer rating, 72% of reviews are 5 star and 3% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are fairly decent. Again, there’s tonnes of praise from the 72% 5 star reviewers that comment about the headphones’ excellent sound quality for the price, its soft ear padding, outstanding battery life, simple controls, and more. There are lots of supposed drawbacks highlighted by the 3% 1 star reviewers and other remaining reviewers, like the buttons are too close together and are poorly designed, that the headphones cause pain and discomfort, along with ears getting hot after short use, poor build quality, issues with volume randomly going almost silent, and more.

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Pros:
– Excellent sound quality for the price
– Impressive bass and clear audio
– Speech/dialogue clarity praised
– Very easy Bluetooth pairing
– Stable connection with no dropouts
– Works with phones, tablets, TVs, PS5
– Outstanding battery life
– Comfortable for long listening sessions
– Thick, soft ear padding
– Fits both small and large heads
– Lightweight design
– Good passive noise isolation
– Stylish, sleek appearance
– Simple controls
– Includes wired option
– Suitable for older users/tech beginners

Cons:
– Very poor build quality
– Common failures at hinges and earcup joints
– Headphones snap under light tension
– Fall off the head easily
– Volume randomly drops to near silence
– Crackling and audio distortion over time
– One side frequently stops working
– Microphone often fails or stops working quickly
– Bluetooth connection unreliable for some devices
– Pairing issues with TVs and other Bluetooth devices
– Sound becomes muffled
– Treble lacks clarity
– Battery life inconsistent
– Some units require daily charging
– Uncomfortable for long listening sessions
– Ears become hot after short use
– Causes ear pain, pressure or fatigue
– Buttons poorly designed and hard to locate
– Controls too close together

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Marshall Major IV – £73.49

Next up is the Marshall Major IV. They are £73.49, have 18,026 customer reviews, a 4.6 star customer rating, 79% of reviews are 5 star and 3% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are pretty good. These headphones have the highest percentage of 5 star reviewers out of the headphones reviewed so far. Pros reported by customers include: comfortable for long sessions, durable build quality, phenomenal battery life, fast charging, good passive noise isolation, strong wireless range, lightweight design, and more. There were also a lot of issues reported by the smaller percentage reviewers, like: earpieces break at swivel joint, one ear stops working, controls are confusing and poorly placed, no active noise cancelling, quality control issues, etc.

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Pros:
– Rich, well balanced audio
– Excellent sound quality with clear mids and highs
– Punchy bass without overpowering
– Phenomenal battery life
– Fast charging
– Very comfortable for long sessions
– Lightweight design
– Fits small and large heads well
– Good padding on earcups and headband
– Easy and reliable Bluetooth connection
– Stable connection with phones, TVs, tablets and PCs
– Strong wireless range
– Built-in microphone works well for calls
– Clear call quality
– Foldable and compact for travel
– Durable build quality
– Looks premium
– Good passive noise isolation
– Loud maximum volume
– Simple and intuitive controls
– Reliable long-term use (multiple years reported)
– Replaceable ear pads
– Water resistant in light rain

Cons:
– Very poor build quality
– Flimsy plastic frame
– Headband and joints snap easily
– Common fault: One ear stops working
– Earpieces break at swivel joints
– Not durable for long term use
– Multiple reports of failure within weeks or months
– Battery stops charging after short ownership
– Wireless function fails unexpectedly
– Headphones become completely unresponsive
– Bluetooth connection frequently drops or fails
– Won’t pair with some devices
– Volume fluctuations and crackling noises
– Distortion at higher volumes
– Sound can be muffled or muddy
– Sound leakage is noticeable
– Bass can be overpowering and fatiguing
– Microphone quality is poor
– Mic often stops working entirely
– Slides off head easily
– On-ear design cause pain
– Ears become hot and sweaty quickly
– Uncomfortable for long listening sessions
– Not ideal for sensitive ears
– Awkward ear-cup shape
– Controls are confusing and poorly placed
– Control knob hard to use accurately
– Frequent low-battery warning beeps
– No active noise cancellation
– Not water resistant
– Noise isolation causes ear heat build-up
– Quality control issues
– Overpriced for the build quality
– Some units arrived opened or used

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Uliptz – £17.99

Next up is the Uliptz headphones. They are £17.99, have 12,563 customer reviews, a 4.6 star customer rating, 73% of reviews are 5 star and 2% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are decent. These headphones have a high star rating at 4.6 and 1 star reviewers are at 2%. Users praise these headphones for their low price, controls being easy to use, excellent battery life, fast charging, compact and foldable design, good durability, and more. However, the other reviewers have complaints about poor sound quality (muffled and dull), random disconnections, Bluetooth paring issues, poor build quality, confusing/fiddly buttons, etc.

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Pros:
– Very low price for the performance
– Surprisingly good sound quality
– Great for spoken audio
– Loud enough without max volume
– Lightweight design
– Very comfortable to wear
– Adjustable fit
– Comfortable for long listening sessions
– Stable Bluetooth connection
– Very easy Bluetooth pairing
– Controls easy to use
– Responsive buttons
– Works well both wired and wireless
– Low audio delay for casual use
– Excellent battery life
– Fast charging
– Good noise isolation for on-ear headphones
– Compact and foldable
– Durable for budget headphones
– Survives drops and rough handling
– Clean, simple design

Cons:
– Sound quality often described as dull or muffled
– Lack of clarity
– Music sounds flat or lifeless
– Poor EQ presets
– Voice prompts interrupt listening
– Sound distortion at high volume
– Sound leakage at both low and high volumes
– Buzzing or crackling with bass
– Poor noise isolation/no ANC
– Bluetooth pairing issues
– Random disconnections
– Beeping noises with no fix
– Controls can be fiddly or confusing
– Power/volume buttons hard to locate
– Some units won’t charge or power on
– Headphones stop working after weeks or months
– Earpieces snapping or detaching
– Comfort drops during long sessions
– Size too large or poor for small heads
– Limited wireless range
– Volume too quiet for some users
– Noise cancelling described as ineffective
– Water resistance is poor
– No mic/poor mic quality for calls
– Battery failures after a few months

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JBL Tune 720 BT – £37.70

The last on the list is the JBL Tune 720 BT headphones. They are £37.70, have 14,049 customer reviews, a 4.5 star customer rating, 77% of reviews are 5 star and 4% are 1 star reviews.

Overall, customers say that these headphones are decent. These headphones have a good amount of reviews, are fairly highly rated and customers praise them a lot. Some praise included: Comfortable over-ear design, durable feel, stable Bluetooth connection, lightweight, etc. However, like the other headphones, there is a lot of issue reported by the other reviewers: Frequent durability issues, charging port failures, maximum volume too low, comfort issues for long sessions, and more.

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Pros:
– Fast charging
– Excellent sound quality for the price
– Strong, punch bass with good clarity
– Sound can be tuned with JBL app
– Comfortable over-ear design
– Lightweight
– Suitable for long listening sessions
– Good noise cancelling for the price
– Clear calls and hands-free functionality
– Easy and quick setup
– Stable, fast Bluetooth connection
– Well-built and durable feel
– Connects seamlessly to phones, tablets, and laptops

Cons:
– Frequent durability issues
– Headphones often stop powering on
– Battery drain even when switched off
– Charging port failures
– One earcup commonly stops working
– Buzzing, static, or crackling sounds
– Audio cutting in and out
– Bass often described as weak or inconsistent
– Maximum volume too low
– Sound can feel dull or unbalanced
– Poor sound separation
– Bluetooth range is limited
– Connection issues with TVs and PCs
– JBL app not compatible with Windows
– Sound leaks externally at moderate volumes
– Comfort issues for long sessions
– Buttons feel cheap or unresponsive
– Headphones can randomly power off
– Build quality below expectations for the brand

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