As someone who uses the Sony WH-1000XM5 daily, I approached the Edifier ES850NB with a healthy dose of scepticism. Sony’s flagship headphones are widely regarded as the gold standard for wireless ANC over-ear headphones, and I’ve grown used to their exceptional noise cancellation, intuitive controls, and rich sound profile. But the ES850NB, priced significantly lower at around £100-150, promised a lot: Hi-Res Audio certification, LDAC support, hybrid ANC, and a staggering 92-hour battery life. So I spent a week with them — commuting, working, and relaxing — and you know what? They aren’t half bad for the money.
The ES850NB are surprisingly premium-looking for their price. I tested the grey/black-coloured version, which has a soft matte finish that resists fingerprints and feels more refined than expected. The earcups are generously padded with protein leather and memory foam, and while they do get a little warm after extended use, they’re comfortable enough for long listening sessions. At 265g, they’re slightly heavier than my WH-1000XM5 (250g), but I didn’t notice any fatigue even after several hours.
The headband is well-padded enough for my balding pate, though not memory foam, and the earcups swivel and fold for easy storage. One minor gripe: the L/R indicators are tiny and hard to spot, engraved in the same colour as the body — but then again, I don’t think the Sony’s have any at all. It’s a small usability miss, but once you know the controls are on the right side, it’s easy to remember.
This is where the ES850NB shows its budget roots. The plastic around the headband extension feels a bit flimsy, and when stretched, small gaps appear near the arms. It doesn’t feel like it would break immediately, but it lacks the reassuring solidity of the WH-1000XM5, which uses more refined materials and a sleeker, more modern design. The extension arms on the Edifier also have a dated look, reminiscent of older headphone models.
Sonically, the ES850NB punches well above its weight. The 40mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers deliver a balanced sound profile with clear mids and vocals, decent bass, and highs that can occasionally lean sharp. It supports LDAC and SBC codecs, which means you can get near-lossless audio if your device supports it. Compared to the WH-1000XM5, the Edifier lacks the same depth and warmth — especially in the low end — but it’s still a very enjoyable listen, particularly for podcasts, acoustic music, and general media consumption.
Sony’s tuning is more refined, with better separation and a wider soundstage — but you’d expect all that for something at least twice the price. The WH-1000XM5 also handles complex tracks with more nuance, and its adaptive sound control and EQ settings (via the Headphones Connect app) are more advanced than Edifier’s ConneX app, which offers basic customization.
The ES850NB features hybrid ANC rated up to -45dB, which is impressive on paper. In practice, it’s effective at blocking out low-frequency hums — like air conditioning or train noise — but less so with higher-pitched sounds. It’s not quite on par with Sony’s industry-leading ANC, which adapts dynamically to your environment and offers near-silence in most conditions. Still, for the price, Edifier’s ANC is very respectable and more than adequate for commuting or office use.
This is where the ES850NB absolutely shines. Edifier claims up to 92 hours of playback with ANC off and 53 hours with ANC on. In my testing, I got about 50 hours with ANC on and moderate volume — very close to the advertised figure. That’s nearly double the WH-1000XM5, which tops out at around 30 hours with ANC on. Fast charging is also excellent: 15 minutes gives you about ten hours of playback, which is ideal for travel or last-minute top-ups from a power bank.
Controls are physical buttons on the right earcup — easy to use and responsive. There’s also a Touch-to-Chat feature: hold your hand over the right earcup to pause audio and let in ambient sound. It works well, though there’s a slight delay compared to Sony’s instant response. Multipoint Bluetooth (v5.4) is supported, allowing seamless switching between devices, and the headphones can be used wired via USB-C, though this disables Bluetooth mode. The built-in mic uses AI noise cancellation for calls. It’s fine for short conversations, but the mic quality isn’t as crisp or reliable as Sony’s, especially in noisy environments.
Where I do prefer the ES850NB is in some of its automated features (or lack of.) Even after almost a year of use, I struggle to get my Sony’s setup to understand when I want ANC vs when I don’t. There’s a button on them, but even when I “force” ANC on, the Sony will sometimes override it for noises like the lawnmower – which it thinks is traffic. The Edifiers don’t do this, and I found myself having a less frustrating time with them on occasion.
The foldable design and included case make the ES850NB easy to carry, and the long battery life means you can go days without charging. They’re ideal for travel, work, or casual listening. Compared to the WH-1000XM5, which has a more rigid, non-folding design, the Edifier wins on portability. However, Sony’s case is slimmer and more elegant, and the overall experience—from pairing to app integration — is smoother.
The Edifier ES850NB is a compelling alternative to premium ANC headphones, especially if you’re budget-conscious. They don’t quite match the sonic finesse, build quality, or ANC performance of the Sony WH-1000XM5, but they come surprisingly close in many areas — and even surpass Sony in battery life and portability. If you’re looking for a solid pair of over-ear headphones with great sound, effective ANC, and marathon battery life, the ES850NB are easy to recommend. They’re not a direct replacement for the WH-1000XM5 or perhaps other class-leaders that I haven’t tried, but they’re a fantastic second pair — or a first for someone who wants flagship features without the flagship price.
The Edifier ES850NB is available on the Edifier site.
