The Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones are decent mixed usage headphones. They're comfortable for long listening sessions and have a good build quality that should last you a while. However, their sound is a little on the warmer side, which will be better suited for bass fans and won't be ideal for vocal-centric music. On the upside, they have a robust control scheme with two touch-sensitive cups and great dials that are easy to use. They're also good for commuting and the office.
Our Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Headphones are decent for mixed usage. They have a warm sound profile suitable for bass-heavy genres but not ideal for vocal-centric music. Their wireless design paired with a good ANC feature makes them a good choice for commuting and traveling if you don’t mind the slightly bulky over-ear design. They're also stable enough for sports if you don’t mind the extra sweat. They're comfortable to wear during long listening sessions at work and don’t leak too much. However, they have too much latency for watching TV and gaming, but you can use the included audio cable to get rid of it.
- Comfortable design.
- Easy-to-use and complete control scheme.
- Amazing wireless range.
- Subpar microphone for making calls.
- Warm and bass-heavy sound signature.
The Microsoft Surface Headphones are fair for neutral sound. They have an overemphasized bass and low-mid ranges, making mixes boomy and cluttered and won’t be ideal for vocal-centric music. Their treble is also veiled, meaning vocals and instruments lack presence and detail. However, you can customize the sound profile a bit with the 5-band EQ in the Surface Audio app, but overall they sound warm and might be better suited for fans of bass.
The Microsoft Surface Headphones are good for commuting and traveling. They have a good ANC feature that reduces engine rumbles by quite a lot, but they're a bit bulky since they're over-ears. If you don’t mind their size, they're a good option for your daily commute. They're also quite comfortable for long flights, but the shallow cups might not be a good fit for everyone.
The Microsoft Surface Headphones are decent for sports. They're fairly lightweight and stable for sports, but their over-ear design might not be the most breathable option for physical activity, and you can expect more sweating than usual while wearing them. However, their bass-heavy sound signature will get you pumped during workouts.
The Microsoft Surface Headphones are decent for office use. Their 13-hour battery life will last you a whole work day, and they're comfortable for long listening sessions. Their ANC feature isolates a good amount of ambient chatter and will let you focus on your tasks without disturbing people surrounding you, thanks to their good leakage performance. They also have great wireless range if you leave your desk often, and they can also connect to two devices simultaneously, which is convenient.
The Microsoft Surface Headphones are sub-par for gaming. They're comfortable headphones, but their sound quality isn’t the best and might sound too boomy. Also, they're Bluetooth headphones with too much latency for gaming, and their integrated mic is sub-par. However, if you use them wired, you’ll get rid of latency issues and will be able to use the better performing in-line microphone.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 16, 2020: We've corrected the test results for talk-through control.
- Updated May 06, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Microsoft Surface Headphones are fairly versatile closed-back over-ears that bass-heavy genres fans should like. They're comfortable headphones for long listening sessions and are well-built. Their sound signature is on the warm side and might not be ideal for vocal-centric music, but they have a 5-band EQ inside the Surface Audio app. They also have a good ANC feature but don’t isolate as well as other premium ANC headphones. However, what sets them apart is their easy-to-use and complete touch-sensitive control scheme with dials on each cup for volume and ANC control, which is very convenient.
See our recommendations for the best wireless headphones and the best noise cancelling headphones.
The Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones are similar for mixed usage to the Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless, but both take the edge in different categories. The Microsoft are more comfortable for long listening sessions, have a better control scheme, and deliver audio more consistently. On the other hand, the Bowers & Wilkins are high-end headphones with a premium build quality and slightly more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also isolate more ambient noise, especially at lower frequencies. This is useful for commuting. They also have a great 25-hour battery life.
The Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones are better for bass fans, while the Beats Studio3 Wireless have a more neutral sound quality with a not-so-veiled treble range. The Microsoft have a better and more complete control scheme that is satisfying to use. However, the feedback is better on the physical buttons of the Beats, but you get limited controls. Also, the Microsoft have better noise isolation performance and have about half of the Beats' battery life.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones. The Bose have a more neutral and well-balanced sound profile, are one of the most comfortable headphones we’ve reviewed to date. The Bose also have a much better ANC feature. However, they don’t have the satisfying touch-sensitive control scheme of the Microsoft, they leak more audio, and don’t have any EQ options in their dedicated companion app like the Microsoft.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are better headphones than the Microsoft Surface Wireless Headphones. The Sony are better-built headphones that have a better-balanced sound profile and superior ANC. Overall, the XM3s are more versatile and more customizable thanks to the great companion app. On the other hand, the Surface Headphones have a more complete control scheme and longer wireless range.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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