5 Budget Noise Cancelling Headphones Compared
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Budget noise cancelling headphones can look similar when you are choosing a pair before a flight or a day of cafe work. A lighter pair may take more space in your bag, while a longer battery figure may refer to listening with ANC off. These five over-ear models give you different compromises.
Quick answer
Checked on 19 October 2026. For a long journey, Space Q45 offers a protective case and 50 claimed hours with ANC on. For a day bag, compare Space One's folding design and pouch with JBL Tune 770NC's flat folding, while considering JBL's small cushions. Q20i offers dual connection and AUX. Sony WH-CH720N is the lightest among the models with a published weight at about 192 g, but it does not fold flat.
All 5 picks at a glance
Soundcore Q20i Hybrid ANC Headphones
Soundcore Q20i pairs a claimed 40 hours with ANC on with two-device connection and a 3.5 mm AUX cable. Read more
Soundcore Space One ANC Headphones
Soundcore Space One weighs 265 g, folds for packing and includes a travel pouch. Read more
Soundcore Space Q45 Adaptive ANC Headphones
Soundcore Space Q45 claims 50 hours with ANC on and includes a protective case. Read more
Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony WH-CH720N weighs about 192 g and connects to two devices, but does not fold flat. Read more
JBL Tune 770NC Noise Cancelling Headphones
JBL Tune 770NC folds flat and claims 44 hours with ANC on, with a fit caveat around its small cushions. Read more
How we compared them
Packing headphones for a trip means weighing battery life against bag space. The NomadsToolsLab team compared Soundcore and JBL product pages, Sony's official help guide and Amazon US pages using a US address on 19 October 2026, alongside SoundGuys battery measurements and RTINGS findings. ANC-on and ANC-off battery figures differ. Sony has the lowest published weight in this comparison, but does not fold flat. Q20i's weight is not listed on its maker's page.
What matters on a plane: ANC, battery, folding and weight
Manufacturer noise-reduction percentages and dB figures from different measurement methods do not establish an objective ranking across these headphones. Soundcore claims up to 90% noise reduction for Q20i and up to 98% for the Space models. Sony states that its noise cancelling mainly addresses low frequencies and does not cancel noise completely.
Weight matters when carrying headphones, while folding matters when packing them. Sony is the lightest among the models with a published weight at about 192 g, but its cups rotate without folding flat. Space One, Space Q45 and JBL Tune 770NC fold. Soundcore does not list a weight or say whether the Q20i folds on its Q20i page.
The five side by side
| Headphones | Battery ANC on (maker) | Weight | Folds | Two devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundcore Q20i | Battery ANC on (maker): 40 h | Weight: Not listed | Folds: Not listed | Two devices: Yes |
| Soundcore Space One | Battery ANC on (maker): 40 h | Weight: 265 g | Folds: Yes | Two devices: Yes |
| Soundcore Space Q45 | Battery ANC on (maker): 50 h | Weight: 292 g | Folds: Yes | Two devices: Yes |
| Sony WH-CH720N | Battery ANC on (maker): 35 h | Weight: About 192 g | Folds: No, cups rotate | Two devices: Yes |
| JBL Tune 770NC | Battery ANC on (maker): 44 h | Weight: 232 g | Folds: Yes, flat | Two devices: Yes |
Battery and weight are the makers' own figures, read on 19 October 2026 on the pages of Soundcore Q20i, Space One, Space Q45, Sony's help guide and JBL; folding for the Sony from SoundGuys and RTINGS.
Soundcore Q20i: dual connection and a wired option
Soundcore Q20i Hybrid ANC Headphones
The Soundcore Q20i claims 40 hours of listening with ANC on and 60 hours in normal mode. Soundcore lists Bluetooth 5.0, 40 mm drivers and hybrid ANC that reduces noise by up to 90%. That percentage is the maker's claim.
Switching between a laptop and phone is where dual connection can help, as it lets you connect two devices. A 3.5 mm AUX cable is also included. Soundcore does not list a weight or say whether the Q20i folds on its Q20i page, so those packing details remain unresolved.
Soundcore Space One: folding cups and a travel pouch
Soundcore Space One ANC Headphones
The Soundcore Space One claims 40 hours with ANC on and 55 hours with it off. SoundGuys measured 42 hours 57 minutes with ANC on. Soundcore also states that a five-minute charge provides four hours of listening.
The ear cups rotate and fold, and a travel pouch is included. Multipoint and AUX-in provide wireless and wired connection options, while RTINGS lists LDAC support. Soundcore's adaptive ANC claim of up to 98% less noise comes from its own lab.
Soundcore Space Q45: longer claimed ANC battery life
Soundcore Space Q45 Adaptive ANC Headphones
The Soundcore Space Q45 claims 50 hours with ANC on and 65 hours with it off. SoundGuys measured 55 hours 48 minutes. Keep the manufacturer figures and the independent measurement separate when comparing them.
At 292 g, it is heavier than Space One, Sony and JBL in this comparison. It folds and includes a protective case, with multipoint, LDAC and AUX-in also listed. Soundcore claims adaptive ANC reduces noise by up to 98%, which remains a manufacturer claim.
Sony WH-CH720N: lower weight with a packing tradeoff
Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Headphones
The Sony WH-CH720N offers up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on and up to 50 hours off, according to Sony's help guide. SoundGuys measured 40 hours 11 minutes with ANC on. Sony says a three-minute charge gives about 60 minutes of listening.
Sony lists Bluetooth 5.2, SBC and AAC, connection to two devices and an included wired cable. SoundGuys and RTINGS report that the cups rotate but the headphones do not fold flat. Sony says noise cancelling works mainly on low frequencies and that noise is not completely cancelled.
JBL Tune 770NC: flat folding with a fit caveat
JBL Tune 770NC Noise Cancelling Headphones
The JBL Tune 770NC claims 44 hours with ANC on and 70 hours with it off. JBL lists a five-minute charge for three hours of listening, with a full charge taking two hours over USB-C. Its listed weight is 232 g.
JBL lists adaptive noise cancelling, Ambient Aware, TalkThru, Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint and a detachable audio cable. The headphones fold flat. JBL calls them over-ear, while RTINGS describes small cushions with an on-ear style fit and weaker isolation of low rumble.
Choose around weight, packing and ANC battery life
For a long journey, Space Q45's protective case and longer claimed ANC-on battery life may suit your packing priorities. For a day bag, Space One offers folding cups and a pouch. Sony has the lowest published weight, but needs room for its non-flat-folding design. Q20i offers dual connection and an included AUX cable, with weight and folding details unresolved.
JBL's flat folding is another option for a day bag, though RTINGS' findings on small cushions and weaker low-rumble isolation deserve attention when choosing for flights. Compare ANC-on battery figures separately from ANC-off figures. Use the separate earbuds guide if you want an alternative to over-ear headphones. Want the top models instead? See our guide to the best noise cancelling headphones for remote workers, or the best noise cancelling earbuds if you prefer something smaller.
- Space Q45 has the longest claimed ANC-on battery life here at 50 hours.
- Sony is the lightest among the models with a published weight at about 192 g, but does not fold flat.
- Manufacturer noise-reduction percentages do not establish a shared ranking across these five models.
- JBL folds flat, but RTINGS flags small cushions and weaker low-rumble isolation.
Watch: budget noise cancelling headphones compared
Tech Bee's video from 17 May 2026 includes Sony WH-CH720N, Soundcore Q45 and JBL Tune 770NC. It provides another comparison to accompany the specifications above.
Video by Tech Bee.
Technical Earbuds published a technical comparison of Soundcore Space Q45 and Sony WH-CH720N on 18 February 2026. It focuses on those two models if they are your final shortlist.
Video by Technical Earbuds.
FAQ
Which model has the longest claimed battery life with ANC on?
Soundcore Space Q45 leads these five with a manufacturer claim of 50 hours with ANC on. SoundGuys measured 55 hours 48 minutes for that model.
Which headphones are the lightest here?
Sony WH-CH720N is the lightest among the models with a published weight at about 192 g. JBL Tune 770NC weighs 232 g, Space One weighs 265 g and Space Q45 weighs 292 g. Q20i cannot be included in that weight ranking because Soundcore does not list its weight on the Q20i page.
Which models fold for packing?
Space One and Space Q45 fold, and JBL Tune 770NC folds flat. Sony's cups rotate, but the headphones do not fold flat. Soundcore does not say whether the Q20i folds on its Q20i page.
Will these headphones cancel all noise on a flight?
Do not expect complete silence. Sony explicitly says noise is not completely cancelled, and Soundcore's percentage claims are manufacturer figures. RTINGS also reports weaker low-rumble isolation for JBL Tune 770NC.
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