Surface Headphones 2
Wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones
Should you buy it??
Check closely
based on 3 of 5 signals
Quick take
In short: what each side says
AI · critics · buyers · brand claims — each opened up in full further down ↓
A comfortable, well-designed headphone with intuitive dial controls and solid features that competes respectably but falls short of the noise-cancelling leaders from Sony and Bose.
Owners praise audio quality and noise cancellation, but are divided by oversensitive touch controls, durability concerns, and inconsistent reliability.
The juries are split — worth a closer look before you commit.
The verdict
What the panel makes of it.
Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 are wireless over-ear headphones. Released in 2019, designed by Microsoft. They feature thirteen levels of active noise cancellation. Professionals and remote workers buy them to reduce distractions during calls. AI assistants currently rank them eighth for best headphones for calls.
Act one
What the machines think.
Several AI models read the category and place this product — model by model, list by list, over time.
Rank trajectory?
Weeks of movement.
Act two · ★ new
What the people say.
The same product, judged by the owners who bought and filmed it — what they praise, what they knock, who it's for.
Video reviews?
What reviewers actually say.
AI summary of 5 reviews · as of Jun 2026
A comfortable, well-designed headphone with intuitive dial controls and solid features that competes respectably but falls short of the noise-cancelling leaders from Sony and Bose.
Where reviewers disagree: Clamping force divides opinion: some appreciate the secure snug fit while others find it tighter than preferred; Battery life estimates vary: one tester found the voice prompt consistently underreported capacity; Slight white noise in noise-cancelling mode noted by one reviewer but not mentioned by others
Reviewers splitWhat they praise
- Rotating dials for volume and noise-cancelling control are intuitive and smooth
- Comfortable ear cushions allow extended wear without fatigue
- Multi-point Bluetooth works exceptionally well across multiple devices
- Microphone quality is clear and natural for phone calls
- Matte black finish looks clean and minimal
What they knock
- Active noise cancellation is good but not as strong as Sony or Bose competitors
- Touch controls are oversensitive and trigger accidentally
- Headband padding pulls hair and is less comfortable than the ear cushions
- Battery life falls short of manufacturer claims in testing
Who reviewers think this product is — and isn’t — for
For you if
Look elsewhere if
Synthesised from: Unbox Therapy · Marques Brownlee · UrAvgConsumer · Mark Spurrell · SoundGuys
I Never Thought They Could Be This Good...
Unbox Therapy
Surface Headphones 2: Matte Black Everything!
Marques Brownlee
Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 - They did it!
UrAvgConsumer
Surface Headphones 2 Review: The Change We Needed!
Mark Spurrell
The Surface Headphones 2 are really, really good
SoundGuys
What buyers say?
What Google knows about it.
Beyond the video critics, Google pools 54 buyer ratings of the Surface Headphones 2 from across retailers — a far wider, if blunter, jury. Here’s the shape of that opinion.
54 ratings · 3 written
across 2 retailers
What owners single out
Touch controls are oversensitive and trigger accidentally, matching video reviewers' findings that buyers also flagged as problematic.
In their words
“I bought these for my partner for Christmas. She only has them connected to her iPad so she can watch rubbish TV without having me loudly criticise her taste in TV. She is pleased with them, says they are comfortable and said she hasn't had to charge them yet, but I felt I needed to try them myself before writing this review. I owned a set of the Surface 1 headphones and didn't like them at all an”
JonleCatch · verified purchase · johnlewis.com
“Firstly, I have no complaints about audio quality, or the noise cancelling. I installed the app on my phone and have tweaked the EQ to my preference, which is awesome. The volume/noise cancelling wheels work well and while the touch response is a little too sensitive I have only good things to say when the heaphones work properly - which is about 20% of the time for me. Firstly, the head detection”
MWe · verified purchase · johnlewis.com
as of June 5 · 54 buyer ratings?
Frequently asked
What buyers want to know.
When did Surface Headphones 2 come out?
Surface Headphones 2 were released in 2019 and designed by Microsoft.
How do Surface Headphones 2 compare to Sony and Bose for noise cancellation?
Reviewers say the noise cancellation is good but not as strong as Sony or Bose competitors. The headphones have thirteen levels of active noise cancellation, but fall short of the noise-cancelling leaders in that category.
What are the dial controls on Surface Headphones 2 like?
Reviewers note the rotating dials for volume and noise-cancelling control are intuitive and smooth to use. The dials make adjusting settings straightforward without needing to tap the headphone surface.
Are Surface Headphones 2 comfortable for extended wear?
Reviewers say the ear cushions are comfortable and allow extended wear without fatigue. The headband padding is less comfortable than the ear cushions and can pull hair, and reviewers are split on whether the clamping force feels secure or too tight.
The recap
Where it stands today.
- Reviewer verdict★Check closely — 3.5 / 5 across 5 videos, positive sentiment. Reviewers are more measured than the AI.
- MakerBy Microsoft — see how it ranks across other intents on its brand profile.