Microsoft Surface Headphones Review

NEW Microsoft Surface Headphones

£337.28

9

Design

9.0/10

Sound

9.5/10

Connection

8.5/10

Pros

• Design
• Sound
• Features
• USB-C

Cons

• Connection
• Expensive

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We have Apple Pods, and Google Buds, its about time Microsoft threw their headphones into the ring and the new Surface headphones have arrived. They are expensive but are really good and intuitive. I was excited to try a new product from Microsoft which they haven’t done before.

Unboxing is great, as they come pre-packed in the included very cool travel case. The case, headphones and included USB and audio cable all feature the light-grey surface colour.

Once on the headphones are incredibly comfortable, the padding and material is a great combination and feel great. They are made using an overall plastic construction, which is nice to see, and means they aren’t heavy.

The sound is excellent, with the noise cancellation being an OK addition. Even when turned all the way up, I was able to hear traffic. But it does help with background noise when playing Steam.

Though I have found when I run with them, the audio starts to rattle and cuts out. They aren’t touted as sports headphones, but I would still like to use them in most cases.

Microsoft Surface Headphones Specs:

• Weight: 0.64 lbs
• Exterior Colour: Light Grey
• Frequency response: 20 – 20kHz
• Noise cancellation:
  • Up to 30 dB for active noise cancellation
  • Up to 40 dB for passive noise cancellation
• Speaker: 40 mm Free Edge driver
• Sound pressure level output:
  • Up to 115 dB (1 kHz, 1 Vrms via cable connector with power on)
  • Up to 115 dB (1 kHz, 0 dBFS over Bluetooth connection)
• Charging: Full charge in less than 2 hours
• Battery Life: Up to 15 hours (with music playback over Bluetooth, ANC on, hands-free Cortana1 enabled)2
• USB cord length: 1.5 m
• Audio cable length: 1.2 m
• Inputs:
  • USB-C connector
  • 3.5 mm audio connector
• Compatibility: Windows 10, iOS, Android, MacOS
• Buttons/controls: Power button, Mute button, Volume dial (right ear), Noise Cancellation dial (left ear)

I was happy to see the inclusion of USB-C charging, which means I have one less cable to carry around with me. The dials on the back of the cups are really smart and intuitive to use. Just a flick of the wrist on the dial is such an easy to do it.

There is also an audio cable port, to save on battery life. The touch sensitive button is a bit picky and can go on by itself when I wear a hat with these.

Another smart feature is when you turn them on, there is an audio notification to tell you exactly how many hours of battery life is left. This a lot better than other headphones telling me the battery was medium or 70%. I was able to get 3 – 4 days of regular use out of these before they needed a charge.

These are £337.28 on Amazon at the moment, and compared to the competition they are a little on the pricey side. For a first generation product from Microsoft I was really impressed, but now I want to see what they come up with next.

After that, please check out our other audio reviews.