A busy household, a noisy street or a partner on their own calls means working from home is rarely as quiet as an office. Consumer flagships have the best noise cancelling and sound, while business headsets have better microphones for calls. Prices were checked on Amazon UK in September 2026, and the Sony model below is the current version.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5: best overall
£229, rated 4.3 stars from more than 12,000 ratings. Class-leading noise cancelling, excellent sound and good beamforming call mics. Sony’s newer WH-1000XM6 is £349 if you want the latest.
2. Jabra Evolve2 85: best for calls
£321.40, rated 3.9 stars from 150 ratings (limited stock). Combines active noise cancelling with strong voice pickup and a busylight. Reviews on Amazon UK are more mixed than for the consumer flagships.
3. Soundcore Space One: best budget noise cancelling
£64, rated 4.4 stars from more than 16,000 ratings. Adaptive active noise cancelling at well under half the flagship price, replacing the Space Q45 we used to list.
Comparison
Model | Best for | Price (Amazon UK, Sept 2026) |
Sony WH-1000XM5 | All-round WFH | £229 |
Jabra Evolve2 85 | Calls first | £321.40 |
Soundcore Space One | Budget | £64 |
What to look for
- Call microphone quality: boom mics excel for frequent meetings.
- Comfort and clamp: sealed over-ear designs need plush padding.
- Transparency mode for ambient awareness.
- Battery: 24+ hours covers a working week.
FAQ
Are noise-cancelling headphones good for calls?
Modern flagships have much-improved beamforming mics that suit most meetings, though boom mics remain better in noisy rooms.
Will ANC block household noise completely?
ANC works best on constant, low-frequency sounds like traffic and less well on sudden or high-pitched noise.
Do I need flagship spending?
No. Value models deliver effective ANC for well under half the price, trading some mic polish and sound refinement.
Over-ear or on-ear?
Over-ear designs give better ANC; on-ear runs cooler but isolates less.
Verdict
Choose the Sony WH-1000XM5 for balanced performance, the Jabra Evolve2 85 if calls dominate or the Soundcore for budget-conscious focus work.
Related reading
- Best Headsets for Video Calls Working From Home 2026 UK
- Open-Ear vs Over-Ear Headphones for All-Day Working
- Jabra Evolve2 65 Review: The Work-From-Home Headset Benchmark
- Best Wireless Earbuds for Work Calls in 2026 UK
- Best Budget Headsets for Teams and Zoom Under £50 UK
- Best Microphones for Zoom and Teams Calls in 2026
