‘I flew to Greece with invaluable noise-blocking headphones below £40’
Writer Eve Rowlands ‘swears by’ these affordable Anker Q20i headphones as they’re ‘invaluable’ for curbing ‘take-off panic’
Eve jetted off on holiday this week and took her trusted Anker earphones with her, once more
It’s holiday season, which inevitably means more people will be jetting off abroad, and having a trusty pair of headphones in tow is arguably essential. That’s certainly the case for our shopping expert Eve Rowlands as she uses a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to ‘block-out anxiety-provoking sounds while travelling’, and best yet, they cost is less than £40.
Unlike Apple AirPod Max, which are pushing £500 or hundreds a pair for the likes of Sony and Bose, Eve’s pick is a simple yet effective model from Anker. Now on sale for £37.99, even fully priced at £49.99, these cost-effective pairs have proven to be a reliable option for frequent flyers.
Eve recently highlighted that in the last year, she’s worn them on five flights, and they still work as well as the first time she used them. Jetting off this July to sunny Greece, Eve took her trusty pair with her again once more, totting up the total flights with the Anker pair to six, as they’re so reliable.
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She said in a review for BirminghamLive: “They’re one piece of technology that has genuinely assisted me over the past year with travel, proving invaluable on flights of every duration. They dampen aircraft noise that would typically trigger my anxiety, allowing me to completely lose myself in whatever I’m listening to.”
“They significantly diminish ambient noise, higher frequencies still filter through. The battery life on these soundcore by Anker headphones is truly remarkable. Having owned them for more than a year, I’ve only had to fully charge them a handful of times.”
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The soundcore by Anker Q20i Headphones are on sale at Amazon.
The Anker pair run up to 60 hours of playtime off a single charge and a solid 40 hours with ANC switched on. Users can also keep tabs on remaining battery levels through the brand’s app, which also lets them switch between modes and view the headphones’ current settings.
For those wanting additional options, the Sony On-Ear Wireless headphones (slashed to £29.99 from £34.99 at Argos) offer a budget-friendly choice with an equally impressive 50-hour battery life – though they don’t include noise-cancelling features. Those who prefer earbuds might be tempted by the JBL Tune Buds 2.
The soundcore by Anker Q20i headphones have ear and head cushions for added comfort (Image: Eve Rowlands)
These buds feature adaptive Active Noise Cancelling and Smart Ambient tech, along with JBL Spatial Sound, priced at £59.99 down from £79.99. For customers prepared to spend more, the Bose QuietComfort SC Headphones are another option and now £189 at Argos, saving shoppers £100 than the usual price.
Eve went on to highlight the quality of the audio: “The device handles calls with ease, and audio is relatively clear on both sides. They’re exceptionally lightweight and feature plush, ultra-soft ear cushions. This makes them comfortable enough to wear for extended periods — whether on a lengthy flight, powering through an intense gym session, or simply out for a stroll.”
The pair have Active Noise Cancellation, which is pretty common on most modern-day headphones, be it budget or luxury, as well as Transparency mode. Eve says this is ‘ideal when out and about’ as the surround sounds like car horns and traffic are less harsh, but it can be switched off.
Eve did, however, have one complaint with the pair, as she highlighted: “The microphone struggles in windy conditions. I’ve had callers tell me they couldn’t hear me due to the wind. So it’s best to avoid outdoor phone conversations until you’re somewhere sheltered.”
