Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 Review 2025: Stylish Wireless Headphones with Smart Features

Explore why Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 remain a top choice for wireless noise-cancelling headphones in 2025.

A Fresh Take on a Successful Debut

Microsoft’s Surface headphones made quite the splash when they first appeared, and the new Surface Headphones 2 build on that momentum with notable upgrades. These wireless headphones keep the sleek, minimalist design and vibrant sound that made the original stand out, but with moderate enhancements that keep them competitive among premium noise-cancelling contenders.

That said, not every tweak hits the mark. The battery life has increased from 15 to 20 hours, but some might still find this a bit on the low side for this class of device. The refreshed Surface Audio app brings back some popular features that enhance productivity and sound quality; however, it also drops a few beloved perks, like Cortana and Spotify integration, which some fans of the prior model will surely miss.

If you’re on the hunt for stylish wireless headphones with intuitive controls, impressive sound, and reliable active noise cancellation at a price below Bose 700 and Sony WH-1000xM3, keep reading for our full Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 review.

Key Features of Microsoft Surface Headphones 2

• Colors: Light Gray, Matte Black
• Battery Life: 20 hours
• Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
• Dimensions: 20.4 x 19.5 x 4.8 cm
• Weight: 289 g
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0

Price and Availability

The Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 retail for about $320 USD across major online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, as well as directly from Microsoft. Notably, this model has dropped in price from the original's $450 USD launch price. Buyers can choose between two elegant colors: light gray and matte black.

Each package includes a sturdy carrying case, an auxiliary cable, a USB-C charging cable, a warranty, and a user manual detailing all the controls—Microsoft nails the unboxing experience.

Design: Familiar Elegance with Practical Tweaks

Microsoft didn’t reinvent the wheel here—the Surface Headphones 2 closely resemble the first version in shape, materials, and build. They mix durable, pleasant-to-touch plastic with soft padding and sturdy aluminum accents.

The build is adaptive and rugged; each earcup now rotates 180 degrees, a simple yet meaningful upgrade that makes storing the headphones in the case or wearing them around your neck much easier. The downside? They don’t fold flat, which might be a dealbreaker for some.

Signature Microsoft touches remain intact, like the elegant logo embossed on the striking arc above each earcup. The headband feels seamless with no visible screws or joints—a design cue Bose adopted in their 700 series.

The accessories bundle hasn’t changed much either. Inside the stylish fabric travel case, you’ll find an audio cable, USB Type-C charging cable, and a well-written manual inside the lid—far better than the usual quick-start guides you get elsewhere.

Comfort and Fit: Cushy but Slightly Heavy

Comfort remains on par with the first generation. Weighing around 300 grams, these are heavier than competitors like the Bose 700 (250g) and Sony WH-1000xM3 (270g). Despite that, they sit gently on your head and ears, enabling long listening sessions.

After wearing these for about four hours daily, I only noticed minor discomfort around the two-hour mark—quite respectable. Memory foam padding on the earcups is soft and cushions nicely. The large, rounded cutouts fit bigger ears well but offer limited ventilation, so expect some warmth after an hour or two, especially in hot environments.

The headband’s extension length is slightly shorter than typical over-ear models, which might feel tight for larger heads. If you find the headphones too snug, adjusting the headband one or two notches higher usually solves this.

Smart Controls: Dial It Up and Down With Ease

Equipped with touch panels, ear detection, voice assistant support, and dials on each earcup, these headphones are arguably the most intuitive wireless headphones you can buy. The dials are the star here, letting you effortlessly adjust volume (right cup) and noise cancellation (left cup) without fumbling through menus.

Touch controls remain unchanged but highly responsive: single tap for play/pause, double tap to answer calls or skip tracks, triple tap for previous track, and long press to activate voice assistant or reject calls. The touch panels are now more sensitive, allowing swipe gestures that feel smooth and efficient—two quick forward swipes let you skip tracks without lifting your finger, a nifty feature that adds flair to the user experience.

If you're a fan of Siri or Google Assistant, these headphones won’t disappoint. Voice recognition is on point, with microphones picking up commands clearly and quickly. One quirk I noticed: Google Assistant sometimes repeated responses about a minute after executing a command. Other than that, voice control worked smoothly across platforms. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s Cortana integration is gone, which may disappoint Windows enthusiasts.

Some controls aren’t flawless though—smart pause, which stops music when the headphones are removed, shows a two-second delay and sometimes misses the mark. Also, AUX cable use disables mute and touch gestures.

Noise Cancellation and Ambient Listening: Good But Not Groundbreaking

The active noise canceling (ANC) impressed me on the first-gen Surface headphones, and while the 2nd generation delivers solid ANC, I barely noticed a difference between the two.

With 13 adjustable noise-canceling levels—more than Bose 700’s 10—you can dial in the perfect balance using the left earcup’s dial. Still, Microsoft's ANC tech isn’t as powerful as Bose or Sony’s, performing best at max settings and higher volumes.

At mid-levels, background hums like dishwasher noise and TV sounds were muffled, but sharper noises like car horns and doorbells still pierced through. Crank the ANC up, and distracting sounds—from cat meows to Zoom calls—fade away. Even distant sounds, like an iPhone speaker a few meters away, become faint or inaudible. Bose 700 still leads here in taming loud environmental noise.

Ambient mode, designed to let outside sounds in, is only okay on the Surface Headphones 2. It works better on earbuds for workouts. Background static noise, a criticism from the original, persists, and voices can echo oddly during conversations.

Sound Quality: Detailed and Dynamic with Some Bass Woes

Sound-wise, not much has changed. The 40mm Microsoft Free Edge drivers energize the Surface Headphones 2 with lively, spacious audio. Qualcomm aptX support adds high-res audio playback on compatible devices and streaming platforms.

Microsoft opts for a flat frequency response by default, delivering accurate sound without dips. This means deep bass that doesn’t drown out mids and highs. Listening to EPMD’s "It’s My Thing," the punchy bassline made me nod along before I knew it, with crisp tambourine highs shining through—a detail I’d missed over decades of hearing this track.

Green Day’s "Basket Case" brought back teenage vibes with dynamic cymbals and driving bass fueling my workout adrenaline. Billy Joe Armstrong’s vocals stood clearly amid the guitar riffs. Jazz like Ahmad Jamal’s "But Not For Me" felt tranquil, with each hi-hat and piano note resonating deeply.

However, the bass can sometimes get too aggressive, causing distortions on bass-heavy tracks. Kanye West’s "808s and Heartbreak" highlights this—electronic synths blast unnaturally loud, overshadowing vocals and fatiguing ears. Similarly, Muse’s "Hysteria" shows excessive fuzz that detracts from the experience.

In this respect, Bose 700 and Sony WH-1000xM3 have an edge, especially Sony’s balanced soundstage and smooth noise cancellation. Using the AUX cable worsens bass response and lowers volume significantly. Plus, the cable feels fragile and requires careful handling.

Surface Audio App and Special Features

The Surface Audio app replaces the old Cortana app, keeping most features but dropping a few extras.

The EQ remains the star, offering five presets: Flat, Classic, Jazz, Pop, and Rock, each customizable. The options are limited compared to competitors but let you save multiple profiles. Some presets miss the mark—a Jazz setting makes hip-hop sound muddy, and Rock weakens bass. Pop works well for 90s boy bands. I found Flat to be the best starting point for personal tweaks.

One standout feature is voice dictation for Windows programs like Word and Outlook, requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription. Testing showed it worked well, though it wasn’t clear whether the MacBook Pro or the headphones’ microphones captured my voice. More testing is planned.

Aside from some video tutorials, toggles for ANC and firmware updates, the app lacks other previously offered perks like Spotify integration and spoken playlist features. These may return in future updates, alongside the promised "Play My Email" function, currently iOS-only with Android support forthcoming.

Tip: Rename your headphones in the app from "Microsoft Headphones" to "Surface Headphones 2" or a custom name to avoid pairing confusion.

Battery Life: Promising but Falls Short

Battery life jumps from 15 to 20 hours, matching Bose 700’s ANC-on endurance but trailing Sony WH-1000xM3 by about 10 hours. More importantly, real-world usage often falls short of the mark.

Heavy streaming, loud volume, and max noise cancellation drain power quickly. In tests, the Surface Headphones 2 lasted 15 to 16 hours on a full charge. At one point, battery dropped from 70% to 40% within two hours.

The bright spot? A quick 5-minute charge delivers about an hour of playback, perfect for squeezing in a full album or a conference call. Full charging takes under an hour, which is impressively speedy.

Call Quality and Connectivity

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 excel at calls, delivering loud, clear conversations on both ends. Noise-cancelling mics block most background noise—when my fiancée called me outdoors near a busy airport, she didn’t even hear a passing plane. Impressive!

You can take calls wirelessly or via cable, but the latter uses the cable’s mic, which suffers from static ticks and occasional voice dropouts—best avoided.

Pairing is a breeze—turn on the headphones, and they pop up immediately on your device’s Bluetooth list. Reconnecting is even faster, especially on macOS, which is often tricky for headphones, but not here. Bluetooth range stretches to about 40 feet (12 meters).

The multi-point connection supports up to 10 devices simultaneously. Switching between my Google Pixel 3XL and MacBook Pro was instant and seamless, allowing me to run Spotify on one device and control playback from the other without interruptions. This fluid multi-device juggling is a real winner.

Final Verdict: A Solid Upgrade with Room to Grow

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 are worthy successors that blend dynamic sound and smart features in a stylish, functional package. The sound is sometimes warm but well-balanced, revealing subtle recording details. Smart dials and Microsoft 365 integration add convenience and new ways to interact. Wireless connectivity is rock-solid, with smooth multi-device switching across platforms.

However, the few updates Microsoft implemented don’t fully live up to expectations. Battery life, while improved, still falls short under heavy use. Some lost app features limit functionality compared to more versatile apps like Jabra Sound+ or Sony Headphones Connect.

If noise cancellation is your highest priority at this price, Sony WH-1000xM3 and Bose 700 remain strong contenders. Otherwise, Surface Headphones 2 offer great value for users juggling multiple devices and platforms.

“Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 combine dynamic sound and smart features in a sleek design, offering a compelling choice for wireless noise-cancelling headphones.”

FAQ

• What colors are available for the Surface Headphones 2?
  Light Gray and Matte Black.
• How long does the battery last in real-world use?
  About 15 to 16 hours with active noise cancelling and typical usage.
• Can I use voice assistants with these headphones?
  Yes, Siri, Google Assistant, and previously Cortana (now removed) are supported.
• Is the noise cancellation better than the original model?
  It’s comparable, with 13 adjustable levels, though not quite as powerful as Bose or Sony solutions.
• Does the Surface Audio app offer many customization options?
  It includes five EQ presets and allows saving profiles but lacks some features found in other headphone apps.

Ready to celebrate your favorite music moments with a touch of style? Shop your favorite album cover poster at our store Architeg Prints and bring the spirit of your top tunes to your living space.