HAYLOU S40 Noise Cancelling Headphones Over Ear Review

The HAYLOU S40 has the best active noise cancellation we've tested, full stop. For around $55, you get best-in-class ANC, great mics, and LDAC audio support. Just don't expect premium build quality, and take the 90-hour battery claim with a grain of salt.

The HAYLOU S40 is a set of over-ear headphones that punches way above its price tag in a few key areas. Its 50dB hybrid active noise cancellation sits at the very top of our charts, effectively a best-in-class feature that makes it a serious contender for commuters and office workers. Pair that with LDAC support for high-res wireless audio and a 90-hour battery life, and you've got a feature set that looks like it belongs on a product costing three times as much.

But there's always a trade-off. While the ANC and sound quality are impressive, the build quality lands squarely in the middle of the pack, and the battery life score is a bit of a letdown compared to other long-play champs. At 350 grams, they're not the lightest, but they are foldable for travel. The real story here is how much premium tech HAYLOU has packed into a budget-friendly package.

Let's talk about where the S40 absolutely shines. That active noise cancellation is the real deal. Scoring in the 100th percentile means it's the absolute best right now in our database for blocking out the world. The hybrid system with adaptive modes works as advertised, effectively muting constant low-end rumbles like plane engines and subway noise. For sound, it's also a standout. The 40mm+20mm dual driver setup with LDAC support delivers detailed, clean audio that lands well above average. If you have a high-res audio source, these headphones will do it justice.

Connectivity is another strong point, with Bluetooth 6.0 and multipoint support making it easy to switch between your phone and laptop. The microphone array, which includes a detachable boom mic, is also one of the best we've tested for call clarity, using AI to isolate your voice. The comfort score is solid, thanks to the protein leather earcups, but the 350-gram weight means you'll feel them after a few hours. The 90-hour playtime sounds great on paper, but our battery efficiency ranking puts it in the bottom third, suggesting real-world use with ANC on might not hit that lofty mark.

Here's the wild part: the price for these varies from a downright steal at around $55 to an utterly insane $6790 from some vendors. Stick to the major retailers like Amazon, where they typically sit in the budget to mid-range category. For the $55-$100 range, the value is exceptional. You're getting ANC and sound quality that rivals headphones costing $200-$300. Just ignore those laughably high listings. The core package offers a price-to-performance ratio that's very hard to beat if ANC and wireless audio are your top priorities.

Stacked against common competitors, the S40 carves out a unique niche. It destroys the Soundcore Life Q30 on ANC and microphone quality, though the Q30 might be more comfortable for all-day wear. Compared to the Sennheiser Accentum Plus, you're trading some brand prestige and likely better build materials for significantly stronger ANC and a much lower price. The Sony ULT Wear and Bose QuietComfort are in a different league on comfort, brand ecosystem, and possibly sound tuning, but you'll pay three to five times more for a marginal improvement in ANC that the S40 already nails. For pure noise-blocking power on a budget, the HAYLOU is the clear winner.

Skip these if you're an audio professional or need a perfectly flat sound signature for mixing—its studio score is its weakest at 49/100. Also, if you prioritize luxury materials and a featherweight design, the mediocre build quality and 350-gram heft will be a letdown. And finally, if you need the absolute longest possible battery life and our low efficiency ranking worries you, look at models from Anker or Soundcore that specialize in runtime.

If your main goal is to silence the world without silencing your wallet, the HAYLOU S40 is an easy recommendation. The data doesn't lie: its ANC is top of the charts, its mics are fantastic for calls, and it sounds great, especially with LDAC. You have to accept some compromises in build feel and potentially overstated battery life, but for a budget-friendly daily driver that excels at its core jobs, it's a standout. We'd skip it for critical studio work or if you demand premium materials, but for everyone else, it's a fantastic value.