What you need to know

• The Surface Headphones 2+ are now Teams-certified when connected through Bluetooth.
• Previously, the headphones required a dongle to get the most out of Microsoft Teams.
• The new functionality arrives with a firmware update that started rolling out this week.

Microsoft's Surface Headphones 2+ just gained a significant new capability through a firmware update. The headphones are now Teams-certified when connected through Bluetooth. Before the update, users would have had to connect a pair of Surface Headphones 2+ through a dongle to access certain features for Microsoft Teams.

The Surface Headphones 2+ are a business-oriented version of Microsoft's Surface Headphones 2. They support high-quality Microsoft Teams calls, media controls, and have dedicated Teams buttons. Now, people can access those features when connected through Bluetooth, though the option to use a dongle is still available.

Here's what's new in the latest firmware update, as listed by Microsoft:

• Certified for Microsoft Teams: With the firmware update, Surface Headphones 2+ is the first Teams-certified device for native Bluetooth, enabling you to enjoy the best Microsoft Teams experience, from exceptional audio quality for calls and media to intuitive, on-device controls for Microsoft Teams.
• Synchronized Controls for Microsoft Teams: Bring Microsoft Teams to the forefront with the dedicated Microsoft Teams button, answer/end calls, and control your volume and mute state directly on the headset without the dongle.
• Experience best of Microsoft Teams with or without the dongle: Those who forget or misplace their dongle will still have all the benefits of a certified experience while collaborating on calls without it. Plus, free up a port on your device!
• Flexibility to meet your needs: You can still use the dongle in crowded workspaces or for a dedicated connection when using multiple Bluetooth devices. With a dongle, different light states indicate whether you are connected, muted/unmuted, or receiving an incoming call.

Users can update the Surface Headphones 2+ through the Surface App on the Microsoft Store or the Microsoft Accessory Updater tool for the Mac App Store. The latest update will bring the headphones to version 1.0.7.44 or later.

Update May 26, 2021 at 1:53 p.m. ET: The deal is sold out.

If you're looking for noise-canceling headphones at a very, very low price, now's the time to strike. The Microsoft Surface Headphones are available at Woot for just $79. As far as we've seen, that's one of the lowest — if not the lowest — prices these cans have ever gone for.

Though the device's noise-cancellation abilities and battery life aren't the best, it's comfy and offers rockin' audio quality. And for $79, it's hard to ask for more. Great audio at that price point isn't super common, especially when considering official Surface gadgetry.

Here's the only snaggle in an otherwise all-star deal: You have less than 12 hours to land it. The deal only runs through May 26 or until supplies run out. No matter how you slice it, that's not a lot of time, so if you're interested, it's best to grab the headphones while you can.

What you need to know

• Surface Headphones 2+ are official.
• Launching this month for commercial markets.
• Featuring "Teams Certification" and a new wireless dongle.

Microsoft has announced a handful of new devices and accessories today, one of which is an updated pair of Surface Headphones, dubbed the Surface Headphones 2+. Just like the Surface Pro 7+ anounced back in January, the Surface Headphones 2+ are a product built for Microsoft's commercial customers only.

Overall, the Surface Headphones 2+ are much the same as the standard Surface Headphones 2 that have been on the market for over a year. New additions with the Surface Headphones 2+ include an official "Teams Certified" stamp of approval by Microsoft when paired with a new included wireless dongle.

The dongle allows for a direct connection between the Surface Headphones 2+ and your PC, bypassing Bluetooth altogether for a stronger and more stable connection. In addition, the dongle has different light states that will come on to let you know when you're on mute, and there's now a dedicated Microsoft Teams button directly on the headphones.

Other than that, the Surface Headphones 2+ are the same as the Surface Headphones 2, in sound quality and design. Microsoft will continue to sell the Surface Headphones 2 alongside the Surface Headphones 2+ for commercial markets, as most people won't need the additional Microsoft Teams features that are new on the latest model.

Here are the top features and benefits that Microsoft is touting with the Surface Headphones 2+

• Certified for Microsoft Teams for the best meeting experience. Empower employees with high-quality Microsoft Teams calls, a rock-solid connection with plug and play functionality, a dedicated Teams button, synchronized call controls to avoid the "you're on mute," and light states on the included dongle.
• Turn it up, tune it out. Experience your calls, music, and shows like never before with rich, immersive Omnisonic sound and 13 levels of adjustable noise cancellation. Use the on-ear dials to easily turn up the volume or tune out background noise. Advanced microphones ensure you are heard loud and clear on calls. Enjoy music, podcasts, exceptional call quality, or peace and quiet all day.
• Power through an entire day of meetings in comfort and control with up to 15 hours of voice calling time and up to 18.5 hours of music listening time.
• Intuitively change volume and noise-cancellation levels with touch controls and dials on the soft, breathable, lightweight earcups that make our headphones a joy to wear.
• Amplify your productivity with the power of voice in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.4 Voice controls vary by operating system. Be more productive using your voice to talk rather than type and enabling live captions and translation in PowerPoint.

Interestingly, Microsoft is citing slightly worse battery life with the Surface Headphones 2+, with just 18.5 hours of music listening time compared to the Surface Headphones 2's claimed 20 hours.

Related to Surface Headphones 2+ announcement, Microsoft announced an array of new connected-office accessories (headphones, speakers, webcam), Surface Laptop 4 with AMD or Intel processors, and a wider Surface Duo availability.

Surface Headphones 2+ are priced at $299 with shipping expected to begin later this month. What are your thoughts on the new Surface Headphones 2+? Let us know in the comments.

If you're in the market for some noise-cancelling headphones but don't want to spend a fortune, Woot has a Presidents' Day deal for you today on the original Microsoft Surface Headphones well worth looking at.

Over there, you can snag the first-party Microsoft cans for just $110.99. That's around $140 off their original retail price and a solid chunk off the price the headphones sell for these days following the Surface Headphones 2 release.

The deal given is no longer valid and we do not have a better one. However, we have found some similar deals

Microsoft Surface Duo 256GB unlocked smartphone

$729.99 $1100.00 Save $370 1623838343

You get 256GB storage. The Duo has a 360-degree hinge with two screens so you can make the most out of all your apps, including video games and Microsoft 365. Battery lasts up to 15.5 hours and has Fast Charging.

Microsoft Surface Duo dual-screen multi-touch tablet

$549.99 $750.00 Save $200 1623155624

With a 360-hinge and two screens, you get a dual-screen mobile device designed to make the most out of Microsoft 365, Android apps, and more. Has a battery with Fast Charging that lasts up to 15.5 hours. Syncs with Windows 10, too.

Microsoft Surface Duo

Starting at $600 1621080917

Woot's one-day sale on the Microsoft Surface Duo phone is bringing 128GB and 256GB models down to their best prices yet starting at just $600, saving you more than 50% off the original cost. You can even sign in with Amazon Prime for free shipping.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 one-day sale

As low as $1,000 1618493211

The least expensive option at $1,000 includes an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, a 256GB solid state drive, and a 13.5-inch touchscreen. The specs only get better from there including upgrades to a 15-inch screen, 1TB SSDs, and more.

Microsoft Surface Headphones

$110.99 $249.00 Save $138 1614887328

The Surface headphones feature adjustable noise cancellation, Cortana voice assistant, touch controls, and a battery that lasts up to 15 hours. You can also get an hour of playtime from a five-minute charge.

We reviewed these headphones and gave them 4.5 stars out of 5 a year ago. The review said, "Comfort, design, auto-pause, and gesture controls are all marvelous with the Surface Headphones... The Surface Headphones are great for listening to music on PC, taking a call on an iPhone, and then going right back to work."

The Surface Headphones deliver clear, omnisonic audio for all your favorite movies and media. They are lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. You can even use them to access Microsoft's Cortana and use voice controls to stream music, set up reminders, and more. You can also do stuff like adjust the volume, skip tracks, or mute your mic. If you take the headphones off they are designed to automatically pause whatever you're listening to.

The active noise cancellation technology is adjustable. Use the on-ear dial to tune it up or down depending on just how much of the outside world you need to hear. It's a great way to bury yourself in your music but then make yourself available for a conversation without removing the headphones altogether.

The battery lasts for up to 15 hours on a full charge when connected via Bluetooth. If you turn off Cortana you can eek out another three hours of life. There's also a fast charge function that can give you another hour of streaming with just a five-minute charge.

With the Surface Audio App, you'll be able to connect the headphones directly to your PC right out of the box. Just enable Swift Pair for a hassle-free setup. These can also work easily with your mobile device, whether it's an iPhone or Android phone.

Woot normally charges $6 per order for shipping, though you can score free shipping there by logging in with an Amazon Prime account before checking out. If you're not a member already, start a free 30-day trial to score free shipping at Woot and Amazon instantly.

Expensive and missing features

There are two immediate barriers to Windows users seriously considering the AirPods Max. The first is the price. At $549 this is a pair of headphones that costs more than a Surface Go 2, or even an Xbox Series X — for one pair of headphones. Obviously the AirPods Max aren't targeted at the average headphones buyer, but it's still a lot.

The other, perhaps killer blow, is that the full feature set isn't available if you're using the AirPods Max with something that isn't an Apple device. Transparency is still available, but the killer spatial audio is not, and neither is the nifty wireless pairing. And if you're paying out this much, you surely want everything the product has to offer.

The only reason you'd consider using them on Windows, really, is if you're a heavy iPhone and iPad user and investing more for use with those devices. You can use them on Windows, but it's far from the ideal choice.

Better choice for Windows

Neither of these two big negatives apply to Microsoft's own Surface Headphones 2. For one, the regular price is just $249, which is still a fairly significant investment, but a significant savings over AirPods Max. The feature set is comparable, too, with similar battery life, active noise cancellation, transparent audio capabilities and good sound quality.

The case is also superior, and it doesn't matter which platform you choose to use the Surface Headphones 2 on; you have access to the same features. You have a companion app on Windows, as well as iOS and Android, to help you get the best from your headphones, but the overall experience is consistent across them all.

Woot currently has new versions of the Microsoft Surface headphones on sale for $149.99. The only color available is gray, but these headphones are either sold out in most places or going for at least $224 from third parties at places like Amazon. The last deal we shared on these headphones was when they dropped to around $200 a few months ago, so this drop has definite value seeing as it's even $50 better than that.

Remember that Woot has a mandatory shipping fee, but you can get around that using your Amazon Prime membership.

We reviewed these headphones and gave them 4.5 stars out of 5 a year ago. The review said, "Comfort, design, auto-pause and gesture controls are all marvelous with the Surface Headphones... The Surface Headphones are great for listening to music on PC, taking a call on an iPhone, and then going right back to work."

The Surface Headphones deliver clear, omnisonic audio for all your favorite movies and media. They are lightweight, beathable, and comfortable. You can even use them to access Microsoft's Cortana and use voice controls to stream music, set up reminders, and more. You can also do stuff like adjust the volume, skip tracks, or mute your mic. If you take the headphones off they are designed to automatically pause whatever you're listening to.

The active noise cancellation technology is adjustable. Use the on-ear dial to tune it up or down depending on just how much of the outside world you need to hear. It's a great way to bury yourself in your music but then make yourself available for a conversation without removing the headphones altogether.

The battery lasts for up to 15 hours on a full charge when connected via Bluetooth. If you turn off Cortana you can eek out another three hours of life. There's also a fast charge function that can give you another hour of streaming with just a five-minute charge.

With the Surface Audio App, you'll be able to connect the headphones directly to your PC right out of the box. Just enable Swift Pair for a hassle-free setup. These can also work easily with your mobile device, whether it's an iPhone or Android phone.

If you take a look at the best wireless headphones, there are a lot of great options from Bose and Sony. But there's one contender that everyone seems to forget about — Microsoft. Admittedly, the original Surface Headphones fell kind of flat despite a unique design with the rotating dials on the ear cups.

Earlier this year, Microsoft opted to give the headphone market another shot with the Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds. Right now during Amazon Prime Day, you can save $50 on the Surface Headphones 2, which is an incredible savings for those looking for some new noise-canceling headphones. This deal is good until the end of Prime Day tomorrow evening, so you'll want to scoop it up before it's gone.

One of the best deals that we've seen is a $50 savings on the Sony WH-1000XM4s, which are the highly-anticipated successor to the WH-1000XM3s. But even with a price reduction, I would venture to argue that the Surface Headphones 2 at just $200 are a better value overall.

Sure, Sony's offering may provide better noise cancelation, but everything else between the XM4s and Surface Headphones 2 are practically the same. Multi-device connectivity? Check. Various levels of noise cancelation? Check. USB-C charging? Check. I could go on and on, but the fact of the matter is that there's really not much difference between the two and the Surface Headphones 2 are a lot cheaper right now.

In his Surface Headphones 2 review, Daniel Rubino over at Windows Central stated that the jump in price between the Surface Headphones 2 and the offerings from Bose and Sony isn't worth it. There's negligent difference in sound quality. Plus, they're paired with the added benefit of amazing integration with Windows and Android thanks to the Surface Audio app really help to make the difference.

So if you don't mind, I'm going to go grab a pair of Surface Headphones 2 for myself, as my old Sony WH-1000XM3s have kicked the bucket after a little more than a year.

Microsoft's Surface Headphones 2 don't veer dramatically from the original version launched in the fall of 2018, a familiar theme from a company that likes to iterate. But with a $100 shaved off the price and some minor improvements to the radio stack and even how the headphones rotate, Surface Headphones 2 are still the most ergonomic – and fun – premium Bluetooth headphones around.

But the competition for premium Bluetooth headphones with active-noise-canceling is especially fierce. Razer's new THX Opus ($200), Sony's forthcoming WH-1000XM4 ($350) refresh and market-leader Bose make choosing a pair more challenging than ever. Surface Headphones 2, though, find a sweet spot amongst the ranks thanks to a robust set of features combined with a new lower price.

With Amazon Prime Day fast approaching in late 2020, we may also see discounts available for the Surface Headphones 2. Their mid-year release means we're yet to see price cuts on this second revision, although October may reward those on the lookout. If you see these headphones below their $250 RRP, you're seeing a deal worth taking. Here's why you should consider them (and a few reasons not to).

Just a few changes

Surface Headphones 2 design, features, and what's new

On first blush, Surface Headphones 2 look exactly like the originals, especially if you compare light gray colorways. Luckily, Microsoft has added a matte black option to the mix, and it looks fantastic. With no glossy features, the flat black Headphones 2 are remarkably good at resisting fingerprints no matter how often you handle them.

There is the same headband with moderate padding and circular design for the earcups. Surface Headphones 2 certainly look unique compared to the other offerings. On the right ear cup are controls for the power, mute microphone, USB Type-C for charging, and the 3.5mm headphone adapter. The left earcup is clean with no buttons.

In the box, you get the usual assortment of headphones, hardshell carrying case, USB cable, audio cable, quick start guide, and safety and warranty documents.

Microsoft did make some minor changes as the power and mic buttons are significantly more prominent than those of Surface Headphones 1. While a modest difference, it makes finding those buttons without looking much simpler.

Surface Headphones 2 come in at the same weight of 290 grams. That is slightly heavier than Sony's WH-1000-XM3 (255 grams), Bose's QC 35II (236 grams), and Razer Opus (265 grams). I can't say that weight difference is noticeable, but the rule of thumb is always lighter is better for long-term comfort.

Another small but welcomed change is the earcups can now rotate 180 degrees versus just 90. That's an important feature to have as it lets you wear the headphones around your neck with the earcups facing inwards or outwards (the originals only twisted outwards). As before, Surface Headphones 2 auto-pause when you place them around your neck and restart it when putting back on your head.

For 2020, Microsoft has added Bluetooth 5.0, Qualcomm aptX support for enhanced quality, SBC low-complexity sub-band codec, and increased battery life by five hours to twenty (up from 15). None of that is surprising for modern headphones, and the improved battery life is due more to Bluetooth 5.0 than any hardware changes or a larger battery.

Getting back to those earcups, they still support touch controls, allowing you to skip tracks, answer and end calls, and access your digital assistant with various taps. Surface Headphones 2 also support dictation in Office apps, live captions and subtitles (with translation) in PowerPoint, and the "Play My Emails" feature in the Outlook mobile app on iOS (coming soon to Android).

The 40 mm Free Edge drivers for speakers support a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response, which is typical for this price range.

For what hasn't changed, well, you still can't fold Surface Headphones. While the case it comes in is beautiful (especially in black), these are the largest of all the premium noise-canceling headphones out there to carry.

They hold their own

Surface Headphones 2 audio quality

Microsoft has not tinkered too much with audio quality. The new aptX feature helps with streaming (if your device supports it), but depending on your music source and the stream quality, its effect is not as dramatic as you may expect.

Microsoft also makes aptX option within the Surface Audio app (iOS, Android, Windows 10) to prioritize power reserves (using aptX can take an hour or two off overall battery life).

Audio quality is undoubtedly subjective, but Surface Headphones 1 and 2 both deliver sound at least near Sony's level. Sony still has the edge due to its proprietary stream technology and a bevy of software tricks for adjusting audio based on things like current airplane cabin pressure. Bose QC35 II's always disappoints and is often flat and lifeless. That's only augmented by Bose's lack of an active equalizer (EQ).

The Surface Audio app does provide a five-band EQ, which at least lets you pick up some presets like classical, jazz, flat, or rock, but you can also customize and save your own. That ability goes a long way to adding more bass to your movies or increasing the highs for a spoken-word video.

Noise-canceling seems mostly unchanged from the 2018 Surface Headphones. There are 13-gradations derived from four beamforming microphones with four additional microphones, which are tuned more for office noise rather than airplanes. Due to the over-the-ear design, Surface Headphones are classified as both passive noise-canceling (physical) and active noise-canceling (ANC; software, microphones).

That is not to say these headphones are useless on a flight – far from it – but Microsoft sees these more as lifestyle vs. work headphones rather than tuned just for fliers. There is still a slight hiss in the absence of noise, but it is not uncommon with ANC headphones.

For those really in a pinch, you can also use Surface Headphones 2 wired (3.5mm) while charging (USB Type-C to Type-A), with ANC enabled. However, doing so will disconnect any Bluetooth connected devices. You can also recharge and use Bluetooth at the same time with ANC (even when that USB is connected to a PC).

Surface Headphones 2 also support audio-over-USB, so you can plug them in, charge, and get the full ANC experience too. If using a Surface Pro X, a Type-A to Type-C adapter lets you use Surface Headphones (and any spatial audio settings) for those flights or watching a movie.

This is what matters

Surface Headphones 2's killer feature are those dials

If you are wondering what makes Surface Headphones 2 so unique, it is simple. It is the ability to use those dials on the earcups. The right dial lets you smoothly and gently increase or decrease the volume; the left lets you jump between 13-levels of active-noise cancellation or the audio-boost feature.

I can't stress enough how fun and straightforward it is to use Surface Headphones 2. Other headsets put typical volume rockers somewhere on the earcups, which often take a few seconds to discern which direction. But there is no learning curve with Microsoft's solution. You just turn them like a volume wheel. The physical familiarity with Surface Headphones 2 is priceless.

A similar statement can be said about the touch controls, which are summarized as follows:

• Short tap — Play/pause.
• Double-tap — Next and answer the call.
• Triple tap — Previous track.
• Long press — Activate voice assistant or decline call.

Sure, you need to memorize that shortlist, but the taps work on either earcup and are reliable. When combined with the earcup dials, Surface Headphones 2 remains the most ergonomic and easy to use headphones on the market.

Simple but good

Surface Headphones 2 software and voice assistant

New this year is the Surface Audio app for iOS, Android, and Windows 10. The app replaces Cortana as the primary way to interact with Surface Headphones (1 & 2) and Surface Earbuds. The app lets you customize the EQ, download firmware updates, see the battery level, and adjust features, including turning off tap gestures (touch controls), toggle aptX, voice prompts, and diagnostic data.

That app also lets you force-connect, which works most of the time. That feature is useful if you have multiple pairings with Surface Headphones 2. Like its predecessor, you can have up to eight pairings with Surface Headphones 2, but only two can be active at one time due to the limits of Bluetooth 5.0.

While Cortana is mostly gone, Microsoft's assistant lives in Outlook and is coming to other Microsoft productivity apps in the future. On iOS, long-pressing on the side of the earcup launches Siri. Since these are not "certified" as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant headphones, there is no way to set those assistants as default.

For Android, things are better as you can set Surface Headphones to call whichever assistant you have on your phone, including Google Assistant. While it is not as robust as headphones with Google Assistant built-in e.g., being able to read your notifications hands-free, it does let you send commands to your phone without taking the phone out of your pocket.

Voice prompts are excellent. Powering on, the assistant reminds you of how much battery you have remaining and the names of the connected devices. Turning the left earcup tells you when you have hit "maximum noise cancellation" and "pass-through sound" for when you want to hear people without removing your headphones. That latter feature slightly augments the audio outside the earphones, which is great for office wear or when you want to listen to the captain's announcement on a flight.

You can download the Surface Audio app at the App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Store

A clearer choice

Surface Headphones 2 verdict: That $250 makes all the difference

Microsoft originally asked for $350 for Surface Headphones, in a bold move that put them right up against Sony and Bose. Surprisingly, Microsoft held its own, but shorter battery life and ANC that was not quite as good as the competition made it a tough sell for many. There was just too much brand lock-in.

By dropping the price to $250, Microsoft has found the sweet spot. This conclusion is the opposite of the excellent Surface Earbuds, which are priced slightly too high for what they offer.

The question you must now ask: Are the Sony's and Bose worth the extra hundred dollars? I don't think so. While Sony's have the best audio, it's not such a jump that I suddenly found Surface Headphones 2 repugnant. After all, we are talking Bluetooth headphones here – they only get so good.

Going lower, I like Razer Opus, which are $50 cheaper than Microsoft and may even have a better sound stage thanks to that THX certification and longer battery life. But the Opus lacks the useful dials and touch interface of Surface Headphones, making them more finicky to use. The ANC is also just on or off, with no gradations, no digital assistant support, Bluetooth 4.2, and the EQ can't be customized. Those are drawbacks, but the lower price reflects those shortcomings making it justifiable.

The big 'what if' is Sony's forthcoming WH-1000-XM4s, which reportedly supports multi-pair. But Sony will still be $100 more and for many people that is just a bridge too far, especially if you are only using these on occasion.

The strengths of Surface Headphones 2 are easy to identify. They have excellent audio quality, are incredibly comfortable to wear for hours on end, and they have the best user-interaction model with touch controls and those dials. The ANC is quite good, and the software, while simple, gets the job done with a straightforward EQ. That $250 price seals the deal, though, making these a much more competitive offering. (The price is even lower at $225 for eligible students, parents, teachers, and military through Microsoft).

Drawbacks? Surface Headphones 2 do not fold, which is unfortunate. Battery life, while rated for 20 hours, is more like 15 to 17 depending on volume and aptX usage. That's still below everyone else, although it's a point of diminishing returns since most people only wear them for a few hours. Recharging is also slower, with five minutes giving an extra hour of playback. That's not bad, but Sony gives back five hours after just ten minutes.

Overall, the combination of modest improvements and that lower price point put Surface Headphones 2 in a very comfortable spot, making them easy to recommend. They are arguably the best bang-for-your-buck for premium ANC that is also enjoyable to wear and use, something that could not be said the first time around. Sure, there are (slightly) better options out there, but this time you must pay a lot more for them.

The Surface Headphones 2 are overall the better choice for folks not using Apple devices. The Beats Studio 3 gets a boost from the Apple W1 chip, which you can't take advantage of on your Android phone or Windows PC, but the Surface Headphones 2 come in at $100 less, which makes it a far more attractive choice for everyone else.

Microsoft vs Apple

Both Microsoft and Apple find themselves in the high-end headphones market with the Surface and Beats brands, respectively. Of the two, Apple has the history and brand recognition, though that itself doesn't come without its fair share of criticism.

However, the Studio3 wireless headphones aren't the Beats of old and deserve plenty of respect.

Microsoft, on the other hand, has now launched only its second generation of Surface Headphones, but rather than attempting to completely redesign the product, simply refined the original model and made it even better while chopping a massive chunk off the asking price.

What we end up with is both Apple and Microsoft producing high-quality headphones. They both sound great, are very comfortable to wear, and, in their own unique ways, very stylish, with excellent ANC all round.

Beats are great for iPhone and iPad owners

Where Beats have a definite edge over the Surface Headphones 2 is if you use an Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad. Thanks to the Apple W1 chip, you get some serious benefits, including a better, easier to manage the wireless connection and much better battery life.

The W1 also allows you to switch seamlessly between your Apple devices without worrying about pairing each time. If you can take advantage of this connectivity, it's very, very good.

Of course, for everyone else, the Beats Studio3 is just a standard pair of wireless headphones. Sure, you can use your voice assistant with them, but it'll be the one on your phone, running from your phone.

Surface Headphones 2 work the same across every device

The Surface Headphones, by contrast, are a consistent experience across whichever devices you pair with it. Part of that is because voice is built into the headphones, so you always have it ready to help out, no matter the device.

The ultimate battery life may be a little weaker than the Studio3, but you at least have USB-C to top it off with, something you're likely to be carrying. An Apple product with a micro USB port, on the other hand, is pretty absurd and doesn't present itself for a lot of charging opportunities.

The Surface Headphones 2 can also be interacted with through the new Surface Audio app on Windows 10, Android and iOS to set equalizers, update firmware and more.

A great all-rounder

The Surface Headphones 2 are undoubtedly worthy contenders against the likes of Beats and Bose. The latest model is a definite improvement, and you have a high-end pair of ANC headphones to use with any device at a pretty attractive price. If you're not using Apple hardware, they're the ones to get.

Beats are best for Apple devices

Thanks to the W1 chip from Apple, there's just no way the Surface Headphones 2 can compete when you're using an iPhone or iPad. The seamless switching between devices and extraordinary battery life enhancements simply can't be matched. There's just a less compelling argument to get a pair unless you have that Apple device.

The Surface lineup now extends far beyond its premium PCs, including a growing audio presence through its accessories. Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 and Microsoft Surface Earbuds currently represent the two flagship audio flavors, providing cable-free listening across Windows PCs and mobile devices. And while both Microsoft's newest wireless audio solutions, differences in form and features firmly separate these across well-defined audiences.

The primary conversation surrounding Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds lands with its physical form factor and the benefits enabled by each category. While Microsoft's trusty over-ear headphones provide a high-quality soundscape masked by noise cancellation, truly-wireless earbuds grant mobility and awareness via their compact footprint.

And with Amazon Prime Day fast approaching, new opportunities to secure either product at a discount may arise. The company's two staple audio accessories released earlier 2020, but we may see small price cuts into the fall. Finding either Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 or Microsoft Surface Earbuds below their respective $250 and $200 RRPs likely means you're seeing limited-time discounted pricing.

How the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 compare to Microsoft Surface Earbuds

Surface Headphones 2 represent Redmond's second attempt at wireless headphones, introducing minor refinements while slicing the retail cost by around 30 percent. The robust yet lightweight design keeps these easy on your end, bolstered by a padded headband and earcups to support prolonged usage. The onboard 40 mm Free Edge drivers also impress, and while undoubtedly subjective, Microsoft represents the higher end of wireless listening.

The biggest draw of the Surface Headphones 2 come through active noise-cancellation (ANC) enabled by software and microphones, and passive noise-canceling through the physical design. Microsoft's preferred ANC implemented centers around ear-mounted dials, with the option to ease between active-noise cancellation or the audio-boost features. The approach provides further granularity across 13 stages, over a simple on-off switch. The other ear also sports a volume dial, while simple touch controls put playback and voice assistant a few taps away.

The improvements under the latest revision aren't game-changing, with refinements to an already encompassing feature set. You receive the same design, materials, and weight of the past, coupled with minor tweaks for daily use. That includes 20-hour battery life upped by 25 percent, a fancy 180-degree earcup hinge, and the new matte black colorway. The internal refresh also modernizes connectivity through Bluetooth 5.0, Qualcomm aptX, and SBC low-complexity sub-band codec.

The strengths of the Surface Headphones 2 aren't hard to identify when stacked against the Surface Earbuds, primarily attributed to their hardware differences. The over-ear form factor does wonders for sound quality, while its padded, lightweight design exceeds comfort expectations. The broad silhouette enables a more robust, isolated audio experience — especially ideal when at the desk or demanding quality listening on the move.

While the Surface Headphones 2 further iterate on an established product entry, the Surface Earbuds are the latest Microsoft experiment. The company's first truly-wireless earbuds provide a more versatile solution for calls and audio playback, condensing your listening experience for all-day usage. It's an opposing philosophy to the over-ear alternative, best suited during the commute or presenting in the board room.

The Surface Earbuds pack the fundamentals of any modern wireless earbuds, including Bluetooth connectivity to Windows PCs, iOS, and Android. They sit comfortably in-ear, crucial to its pursuit of all-day listening, with three optional tips to tailor the fit. They also boast impressive battery life for the category with 8 hours per charge and up to 24 hours through the included case. You'll lose any form of noise cancelation by design, allowing the wearer to retain awareness in the office environment.

The primary differentiator with Microsoft's wireless earbuds is the distinct disc-style construction, which provides a smooth touchpad for gestures. Taps and swipes control playback, adjust volume, and hail your digital assistant, without the need to pull out your phone. Microsoft also packs a variety of productivity-focused tools under its Microsoft 365 suite, such as dictation and live PowerPoint translation, but many are also attainable to other headphones.

While Microsoft pitches the Surface Earbuds as a fusion of entertainment and productivity, they're undoubtedly geared toward getting things done. The design overlooks several standardized fundamentals across many rivals, while also doing little to stand out. But if you want to experience Microsoft's on-the-go vision, these are the earbuds for you.

Check out more tips on getting the most out of your headphones and earbuds.

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It's an incredibly close call, which is impressive considering Microsoft is still a reasonably new name in the headphones space. If noise cancellation is the draw, though, the Bose headphones are still the top dog, but the lower price of the Surface Headphones 2 certainly cannot be ignored.

It's worth highlighting, too, that Black Friday is on the horizon, and it's always a good time to get a new pair of headphones. The Bose QC 35 II are some of the best noise-canceling headphones oyou can get so any discount would be a winner for all parties. And both Bose and the Surface Headphones had decent discounts at Prime Day so it's worth keeping an eye on.

Two great pairs of headphones

Whichever you choose, you're getting a great pair of headphones. Microsoft is the newcomer in the space, but with the Surface team behind it, there was never a doubt the Headphones would be a quality product.

Bose is one of the class leaders with good reason. It has a legendary reputation for quality, and the QC 35 II is just another notch on that belt.

Both are very similar in terms of specs, so which one is right for you?

There are a couple of notable differences, however. Naturally, Microsoft has voice support in the Surface Headphones 2, but the Bose supports either Google or Amazon powered assistants built into the headphones, depending on your preference. You'll also get equal battery life on the Bose, at the expense of having to carry the old hat micro USB cable to charge the QC 35 II with.

By contrast, the Surface Headphones 2 will charge likely using the same cable as your smartphone or laptop, and with fast charge, you're back up and running much quicker.

Proper voice assistant support from Bose built-in

Both sets of headphones have voice built-in, but Microsoft's offering is more limited. Bose, however, uses either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. If you're not interested in using an assistant at all, you can skip ahead.

It's no secret that in the wide world, both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are mature assistants, with a wealth of smart integrations and global appeal. It's possible that without using your phone or a connected speaker, you can use your Bose headphones to turn on your lights, adjust your heating, or even control your Xbox. The Bose headphones can also fully interact with Google Assistant when paired with an iPhone.

The Surface Headphones 2 can interact with a voice assistant, however, but it's limited to the one on your phone, so the experience isn't quite as fluid. Whether it's Alexa, Google Assistant, or Bixby, you can use your headphones and the built-in microphone to trigger the assistant on your Android phone or Siri on the iPhone. Surface Headphones 2 can also read emails on iPhone thanks to Cortana built into Outlook.

The Surface Headphones 2 do also boast a unique voice feature, but one that's only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. Voice dictation in apps like Word and Outlook allow you to speak naturally while wearing the headphones and watch your words appear in front of you.

Bose has superior ANC, Microsoft edges it on sound quality

Which you choose should ultimately hinge on what you're looking for from your headphones. If you want the absolute best noise cancellation performance, then the Bose wins. Microsoft did a fantastic job, but it falls short of what you get from Bose.

However, the Surface Headphones 2, perhaps surprisingly, edge it on sound quality. The Bose lacks an equalizer and have a decidedly flat sound profile. The Surface Headphones 2 have an all-round richer sound, and through the Surface Audio companion app, you have access to equalizers to tweak it even further.

A great all rounder

The Surface Headphones 2 are undoubtedly worthy contenders against the likes of Bose and Sony. The newest version is an excellent refinement of the original, simply making the headphones better rather than radically redesigning anything. And one of the most pleasant parts is the much lower asking price than the first version launched at.

Easy to recommend

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is an easy to recommend a pair of headphones for folks who are prioritizing ANC, perhaps for frequent travel. The sound may not be ultimately as pleasing as the Surface Headphones 2, but they're still the ones to pick to block out the sound of the outside world.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is ending support for the Cortana apps on iOS and Android.
• Microsoft is ending support for Cortana on the Harman Kardon Invoke Speaker.
• Microsoft is ending support for the current version of Cortana on the original Surface Headphones.
• Need we go on?

Microsoft announced several cuts coming to Cortana, its digital assistant today, including ending support for third-party Cortana skills, the Cortana apps on iOS and Android, and Cortana support of the Harman Kardon Invoke speaker. These cuts come as part of Microsoft's shift of Cortana towards being a productivity-centered assistant.

Cortana support for the various devices won't be cut off at once. Cortana skills will no longer be supported as of September 7, 2020. In early 2021, Microsoft will stop supporting the Cortana apps on iOS and Android. Harman Kardon Invoke speakers will lose support for Cortana in January 2021.

Microsoft points people toward other features that Cortana has on different platforms. For example, the company highlights the Cortana experience on Windows 10. Additionally, Microsoft points to the Cortana integration on Outlook mobile and the fact that the Teams mobile app will soon support Cortana voice assistance.

While the Harman Kardon Invoke will no longer support Cortana, it will still work as a speaker for music. A firmware update will ship to the Harman Kardon in early 2021 that will allow people to use the device as a Bluetooth speaker. According to Microsoft, "The firmware update will be delivered automatically to devices connected to wifi within six months of its release."

As a bit of consolation, Microsoft will send one $50 Microsoft gift card per active Invoke to the U.S.-based Microsoft account used to set up the speaker. To receive that gift card, you'll have to have sent a voice request to Cortana with the device after July 31, 2019 but prior to Microsoft's announcement today. Presumably this is to stop people from grabbing a bunch of unused Invoke devices to earn gift cards.

In addition to removing Cortana support from several devices, Microsoft is removing the previous version of Cortana from the first version of the Surface Headphones in early 2021. Going forward, all versions of the Surface Headphones and the Surface Earbuds will be able to use Cortana through the integration with Outlook Mobile. This integration can read emails and help manage your inbox.

People affected by the Surface Headphones change will receive a $25 Microsoft Store gift card.

"We've spent a lot of time thinking through this transition and understand that these changes may be disruptive to some of our customers," says the company toward the end of its announcement.

Some will point to these changes as Microsoft cutting consumers off. Others will see it as a shift from a consumer-facing Cortana to a digital assistant focused on productivity tasks. In either case, Microsoft seems aware that the move will cause frustration.

It's an incredibly close call, which is impressive considering Microsoft is still a reasonably new name in the headphones space. If noise cancellation is the draw, or built-in Alexa and Google Assistant support, the newest Bose headphones are extremely attractive. But, the significantly lower price of the Surface Headphones 2 cannot be ignored, making them an excellent value.

Two great pairs of headphones

Whichever you choose, you're getting a great pair of headphones. Microsoft is the newcomer in the space, but with the Surface team behind it, there was never a doubt the Headphones would be a quality product.

Bose is one of the class leaders with good reason. It has a legendary reputation for quality, and the Noise Cancelling 700 is the brand's latest take on high-quality ANC headphones, with an updated design that fixes much of what there is to criticize over the legendary QC 35 II.

The two sets of headphones run each other very close on specs and features, with the new Bose 700 integrating more modern ideas than some of its predecessors, like touch controls and USB-C charging. The latter is especially important in modern hardware since phones, tablets, and many laptops are moving to the standard for charging, making it much less annoying to travel and have to take multiple cables.

Both of these are pretty large headphones and have similar wireless battery life with ANC turned on. The Bose ANC is a little better than Microsoft's, but Microsoft makes up for it by edging just on overall sound quality.

Then there's the price. Microsoft knocked it out of the park with the second version of the Surface Headphones, undercutting both its predecessor's launch price and the main competition. In this case, the Surface Headphones 2 are almost $100 cheaper than the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, which is a massive saving for comparable headphones.

Proper voice assistant support from Bose built-in

Both sets of headphones have voice built-in, but Microsoft's offering is more limited. Bose, however, uses either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. If you're not interested in using an assistant at all, you can skip ahead.

It's no secret that in the wide world, both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are mature assistants, with a wealth of smart integrations and global appeal. It's possible that without using your phone or a connected speaker, you can use your Bose headphones to turn on your lights, adjust your heating, or even control your Xbox. The Bose headphones can also fully interact with Google Assistant when paired with an iPhone.

The Surface Headphones 2 can interact with a voice assistant, however, but it's limited to the one on your phone, so the experience isn't quite as fluid. Whether it's Alexa, Google Assistant, or Bixby, you can use your headphones and the built-in microphone to trigger the assistant on your Android phone or Siri on the iPhone. Surface Headphones 2 can also read emails on iPhone thanks to Cortana built into Outlook.

The Surface Headphones 2 do also boast a unique voice feature, but one that's only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. Voice dictation in apps like Word and Outlook allow you to speak naturally while wearing the headphones and watch your words appear in front of you.

A great all rounder

The Surface Headphones 2 are undoubtedly worthy contenders against the likes of Bose and Sony. The newest version is an excellent refinement of the original, simply making the headphones better rather than radically redesigning anything. And one of the most pleasant parts is the much lower asking price than the first version launched at.

Always a solid recommendation

The Bose Noise Cancelling 700 is an-easy-to-recommend pair of headphones for folks who are prioritizing ANC, perhaps for frequent travel. The price is a significantly higher investment, and so they're certainly not for everyone, but they're still the ones to pick to block out the sound of the outside world.

No rating so hit the gym at your own risk

The Surface Headphones 2 aren't exactly cheap at $250, and they come with no rating for sweat- or water-resistance. So while you can wear them while you exercise (just the same as you can wear them while skydiving) it's not recommended.

Without a rating, the chances are that they'll degrade over time, and no-one wants that. The Surface Headphones 2 will handle mild perspiration, the sort you get wearing them on a warm day or a hot plane, not after a serious workout.

Go for wireless in-ear headphones instead

Besides the lack of a suitable rating, the Surface Headphones are pretty massive. You're not going to find a similarly high-end set of specifically sweat-resistant over-ear headphones right now, in part because the drivers are exposed.

A better option is a pair of sweat- and water-resistant wireless in-ear headphones. They're still cable-free, which is essential in the gym, but most importantly, you'll be comfortable, and your headphones won't break down on you when you're working up a sweat.

Surface Buds are an excellent choice

Surface Earbuds carry an IPX4 rating, which makes them much more suitable for wearing while you exercise as they'll be able to stand up to an amount of liquid contact.

Obviously, earbuds have to compromise in places when compared to over-ear headphones, but the Surface Earbuds promise an almost identical overall experience outside of sound quality. The same features are built into both, and with the added bonus that the Earbuds are $50 less.

Alternative at a lower price

Headphones specifically for exercising are plentiful, which means there's always an alternative out there. The Bose SoundSport Free lacks most of the features you find on the Surface Headphones 2 or Surface Earbuds, but make up for it by sounding great and costing a decent amount less.

So, your music will sound great, your headphones won't perish, and your wallet will have more cash left in it! For even more great suggestions, check out the expert round-up from our pals over at Android Central.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's Surface Go 2, Surface Earbuds and Surface Headphones 2 are available for purchase.
• Microsoft's website lists several configuration options for the Surface Go 2, including the Intel Core m3 variant.
• Microsoft's other pieces of Surface hardware should be available later this month.

Microsoft's Surface Go 2, Surface Headphones 2, and Surface Earbuds are available starting today. Microsoft recently announced several additions to its Surface family of devices, and a few of them are available now. The Surface Go 2 starts at $400, the Surface Earbuds cost $200 and the Surface Headphones 2 are available for $250.

The Surface Go 2 has a 10.5-inch display, up from the original Surface Go's screen size. While the screen is larger, the body of the Surface Go 2 is the same size as the original. Microsoft did this by reducing the size of the convertible PC's bezels. The Surface Go 2 is available with either an Intel Pentium Gold processor or a more powerful Intel Core m3 processor. Our initial benchmarks show that the Core m3 version does very well when compared to the Pentium Gold variant. The Pentium Gold, Core m3, and Core m3 with Wi-Fi or LTE are listed on Microsoft's website. Best Buy lists the Pentium Gold and Core m3 Wi-Fi variants.

The Surface Earbuds are a new member of the Surface family. They have omnisonic speakers for high quality audio and support haptic gestures for controlling music and other content. They also integrate with Office 365, including support for dictating documents.

The Surface Headphones 2 also support gestures and work with Office 365. They're similar to the original Surface Headphones but have Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX support. Also, they're more comfortable when worn around the neck because the earcups can now be rotated 180 degrees. The Surface Headphones 2 are available in Light Gray or Matte Black.

Microsoft and Best Buy good shouts

Microsoft is always the best place to get a new Surface product if you're an early adopter and want to grab it as soon as you possibly can. The Surface Headphones 2 are in stock to order for shipping from May 12.

The same applies to Best Buy, with both colors also being available there to order with shipping initially set for the same day, May 12.

Microsoft physical retail stores should also be selling the Surface Headphones 2 if you have one near you when they are open. The bonus here is that you'll be able to give them a test-listen before you buy. Obviously, for launch, stores are closed, including across the U.S. and at the flagship store in London.

Also available at Amazon

Amazon is a big reseller of Surface hardware, and with the Surface Headphones 2, the online giant has also picked them up to add to its catalog.

For Prime members, that means free shipping, and of course, the ability to use any Amazon gift cards you may have lying around. Amazon is also committing to May 12 availability but has been seeing issues in recent times with shipping non-essential items to customers, so, for now, you may be better off going straight to Microsoft.

What you need to know

• The Surface Audio app is now available on Android, iOS, and Windows 10.
• The app is a companion to Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds, allowing you to manage each.
• Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds ship on May 12 and are available to preorder now.

Microsoft's new Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds start shipping to buyers and arriving in stores on May 12, and Microsoft is preparing by launching the new Surface Audio companion app. The app is available now for iOS, Android, and Windows 10, giving Surface Headphones and Earbuds users a quick way to manage the accessories, update them, and more.

The apps ensure you can adjust the settings of your Surface Headphones or Surface Earbuds no matter what you have them paired to. In each, you'll find access to an equalizer, the option to customize device controls, and the ability to change your language. The Surface Audio app is also where you'll initiate firmware updates when they're available.

The main home screen of the app also gives you a quick overview of the status of your Surface Headphones or Surface Earbuds. You can see the battery level, along with how much time you have left before the battery dies. That's in addition to the volume level, along with the noise cancellation level.

Lastly, you can edit the name of your headphones or earbuds, access tutorials, and dive deeper into details about your devices.

Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds are available to preorder now for $250 and $200, respectively. Both are expected to start shipping on May 12. You can download the Surface Audio app at the App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Store now.

Thanks, Kris, for the tip!

What you need to know

• Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds are now up for preorder at Best Buy.
• Best Buy's preorders come a day after they launched on the Microsoft Store.
• Surface Headphones 2 are priced at $250 while Surface Earbuds fetch $200.

Following up on Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 going up for preorder at Best Buy, Microsoft's Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds are also now up for grabs at the big box retailer. Surface Headphones 2 cost $250, while Surface Earbuds are available for $200.

Both Surface Earbuds and Surface Headphones 2 features integrations with Office apps that let you do things like control PowerPoint slides and listen to your latest emails from Outlook on demand. Surface Earbuds feature omnisonic speakers that should deliver high audio quality, and they've been tuned to work well in office environments. The large touch sensors on each bud allow you to quickly change volume, skip tracks, and call up your digital assistant as well.

Surface Headphones 2 largely keep the same design and feel of the original Surface Headphones, but with some notable tweaks. There's a new matte black color option, which joins the gray color found on the original. Microsoft has also added Bluetooth 5.0, aptX support, and the earcups can now be rotated 180 degrees for a more comfortable experience when they're resting around your neck.

Surface Earbuds and Surface Headphones 2 are both expected to start shipping and arrive in stores starting May 12. For now, you can preorder each from both Best Buy and the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft launched a whole load of new Surface devices today. With the new Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Headphone 2 finally breaking cover, alongside a ton of other products, you're bound to have some questions, and we have answers.

Windows Central's Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden will go live on YouTube and Mixer today at 1 PM ET to answer any questions you may have about the new Surface gear announced today. We've already had some hands on time with the Surface Go 2, Surface Headphones 2, and Surface Earbuds, but we'll be fielding questions about everything else as well.

You can watch along on this page via the video embed above, or join us directly on YouTube and Mixer starting at 1 PM ET.

What you need to know

• Panos Panay shared a brief video on Twitter about the new Surface devices.
• Microsoft announced the Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and several other Surface devices today.
• Panay highlights that the devices are designed to adapt to people's workflow.

Microsoft's chief product officer, Panos Panay, shared a brief video on Twitter today showing his excitement for the new Surface devices. Microsoft announced two new PCs today, the Surface Book 3 and the Surface Go 2. The company also announced the Surface Headphones 2, Surface Earbuds, and two docks for connecting devices. Panay discussed how the devices adapt to people's workflow.

About halfway through the video, Panay's daughter walks into the room in which he's filming. She joins the video, says hi, and says good-bye alongside Panay ending the video.

Panay often announces Surface devices with a bit more fanfare, but with the current health crisis Microsoft took a different approach to announcing the new Surface devices.

Microsoft has unveiled the followup to the Surface Headphones, packing a handful of new improvements over the original, providing additional features for the price. Positioned under the same premium branding as the Surface PC family, the second revision brings device-wide revisions, alongside the option of matte black colorway. The Surface Headphones 2 launch on May 12 for $250, with preorders now live via the Microsoft Store.

The Surface Headphones 2 aren't a vast departure from the original design, with the same streamlined silhouette, now refreshed with improved internals. That retains the impressive audio quality and comfort, with a unique 13-level approach to active noise cancellation adjusted alongside volume with on-ear dials. The side-mounted touch panels also return for simple gestures, ideal for music controls, calls, and interactions with your digital assistant.

The arrival of the black color option with Surface Headphones 2 provides a muted alternative compared to the sole light gray from the first release. The color also aligns with the recent wave of black Surface PCs, guaranteed to charm Surface fans.

As for features, Surface Headphones 2 pack a battery boost, promising up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, improving up the original by roughly a third. We also receive improved connectivity, now supporting Bluetooth 5, providing a faster, more stable connection with supported devices. Microsoft has opted for the inclusion of aptX, too, a protocol poised to reduce latency and improve audio clarity.

The Surface Headphones 2 provide yet another premium pair of cans for music through productivity, compatible with Bluetooth-enabled devices, and best used with Windows 10 PCs, Android, or iOS devices. Preorders have now gone live via the Microsoft Store, priced at $250.

What you need to know

• Microsoft announced the Surface Headphones 2 today.
• The successor to the original Surface Headphones brings Bluetooth 5, a black color option, aptX support, and more.
• Surface Headphones go up for preorder today for $250 and will become available on May 12.

After months of rumors, Microsoft's new Surface Headphones 2 are finally here. The company unveiled the followup to the original Surface Headphones alongside a number of new Surface devices today, including the new Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2.

The Surface Headphones 2 look very much like the original Surface Headphones, but Microsoft has made a number of improvements that make them a more attractive buy. Most notably, there's now a matte black color option, which joins the original light gray color. This has been a major request from Surface fans for a while, particularly as Microsoft has adopted matte black across the rest of the Surface lineup.

Beyond the new color option, Microsoft has amped up just about every other aspect of the original Surface Headphones. The company says you'll now get up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, and you'll be able to get a full charge in under two hours. The Surface Headphones 2 can also give you nearly an hour of playback with just five minutes of charging.

The noise cancellation, which Microsoft has tuned to work especially well for office settings by focusing on blocking human voices, is back. It's adjustable as well, with 13 levels of noise cancellation that can be tweaked, along with the volume, by the adjustable on-ear dials.

There are touch controls on the side, allowing you to skip tracks, answer and end calls, and access your digital assistant with a tap. Music will also pause when the headphones sense that you've taken them off, and will resume once you put them back on. Surface Headphones 2 also support dictation in Office apps, live captions and subtitles (with translation) in PowerPoint, and the "Play My Emails" feature in the Outlook mobile app on iOS.

Lastly, Microsoft included some important updates in terms of connectivity. Bluetooth 5 should allow the headphones to obtain a stronger and quicker connection to other devices, particularly when you use Swift Pair on Windows 10. Additionally, support for the aptX protocol can reduce latency and give a boost to sound quality.

Surface Headphones 2 also come with a new, lower price: $250 compared to the $350 that the original Surface Headphones launched at. Surface Headphones 2 are available to preorder today, and are expected to become available on May 12 in the U.S. and Canada with other markets to follow.

It's new Surface hardware day! Microsoft has unveiled several new Surface products that are set to start shipping as soon as next week, and pack numerous improvements to Microsoft's low-end and high-end product lines. Here are all the announcements you need to know about.

Microsoft is announcing five new Surface products ranging from PCs to accessories, and is also releasing the Surface Earbuds that were originally announced back in October 2019. Here's a list of the new products being announced today:

• Surface Book 3
• Surface Go 2
• Surface Headphones 2
• Surface Dock 2
• Surface USB-C Travel Hub

The new Surface Book 3

Microsoft is finally updating its Surface Book product line with faster processors and more powerful GPU options. While the exterior remains the same, the inside has been updated with Intel 10th-Gen processors, up to 32GB RAM, and 2TB storage along with NVIDIA GTX 1650, 1660 Ti, or Quadro 3000 graphics options.

Surface Book 3 is not cheap, starting at $1599 for an Intel Core i5 with no dedicated graphics. We'd recommend skipping this model and jumping up to the Intel Core i7 models that start at $1999. This will get you a dedicated graphics card in the 13.5-inch, along with more storage and power to boot.

Surface Book 3 begins shipping on May 21 in the US and Canada. Check out our breakout post for availability, specifications, and more.

The new Surface Go 2

Alongside the Surface Book 3, Microsoft is updating the Surface Go product line with a larger display and a more powerful model for those who need it. The Surface Go 2 features the same overall design and size, but with a larger 10.5-inch panel with thinner bezels, which makes the product look more modern and less cramped to use.

Surface Go 2 still starts at $399, but users can now opt for a more powerful $629 model with an Intel Core m3 inside. This model provides 64 percent more power over the original Surface Go, making it suitable for most office-related tasks, browsing the web, checking email, and watching movies and listening to music.

Surface Go 2 begins shipping on May 12 in several markets. Check out our breakout post for availability, specifications, and more.

Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds

The Surface Headphones are also getting an update with a new black color option, increased battery life, and and Bluetooth 5.0 support. The Surface Headphones 2 look identical to the first generation, not including the new color of course. Most notably, these new Surface Headphones are cheaper than the originals, launching at just $250 instead of $349.

Microsoft's Surface Earbuds were originally announced in October 2019 and were supposed to start shipping before 2020 rolled around. However, the product was delayed and is only now beginning to ship. The only change between the Surface Earbuds launching today and the ones that were announced in October is that the price has dropped from $249 to $199, a saving of $50.

Make sure you check out our breakout posts for the Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds for information on availability, pricing, and more.

Surface Dock 2 and USB-C Travel Hub

Alongside the new Surface PCs comes a new Surface Dock to match. The new model includes USB-C ports in addition to USB-A ports. Interestingly, the new Surface Dock 2 only supports the Surface Book 3, Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X, Surface Laptop 3, and Surface Go 2. It won't work on previous generation products, according to Microsoft.

Also new is a USB-C travel hub, which carries several ports for those who need them when on the go. These ports include 1x USB-C port, 1x USB-A port, 1x ethernet port, 1x HDMI 2.0 port, 1x VGA port, and 1x 3.5mm headphones jack. It's like a mini Surface Dock and works with more than just Surface products.

Check out our breakout post for these new accessories if you'd like to know more about pricing and availability.

What are you looking forward to?

That's all the notable announcements coming out of Microsoft today. We're expecting a handful of new Surface products to begin shipping in the next few weeks, most of which are modest updates over their predecessors. It's a little disappointing to see Microsoft hasn't changed the design of the Surface Book 3, but it's good to see a larger display and more powerful configurations on the Surface Go 2.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

What you need to know

• The Cortana beta for Windows 10 added a new hardware section to its settings.
• The section gives you quick access to managing devices that use Cortana.
• Xbox One, Surface Headphones, and Amazon Alexa devices can all be interacted with through this new settings menu.

The Cortana beta app for Windows 10 reveived a fresh update today that adds a new hardware section to the settings menu. The section allows you to jump in and manage any of the Cortana devices you may use. That includes things like your Xbox One, Surface Headphones, and even Amazon Alexa devices you have connected to Cortana.

When you first open the hardware section, you'll see a list of devices you already have connected. You can click through to each to manage different settings with each device. It also gives you a shortcut to setting up Surface Headphones for the first time, directing you to the Microsoft Store to download the Cortana Device Setup app.

The arrival of the new settings section comes at a good time for Surface fans in particular. It's widely expected, due to recent leaks, that Microsoft will soon launch Surface Headphones 2, which, like their predecessor, should feature Cortana integration. Surface Earbuds, which were delayed late last year, are expected to launch soon as well.

If you're using the Cortana beta app, you can update to version 2.2004.22762.0 to check out the new hardware settings.

What you need to know

• A listing for what could be the Surface Headphones 2 appeared on the Bluetooth SIG certification website.
• The listing shows a potential sequel to the Surface Headphones that supports Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX.
• aptX helps transmit audio over Bluetooth without losing audio quality.

Microsoft's Surface Headphones could be getting a sequel soon, based on a recent listing that appeared online. 91 mobiles discovered a listing on the Bluetooth SIG certification site for what appears to be the Surface Headphones 2. According to the listing, the Surface Headphones 2 will support Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX for high-quality audio.

The listing is for a device with a model number of 1919 that will appear on Microsoft's website. There's a chance that they could just be called the "Surface Headphones" rather than adding a 2 to signify a later version. The listing only refers to them as "Surface Headphones," though, in this article, we'll refer to them as Surface Headphones to for clarity.

The upgrade to Bluetooth 5.0 will help the Surface Headphones 2 have a stronger and quicker connection to devices. Many new devices support Bluetooth 5.0, which is important because to get the benefits of the new technology, both devices need to support it. Bluetooth 5.0 is backward compatible, though, so the Surface Headphones 2 should work with older devices. The original Surface Headphones utilize Bluetooth 4.2.

Bluetooth 5: Is it actually better, and do you need it?

The addition of aptX will also help the sound quality of the headphones. aptX reduces latency and allows audio to travel between devices without lowering audio quality.

The listing also states that the Surface Headphones 2 will get up to 20 hours of battery life.

The listing does not indicate when the Surface Headphones 2 will come out, but it could be soon. Recent reports indicate that the Surface Earbuds will launch on May 6, 2020. Several other Surface devices have also popped up in FCC filings, including the Surface Book 3, so a Surface event could be around the corner.

What you need to know

• Microsoft appears to be gearing up to launch Surface Headphones in black.
• A new leaked promotional video shows off the black headphones in all their glory.
• Surface Headphones were curiously absent from the fall Surface event, but we did get a look at Microsoft's new Surface Earbuds.

Of all the new Surface devices present at Microsoft's fall showcase, the Surface Headphones were curiously absent. However, Microsoft appears to be nearly ready for a small, but cool update for its first venture into Surface audio accessories.

Avid Microsoft leaker WalkingCat posted a leaked ad to Twitter that shows Surface Headphones in a new black color in action. Check it out below:

https://twitter.com/h0x0d/status/1179406724983377921?s=20

The black color certainly looks pretty sleek, and it will likely appeal to anyone who was turned off by the signature Surface grey that covered the headphoens at launch. This looks to be a cosmetic update only, with Microsoft's touch controls and noise cancellation present.

While we didn't get a look at any new Surface headphones at Microsoft's fall event, the company did announce its new Surface Earbuds, which look a little awkward, but sport some impressive gesture controls.

I recently reviewed ITeknic's Bluetooth earbuds and the company's first-generation noise-cancellation Bluetooth headphones. The products impressed me with their build and sound quality, overall comfort, affordable prices, and long battery life.

The second-gen (BH005) noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones continue in this vane with some great aesthetics, acoustic improvements and an overall package that pleases, while introducing some design compromises that slightly hinder a full evolutionarily leap the company could have achieved. Still, the iterative advance is a good one.  

What you will like about ITeknic Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones

One of the first things you will notice about these headphones is the build quality. Compared to the plain black plastic of ITeknic's first-gen noise-canceling headphones, this metal and plastic headset screams quality and is satisfying to look at. ITeknic's efforts to bring high-end aesthetics to an affordable accessory business model succeeded with this second-generation headset.

The Chrome accents on the back of the ear cuffs are a shiny and reflective contrast to the brushed metal, adjustable frame that connects those cuffs to the soft cushion of the headset that rests comfortably upon the wearer's head.   The brushed metal frames bring a level of durability not found on other headsets that I have used. Unfortunately, iTeknic forsook the folding capability found in most, including its previous generation, headsets. Rather, than folding inward, the metal frames leading to the cuffs are inflexible but allow the ear cuffs to rotate. This metal design doesn't only look durable, but it also feels quite tough.

The sound quality on this headset is excellent. Voices on telephone calls are clear, as are the voices and instruments when listening to music and watching videos. The microphone performs well under normal conditions; allowing people on the other end to hear my voice well. The headset also charges quickly and will last longer than a day on one charge.

Finally, the noise-canceling capability is good, but not necessarily a better experience than what the previous model provides. The improved noise-canceling technology does its job, but the physical design of the ear cuffs hinders the experience.

What you will dislike about ITeknic Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones

The ear cuffs of these $90 headphones are very soft and comfortable but don't innately "shut out" the outside world as completely as ITeknic's first noise-canceling headphones. It was that combination of the cuffs physically obstructing outside sounds, combined with the noise-canceling technology, that worked well in the previous model. ITecknic improved the noise-canceling tech, but the current ear cuffs let in more sound.

Anyone using over-the-ear headphones concedes a certain level of comfort because of the size inherent to their design. This is even more problematic for ITeknic's second-gen headset since it can't fold and become as compact as its predecessor (and other headsets on the market). In fact, the headsets came in a carrying case that is considerably larger (though flatter) than the more compact case of the previous model.

The older micro USB charging port (though it gets the job done) seems a bit out of sync with the headset's improved, high-end design, which would have been better paired with a USB Type-C port. Additionally, the "crowd" of buttons, including the power and active noise-canceling buttons, and the volume rocker are a little cumbersome to navigate when driving compared to headsets with a single navigation knob.

So should you buy ITeknic's Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones?

Yes, you should buy ITeknic Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones if you want visually appealing, durable headphones with noise-canceling capabilities, excellent sound, and a high-end feel with a price that is accessible to most people. Excellent battery life provides over a day's worth of use after a quick charge of just around an hour. At $90, these aesthetically pleasing, durable ANC headphones with great sound seem to be a good value.

The ITeknic Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones provide a great sound, via a design that looks high-end and is genuinely durable, generally comfortable and offers great battery life.   

What you need to know

• A new firmware update for Surface Headphones is available.
• A new "device controls" feature is present.
• Latest update bumps the firmware to version 1.0.4.44.12.

A new firmware update for the Microsoft Surface Headphones appears to be rolling out for the device via the Cortana app on iOS and Android or the dedicated devices app on Windows 10. Right now, there's no official changelog, but the firmware version has been bumped from version 1.0.4.31 to 1.0.4.44.21, making this a minor firmware revision.

The update appeared as a notification on Windows 10, and likely does the same on iOS and Android via the Cortana app if you have it installed. The update took about 15 minutes to download, and a short time to install once the download had completed.

New with this firmware is a new "device controls" feature that allows you to toggle on and off different device functions such as the "Hey Cortana" command, touch controls, and voice prompts.

The last firmware update was quite a big one, introducing the ability to pair up to 8 bluetooth devices for easy switching between, among a number of other bug fixes. The last firmware update was released in March 2019, making it five months between this new firmware update and the last one.

So far, the only notable change with this firmware is the addition of a new "device controls" feature. This marks the second firmware update for the Surface Headphones since launch. We'll keep an eye out for an official changelog from Microsoft, but in the meantime, have you updated your Surface Headphones to the latest firmware?

According to a new report, Microsoft is working on another pair of headphones, this time designed to take on Apple's AirPods with wireless earbuds powered by Cortana. Dubbed "Surface Buds," these new earphones from Microsoft are much smaller than the Surface Headphones, making them much more ideal for travel.

Codenamed Morrison, something we can confirm via our own sources, these new earbuds will likely feature Cortana integration and noise cancellation, just like the Surface Headphones do. I've known about the Morrison codename for over a year now, so it's interesting to see more information about these headphones show up now. It's unclear when this product will ship, assuming it hasn't already been canceled.

Surface Headphones review

Hopefully, the Surface Buds will be cheaper than the Surface Headphones, which come in at $329 making them somewhat expensive for most people. If Surface Buds cost $149, that opens them up to a much larger market, one that people looking into Apple's AirPods might be interested in buying.

Brad Sams's report details the following:

Back before the Surface Headphones were announced, I was told that Microsoft were working on accessories under the name Morrison and Joplin, alongside its Andromeda foldable device. I wasn't sure we'd ever see Joplin and Morrison after Andromeda was delayed indefinitely. I was later told that Joplin was the Surface Headphones, proving that these accessories can ship even without Andromeda. So, it's not crazy to assume we'll see Morrison as well.

What do you think about these headphones? Let us know in the comments.

Our favorite Surface accessories from Microsoft

Every one of these valuable Surface accessories is Windows Central Approved and guaranteed to please.

Surface Precision Mouse ($77 at Amazon)

The Surface Precision Mouse is not only one of favorite Surface accessories, it's one of our favorite mice for any PC. It's packed with valuable features and customizable buttons. Its scrolling and tracking are seamless and spot-on. And it's rechargeable so you never have to buy new batteries for it.

Surface Pen (From $72 at Amazon)

Every Surface owner needs this Pen. Period. It supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support for shading density, and enjoys supremely low latency. When paired with a Surface PC, the potential is endless. And it comes in a bunch of cool colors.

Surface Dock ($136 at Amazon)

With two Mini DisplayPorts, four USB-A 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack, this dock gives you the ports you need to stay connected to all your favorite devices. Plus, it easily turns your Surface into a desktop power hub. We highly recommend it.

The Microsoft Surface Headphones are like many modern Bluetooth headsets in that they can get over-the-air firmware updates to improve or add functionality. Since its release, the Surface Headphones have not had any updates, but that's changing now as version 1.0.4.31.21 is rolling out now (old firmware was 1.0.4.22.21).

As to what's new, well, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of features. While we had heard reports Microsoft may give users a way to turn off always-listening Cortana that is not a feature here. Nor are there any other new options. Instead, this appears to be more of a maintenance or quality improvement one instead likely addressing some lingering issues users may have reported.

Updated March 22, 2019: Microsoft has now posted release notes for the update, which detail improvements to audio quality and reliability, along with tweaks to make sure Spotify continues playing after you hang up a call, and more. Here's a look.

• Audio quality and stability improvements.
• Ability to manage connectivity to 8 paired devices in both the Cortana app (United States only) and the Surface Headphones app on Windows 10 (outside of the United States).
• Ability to use the Volume and Noise Cancellation dials when both the 3.5mm audio and USB cable are plugged in.
• Music from Spotify resumes playing on your headphones after you hang up from a call from another device.
• Improves the use of "Hey Cortana" with multiple devices where Cortana may have indicated that it could not connect.

To fetch the update simply open the Cortana app on Android, iOS, or Windows 10 to manage the Surface Headphone. From there it should show an update waiting. Users can also go to settings and check for a firmware update there.

The update process takes around fifteen minutes for the download and installation. Luckily, there's a detailed progress bar to show you how far along the update is for installing. Users can continue to use the headphones – even playing music – for most of the update process. When ready to install a prompt alerts you that the headphones will power off and that the update process will take around two minutes.

Microsoft has detailed instructions on to complete the update.

Thanks, Matthew J., for the tip!

Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, and Surface Studio 2 all made their debut in October, but they've been limited to going on sale in a handful of countries since. However, this week, Microsoft is rectifying that by launching its latest Surface devices in a slew of new markets.

In total, all three Surfaces are launching in 20 new markets starting February 7. Further, for anyone looking to get their hands on the Cortana-equipped Surface Headphones, they'll be headed to eight new markets in March, Microsoft says.

Unfortunately, Microsoft isn't exactly forthcoming with exactly where these 20 new markets are. You'll have to check your local Microsoft Store pages for the Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, and Surface Studio 2 to see if they're available in your region starting today.

As for the Surface Headphones, Microsoft did reveal where we can expect the headphones to launch in March. The list of new markets includes:

• Australia
• Austria
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• Switzerland

If you're a part of today's rollout, you can grab the latest Surface lineup via the Microsoft Store now.

• See Surface Pro 6
• See Surface Laptop 2
• See Surface Studio 2
• See Surface Headphones

Microsoft this week officially launched its new Surface Headphones in the UK, coming two weeks after opening up preorders. The headphones are available to order at the Microsoft Store for £330.

The Surface Headphones were unveiled last month at Microsoft's October hardware event, coming alongside the new Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, and Surface Studio 2. And though their price is on the high side, the Surface Headphones come sporting some advanced features like different levels of active noise cancellation, gesture controls, and high-end audio. Rounding out the package is Cortana integration, allowing you to interact with the digital assistant on the go.

In his review, Windows Central Executive Editor Daniel Rubino said of the Surface Headphones:

The Surface Headphones are now available for £330 in the UK and $350 in the U.S.

• See at Microsoft Store UK
• See at Microsoft US

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week the Windows 10 October 2018 is back! Again! Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden have the details on that along with a look at Light Mode and other features coming in 2019. Also on the software front, developers can now submit native ARM64 apps to Microsoft Store.

Additionally, Daniel provides his review of Surface Headphones, and they chat about rumors surrounding a disc-less Xbox One on the horizon for next year.

Last but certainly not least, Jared DiPane from our sister site Thrifter is here with the best Black Friday deals for Windows and gadget fans.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on November 16 2018.

Links:

• Windows 10 October 2018 Update review: Little refinements make a big difference
• Top new features Microsoft is working on for Windows 10 in 2019
• Microsoft Store now lets developers submit native ARM64 apps
• Surface Headphones review: Comfortable with awesome audio, but noise cancellation needs work
• Disc-less Xbox One reportedly set for 2019, with 'disc-to-digital' program
• Thrifter.com: All the best deals from Amazon, Best Buy, and more, fussily curated and constantly updated.

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Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

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The new Surface Headphones ($350) are an attempt by Microsoft to enter the hyper-competitive active noise cancellation (ANC) market of expensive, premium headphones. In some ways, it's an odd choice and yet the focus on productivity (Cortana), multiple Bluetooth pairings, design, comfort, and exceptional build quality are right in line with what the Surface team delivers.

But headphones — especially ones priced this high — do not exist in a vacuum. So, when compared to some of the best on the market right now including, the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) and Sony WH-1000-XM3, it is surprising how good the Surface Headphones are.

Minimalist looks dominate

Surface Headphones design and features

The Surface engineering and design team nailed the looks and feel of Surface Headphones. The smooth platinum finish, large ear cushions and clean, minimalist look skillfully match the rest of the Surface line.

There are no visible screws or seems in the headband. Everything seems balanced with a focus on symmetry, and it makes the Surface Headphones simply stunning.

The matte platinum plastic is quality, and with only a few areas being metal (likely aluminum) the Surface Headphones weigh only 290 grams. That's heavier than Sony's WH-1000-XM3 (255 grams) and Bose's QC 35II (236 grams). The difference is hard to notice, though, when wearing the Surface Headphone, partially due to the ingenious engineering of the band, which spreads the weight uniformly. There's a nice arc right before the earcups on the band that likely offsets tension, as well.

Surface Headphones specs

The ear cups have substantial cushions when compared to Sony and Bose, which have ear cups with very similar designs. The Surface Headphones look more like an "o" for a shape versus a "0" for Bose and Sony. This design choice results in more padding behind and in front of the ear than the competition.

Under the band where it meets the skull apex, there is a decent amount of padding. While I didn't experience any head fatigue from the Surface Headphones, the Sonys feel a tad better for longer durations.

On the bottom right ear cup, you can find buttons for power and microphone muting. There's also a small white LED for charging status (blinking when charging, solid when charged), a USB Type-C port for fast charge, and a 3.5mm audio connector for those who want to use the headphones wired.

Pressing the power button for a second toggles the headphones on or off. Long-pressing for five seconds sets them to Bluetooth pairing mode. Holding the power button for 20 seconds will factory reset them. The mute microphone switch is self-explanatory, but I found the lack of any visible or audible feedback that the microphone was muted disconcerting.

Those buttons and ports are all perfectly lined up along with an invisible line and evenly spaced.

Surface Headphones auto-pause and gestures

There are a few distinct areas that separate Microsoft's headphones from the competition. One of those is the use of tapping either side of the capacitive ear cups for functionality. Here are the features:

• Short tap — Play/pause.
• Double tap — Next and Answer call.
• Triple tap — Previous.
• Long press — Activate Cortana or Decline call.

The right ear cup of the Surface Headphones acts like a giant volume knob. The left ear cup controls noise cancellation, giving users 13 different ambient sound levels. The execution of this is perfect. Surface Headphones are easily the most user-friendly headphones when compared to Sony and especially Bose. The dials are smooth, gentle, accurate and a joy to use versus physical buttons or using an app.

Another genius feature is auto-pause. When users take off the Surface Headphones or put them around their neck, the headphones pause whatever is playing through them whether, it's music or a movie on a PC.

The headphones also work wirelessly with Windows Sonic to give pseudo-surround-sound and spatial effects. Auto-pause without a hitch.

The power of voice

Surface Headphones brings Cortana

Cortana is front and center with Surface Headphones. From the moment you first turn them on and set them up, Microsoft's digital assistant is foundational.

Those on iOS and Android can use the new Cortana 3.0 app to set up, control, update, and configure the headphones. For Windows 10 users, Cortana is built into the OS and uses the same process for setting up and configuration, which is simple.

A long-press can activate Cortana through Surface Headphones on the ear cup or merely saying "Hey, Cortana." This capability works on iOS to activate Cortana, which for the first time, gives users a more natural ability to rely on the assistant over Apple's Siri. Microsoft notes, however, that Cortana and iOS still work best together when the Cortana app is open.

Various voice commands give Cortana a lot of punch for these headphones, such as:

• Dictate and send email or SMS on Android or iOS.
• Get latest calendar appointments or status.
• Open Amazon Alexa (PC only).
• Open a playlist on Spotify (coming to iOS soon).
• Control music.
• Ask about weather, trivia, conversions, general information, etc.

Those using Android will get a richer experience than on iOS because Cortana on Android can be set as a default assistant.

The Cortana app also lets you configure a five-band equalizer (EQ) with presets for flat, classical, jazz, pop, and rock. Users can customize those EQ settings and save and name as many presets as they wish.

While there are currently no firmware updates available for Surface Headphones, it is through Cortana on iOS, Android, or PC that users can check for and install these feature and bug-fixing updates.

Cortana works quite well on the Surface Headphones and is especially useful for those who plan on using them with a PC, where Cortana can do much more compared to Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, which have no presence or abilities.

Good news, not-great news

Surface Headphones audio and noise-canceling

Audio quality when playing music, listening to movies, or during a Skype call is brilliant on the Surface Headphones. Microsoft has always had a knack for audio as Surface Pro and Surface Laptop demonstrate. That carries over to the Surface Headphones, which are a delight to use for music or movies.

By contrast, Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) sound flat and hollow (the lack of EQ does not help). Compared to the excellent Sony WH-1000-XM3s, the Surface Headphones sound very similar. Music is rich, full-bodied with bass, and it has a remarkable fidelity. Sony has a few more software tricks up its sleeve, but Microsoft managed to create outstanding headphones that can go up against others in this class.

However, things shift when it comes to Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Microsoft notes that the Surface Headphones have four beamforming microphones with four additional microphones to deliver 13 levels of ambient noise cancellation, and it all works. But it is not as good as Bose, and neither are as terrific as Sony.

What is active noise cancellation and how does it work in headphones?

The Surface Headphones, when set to max ANC, tend to have a bit of a background hiss to them versus the near dead-silence provided by the Sony WH-1000-XM3. It's noticeable on their own but more so when you compare directly.

Outside wind noise is better than the Bose, which are terrible, but again Sony has better-recessed microphones to help prevent wind interference.

The same goes for public areas with lots of people talking and background noise. The Surface Headphones reduce that noise, and the ability to "dial it in" with fine granular control is amazing (most ANC headphones are "max" or just on or off for control). But compared to Sony and even Bose the Surface Headphones fall short for noise cancellation.

Perhaps it is unrealistic to assume that Microsoft could beat either Bose or Sony on version 1.0; after all, both companies have been doing this research for years. The fact remains though that while the Surface Headphones are still very good, the Sony WH-1000-XM3 are the champs against noise.

Better than expected

Bottom line on Microsoft's Surface Headphones

Going up against Sony and Bose and expecting to win against either in a battle for headphones is an insane challenge. And perhaps Microsoft doesn't need to win, as long as it pushes the genre forward with creativity.

From that latter perspective, Microsoft accomplished a lot. Audio quality compared to other popular brands at this price point is as good as Sony and better than Bose. One key takeaway is Microsoft made Bose look bad with its dated micro USB port, physical keys, and mediocre sound profile on the QC 35IIs.

Comfort, design, auto-pause and gesture controls are all marvelous with the Surface Headphones.

Where Surface Headphones stagger is noise cancellation and battery life. Both are satisfactory, but not amazing. Bose estimates around 20 hours of battery life and Sony pushes 30. Surface Headphones are supposed to get 15 hours, but it's more like 11 or 12 hours in my experience. The Type-C fast charge helps and is very convenient for those who live the Type-C tech life, but these will need charging more frequently.

Noise cancellation is as much art as it is science. While Sony is now considered the best, it took the company years of trying — and failing — to beat Bose. It finally did but only in September 2018 with the new WH-1000-XM3. Microsoft still has some room to grow, but if we were expecting any amazing advancements with this technology, it is not evident with this release. Perhaps some software tweaking will change that, though.

So, who should buy the Surface Headphones? Anyone who works behind a computer (Mac or PC) and who wants to switch to their smartphone without fiddling dynamically. The Surface Headphones are great for listening to music on PC, taking a call on an iPhone, and then going right back to work. Bose can do this as well, but Sony's pair with only one device.

There is also the case for those who like using Cortana on PC or smartphones. If you do, then these are a no-brainer. Neither Bose nor Sony works with Cortana.

There are also just fans of Surface PCs who want premium headphones to match the experience. That may sound trivial, but it works for Apple, and there's no reason to dismiss such a loyal audience. And the Surface Headphones look gorgeous next to a Surface PC.

Microsoft brought serious innovation to the table with Surface Headphones. It still has room to improve, but the company has established that it can offer some genuine competition to Bose and Sony. Surface Headphones 2 should be very exciting. For now, this first release is above average ... but not the best.

Microsoft today opened preorders for Surface Headphones, which start shipping on November 19 in the United States ($350) and 10 days later on November 29 in the United Kingdom (£330).

Microsoft has today opened orders for the upcoming Surface Headphones, which start shipping on November 19 in the United States and 10 days later on November 29 in the United Kingdom. The Surface Headphones cost $349.99 in the U.S. and £329.99 in the U.K., with the headset being available for pre-order in the U.K. starting today too.

Microsoft announced the Surface Headphones at a hardware event last month, alongside the new Surface Laptop 2, Surface Pro 6, and Surface Studio 2. Both the Surface Laptop 2 and Surface Pro 6 are already shipping, with the Surface Studio 2 expected to start shipping in the United States today.

First impressions of Microsoft's Surface Headphones have been positive. I recently had the chance to try them myself, and I was impressed with both the sound quality and hardware design, which feels very premium just like you'd expect from a Surface product. Cortana integration is also a nice addition, who will guide you through pairing and setting up the device in addition to aiding your usual virtual assistant tasks.

Windows Central will have a full review for the Surface Headphones online very soon, so stay tuned for that. Will you be ordering the Surface Headphones? Let us know in the comments.

• Order Surface Headphones from Microsoft U.S.
• Order Surface Headphones from Microsoft U.K.

Limited global availability for now

This isn't massively surprising, mostly because of the included Cortana voice assistant, which requires localization, but the U.S. will be the first market to get the Surface Headphones, but the UK has also been confirmed, albeit as yet without a confirmed date on when folks there can order them.

Cortana is built into the headphones

Normally, when you hear about a voice assistant like Cortana being available, your brain might go to ideas about only using Microsoft devices. You're probably used to seeing assistants like Cortana on your phone, tablet, or PC, but in this case, Cortana is built right into the headphones. It cuts out an extra middleman when trying to connect them with any device, so there's no need to use Cortana on your iPhone or iPad to make use of these headphones.

The Surface Headphones will still rely on the connection to your phone, tablet, or PC to complete certain actions. How much you can do will depend on where you are, but Cortana will live inside the headphones no matter what device you're using them with.

That feature, which makes them so appealing to some, is part of why there's not much global availability at launch. We'll be sure to update you when more information becomes available.

Microsoft has the best initial availability

Microsoft is always the best place to get a new Surface product if you're an early adopter and want to grab it as soon as you possibly can. Naturally, the manufacturer will offer everything you want for the day it goes on sale.

In the case of the Surface Headphones, shipping is set to begin on Nov. 19, but Microsoft will be taking pre-orders from Nov. 15, so you can secure your pair ahead of the busy holiday period.

Microsoft physical retail stores in the U.S. should also be selling the Surface Headphones from Nov. 19 if you have one near you. The bonus here is that you'll be able to give them a test listen before you buy. Plus, you don't have to wait for shipping.