We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a foldable, over-ear set of wireless noise cancelling headphones for music, movies and podcasts, choose Skullcandy Hesh ANC; if you need a wireless headset with a boom mic for calls, meetings and online classes, choose Waxop Headset.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest strength: true active noise cancelling with four microphones and a flat-folding, over-ear design built for listening.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest trade-off: 22 hours of battery life and no boom microphone, so it is not the natural pick for all-day work calls.
• Waxop Headset — biggest strength: 65 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.3 with a USB dongle, and an AI noise cancelling boom mic with one-tap mute.
• Waxop Headset — biggest trade-off: its noise control is environmental noise cancellation aimed at voice pickup, and it is an on-ear design rather than a plush over-ear one.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC is for you if you mainly want to disappear into audio on your commute, at your desk or on a flight.
• Waxop Headset is for you if your day is built around Zoom, Teams, Skype or Google Meet and you need your voice to come through clean.
Skullcandy's Hesh ANC is a listening-first pair of wireless noise cancelling headphones. The headline feature is 4-mic active noise cancelling, which is the kind of ANC that actively works against steady background sound so you can focus on music, movies or podcasts. Around that sit 32-ohm dynamic drivers covering a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range with a sensitivity of 99.63 dB — a normal, full-range listening setup rather than a voice-optimised one.
The practical details are thoughtful. You get up to 22 hours of battery, and Rapid Charge means 10 minutes on the cable is good for roughly 3 hours of playback. The earcups are over-ear and the whole thing folds flat and collapses, which matters if it lives in a bag. Controls are physical push buttons for answering and rejecting calls, volume and track skipping. There is also built-in Tile finding technology once you register the product, plus an extra USB-C to USB-C cable in the bundle and a one-year USA limited warranty.
In my opinion, this is the pair to buy if your priority is immersion: commuting, working with music on, long listening sessions or travel. I would steer you elsewhere if your job is back-to-back video calls, because ANC tuned for listening and a boom mic for speaking are two different tools. It is also a plastic-bodied design in Preppy Sage, so treat it as a lightweight everyday pair rather than a rugged workhorse.
Waxop's headset is clearly built for talking, not just listening. The core feature is AI noise cancellation on the microphone that reduces up to 98% of background noise, which is the difference between "you sound like you're in a café" and "you sound like you're at a desk." There is a one-tap mute button for private moments or sudden noise, and a 270° adjustable boom mic so you can position it where your voice reads clearest.
Connectivity is the other strong suit. Bluetooth 5.3 handles laptop, PC, tablet or phone pairing, and a USB dongle gives you a second, lower-latency route into a computer — useful when you want to switch between work devices through the day. Waxop lists compatibility with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype and Google Meet. Range is quoted at 15 meters.
Battery is the standout number: up to 65 hours of average use, with a 2-hour charge time and Type-C quick charge when you are short on time. It is an on-ear design with 40 mm dynamic drivers, faux leather and stainless steel construction, cushioned cups, an adjustable headband and a fold-flat shape for storage. Controls are simple push buttons for calls, music and voice assistants, and the warranty runs 18 months.
I would recommend it to anyone whose calendar is the boss: remote workers, students in online classes, support staff and anyone who lives in meetings. I would not pick it if your main goal is blocking out engine noise on a plane — that is not what its noise cancellation is for.
• Best for noise cancelling while listening → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Its 4-mic active noise cancelling is designed to quiet your surroundings so audio comes through.
• Best for microphone clarity on calls → Waxop Headset. AI noise cancellation on the mic, up to 98% background noise reduction, plus one-tap mute.
• Best for battery life → Waxop Headset. Up to 65 hours versus 22 hours on the Skullcandy.
• Best for a quick top-up → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Rapid Charge gives about 3 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.
• Best for computer-first workflows → Waxop Headset. Bluetooth 5.3 plus a USB dongle, with switching between work devices.
• Best for portability → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Over-ear cups that fold flat and collapse, plus an extra charging cable in the box.
• Best for long-wear comfort → Waxop Headset. A lightweight, on-ear fit with soft cushioned cups and an adjustable headband aimed at full shifts.
• Best if you lose things → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Built-in Tile finding technology after you register the product.
If I had to pick one for myself, I would buy the Skullcandy Hesh ANC — my listening is music, podcasts and films, and that is exactly what it is engineered for: active noise cancelling, a foldable over-ear fit and Rapid Charge for the mornings I forgot to plug in. I would only switch to the Waxop Headset if my day revolved around calls and meetings, because its boom mic, one-tap mute and 65-hour battery are built for that job in a way the Skullcandy simply is not. Two different tools. Match the tool to your day.
what are wireless noise cancelling headphones
They are headphones that connect over Bluetooth with no cable and include electronics that reduce surrounding sound. On the Skullcandy Hesh ANC that job is handled by a 4-mic active noise cancelling system, so you can focus on music, movies or podcasts.
how do wireless noise cancelling headphones work
Microphones pick up ambient sound and the headphones generate opposing sound to cancel part of it, while audio streams over Bluetooth. The Waxop Headset takes a slightly different route: its noise cancellation is environmental and focused on the microphone, reducing up to 98% of background noise so your voice is clear on calls.
what is wireless noise cancelling headphones
The term covers cord-free headphones with noise-reduction features, but the two products here use it differently. Skullcandy's ANC is aimed at what you hear; Waxop's is aimed at what other people hear when you speak. That is the key distinction to keep in mind.
what is the best wireless noise cancelling headphones
There is no single answer — it depends on the job. In my opinion, for immersive listening the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is the better fit, and for calls, meetings and online classes the Waxop Headset is the better fit. Check the current price on Amazon for each and decide which use case dominates your week.
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