Microsoft Surface Headphones are an attempt by the company to enter the highly competitive active noise cancellation (ANC) market of high-priced, premium headphones. In some ways, it’s an unusual choice, but the emphasis on productivity (Cortana), multiple Bluetooth pairings, design, comfort, and exceptional build quality are all consistent with what the Surface team delivers.
However, headphones, especially those at this price point, do not exist in a vacuum. So, when compared to some of the best on the market right now, such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) and Sony WH-1000-XM3, the Surface Headphones are surprising.
Design and Features
Surface Headphones look and feel great, thanks to the engineering and design team at Microsoft. The smooth platinum finish, large ear cushions, and clean, minimalist design are expertly coordinated with the rest of the Surface line. The headband has no visible screws or seams. The Surface Headphones are simply stunning because everything appears to be balanced with a focus on symmetry.
The matte platinum plastic is of high quality, and the Surface Headphones weigh only 290 grams with only a few areas of metal (likely aluminum). This is heavier than Sony’s WH-1000-XM3 (255 grams) and Bose’s QC 35II (255 grams) (236 grams). The difference is difficult to notice when wearing the Surface Headphone, thanks in part to the clever engineering of the band, which distributes the weight uniformly. The band has a nice arc right before the earcups that likely offset tension as well.
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The Auto-pause
There are a few key differences between Microsoft’s headphones and the competition. One of these is the ability to activate functionality by tapping either side of the capacitive ear cups.
The Surface Headphones’ right ear cup functions as a giant volume knob. The noise cancellation is controlled by the left ear cup, which provides users with 13 different ambient sound levels. This is executed flawlessly. When compared to Sony and especially Bose, Surface Headphones are by far the most user-friendly headphones. When compared to physical buttons or using an app, the dials are smooth, gentle, and accurate.
Auto-pause is another brilliant feature. When users remove the Surface Headphones or wrap them around their neck, whatever is playing through them, whether music or a movie on a PC, is paused. The headphones can also be used wirelessly with Windows Sonic to produce pseudo-surround sound and spatial effects. Without a hitch, auto-pause.
Surface Headphones Specs
When compared to Sony and Bose, which have ear cups with very similar designs, the ear cups have substantial cushions. The Surface Headphones have an “o” shape rather than a “0” shape like Bose and Sony. Because of this design decision, there is more padding behind and in front of the ear than in the competition.
There is some padding under the band where it meets the skull apex. While I didn’t experience any head fatigue with the Surface Headphones, the Sonys feel a little more comfortable for longer periods of time.
Power and microphone muting buttons are located on the bottom right ear cup. A small white LED for charging status (blinking when charging, solid when charged), a USB Type-C port for fast charging, and a 3.5mm audio connector for those who want to use the headphones wired are also included.
A second press of the power button turns the headphones on or off. Long-pressing them for five seconds activates Bluetooth pairing mode. Holding the power button for 20 seconds will reset them to factory settings. The mute microphone switch is self-explanatory, but the lack of any visible or audible indication that the microphone was muted was unsettling. Those buttons and ports are all perfectly aligned and evenly spaced, thanks to an invisible line.
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Cortana in Microsoft Surface Headphones
With Surface Headphones, Cortana is front and center. Microsoft’s digital assistant is fundamental from the moment you turn it on and configure it. The new Cortana 3.0 app for iOS and Android can be used to set up, control, update, and configure the headphones. Cortana is built into Windows 10 and follows the same straightforward setup and configuration process.
Cortana can be activated via Surface Headphones on the ear cup or by simply saying “Hey, Cortana.” This feature works on iOS to activate Cortana, giving users a more natural ability to rely on the assistant over Apple’s Siri for the first time. However, Microsoft notes that Cortana and iOS still work best 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.
- Open a playlist on Spotify.
- Control music.
- Ask about weather, trivia, conversions, general information, etc.
Android users will have a richer experience than iOS users because Cortana on Android can be set as the default assistant. The Cortana app also includes a five-band equalizer (EQ) with flat, classical, jazz, pop, and rock presets. Users can tweak the EQ settings and save and name as many preset as they want.
While there are currently no firmware updates available for Surface Headphones, users can check for and install these features and bug-fixing updates using Cortana on iOS, Android, or PC. Cortana works well with the Surface Headphones and is especially useful for those who intend to use them with a PC, where Cortana can do far more than Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, which have no presence or abilities.
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The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
When it comes to Active Noise Cancellation, things change (ANC). Microsoft claims that the Surface Headphones have four beamforming microphones and four additional microphones to provide 13 levels of ambient noise cancellation and that it all works. However, it is not as good as Bose, nor is it as good as Sony. What exactly is active noise cancellation, and how does it function in headphones?
When set to maximum ANC, the Surface Headphones have a bit of a background hiss compared to the Sony WH-1000-XM3’s near-complete silence. It’s noticeable on its own, but it’s even more noticeable when compared directly. Outside wind noise is better than on the Bose, but Sony has better-recessed microphones to help prevent wind interference.
The same is true in public places with a lot of people talking and background noise. The Surface Headphones significantly reduce noise, and the ability to “dial it in” with fine granular control is incredible (most ANC headphones are “max” or just on or off for control). However, when compared to Sony and even Bose, the Surface Headphones fall short in terms of noise cancellation.
Perhaps it is unrealistic to expect Microsoft to outperform Bose or Sony on version 1.0; after all, both companies have been working on this for years. However, while the Surface Headphones are still excellent, the Sony WH-1000-XM3 is the noise-canceling champion.
Audio
The audio quality on the Surface Headphones is excellent when listening to music, watching movies, or making a Skype call. Microsoft has always excelled at audio, as evidenced by the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. This extends to the Surface Headphones, which are a joy to use for music or movies.
In comparison, the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) speakers sound flat and hollow. The Surface Headphones sound very similar to the excellent Sony WH-1000-XM3s. The music is rich, full-bodied, and bass-heavy, with exceptional fidelity. Sony has a few more software tricks up its sleeve, but Microsoft has created excellent headphones that can compete with others in this class.
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Microsoft’s Surface Headphones
Going up against Sony and Bose and expecting to win in a headphone battle is an insane challenge. And perhaps Microsoft doesn’t need to win as long as it advances the genre creatively.
Microsoft accomplished a lot from the latter point of view. When compared to other popular brands at this price point, the audio quality is comparable to Sony and better than Bose. One key takeaway is that Microsoft made Bose look bad with the QC 35IIs’ dated micro USB port, physical keys, and mediocre sound profile. The Surface Headphones excel in terms of comfort, design, auto-pause, and gesture controls.
Surface Headphones fall short in noise cancellation and battery life. Both are adequate but not outstanding. Bose estimates 20 hours of battery life, while Sony claims 30. Surface Headphones are supposed to last 15 hours, but in my experience, they last closer to 11 or 12 hours. The Type-C fast charge is useful and convenient for those who live the Type-C tech life, but these will require more frequent charging.
Noise cancellation is an art as well as a science. While Sony is now regarded as the best, it took years of trying — and failing — to beat Bose. It did, but not until September 2018 with the new WH-1000-XM3. Microsoft has some room to grow, but we aren’t seeing any amazing advancements with this technology with this release. However, some software tweaking may change that.
Who should purchase the Surface Headphones? Anyone who works on a computer (Mac or PC) and wants to switch to their smartphone without having to fiddle with it dynamically. The Surface Headphones are ideal for listening to music on a PC, taking a phone call on an iPhone, and then returning to work. Bose can do it as well, but Sony’s only works with one device.
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There is also the case for those who enjoy using Cortana on their computers or smartphones. If you do, these are an easy choice. Cortana is not supported by either Bose or Sony.
There are also Surface PC owners who want premium headphones to match their experience. That may seem insignificant, but it works for Apple, and there’s no reason to dismiss such a devoted following. And the Surface Headphones look fantastic when paired with a Surface PC.
With Surface Headphones, Microsoft demonstrated serious innovation. Although there is still room for improvement, the company has demonstrated that it can compete with Bose and Sony. Surface Headphones 2 should be a lot of fun. For the time being, this first release is above average.
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