Lavales E500Pro

The Lavales E500Pro is a battery monster with genuinely good ANC for the price. Just don't expect great call quality or deep ear cups.

The battery life is the headline here. 90 hours in standard mode and 60 with ANC on is absurd, and it lands in the 98th percentile of everything we've tested. The ANC itself is also a standout, sitting in the 94th percentile, which means it handles airplane drone and office chatter better than plenty of cans costing twice as much. Sound quality is strong too, with the 40mm drivers delivering clear mids and punchy bass. The weak spot is calls, scoring just 54.1 out of 100, so don't expect to sound great on a Zoom meeting.

Against the Soundcore Life Q20, the Lavales wins on battery and ANC but loses on comfort and call clarity. The Sony WH-CH720N is more refined overall, with better build and mic performance, but it costs noticeably more and doesn't touch the E500Pro's battery life. If you want the absolute best ANC under $100, the JBL Tune 670NC is worth a look, but the Lavales still beats it on stamina.

At $56, this is a no-brainer for anyone who wants solid ANC and marathon battery life without spending Sony or Sennheiser money. You're getting 90% of the travel experience for a fraction of the cost. The only real question is whether you can live with the shallow ear cups and mediocre call quality.

The Lavales E500Pro is one of those budget headphones that makes you wonder why you'd ever spend triple the price for a big brand name. For around $56, you get hybrid ANC, a 90-hour battery, and sound that punches well above its weight class. The one thing to know? This is a travel and workhorse headphone first, and a critical listening device second.

If you have larger ears or need something for all-day office calls, this isn't it. The shallow ear cups will start to hurt after a few hours, and the mic is a letdown. Go grab the Sony WH-CH720N or a dedicated office headset instead.

Buy the Lavales E500Pro if you want a budget travel headphone with killer battery life and ANC that actually works. It's not perfect, the shallow ear cups and weak mic are real annoyances, but for $56, the value is hard to argue with. If you need something for calls or have larger ears, look elsewhere.