Riwbox AC2

Great battery and ANC for the price, but the mic is a squealing mess. Buy it for music and noise cancellation, not for calls.

The 40mm dynamic drivers deliver sound that lands right in the middle of the pack, which for this price is honestly fine. What surprised us is the ANC. It's rated at 85th percentile in our database, and the 20dB noise reduction claim actually holds up in real-world use. The battery is the real star here. 60 hours in standard mode and 40 hours with ANC on is legitimately impressive, putting it in the top 12% of all over-ear headphones we've tested. But the mic is a disaster. It sits at 15th percentile, and multiple owners report a high-pitched squeal after calls. That's not a minor annoyance, it's a dealbreaker if you take calls regularly.

The Riwbox AC2 goes head-to-head with the JBL Tune 670NC and Sony WH-CH720N, and honestly, it holds its own on battery and ANC. The JBL has better build quality and a more reliable mic, but costs more. The Sony is the premium pick with better sound and call quality, but you're paying for it. The TOZO HT3 is probably the closest competitor in terms of price and features, and it has a better reputation for durability. If you care about calls at all, skip the Riwbox and grab the TOZO or JBL instead.

At USD 24-25 in the US, these are a steal if you want ANC and battery life on a tight budget. But watch the EUR pricing. It swings from EUR 33 to EUR 52 across vendors, which is a huge spread for the same product. If you're in Europe, shop around and grab the EUR 33 listing. At the higher end of that range, you're getting into territory where better-built competitors start looking attractive.

The Riwbox AC2 is a budget over-ear headphone that punches way above its price in battery life and noise cancellation, but stumbles hard when you try to use it for calls. You're getting 60 hours of playback, hybrid ANC that actually works, and a foldable design that's genuinely comfortable for all-day wear. But the mic situation is rough, and that's the one thing that keeps this from being an easy recommendation for everyone.

If you take calls on your headphones, even occasionally, skip these. The mic issues are well-documented and frustrating. Same goes if you're rough on your gear, the build quality is mediocre and long-term durability is questionable. For calls and durability, grab the TOZO HT3 or JBL Tune 670NC instead. You'll pay a bit more, but you won't be dealing with squealing feedback or a headphone that falls apart after six months.

The Riwbox AC2 is a solid budget pick for music and noise cancellation, but the mic issues and questionable build quality make it a risky buy. If you just want long battery life and decent ANC for commuting or office use, and you never take calls on your headphones, this is a great value at USD 24. But if calls matter even a little, or you want something that'll last more than a year, spend a bit more on the TOZO HT3 or JBL Tune 670NC.