What matters in daily use
Compare clamp pressure, ear-cup depth, and how the headband distributes weight. Glasses can change the fit significantly. A pair that feels fine for five minutes might be tiring during a two-hour call.
Bluetooth codec names do not tell you the entire sound story. Your source device has to support the same format, and connection stability matters as much as peak fidelity.
Microphones and ambient sound
For meetings, look for independent microphone tests rather than promotional sample calls. Noise cancellation reduces background sound reaching your ears; it does not guarantee that your voice sounds clean in traffic or a busy cafe.
Reading the battery estimate
Manufacturers test runtime under specific conditions, often with features disabled or at moderate volume. Treat published hours as a reference point and look for separate figures with noise cancellation enabled.