Should You Buy the Edifier M60 in 2026? A Deep Dive

I've been using the Edifier M60 for about six months as my daily-driver headphones — for commuting, working from cafes, doing long editing sessions, and weekend listening. In that time I've put the M60 through a wide range of real-world scenarios: noisy trains, quiet home offices, long flights, Zoom calls, and critical music listening. What I found was a product that punches above its price in several areas, but also shows its age compared with the latest flagship options in 2026. Below I break down my experience in detail so you can decide whether the M60 is right for you this year.

First impressions and daily use

Out of the box I noticed the M60's design was clean and slightly utilitarian — a matte finish, modest branding, and a low-profile shape that doesn't scream "gamer" or "luxury." The clamp is moderate: firm enough that the headphones feel secure when I'm walking, but not so tight that they become uncomfortable after an hour. After a few weeks the padding softened and the fit got more pleasant for marathon listening sessions.

In daily use the controls are straightforward: a combination of touch gestures and physical buttons handled play/pause, volume, ANC modes, and calls. I appreciated that basic things "just worked" without digging into the app every time. The Edifier Connect app exists and is functional — it lets you switch ANC modes, run a basic EQ, and check battery. It's not as feature-rich or polished as some competitor apps in 2026, but it does the job, and firmware updates showed up in the months I owned the unit.

Sound quality — what I actually heard

One of the first things I did was listen to a mixed playlist of genres I use for testing: acoustic singer-songwriter tracks, hip-hop, orchestral pieces, and a few electronic albums with deep sub-bass. In my experience, the Edifier M60 leans toward a lively, consumer-friendly sound rather than a totally neutral, studio reference. The low end is punchy and satisfying — bass hits have impact and carry tempo well, which made podcasts, hip-hop, and action scenes in movies feel engaging.

The midrange is reasonably clear but can sound slightly recessed in busy mixes, especially when the EQ is flat. Vocals came through intelligibly most of the time, but on tracks where separation is critical I noticed the mids could lose a little presence compared with more neutral cans. The treble is present enough to add sparkle and detail; it never felt harsh in my listening sessions, though very bright, cymbal-heavy recordings highlighted its limits.

Overall: the M60 is fun-sounding. If you prefer warm, slightly V-shaped tuning that makes movies and pop music feel exciting, you'll enjoy this. If you are chasing the ultimate studio accuracy, the M60 isn't designed for that role.

Noise cancellation and ambient performance

Active noise cancellation on the M60 is capable and useful. In the city and on trains I found ANC reduced the thrum of engines and general background noise significantly, enough to let me drop volume and focus. It's not at the same level as the flagship Sony or Bose solutions in 2026 — those remain the gold standards for hush-and-disappear — but the M60 handled the most common real-world sounds well.

There are multiple ANC or noise modes in the app: full ANC, ambient/transparency, and off. The transparency mode is passable for brief conversations and announcements, but I wouldn't rely on it for crystal-clear voice pickup when someone is asking something important over the rail speaker. For quick situational awareness it does the job.

Battery life and real-world endurance

One thing I noticed early on was how long the battery actually lasted in normal mixed use. Edifier advertises long runtimes on many of its wireless models, and in my testing the M60 lasted roughly 35–40 hours on a single charge with ANC off and about 20–25 hours with ANC active at moderate volume. That matched my day-to-day need: I could go a week of commuting and heavy use without charging.

Charging is USB-C and fairly quick — you can get a meaningful top-up in 15–30 minutes. I never felt stranded with the battery, and the headset wakes and pairs quickly once taken out of the case or from idle.

Microphone and calls

I've taken many phone and video calls with these headphones. The mic captures voice clearly in quiet rooms. In noisy environments like cafes or streets, callers reported that my voice came through reasonably well but with a touch of compression and background attenuation; it wasn't studio-mic quality. For Zoom and Teams calls, the M60 is perfectly serviceable and comfortable for extended use.

Build quality and comfort — long sessions

The M60's build feels sturdy for its price bracket. The headband has a metal core and the earcups swivel and fold compactly for travel. The padding is plush but not overly luxurious; after extended use (three or four hours continuous) I noticed some warmth and the occasional pressure point on the top of my ears. Switching positions and stretching helps; people with very large ears or head size should try them in person if possible.

One practical detail I liked: the earcup finish resists scuffs and fingerprints better than some gloss-coated rivals, which keeps them looking fresh even after daily use.

Software and feature set

The Edifier Connect app covers the essentials: ANC modes, EQ presets, a basic 5-band EQ, and firmware updates. It lacks some of the advanced sound personalization features that other brands have introduced by 2026 (headphone spatial calibration, deep room correction, or advanced codec selection built into the UI), but for people who want a simple app experience it's fine. I appreciated firmware updates that addressed a couple of small pairing quirks I encountered early on.

What I appreciated most

• Value for money: In my experience the M60 gives a lot of features and good sound for the price — better-than-average ANC and comfortable day-to-day ergonomics.
• Fun tuning: The sound signature put a smile on my face for most popular music and movies.
• Excellent battery life: Real-world endurance made them low-maintenance for travel and commuting.
• Solid build: Durable-feeling materials and a foldable design that survived months of travel in my bag.

What bothered me

• Not the best ANC in class: It reduces noise well but doesn't match top-tier active cancellation in total quieting, especially for higher-pitched noises and cabin rumble.
• Mids can get lost: For very demanding vocal-centric listening, I sometimes had to tweak the EQ to bring vocals forward.
• App is basic: The companion app works but lacks the polish and deep personalization options I see in newer models from other brands in 2026.
• Warmth on long sessions: After many hours of continuous use I felt some ear warmth; padding breathability could be better.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Great battery life for regular users — I consistently saw multi-day endurance.
• Fun, punchy sound that makes most music enjoyable without extra tweaking.
• Comfortable for most users, with a secure yet not-too-tight clamp.
• Good value considering sound, ANC, and build quality.
• Reliable Bluetooth connectivity and easy pairing in my experience.

Cons

• ANC is solid but not class-leading compared with flagship 2026 models.
• App and software features are functional but basic.
• Mids can be slightly recessed in dense mixes unless EQ'd.
• Some minor comfort issues during very long listening sessions (heat, pressure).

Quick comparison

To help put the M60 in context, here’s a simple table comparing it to two categories of headphones I also tried recently: a flagship noise-cancelling option and a value-oriented competitor. This table reflects my hands-on impressions and how each headphone felt in real-world use in 2026.

Buying guide — how to decide if the M60 is right for you in 2026

When you're deciding whether to buy the Edifier M60 this year, consider the following practical questions based on my hands-on time with these cans.

1. What do you prioritize most: ANC, sound, or price?

If your priority is the most effective ANC available today, there are higher-performing flagships. If you want the most usable value across sound, battery, and build, the M60 is a strong contender.

2. Do you need studio accuracy?

In my experience the M60 is tuned for enjoyment rather than reference listening. If you do mixing or mastering, you should look for a flatter, more neutral set.

3. How important is battery life to you?

I found the M60's battery life exceptional for day-to-day use. If you travel frequently without easy charging opportunities, you'll appreciate the long runtime.

4. Will you use the app or firmware features?

The app is adequate for EQ and ANC presets but not packed with advanced personalization. If a deep software experience matters, double-check that the feature set meets your needs.

5. Can you try them in person?

Comfort is personal. If possible, try the M60 for an hour in a store to judge the fit and pressure, especially if you have a larger head or wear glasses for long sessions.

Practical tips if you buy the M60

• Try the EQ in the app — boosting a touch of upper-midrange (+1–2 dB around 2–4 kHz) helped vocals pop for me
• Use ANC for commuting, but turn it off in quiet environments to get the longest battery life
• Keep firmware updated — I saw small stability improvements across updates
• For long in-flight use, take short breaks and reposition the cups occasionally to minimize ear heat

Final thoughts — should you buy the Edifier M60 in 2026?

After several months with the Edifier M60, my overall take is straightforward: if you want a comfortable, well-built, fun-sounding headphone with long battery life and effective everyday ANC — and you care about value — the M60 is worth serious consideration in 2026. I enjoyed how engaging they make music and how reliably they performed in daily life.

If your priorities are absolute noise cancellation supremacy, studio reference accuracy, or the most feature-rich companion app available in 2026, you may prefer a higher-end model. But for most people who want a balanced mix of performance, battery endurance, and price, the M60 offers a compelling package that delivered consistently for me across months of real-world use.

In my experience, the M60 is a very practical choice: enjoyable sound, dependable ANC for common travel and commute scenarios, and long battery life that makes them a low-friction part of my daily routine. I had a few minor frustrations — basic app features and occasional warmth during very long sessions — but none were deal-breakers for the way I use headphones. If those trade-offs align with your priorities, you'll likely be pleased with the M60.