Tozo HT3 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

I have been impressed with Tozo in the past; they have consistently launched earbuds and headphones that perform far better than their prices suggest, albeit with a relatively cheap build quality, which is justifiable considering the price.

Tozo recently launched the HT3 noise-cancelling headphones, the successor to the Tozo HT2 headphones I have previously reviewed.

With a price of £30-40, these headphones represent superb value for money with an ANC performance that is far superior to the price would suggest.

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Specification

Design

Tozo has historically used slightly plasticky housings to hit aggressive price points, and the HT3 do not change that basic approach, but there is a modest step up in how they feel in the hand compared with earlier models like the HT2. The finish is a matte plastic with a simple, clean aesthetic and minimal branding. It looks deliberately understated rather than flashy, which suits office and commuting use.

The headband uses a steel slider with numbered markings, which makes it easy to get a consistent fit on each side. This sounds like a minor detail, but in daily use it saves time if you regularly collapse the band for storage. The hinges fold the cups flat and inwards, so the HT3 pack reasonably compactly into a bag, although there is no hard case in the box, just the headphones and cables. At this price that is not surprising, but it does mean you might want to budget for a cheap aftermarket case if you commute daily.

Weight at around 257 g is acceptable for an over ear model with a 500 mAh battery. They are lighter than some mid range ANC sets but heavier than very compact designs that sacrifice battery capacity. The clamp force is moderate out of the box; strong enough to keep them stable on the head but not so tight that they cause immediate discomfort. Over longer sessions, the clamping relaxes slightly, which improves comfort but also makes the passive isolation a bit weaker.

The controls sit on the right ear cup and use physical buttons rather than touch surfaces. At this price, physical controls are usually preferable, as they avoid the accidental taps and inconsistent response that plague a lot of cheap touch implementations. The buttons on the HT3 are easy to find by feel and have a clear click, though they do produce a small amount of mechanical noise you can hear in very quiet rooms when pressing them. You get the usual play/pause, track skipping, volume and ANC mode toggling.

The build quality is fine for the price, but there is still a slightly hollow feel to the plastic, and some creak if you twist the headband. It does not feel fragile, but it also does not have the solidity of more expensive sets from the main audio brands. For casual and commuter use it should be fine, but if you plan to throw them unprotected into a bag every day, there is a chance the hinges will show wear over time. The matte finish does a decent job of hiding fingerprints and light scuffs compared with glossy plastics.

Tozo App

The Tozo app is an important part of the HT3 experience and offers more control than you normally get in this segment. After pairing, the app recognises the HT3 and presents a straightforward interface, with tabs for ANC modes, EQ, and device settings.

ANC section: You can switch between Noise Cancellation, Adaptive, Transparency, Reduce Wind Noise, Leisure Mode and Normal. This is more flexible than the standard three mode layout on most budget headsets. Adaptive mode adjusts the strength automatically based on ambient noise, which is useful if you move between quiet and loud spaces and do not want to keep toggling manually. Reduce Wind Noise tweaks the algorithm to cut low frequency gusting, which can otherwise trigger unpleasant artefacts on outdoor walks.

EQ section: Tozo provides a set of presets such as Standard, Bass+, Treble+, Voice, and a few genre based options. There is also a custom graphic EQ where you can raise or lower specific bands. The adjustment range is not extreme, but it is enough to tame some of the stock tuning choices or bring more clarity for certain types of music. For example, pulling the low bass down a couple of dB and lifting the upper mids slightly can clean up vocals on more dense tracks.

Settings: Here you can enable or disable wear detection, control voice prompts, set auto power off timers, and check for firmware updates. Multi point connection management also appears here, although the implementation is basic. You cannot rename devices or prioritise one over another, but you can see what is connected and disconnect manually if needed.

The app is not as polished as something like the Sony Headphones Connect or the Soundcore app from Anker, but it is more capable than many small brand efforts. There are occasional delays when switching ANC modes, and on some Android phones it may need a restart to detect the headphones after a firmware update. Once set up, though, it is stable enough.

Sound Quality

Audio quality is good, but it favours bass. My recent musical hyper fixation has been bluegrass and related subgenres, which are not particularly bass heavy and can sound a touch muddy on the stock tuning. Kick drums and bass lines have a noticeable lift, which creates a warm, weighty sound but can crowd the lower mids if you are listening to more acoustic or vocal heavy material.

However, for many mainstream genres, these sound excellent. Pop, hip hop and modern electronic music benefit from the extra low end and the slightly relaxed upper treble. The HT3 can play at high volumes without obvious distortion, and there is enough sub bass extension to give cinematic content a sense of impact without needing a separate subwoofer in the chain.

The midrange is slightly recessed compared to the bass, but vocals still come through clearly in most mixes. Male voices in particular have a satisfying body, while female vocals retain a decent amount of clarity without sounding piercing. There is some smearing of detail in complex tracks, where a lot of instruments compete in the same frequency range, but that is expected at this price bracket.

Treble is smooth and avoids harsh peaks, which is good for long listening, but it does mean that some fine detail is toned down. Cymbals and high hats are present but not especially crisp, and the sense of air in the top octave is limited. If you prefer a bright, analytical sound, you will not get that from the default profile of the HT3, though some of the EQ presets shift the tonal balance slightly towards a more open top end.

Soundstage is above average for cheap closed back headphones. The spatial audio mode in the app widens the presentation and pushes some instruments out of the head, particularly in films and games where positional cues matter. It still sounds like DSP rather than a true binaural recording, but it adds value for those scenarios. Without spatial processing enabled, the stage is moderate in width and depth, with a reasonable amount of separation between instruments.

In general, the HT3 provide a fun, slightly V shaped tuning that suits casual listening. They favour impact and warmth over micro detail and neutrality. That aligns with how most people use budget wireless headphones, for streaming and background listening rather than critical monitoring. If you want a more balanced tonality, you may need to spend more or adjust the EQ to taste.

Active Noise Cancellation

The ANC on the HT3 is the main positive surprise. Budget ANC headphones often offer little more than mild low frequency reduction, but the HT3 approach the performance of some older mid range models from bigger brands.

Low frequency rumble from trains, buses and plane engines is reduced to a much more tolerable level, and constant HVAC noise in offices or shops is cut back significantly. It does not reach the near silence of premium ANC flagships, but for commuting at this price it is genuinely useful. Workplace hum and computer fan noise are also reduced enough that music can be played at lower volumes without distraction.

Mid and higher frequency noise, such as keyboard clatter, voices and announcements, is handled less effectively. Voices are still audible in conversation range, although they are softened. Sudden sharp sounds like doors slamming are not greatly reduced. This is typical for ANC in general and especially so in cheaper models.

Adaptive ANC is genuinely helpful if you move between environments with different noise levels. On a quiet street it keeps the cancellation at a more modest level and avoids the ear pressure feeling that some people dislike. On a train or in a busy coffee shop it ramps up without you having to intervene. There can be a slight pumping effect in very changeable environments, but it is not dramatically distracting.

Wind noise performance is mixed. In standard ANC mode, walking into a headwind can create some low frequency buffeting, as the microphones pick up the airflow. Switching to the Reduce Wind Noise profile cuts this back by adjusting the algorithm and reducing some of the sensitivity. This trades a little low frequency cancellation for improved comfort outdoors, and is worth using when walking or cycling slowly.

Transparency mode is better than the average budget implementation. External sound is passed through in a reasonably natural way, without the harsh hiss or obvious filter artefacts that some low cost headphones suffer from. It is still not as transparent as the best implementations from Apple or Sony, but it is usable for short conversations, station announcements or working at home when you need to keep some awareness of your surroundings.

Microphone / Call Quality

The tri mic ENC array on the HT3 works well enough for calls, but it is not flawless. In a quiet room, voice clarity is good, with natural tone and minimal compression. Call recipients report a clean and understandable signal, and the on head monitoring does not leak too much of your own voice back, which some people find distracting.

In moderate background noise, such as light traffic or chatter in a cafe, the ENC system reduces much of the constant noise and keeps speech intelligible. There is some digital processing audible if you listen back to a recording, but for typical phone and video calls it performs acceptably.

In very loud or chaotic environments, the processing starts to struggle. Sudden noises can trigger audible gating, where parts of your voice are slightly chopped or ducked as the system tries to suppress background sounds. This is a limitation shared with many budget ANC microphones, and it is worth managing expectations. For occasional calls on the move, the HT3 do the job. If you spend hours a day on calls in loud offices or outdoors, a dedicated office headset or a more expensive ANC model will still perform better.

Latency on calls and video is acceptable. There is a small lag when switching between devices in multi point mode, and occasionally the first second of a call can sound compressed as the codec locks in, but once connected the experience is mostly stable.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the strongest aspects of the HT3. The 500 mAh cell and relatively efficient chipset allow Tozo to claim up to 90 hours of playback with ANC off and around 55 hours with ANC on at moderate volume. Real world figures will depend on codec, volume and ANC mode, but it is reasonable to expect several days of regular use between charges.

For mixed use scenarios, such as 2 to 3 hours a day of listening with ANC, a full charge can last a week or more. That makes them convenient for commuters and office workers who do not want to keep topping up daily. Heavy users who listen all day at work may still only need to charge twice a week.

Charging via USB C takes roughly two hours from empty to full. There is no wireless charging and no advertised fast charge giving many hours from a 5 or 10 minute top up, but at this price that is not surprising. The ability to use the 3.5 mm wired connection also means that, in a pinch, you can continue listening passively even if the battery runs out, though ANC will then not function.

The generous battery life has practical benefits beyond convenience. It lets you leave ANC enabled more or less all the time without worrying about rapid drain, which is not something that can be said of all cheaper ANC headphones. It also reduces the wear and tear on the USB C port, as you are plugging in less often.

Price and Alternative Options

The Tozo HT3 has an RRP of £63, and at the time of writing, they were available on Amazon for £30, with them typically priced at either £30 or £40.

The older H2 have an RRP of £50 and were actually more expensive than the HT3, priced at £43.

Baseus has the Bass BH1 which were available for £32, and Soundcore has the Q20i which were £30.

Overall

The Tozo HT3 are a strong budget over ear ANC option that trade some build quality and tonal refinement for an extensive feature set, very long battery life and better than expected noise cancelling. They sit in a crowded segment, but the combination of adaptive ANC, spatial audio, multi point support and app based EQ gives them an edge in flexibility over many direct rivals.

If you accept that the default tuning is bass heavy and that the materials feel cheaper than mid range competitors, the HT3 deliver reliable everyday performance for commuting, office use and casual listening at home. Paired with a modest price that frequently dips to around 30 pounds, they are an attractive choice for buyers who want to experience decent ANC and practical wireless features without spending too much.

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.