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The left ear cup has a customizable button, which registers single-press and double-press.
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I like buttons on my headphones, and the Milton ANC has two. There’s a multi-directional brass button on the right ear cup. It doubles as a power button (long-press) and as volume and playback controls.
On the left ear cup, you get a customizable M-button that registers a single press and a double press. The single press can be assigned to toggle ANC, EQ, Soundstage (Marshall’s spatial audio mode), and voice assistant, whereas the double press is meant to access Spotify Tap.
The controls are intuitive, and I got used to them within the first day of use. However, I wish the M-button supported long pressing, so I could have Soundstage access alongside ANC without reaching for my phone. If you have a source device with a 3.5mm audio jack for wired listening, the Milton ANC includes a USB-C-to-3.5 mm cable in the box. However, you’ll need to power on the device for it to work in wired mode.
Marshall is also focusing on longevity with its new headphones. The Milton ANC has a user-replaceable battery and ear pads. The latter can be replaced with a simple twist-and-pull mechanism. This improved repairability should help increase the lifespan, which is great news for those of us who like to keep our tech in working condition for as long as possible.
Marshall bundles a soft pouch with its Milton ANC on-ear headphones.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
As for the ANC in the Milton ANC, these are the first Marshall on-ear headphones to support it. It is hard to get ANC right on this form factor because the feature requires a good level of passive noise cancellation, which is possible only on over-ear designs. Once your ear is covered by the earcups’ padding, it is harder for noise to penetrate.
However, on-ear headphones don’t offer the same level of padding because they sit on top of your ears. I had low hopes for ANC, but it was better than I expected. The Milton ANC can eliminate street noise and low-frequency consistent humming, like from an air conditioner, very well.
It doesn’t compare to the Sony WH-1000XM6 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultras of the world, but the ANC performance is impressive for a pair of on-ear headphones. You also get a decent transparency mode for when you need to hear your surroundings.
The Milton ANC can be tracked on the Apple Find My app as well as the Google Find Hub.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
The Milton ANC is also one of the first headphones to support Apple Find My and Google Find Hub location tracking services. This is a highlight because it is enabled in your phone’s native Find My app rather than the headphones’ app.
You can pair them to the Apple Find My network like any other third-party item. Make sure the Milton ANC are in pairing mode, then open the Find My app > tap Items > tap the + icon, and your iPhone should display the headphones.
Also: Your iPhone is getting enhanced Bluetooth tracking with iOS 27 – but there’s a catch
I charged my Milton ANC on day two of use, and they’re still running strong. Marshall promises 80 hours of battery life with ANC off and up to 50 hours of playback time with ANC on. I’ve only been able to deplete it to 50% so far. These are very impressive numbers, and I’m glad I don’t have to charge my new headphones weekly, even though I use them regularly.