Hands-on Review: Poly Voyager Surround 80 headset brings clarity and comfort

Review: As hybrid work becomes the new normal, a high-quality headset has gone from luxury to essential.

Whether you're on video calls, listening to podcasts, or switching between devices throughout the day, the HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC aims to be your all-in-one solution for professional audio.

Where the Voyager 80 UC truly excels is comfort.

With a clean, minimalist look that's ideal for the office, it's designed for all-day wear. The headband features plush dual cushions and the earcups, lined with soft leatherette, offer a snug, secure fit. It is also light enough for long sessions - even after eight hours of use, it didn't feel fatiguing.

The leatherette can get warm with extended use, but occasional breaks help manage this.

The touch-sensitive controls on the right earcup add a modern touch. Swipes and taps manage volume, ANC, and call functions. While they're highly responsive, a slight learning curve is needed to avoid accidental inputs. That said, once familiar, the experience is intuitive and convenient.

Call quality is where the Voyager Surround 80 UC truly shines.

Equipped with 10 microphones — including four for Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation - the headset delivers clear, boomless audio that rivals even top-tier professional headsets. Certified for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet, voices come through crisply on both ends. The sidetone feature ensures you can hear your own voice naturally, preventing accidental shouting. Helpful details like glowing red LEDs during calls subtly alert colleagues that you're busy — a thoughtful touch for open offices.

The included USB-C dongle boosts stability and unlocks smart features such as mute alerts - something you won't get with standard Bluetooth pairing. Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity also lets you seamlessly switch between devices, a real bonus for those juggling laptops and phones.

Sound quality is good for work-focused tasks - spoken word content like meetings, audiobooks, and podcasts sound excellent. However, if you're expecting rich musical depth, you may be underwhelmed.

Tracks with strong bass or layered treble can feel flat, even after EQ adjustments. It's clear that voice clarity was prioritised over full-spectrum audio performance.

ANC is decent, particularly in office or indoor settings where it successfully cuts out chatter and distractions.

Outdoors, however, it can struggle with higher-volume noise such as busy traffic. If you regularly work or commute in noisy environments, competitors like Sony's WH-1000XM5 or Bose's QuietComfort line offer more robust noise cancellation.

Battery life is solid, with HP claiming up to 24 hours of music or 21 hours of call time. In practice, it performed reliably, and a quick charge brings it from empty to full in under an hour. However, the right earcup did heat up during charging, something to be aware of. While it doesn't outperform rivals on battery life, it should comfortably last through even the busiest workdays.

Wear detection - designed to pause playback when the headset is removed - is included but inconsistent.

Positioned on the headband, the sensors are overly sensitive to movement, often causing unwanted interruptions. Fortunately, this can be disabled in the app.

Speaking of the app, the Poly Lens companion app is a highlight. Available on Android and iOS, it offers a robust suite of customisation options - from adjusting sidetone levels and ANC modes to reassigning button functions. It's intuitive, easy to navigate, and adds meaningful value to the overall experience.

The HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC is a capable and comfortable headset that excels at what it was clearly built for: professional communication.

It offers excellent call quality, solid ANC in office environments, and great wearability for long workdays. It's a reliable, polished headset that will appeal to professionals who value comfort and clarity over audiophile-level performance.

For hybrid workers prioritising productivity, it's a strong contender worth considering.