Button control usability

A multi direction control knob plus dedicated ANC and M buttons make it easy to manage playback, volume, and modes directly on the earcup.

Physical buttons for volume and playback plus an action/shortcut control for mode switching are frequently praised as tactile and dependable, especially versus touch-only rivals. Some reviewers appreciate voice prompts and simple operation, while also noting shortcut customization is limited (often to battery announcements or Spotify Tap).

The Digital Crown plus noise-control button is widely regarded as one of the best, most intuitive control schemes, with reliable tactile operation; downsides include no true power button and occasional accidental volume changes when adjusting the headphones.

Tactile roller/paddle/button controls are a standout—easy to find without looking and highly customizable; downsides include multi-press complexity, occasional finicky responsiveness, and some loud/odd feedback sounds.

Controls are highly customizable (single/double/triple taps and holds) and cover playback, volume, modes, and assistants; usability is strong overall, with the main complaint being occasional over-sensitivity or mis-registered taps.

Distinct power and ANC/ambient buttons are easy to identify by feel and reduce accidental presses; physical controls complement the touch pad for quick mode changes and battery checks.

On-device controls are a core part of the experience and are widely described as responsive and intuitive, relying on physical clicks rather than finicky touch gestures. Mode switches (power/pairing, ANC, and sound mode) are reported to happen quickly with clear tactile feedback.

Playback and volume controls via squeeze and swipe are generally intuitive and full-featured once learned, including mode toggles and shortcuts.

The P100 SE rely on physical buttons and a slider, which reviewers describe as logically placed and easy to learn. Dedicated controls for ANC/transparency and playback/volume make day-to-day use straightforward.

The stem-based pinch and swipe control scheme is widely liked because it avoids painful tapping on the ear and provides reliable access to playback, modes, and volume. A few reviewers find the volume swipe a bit fiddly to hit consistently, but overall usability is a strong point.

Physical button controls are generally easy to operate with clear tactile feedback, but some reviewers find certain buttons harder to locate quickly and note the control scheme is not as modern or customizable as touch-based rivals.

Controls are well laid out with a crown/dial for volume and media, a dedicated mute, and clear mode switches, making adjustments easy by feel; a minority note some buttons have low travel and take practice.

Clearly separated hardware buttons on the left ear cup manage power, pairing, and ANC modes, keeping basic controls intuitive even when you cannot see the headset.

Physical button controls are consistently praised as tactile, clicky, and easier to operate by feel than touch controls, with some reviews noting they are glove-friendly. The app and a configurable quick-action button allow useful remapping (e.g., cycling ANC modes or summoning a voice assistant). A minority complaint is that the physical control set feels restricted compared with rivals, such as missing a dedicated track-skip control on the earcups in at least one review.

Button controls are straightforward and reliable with clear volume keys and a central multifunction button, but several reviewers say the buttons are small and make loud clacks, and pressing can break the earcup seal or feel clunky compared with touch interfaces.

Gestures are highly customizable (taps, press/hold, swipes), though defaults can be odd and precision is harder while moving.

Controls are mostly tactile and easy to find by feel, with dedicated buttons plus a volume wheel and mic mute, but similar audio chimes can make mode changes confusing and a few reviewers found the volume wheel finicky on some setups.

Controls center on a power/pairing button, a multifunction button for media and mode switching, and a touch strip for volume and shortcuts; several reviewers find the layout intuitive and reliable, while others dislike the all-in-one button approach for playback plus ANC modes and find it fussy or unintuitive over time.

On-ear controls offer lots of functionality, including rollers/wheels for mix or other functions and dedicated ANC and profile buttons, and many reviewers like the tactile volume knob. The learning curve is real: several note buttons can feel similar by touch or specific switches can be unintuitive, so voice prompts and memorization help.

Controls are mostly touch-based with a single combined power/pairing button; many find this simple, but a recurring complaint is that the power button can feel finicky or inconsistent for quick power-on. Others still appreciate having a true on-off control compared with buttonless competitors.

Controls are customizable but several reviews note a tradeoff: you may have to choose between playback, volume, and ANC controls on-ear at the same time. The case UI helps, but some still consider this a usability compromise.

Physical power and ANC buttons provide a reliable alternative to touch gestures, and some reviewers find the different shapes easy to identify. Others report the buttons feel small or mushy and can be hard to locate by feel, and their proximity to the touch surface can lead to accidental gesture inputs.

Control mappings can be customized in the app (including enabling volume control), but gesture timing can feel inconsistent and some users wish for more gesture options.

Physical buttons are easy to find and clicky, but the layout can feel awkward, buttons may feel plasticky or wobbly, and long-press power plus ambiguous chimes reduce usability.