I'm totally confused with all the choices. There are endless models from Sony, Sennheiser, JBL and all the others. What's actually important - good battery life, noise cancelling, sound quality? And how long do these things actually last before the battery dies?
Sound quality really depends on what you're using them for - if you're just listening to podcasts or taking calls, you're wasting money on premium audio, but you'll definitely notice the difference when listening to music. The bigger issue is the battery in the long run: most headphones last about 2-3 years before the batteries noticeably lose capacity, whether it's Sony or JBL. That's just how it is with lithium batteries in this format.
What often gets overlooked is build quality and ergonomics - if they don't fit right, you just won't wear them regularly, no matter how good they sound. Make a quick list of what you actually need daily (sports, working from home, commuting?), and try them on in the store if you can before you drop 200 euros.
Battery life is honestly the most important criterion, because nothing's more annoying than headphones that are constantly dead. Noise cancelling is nice to have, but not essential - if you can live with hearing some of your surroundings, save yourself the money. When it comes to sound quality, it depends on whether you're an audiophile or not; for most people the standard stuff is perfectly fine.
As for longevity: The batteries typically last a couple of years, some longer some shorter. Check out the reviews, you'll quickly see whether a model starts to crap out after a year or if people are happy with it long-term. And honestly, at these prices buying new ones after two or three years makes sense anyway.
What often gets overlooked: Check out how easily you can swap out the ear cushions - they wear out, and if you can't do it yourself, you'll end up paying extra at the retailer later or just tossing otherwise good headphones. On your question about the battery: It varies hugely, but with decent models the batteries typically last two to three years before they start noticeably losing capacity - but then you don't need new headphones right away; some manufacturers sell you replacement batteries separately.
What I'd do personally: Go into a store and try out several models, because how they fit in your ear is super individual - the best sound quality won't help you if they start hurting after half an hour. For sound quality you don't need to go for the highest price range; the differences between mid-range models are really marginal.
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