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Anker Soundcore Life Q50 wishlist: All the features I want to see
July 4, 2025
Anker produces some of the best cheap headphones on the market. The Anker Soundcore Space One take the crown and provide a comprehensive companion app, powerful active noise canceling, and handy automatic wear detection capabilities. However, the company’s Soundcore Life Q headphones are renowned for their pleasing feature set and low price tag. For example, the Soundcore Life Q30 profit superior ANC, excellent battery life, and a comfortable design. The company’s latest follow-up, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45, enjoy even longer battery life, multipoint, and Bluetooth 5.3. With a history of delivering pleasing and affordable headphones, it is little wonder fans are excited about the Anker Soundcore Life Q50.
Sadly, Anker has not made an official announcement regarding its next-gen headphones. While we wait for concrete details, here are all the features I want to see if and when the Anker Soundcore Life Q50 materialize.
Better sound quality
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We all have different tastes regarding what constitutes pleasing sound quality. That said, the vast majority of listeners enjoy a V-shaped frequency curve. This accentuates bass and treble frequencies while underemphasizing the mids, producing an auditory profile with more oomph and brightness. Some headphones, such as the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, accentuate sub-bass sounds, making vocals and other fundamentals sound comparatively subdued.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 own a steep V-shaped frequency curve. In particular, the headphones accentuate sub-bass frequencies around 25Hz by over 10dB, while high-end content undulates above 5kHz. Counterwise, bass and midrange frequencies between 140-625Hz are underemphasized by over 7dB. This sound profile makes high-frequency elements sound hissy and unnatural, while the mid-range scoop makes instruments like synths lack punch. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 would playback more genres well with a neutral frequency response.
An improved app
Companion apps are vital for unlocking the most advanced headphone features. These include spatial audio, Find My, and important firmware updates. Some apps like Sony Sound Connect feature a five-band custom equalizer, nine EQ presets, and handy noise cancellation tools. Others, like the AKG Headphones app, often receive complaints for a clunky user experience, connectivity issues, and limited functionality.
Connecting Anker’s current Space Q45 to the Soundcore app awards Bluetooth codec selection, EQ presets, and wind noise reduction. The app allows you to change the headphone’s operation, create custom EQ profiles, and enable prompt tones. However, using the Soundcore app with the Space Q45 feels like a cheaper experience than its rivals. Consequently, many may decide it is not essential to download it at all. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 should benefit from a less finicky companion app.
An IP rating
We all like knowing that our precious and expensive purchases are protected from the elements. If you buy earbuds, chances are they feature an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. This protects against water and dust, allowing you to wear them at the gym and in harsh climates. Some over-ear headphones, like the Nothing Headphone (1), have an IP52 water- and dust-resistant rating.
Unfortunately, most headphones don’t have an IP rating. The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 fall into this category and wear an all-plastic exterior susceptible to moisture and dust. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 would benefit from a robust IP-rated exterior.
A revamped design
Headphones come in all kinds of shapes, materials, and sizes. Premium models often opt for metal elements in place of plastic. This provides headphones with a sturdier exterior that is less likely to break when used and stored. Unfortunately, metal frames are heavier than their plastic counterparts. For example, the Shure AONIC 50 weigh 334g and feature a metal headband and aluminum yokes. Conversely, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 comprise a mostly plastic build and weigh 281g. The former are also considerably more expensive than the latter.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 feature reasonably adjustable ear cups that can swivel flat and fold up for easy storage. However, the pleather padding is less breathable than the fabric ones found on rivals such as the Apple AirPods Max. The primarily plastic exterior is also a scratch magnet that shows visibly against the black colorway. There have been reports of build quality issues with Anker devices that could pose a problem if your warranty expires. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 should adopt a revamped design and breathable ear cups.
LE Audio, Auracast, and Bluetooth 5.4
Recent advances in Bluetooth technology have brought a string of handy features. For example, devices running Bluetooth versions 5.2 or later support the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) protocol and LC3 codec. This provides high-quality, low-power audio streaming superior to the standard SBC codec. Many recent Bluetooth devices also support Auracast broadcasting, allowing a theoretically unlimited number of connections without direct pairing.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 connect via Bluetooth 5.3 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. The last provides up to 990kbps, 24-bit/96kHz audio sampling. Bluetooth 5.3 also improves power consumption and introduces channel classification to avoid interference in congested environments. However, the headphones do not support Bluetooth LE, Auracast, or the LC3 codec. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 should run Bluetooth 5.4 to reduce latency, improve transfer speeds, and consume less power than their predecessor.
What would you like to see Anker bring to the Anker Soundcore Life Q50?
Will there be an Anker Soundcore Life Q50?
Anker remains invested in its over-ear headphones category. For example, the company released its latest Soundcore Space One Pro in the fall of 2024. These cans bring decent ANC, a compact design, and a comfortable fit. Unfortunately, their skull-rattling bass response, lack of USB audio, and questionable EQ presets do little to justify the price.
Anker has yet to release any details regarding its next-gen headphones, and rumors are sparse at the time of writing. However, we can estimate a launch date from the company’s previous release schedule.
- Anker Soundcore Life Q30 — September 2020
- Anker Soundcore Life Q35 — February 21, 2021
- Anker Soundcore Space Q45 — August 25, 2022
As you can see from the list above, Anker tends to refresh its Soundcore Life Q-series headphones approximately every year. For example, the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 launched just five months after the Soundcore Life Q30. The latest Soundcore Space Q45 were released one year and six months later on August 25, 2022. Taking the average time between each headphone, we should have seen the Anker Soundcore Life Q50 materialize in the summer of 2023. We must wait for official confirmation.
Should you wait for the Anker Soundcore Life Q50?
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 are compelling ANC headphones. Interested parties can purchase a pair from major retailers, including Amazon. Waiting for the Soundcore Life Q50 would be a gamble.
Price-savvy shoppers wanting decent ANC and a comfortable fit should grab the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($149 at Amazon). These headphones feature intuitive controls and a rocker on the right ear cup for music playback, song skipping, and volume adjustment. Battery life is impressive, yielding over 55 hours with ANC on and roughly 65 hours with it switched off. Fast charging is also supported, with a five-minute top-up profiting four hours of playback time. Frequent Zoom callers will appreciate the Space Q45’s dual microphone array and noise rejection algorithms. Bluetooth multipoint is also supported, and the LDAC codec unlocks high-res audio streaming. Unfortunately, the headphones are let down by their default frequency response and clunky app experience.
Those familiar with the Sony ecosystem should consider the Sony WH-CH720N ($799 at Amazon). Weighing 89g less than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45, the WH-CH720N wear a comfortable all-plastic build with controls handily placed on the sides of each ear cup. Just note that the volume and pause/play buttons feel similar and require some getting used to. The headphones connect via Bluetooth 5.2 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. Those with multiple devices can use Bluetooth multipoint, and analog fans can enjoy lossless listening with the included cable and headphone jack. The cans last roughly 40 hours with ANC enabled and work passively over wires when the battery runs flat. Likewise, those in a bind can achieve one hour of playback time from a three-minute top-up. ANC and sound quality are fine, but you’ll want to adjust the Sony Headphones Connect app EQ to reduce the exaggerated bass and treble frequencies.
Rather than shelling out for the newer Pro model, we recommend fans purchase the original Anker Soundcore Space One ($99.99 at Amazon). These share many of the same features as the Pro version but cost significantly less. For example, the headphones deliver excellent passive isolation and noise canceling. The Soundcore app also allows you to control ANC strength and a host of handy features. These include firmware updates, control customization, wind noise reduction, and an eight-band custom EQ. The last is vital for taming the headphones’ over-accentuated bass and treble. The cans connect with Bluetooth 5.3 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, and you can switch between two devices with Bluetooth multipoint. Battery life yields over 42 hours of ANC-enabled listening time, and fast-charging the cans delivers four hours of playback from a five-minute boost.
ANC enthusiasts should grab the Monoprice BT-600ANC ($84.99 at Amazon). These headphones rival more expensive ANC headphones, attenuating most ambient noises by 20-30dB. The clamping force creates a tight seal, providing good isolation that effectively quells higher frequencies. Battery life lasts over 36 hours, although there is no quick charge for topping up on the fly. Nevertheless, you can listen over wires when the battery runs out. The headphones connect with Bluetooth 5.0 via the SBC, AAC, and aptX HD codecs. The last provides 576kbps, 48kHz/24-bit LPCM audio sampling. Just be mindful that the Monoprice BT-600ANC show their price regarding sound quality. The headphones have undulating highs and over-emphasized bass. There is also no companion app, meaning you can only correct the sound profile with a third-party EQ.
Anker Soundcore Life Q50 FAQs
This is subjective. For example, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 deliver decent ANC, solid battery life, and high-res audio at an affordable price point. Conversely, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are considered some of the most comfortable cans on the market and support Snapdragon Sound for near-lossless wireless audio.
Yes, some Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speakers have been recalled due to concerns about overheating lithium batteries. Some affected models include the Anker Soundcore A3102 that were sold on Amazon.
The Soundcore Space Q45 are a very compelling ANC headphone for less than $150. Their decent ANC performance, high-res Bluetooth codecs, and decent battery life make them a worthy contender to other, more expensive brands.
This depends on your preferences. For example, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 feature many OS-agnostic features and have a reasonable price tag. However, the Beats Studio Pro are also compelling and provide 40 hours of battery life, USB-C audio, and decent ANC.
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