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1 / 8@crisp_wren_44 · Owner-reported
Owned over 2 years · Still using it: no, stopped · Posted
Not much else that competes at this price point. Overall just a solid pair of budget wireless headphones with a very good battery life and usable noise canceling. The only real issue is that the battery died after about 1.5 years
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The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 brings great isolation and battery life to a sub-$60 package.
At 7.5, its noise cancelling beats 19% of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 63 of the 244 we've cataloged.
Would buy it again; has stopped using it.
Owned over 2 years.
What gave out: Battery (1)
above average for over-ear headphones — based on 159 of 244 we've cataloged.
Micro usb appears on 9% of the 139 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 244).
5.0 is the most common — on 26% of the 152 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 244).
Bluetooth is the most common — on 43% of the 252 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 244).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 11.5 |
| 25 | 12.4 |
| 32 | 13.2 |
| 40 | 11.6 |
| 50 | 9.0 |
| 63 | 7.1 |
| 80 | 6.5 |
| 100 | 4.1 |
| 125 | 1.3 |
| 160 | -1.5 |
| 200 | -3.0 |
| 250 | -3.4 |
| 315 | -3.7 |
| 400 | -3.5 |
| 500 | -3.2 |
| 630 | -0.6 |
| 800 | 4.2 |
| 1000 | 1.4 |
| 1250 | 2.0 |
| 1600 | 4.5 |
| 2000 | 6.7 |
| 2500 | 11.4 |
| 3150 | 13.3 |
| 4000 | 10.8 |
| 5000 | 9.8 |
| 6300 | 10.1 |
| 8000 | 13.3 |
| 10000 | 9.0 |
| 12500 | 2.9 |
| 16000 | -5.6 |
| 20000 | -16.8 |
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -1.2 |
| 26 | -1.4 |
| 33 | -2.1 |
| 41 | -1.5 |
| 52 | -1.0 |
| 65 | -1.7 |
| 82 | -3.1 |
| 103 | -1.2 |
| 130 | -1.0 |
| 163 | -0.9 |
| 205 | -1.6 |
| 259 | 1.3 |
| 325 | 6.0 |
| 410 | 7.4 |
| 516 | 11.0 |
| 613 | 13.1 |
| 772 | 17.7 |
| 972 | 14.3 |
| 1220 | 21.9 |
| 1540 | 30.5 |
| 1940 | 35.8 |
| 2440 | 36.3 |
| 3070 | 31.9 |
| 3870 | 38.1 |
| 4870 | 39.4 |
| 6130 | 42.9 |
| 7720 | 43.1 |
| 9720 | 36.1 |
| 12200 | 26.6 |
| 15400 | 23.8 |
| 19400 | 29.5 |
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 9.3 |
| 26 | 3.9 |
| 33 | 0.1 |
| 41 | 7.5 |
| 52 | 15.2 |
| 65 | 15.9 |
| 82 | 16.3 |
| 103 | 21.4 |
| 130 | 19.7 |
| 163 | 20.1 |
| 205 | 16.0 |
| 259 | 14.7 |
| 325 | 16.8 |
| 410 | 20.4 |
| 516 | 29.2 |
| 613 | 22.2 |
| 772 | 21.0 |
| 972 | 19.5 |
| 1220 | 30.5 |
| 1540 | 31.1 |
| 1940 | 35.1 |
| 2440 | 38.5 |
| 3070 | 34.3 |
| 3870 | 39.0 |
| 4870 | 38.5 |
| 6130 | 40.7 |
| 7720 | 39.3 |
| 9720 | 34.2 |
| 12200 | 27.2 |
| 15400 | 23.3 |
| 19400 | 29.9 |
The verdict
This is the headset to get if you want barebones, no-nonsense active noise canceling (ANC) on a budget. Sure, the lack of bleeding-edge features and outdated USB port may be a drag, but this headset does very well for the price.
✓Liked: Excellent battery life, Fine noise canceling, Decent sound quality, Price
✕Could be better: microUSB port, Slightly small ear cups, No app
What a reader who owns the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 reports after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.
Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
1 owner review
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned over 2 years · Still using it: no, stopped · Posted
Would buy againNot much else that competes at this price point. Overall just a solid pair of budget wireless headphones with a very good battery life and usable noise canceling. The only real issue is that the battery died after about 1.5 years
What readers ask about the Anker Soundcore Life Q20, answered by the people who own it.
Nobody has asked the owners yet.
Ask the first question →Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterSoundcore, please bring this feature back to earbudsEarbud cases don’t need flashy screens or gimmicks. One of the most useful features I’ve tested is way simpler: a built-in phone stand.
Adam BirneyManaging Editor288 people rated the Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone – here's what they saidWe asked, you told us: see how the Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone is rated by the people.
Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerThese budget earbuds have better battery life than the AirPods Pro 2We tested these new budget earbuds in our SoundGuys testing lab, and they stand out in one key metric compared to AirPods.Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerCan $100 earbuds sound better than $300 earbuds? We ran tests to find out.We compared the Soundcore Liberty 5 with the Sony WF-1000XM5 to see if a higher price tag gets you better sound.Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerThese have better ANC than AirPods – and they cost lessWe just tested the latest budget wireless earbuds to come through our lab, and they beat the AirPods 4 in one key area.Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help you
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.
Tom TriggsContributor
2 of 3 would buy again
3 owners · owners report ~40 h per charge vs 40 h claimed
The battery beat their expectations
The noise cancelling beat their expectations
Expected more from comfort
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Nothing surprising about comfort
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · 1 photo-verified
Expected more from comfort
0 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · 2 photo-verified
The noise cancelling beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
