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1 / 12@coral_juniper_77 · Owner-reported
Owned over 2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
The anc is not as good as you might want it but the mic is better than expected.
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Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying · Sign-in needed to publish · Photo optional
At 7.5, its noise cancelling beats 19% of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 63 of the 242 we've cataloged.
At 3.9, its audio quality beats 38% of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 48 of the 242 we've cataloged.
Would buy it again and still uses it daily.
Owned over 2 years.
What gave out: Ear pads (1)
below average for over-ear headphones — based on 159 of 242 we've cataloged.
Usb-c is the most common — on 88% of the 139 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).
5.0 is the most common — on 26% of the 152 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).
below average for over-ear headphones — based on 200 of 242 we've cataloged.
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 | 8.1 |
| 25 | 15.7 |
| 32 | 19.4 |
| 40 | 17.0 |
| 50 | 15.9 |
| 63 | 13.9 |
| 80 | 12.7 |
| 100 | 11.7 |
| 125 | 10.5 |
| 160 | 7.2 |
| 200 | 3.3 |
| 250 | 1.6 |
| 315 | 1.9 |
| 400 | 2.1 |
| 500 | 3.0 |
| 630 | 2.3 |
| 800 | 1.6 |
| 1000 | 0.1 |
| 1250 | 3.1 |
| 1600 | 4.0 |
| 2000 | 7.2 |
| 2500 | 9.4 |
| 3150 | 7.1 |
| 4000 | 5.9 |
| 5000 | 7.8 |
| 6300 | 8.4 |
| 8000 | 18.3 |
| 10000 | 11.3 |
| 12500 | 7.0 |
| 16000 | 4.1 |
| 20000 | -9.1 |
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 | 1.9 |
| 26 | -1.8 |
| 33 | -0.3 |
| 41 | -0.5 |
| 52 | -1.4 |
| 65 | -1.2 |
| 82 | -1.7 |
| 103 | -2.2 |
| 130 | -2.9 |
| 163 | -3.3 |
| 205 | -5.0 |
| 259 | -5.5 |
| 325 | -0.3 |
| 410 | 1.2 |
| 516 | 2.6 |
| 613 | 4.7 |
| 772 | 9.6 |
| 972 | 13.6 |
| 1220 | 17.1 |
| 1540 | 19.2 |
| 1940 | 25.3 |
| 2440 | 40.5 |
| 3070 | 39.3 |
| 3870 | 45.9 |
| 4870 | 39.2 |
| 6130 | 38.9 |
| 7720 | 42.2 |
| 9720 | 36.6 |
| 12200 | 30.7 |
| 15400 | 33.1 |
| 19400 | 34.5 |
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 | -3.9 |
| 26 | -9.7 |
| 33 | -5.6 |
| 41 | 1.3 |
| 52 | 7.1 |
| 65 | 9.9 |
| 82 | 13.7 |
| 103 | 17.1 |
| 130 | 18.7 |
| 163 | 20.3 |
| 205 | 17.5 |
| 259 | 16.4 |
| 325 | 16.6 |
| 410 | 13.7 |
| 516 | 5.4 |
| 613 | 6.2 |
| 772 | 14.6 |
| 972 | 18.0 |
| 1220 | 16.7 |
| 1540 | 18.5 |
| 1940 | 22.7 |
| 2440 | 36.1 |
| 3070 | 40.9 |
| 3870 | 42.6 |
| 4870 | 43.2 |
| 6130 | 39.6 |
| 7720 | 36.1 |
| 9720 | 36.8 |
| 12200 | 30.6 |
| 15400 | 33.3 |
| 19400 | 34.4 |
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (1–5), modeled from the measured response. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
The verdict
With good sound, active noise canceling, and battery life, these are some of the best-value headphones on the market. If you have a budget of $100, don't hesitate to buy the Anker Soundcore Life Q30.
✓Liked: Price, Noise canceling, Battery life
✕Could be better: No touch controls, No dust or water resistance, EQ presets not very effective
What a reader who owns the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 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: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againThe anc is not as good as you might want it but the mic is better than expected.
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What readers ask about the Anker Soundcore Life Q30, answered by the people who own it.
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Ask the first question →Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
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
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Nothing surprising about comfort
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
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
