This blog will help you pick the best between Anker Soundcore Life Q20 vs Q30.
DESIGN
Anker Soundcore Life Q20
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 resembles the Anker SoundCore Life 2 Wireless. They have the same simple style that looks good for a pair of low-cost headphones. The main change between these and the previous model is that the logo is now printed on the ear cup rather than etched into the plastic. While ours is entirely black, they are also available in silver. These headphones have good build quality. They are mostly plastic, like the SoundCore Life 2, but the headband is reinforced by a thin metal sheet. The hinges are probably their weakest point, as they seem hollow and plasticky, but the headphones feel robust enough that they should be able to withstand a few accidental drops or bumps without too much harm.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
The Anker Q30 resembles the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. They are simple in design and have a black satin finish. This edition features a gold logo on both earcups, giving it a more sophisticated appearance. If you prefer a more colourful aesthetic, they are also available in ‘Midnight Blue’ and ‘Sakura Pink’. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 has a solid build. They usually comprise plastic and silicone-like materials, giving them a robust feel.
The headband and cups include faux-leather padding, and the headband has a metal plate. These appear dense enough to withstand a few accidental drops without being destroyed. However, some users have complained that the headbands on their units cracked or snapped with time, indicating a problem with the build quality’s endurance. But we haven’t noticed this problem with our equipment. Several of our staff members use these headphones as their daily drivers and have not experienced this, so your results may vary. But, if you have encountered this issue, please let us know in the comments section.
COMFORT
Anker Soundcore Life Q20
These headphones are quite comfortable. While their ear cups have somewhat less cushioning than the previous generation, it is hardly obvious when wearing them, and they are just as comfy. They’re fairly light, and happily, their headband is a bit smaller, so they should now accommodate those with smaller heads, unlike the Anker SoundCore Life 2 Wireless.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is around the same size as the previous version, making it difficult to transport. Fortunately, their ear cups swivel to rest flat and come with a simple carrying pouch. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is a reasonably stable device. Because they have a strong clamping force, they should stay in place during jogs or mild runs unless you have a very small head. Their slightly smaller shape than the previous generation means they should feel somewhat more stable for most people, while their over-ear design will still cause you to sweat more than usual.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
The Anker Q30 headphones are quite comfortable. These feel lightweight and don’t clamp too hard on the head, similar to the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless. However, the headband padding is thin and may become unpleasant if used for extended periods. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 has a poor breathability rating. They cover the whoel ear and can trap heat, making your ears feel hot. You may also sweat more if you wear them for extended periods or during strenuous activity. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is a reasonably stable device. While they should not move if you’re working at your desk, they can slip off your head if you move your head quickly. On the plus side, their wireless design avoids the possibility of a cord snagging and tugging the headphones off your head.
CONTROL
Anker Soundcore Life Q20
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20’s V-shaped sound profile is pretty exciting. Its mid-range is well-balanced, but their bass range is overemphasised, resulting in a lot of extra thump and kick. This will most likely please fans of EDM or hip-hop, although their over-emphasized treble range will also suit genres such as pop and rock. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 has a good frequency response consistency. They’re actually a little more precise in the bass range than the previous generation, so you should receive a consistent bass response every time you put them on.
There may be some discrepancies with the treble range, so you may need to adjust them slightly on your head to achieve the same listening experience every time. These headphones have terrible bass accuracy. While the range is reasonably even, with few huge, abrupt peaks or troughs, the entire range is greatly exaggerated. This produces bass with a lot of thump and punch. These headphones have exceptional mid-range accuracy. Virtually the whole frequency range is flat, with only a slight bump in the high mids to emphasise lead instruments and voices. Generally, the leads and vocals should be well-balanced and present.
These headphones have good treble precision. Practically the entire frequency range is slightly overemphasised, which may cause some singers and lead instruments to sound harsh or piercing. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20’s peaks and dips performance is adequate. The mid-bass peak will make most bass frequencies sound full and thumpy, but the mid and treble peaks may make some leads and vocals sound harsh and piercing.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
If we talk about Q20 vs Q30. The Anker Q30 has an enthralling, v-shaped sound profile. The bass provides thud and rumbles to your mix, while the treble adds sparkle and brightness. While some users may consider this sound profile overly bassy, its accompanying app includes a graphic EQ and presets to help them fine-tune their sound. The frequency response consistency of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is adequate. Because treble delivery varies based on fit, orientation, and seal, you may need to reposition them slightly on your head to have the same listening experience every time. The bass accuracy on these headphones is bad. It’s overemphasised throughout the range, resulting in a powerful thump, rumble, and punch that should thrill EDM and hip-hop aficionados.
Yet, some users may find their mixes to be boomy and muddy. The Anker Soundcore Q30 has excellent mid-range precision. There is some overemphasis from the bass region into the low mids, resulting in a dirty sound in your mix. The rest of the range, on the other hand, is flat and neutral, making singers and lead instruments sound present and true. The treble accuracy of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is adequate. The frequency spectrum is emphasised, resulting in loud vocalists and lead instruments. Sibilants, such as the letters S and T, are piercing.
ISOLATION
Anker Soundcore Life Q20
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 has slightly enhanced ANC over the previous model. The ANC on these headphones performs better against the low rumbling of bus or airline engines. but not quite as well as some more expensive solutions, such as the Anker SoundCore Space NC. On the plus side, these headphones are fantastic at blocking background speech, making them a perfect choice for blocking out chatty coworkers in the office. It should be mentioned that the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless and Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless, the future generations of these headphones, feature even stronger ANC characteristics. These headphones have excellent leakage performance. While they may leak some sound at very loud volumes, they should be quite thin and should not affect those around you.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
When talking about Q20 vs Q30, the Anker Life Q30 has excellent noise isolation. They outperform the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless when their active noise cancellation (ANC) feature is set to ‘Transport’ mode. Also, they can significantly reduce low-frequency noise, such as that produced by bus or airline engines. They also reduced a lot of mid-range noise, such as office chatter, and higher-pitched sounds. These headphones also include two types of ANC. The ‘Outdoor’ mode is advertised to assist in reducing traffic and wind noise, whilst the ‘Indoor’ mode is mainly focused on lowering mid and treble-range noise, such as office conversation and fan hum. The leakage performance of the Anker Life Q30 is average. Their leaking is centred in the mid-range, making it sound rich. Others in the office may be able to hear you if you listen to your audio at a high volume.
MICROPHONE
Anker Soundcore Life Q20
Bluetooth communication is adequate with these headphones. They do not enable multi-device or NFC pairing, unlike later generations such as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. On Desktops, they also have pretty high latency. However, their latency is substantially lower on iOS and Android, so you should be able to watch movies without too much lag, though they may not be the greatest for gaming. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones are Bluetooth-only. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 will only work with the Xbox One while plugged into the controller and provide audio support with no microphone. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 does not come with a dock.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
Between Q20 vs Q30, the Bluetooth connectivity of the Anker Soundcore Q30 is excellent. They may be paired with up to two devices at once, unlike the Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless, and they allow NFC pairing. They also have an excellent line-of-sight range, which is useful if you like to roam around without carrying your music device. On Computers, however, they have a considerable latency. Their latency is significantly reduced on iOS and Android.
Nevertheless, because different devices and apps compensate for latency in different ways, your experience may differ. These headphones are only compatible with Bluetooth. While the Anker Soundcore Q30 uses Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, they also include a 1/8″ jack “TRS cable suitable for passive audio listening. You cannot, however, use their microphone when hooked. They also provide a charging cord that converts from USB-C to USB-A. When you plug in the Anker Q30, it is only compatible with the Xbox One. “Connect a TRS cable to a controller’s AUX input. Because they do not support microphones, you can only receive audio. The Anker Q30 does not include a base or dock.
CONCLUSION
Our goal was to help you to choose between Q20 vs Q30. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless is the successor to the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless and is slightly better than its predecessor. The Q30 includes a hard case. They provide much greater noise isolation and have longer battery life. They’re also compatible with the Anker Soundcore app, which lets you personalise their sound with a graphic EQ and presets. The Q20, on the other hand, is more stable and has a more balanced sound profile out of the box. Hopefully now you know which one to buy between Q20 vs Q30.
