Over-ear wireless headphones with active noise cancellation have become extremely popular in recent years. Top brands like Bose and Sony dominate the premium end of the market, while more affordable options from companies like Anker offer great value for money.
In this article, we’ll compare two of Anker’s most popular noise cancelling headphones – the Soundcore Life Q30 and Q35 models. Both deliver impressive noise cancelling and audio quality at a fraction of the price of flagship headphones.
But which one is right for you?
A Brief Comparison Table
Before diving into the details, here is a quick overview of how the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 and Q35 stack up against each other:
| Aspect | Anker Soundcore Life Q30 | Anker Soundcore Life Q35 |
| Noise Cancelling | Hybrid ANC with feedforward and feedback microphones. 3 levels of noise cancellation (Transport, Indoor, Outdoor) | Upgraded hybrid ANC system with additional microphone, adjustable transparency mode, and mobile app customization. |
| Sound Quality | Balanced sound with even bass, smooth midrange, and crisp treble. 40mm silk diaphragm drivers. Supports LDAC. | Similar balanced sound but with more emphasis on the low end and higher maximum volume. 40mm silk diaphragm drivers. Supports LDAC. |
| Battery Life | Up to 40 hours with ANC off. Fast charge: 4 hours of playtime with 10 minutes of charging. | Up to 60 hours with ANC off. Fast charge: 4 hours of playtime with 10 minutes of charging. |
| Comfort | Sturdy and comfortable with plush protein leather earpads. A bit tighter clamping force. | Thicker ear pads and headband padding for better comfort during long sessions. A bit looser clamping force. |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 with support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. Can connect to one device at a time. | Bluetooth 5.0 with support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. Multipoint pairing to connect to two devices simultaneously. |
| Voice Calls | Good call quality with 4 microphones. | Superior call quality with 6 microphones for better noise reduction. |
| Weight | 265g | 279g |
| Price | Generally cheaper by about $30. | Generally more expensive by about $30. |
| Extra Features | Built-in equalizer for sound customization. | Adjustable transparency mode and mobile app customization for ANC. |
| Portability | Folds down into a compact size, slightly more portable due to less weight. | Folds down into a compact size. |
Overview of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30
The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are a very popular budget-friendly pair of over-ear noise cancelling headphones. They offer strong noise isolation and cancellation powered by hybrid ANC technology with feedforward and feedback microphones.
You can choose from 3 levels of noise cancellation – Transport, Indoor, and Outdoor. Transport mode focuses on muting constant low frequency rumble like plane engines, while Outdoor aims to suppress higher pitched sounds like traffic and wind noise.
There’s also a transparency mode that lets in ambient sound when you need to hear your surroundings.
40mm silk diaphragm drivers deliver well-balanced audio reproduction. The sound signature has even bass, smooth midrange, and crisp treble.
You won’t get huge thumping bass but the low end is still punchy and satisfying. Mids are natural sounding for vocals and instruments. Highs add detail without being harsh or sibilant.
With ANC turned off, the Q30 can last up to 40 hours per charge. Fast charging provides 4 hours of playback from a quick 10 minute charge. They also support hi-res wireless audio with LDAC and have a built-in equalizer to customize the sound.
Build quality is excellent with a sturdy yet comfortable headband and plush protein leather earpads. Controls are conveniently located on the earcups for playback, volume, calls, and voice assistants. The Q30 folds down into a compact size for portability.
Overview of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 is a slightly upgraded version of the Q30 model. The overall design and sound quality remains very similar between the two, but the Q35 does offer some worthwhile improvements.
Active noise cancellation gets a boost thanks to an upgraded hybrid system with one extra microphone. Noise reduction is noticeably better, especially in the bass and mid-range frequencies. The Q35 also introduces a transparency mode and customizable ANC with a mobile app.
Audio drivers are still 40mm silk diaphragms for well-balanced sound. You get a bit more emphasis on the low end which some users may prefer. Maximum volume is louder on the Q35 as well. The slightly larger earcups and thicker headbandPadding also makes the Q35 more comfortable for long listening sessions.
Battery life sees a big improvement up to 60 hours per charge with ANC disabled. The Q35 retains fast charging capability through USB-C and LDAC/AAC codec support. One unique addition is multipoint Bluetooth pairing to connect to two devices simultaneously.
For call quality, the Q35 really shines with 6 total microphones for powerful noise reduction so your voice comes through clearly. Buttons and controls remain conveniently placed on the earcups.
Also Read: Comparison Between the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless and Crusher EVO
Key Differences Between the Q30 and Q35
Now let’s take a closer look at how these two Anker headphones differ across some key categories:
Noise Cancellation
- Both use hybrid feedforward/feedback ANC but the Q35 has one additional microphone for improved noise reduction.
- The Q35 offers more customization of noise cancelling with the mobile app and an adjustable transparency mode.
- ANC performance is noticeably better on the Q35, especially reducing low frequency rumble. The Q30 still does a decent job though.
- For phone calls, the Q35’s 6 microphones beat out the Q30’s 4 mics for blocking background noise.
Audio Quality
- Overall sound signature is very similar between the two models – balanced and natural.
- The Q35 plays a bit louder and has slightly more bass emphasis. Midrange and treble are comparable.
- Both support hi-res codecs like LDAC and have a customizable EQ.
- Smaller earcups on the Q30 provide a bit more sound isolation passively.
Battery Life
- The Q35 gets a big boost up to 60 hours per charge with ANC off, compared to 40 hours on the Q30.
- Fast charging gives around 4 hours of playback after 10 minutes on both models.
- Enabling noise cancelling reduces battery life considerably, down to around 24 hours on the Q35 and 18 hours on the Q30.
Watch this review video:
Comfort
- The Q35 has thicker earpad and headband padding making it slightly more comfortable for long listening sessions.
- Clamping force feels looser on the Q35 whereas the Q30 squeezes a bit tighter.
- The Q35 is a bit heavier at 279g Vs. 265g on the Q30. For extended wear comfort, the Q35 may have a slight edge.
- Both fold down into a compact size. The Q30 may be slightly more portable.
Connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.0 on both models gives a stable wireless connection.
- LDAC, AAC and SBC codecs supported for high quality streaming.
- The Q35 can pair to two devices simultaneously thanks to multipoint Bluetooth pairing. The Q30 can only connect to one device at a time.
- Pairing and re-connecting is quick and easy on both models.
Also Read: Comparison Between the Blue Snowball and HyperX SoloCast
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For most people, the Q30 represents a better value with very capable noise cancelling and audio performance at a lower price. But the Q35 makes sense if you want upgraded ANC, longer battery life, and multipoint pairing.
It’s not a huge upgrade but the Q35 does offer meaningful improvements for noise cancelling effectiveness and call quality. Audio reproduction is very close between them. The Q35 costs around $30 more so decide if the upgrades justify the price bump for your needs.
There is very minimal audio leakage from the Q30 headphones even at high volumes due to the excellent passive noise isolation from the over-ear closed-back design and snug fit. Noise cancelling also helps reduce leakage further.
Yes, the Q35 is equipped with 6 total microphones for both noise reduction during calls and noise cancelling while listening to audio. Call quality is very clear with effective background noise blocking.
Also Read: Comparison Between the Anker Q20 and Q30
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 and Q35 are both excellent noise cancelling headphones that punch way above their affordable price point. For most usages, the Q30 provides tremendous value and will satisfy buyers with its well-balanced sound and smooth noise cancellation.
But the Q35 brings key upgrades like improved ANC, longer battery life, and Bluetooth multipoint – albeit at a small premium. Ultimately, choose based on your budget and desired features. Either way, you can’t go wrong with these Anker Soundcore models for cost-effective wireless listening.