The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple Earpods are a budget-friendly choice with good overall sound quality and excellent mic quality, making them suitable for calls and meetings. They're also highly portable but lack wireless connectivity and have poor noise isolation, so they aren't ideal for noisy environments or air travel. The Soundcore Space One headphones are more expensive, offer better build quality with active noise cancelling, making them perfect for air travel and noisy scenarios. They provide a long wireless battery life too but are less portable and may not be as comfortable for all users. If you prioritize cost and need a good microphone for calls, Earpods are your pick; if you value noise cancellation and are willing to pay more, choose the Soundcore Space One. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Earpods
Very good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Soundcore Space One
Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
8.3/10
4.8/10
The Apple Earpods is very good for gaming, while the Soundcore Space One is poor.
Phone Calls
8.0/10
4.2/10
The Apple Earpods is very good for phone calls, while the Soundcore Space One is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.4/10
4.7/10
The Apple Earpods is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Space One is poor.
TV and Video
7.4/10
5.3/10
The Apple Earpods is good for TV and video, while the Soundcore Space One is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
8.0/10
The Soundcore Space One is very good for noise reduction, while the Apple Earpods is poor.
Battery
N/A
30.0 Hours
The Apple Earpods does not have a battery. The Soundcore Space One has 30 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$100
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Apple Earpods has a price of $20 and the Soundcore Space One costs $100.
The Apple Earpods and Soundcore Space One are both good for music.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Soundcore Space One to have very good build quality, while the Apple Earpods has good build quality.
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How the Apple Earpods and the Soundcore Space One compare to other earbuds and headphones
"Apple’s wired buds sound just fine for the price, and their handy inline controls and clear microphone give them an edge on wireless earbuds that are much more expensive. Plus, you never have to worry about running out of battery — or worse, a stray earbud going missing."
"The Anker Soundcore Space One noise-cancelling headphones are stylish, comfortable, and affordable. They offer better active noise cancellation than we expect for the price, and their sculpted audio impresses thanks to the adjustable EQ and support for the hi-res LDAC codec. Overall, they’re an excellent value and well worth your attention if you're on a budget."
Get a great deal on the Apple Earpods or the Soundcore Space One
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Soundcore
Soundcore is a sub-brand belonging to Anker Innovations. Starting in 2014, initially marketing wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, Anker now offers an array of, budget-friendly, wireless earbuds and headphones that directly compete, especially in the Active Noise Canceling field, with other brands several times as expensive.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.