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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If sound quality for music is a priority, Beats Studiobuds are superior and more suitable for exercise, but they have lower performance in latency-sensitive activities like gaming or watching TV. The earbuds form factor offers portability and is suitable for active use. Soundcore Life Q30 headphones provide better noise isolation and comfort for lengthy listening sessions such as air travel, and include a wired option. They also offer more extended battery life. Both have similar noise cancelling abilities and are equipped with microphones, but the Life Q30's microphone quality is slightly higher. 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 Beats Studiobuds
- Good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q30
- The Soundcore Life Q30 has no clear advantages over the Beats Studiobuds.
Key differences
Phone Calls
7.0
5.1
The Beats Studiobuds is good for phone calls, while the Soundcore Life Q30 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.0
4.8
The Beats Studiobuds is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q30 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q30 is very good for noise reduction, while the Beats Studiobuds is only fair.
Battery
6.0 Hours
44.0 Hours
The Beats Studiobuds has 6 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q30 has 44 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
8.8
8.0
The Beats Studiobuds and Soundcore Life Q30 both have very good build quality, though the Beats Studiobuds has somewhat better build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.2
7.1
The Beats Studiobuds and Soundcore Life Q30 are both good for music.
Gaming
5.2
5.3
The Soundcore Life Q30 and Beats Studiobuds are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
5.4
The Beats Studiobuds and Soundcore Life Q30 are both poor for TV and video.
Cost
$80
$80
$50
$60
$70
$80
$90
$100
The Beats Studiobuds has a price of $80 and the Soundcore Life Q30 costs $80.
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How the Beats Studiobuds and the Soundcore Life Q30 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Studiobuds | Soundcore Life Q30 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$80 | $80 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | August 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.2/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 5.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6 Hours | 44 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.9 Hours | 1.7 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 263 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Beats Studiobuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Chase Bernath | May 2023
"For less than the price of the AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds delivers a good fit, great sound, and active noise cancellation. This is also the first set of Apple-owned Beats earbuds to feature quick pairing with Android devices, albeit at the expense of some key features for Apple users."
Soundcore Life Q30
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones Addict
Peter Susic | December 2021
"Every once in a while, headphones with an excellent price/performance ratio arrive that truly deserves all attention. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are one of those headphones. Of course, they aren’t perfect, but they do most things better than their competition. Or they give you the option to make them better."
Get a great deal on the Beats Studiobuds or the Soundcore Life Q30
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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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Why trust us
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
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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.
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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.
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