A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose 700 offers superior overall sound quality, comfort, and active noise cancellation, which is ideal for immersive music listening and frequent air travel. It includes a microphone with high-quality audio, suitable for calls and meetings, and a well-built, foldable design. Bose 700 is optimized for both Android and Apple, with an equalizer and controls customization via an app, and up to 20 hours of battery life. In contrast, the Soundcore Life Q20 is far more affordable and provides decent sound and active noise cancellation for its price. The Q20 also has a slightly longer battery life of over 30 hours, which may be beneficial for extended usage without frequent charging. However, it lacks the overall build quality, comfort, and sound experience of the Bose 700, and doesn't have the same level of app features. If budget is not a concern and you prioritize sound quality and feature set, Bose 700 may be the right choice; however, if you're seeking value for money with adequacy in most aspects, the Soundcore Life Q20 is a compelling option. 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 Bose 700
- Very good for phone calls
- Best in class for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q20
- The Soundcore Life Q20 has no clear advantages over the Bose 700.
Key differences
Music
7.5
7.0
The Bose 700 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both good for music, though the Bose 700 is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
8.3
4.9
The Bose 700 is very good for phone calls, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.8
4.7
The Bose 700 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Battery
20.0 Hours
32.3 Hours
The Bose 700 has 20 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Bose 700 has a price of $299 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The Bose 700 has excellent build quality, while the Soundcore Life Q20 has very good build quality.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Key similarities
Gaming
5.3
5.2
The Bose 700 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
5.3
The Bose 700 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose 700 to be excellent for noise reduction, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is very good.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Bose 700 and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose 700 | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2019 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.3/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 20 Hours | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2.5 Hours | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 263 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Bose 700
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Adam Molina | June 2023
"Bose took active noise canceling and made it mainstream but eventually, the market caught up. Well, it seems like Bose was listening, because the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is a complete redesign of its iconic product. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have a new design, improved sound quality, a touch-sensitive gesture pad for playback controls, and even USB-C charging."
Soundcore Life Q20
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | January 2022
"As far as headphones that cost under $100 go, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is a really solid option. Like any good tool, it does the job well without much guff, and it’s affordable to boot. Sure: it’s not going toe to toe with any of the higher-end models of ANC headphones out there—but the headphones do well enough for commuters that it’s a good stand-in if you were never planning on spending a bunch of money anyway."
Get a great deal on the Bose 700 or the Soundcore Life Q20
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
110,900
Recommendations made
16,635
Consumer hours saved
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.
Featured in
