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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
If sound quality is your main concern and you don't mind spending more, the Grado GT220 could be a better choice as they have a higher overall sound quality. However, the Soundcore Life Q20 headphones offer notable noise isolation thanks to active noise canceling, which the Grado GT220 lacks, making them ideal for air travel and noisy environments. The Q20 also has a longer battery life and the convenience of both wireless and wired options, making them versatile for various situations. They may not match the GT220's sound quality, but they provide good value for their lower price. 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 Grado GT220
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q20
- Good for music
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.3
7.0
The Soundcore Life Q20 is good for music, while the Grado GT220 is only fair.
Phone Calls
6.9
4.9
The Grado GT220 is only fair for phone calls, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
4.7
The Grado GT220 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q20 is very good for noise reduction, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Battery
5.5 Hours
32.3 Hours
The Grado GT220 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$259
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Grado GT220 has a price of $259 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $50.
Build Quality
8.8
8.0
The Grado GT220 and Soundcore Life Q20 both have very good build quality, though the Grado GT220 has somewhat better build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.1
5.2
The Soundcore Life Q20 and Grado GT220 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.5
5.3
The Grado GT220 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for TV and video.
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How the Grado GT220 and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Grado GT220 | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$259 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Grado | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5.5 Hours | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Grado GT220
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Alex Schiffer | October 2020
"With its superb and functional interface and its highly satisfying imaging, Grado has shown a new talent for delivering a solid true wireless system, and with future improvements, has the potential to really be one of the best."
Soundcore Life Q20
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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 Grado GT220 or the Soundcore Life Q20
About Grado
Grado Labs is a small, family-owned, business based in Brooklyn New York that specializes in high-end, boutique, dynamic headphones and turntable cartridges. They boast a particular house sound, that is to say their products have a particular sound signature unique to Grado, that some audiophiles seem to really like and are unable to find anywhere else. Their high-end headphones are all hand made, completely in house, from a variety of exotic woods and materials going so far as to making one of their most popular products out of hemp.
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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