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What we think
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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and want a lighter pair of headphones, the JBL 510BT would save you a bit of money while providing the convenience of being foldable, making them easy to carry. They have lower weight and built-in controls considered very good. However, the Soundcore Life Q20 may be worth the extra cost if you prioritize comfort and longer battery life. They come with active noise cancelling for a better listening experience in noisier environments, such as air travel, and a detachable cable which is handy if the battery runs out or for a wired connection. Both models support AAC codec for better audio quality on Apple devices, but neither offers a low latency feature which would be beneficial for gaming or watching videos. 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 JBL 510BT
- The JBL 510BT has no clear advantages over the Soundcore Life Q20.
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q20
- Good for music
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.2
7.0
The Soundcore Life Q20 is good for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
4.7
The JBL 510BT and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL 510BT is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
5.3
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q20 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
38.0 Hours
32.3 Hours
The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$60
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL 510BT has a price of $30 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $60.
Build Quality
6.5
8.0
The Soundcore Life Q20 has very good build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.4
5.2
The JBL 510BT and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1
4.9
The JBL 510BT and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for phone calls.
TV and Video
5.5
5.3
The JBL 510BT and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for TV and video.
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How the JBL 510BT and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL 510BT | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2021 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.8/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 38 Hours | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
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 | N/A | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 158.7 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
JBL 510BT
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Sam Smart | September 2023
"The JBL Tune 510BT is affordable and compact, making it a great companion for a commute, so long as you don't need active noise canceling. If you wear glasses or have ear piercings, the on-ear design might not be comfortable, since the ear cups will squish your ears."
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 JBL 510BT or the Soundcore Life Q20
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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
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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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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