The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize portability, exercise use, sweat proofing, wireless charging, and a smart charging case with touch display features, the JBL Live Buds 3 would serve you well, notably with their higher overall sound quality and active noise cancelling (ANC). On the other hand, if you're looking for a more affordable option that's better for air travel due to its excellent battery life and doesn't depend on touch controls, the Soundcore Life Q20 might be the right choice, although it may not match the JBL's sound quality and lacks some of its advanced features. Both have ANC, but if you need something for TV and gaming or calls and meetings, both may not be suitable; they're also not optimized for music or book/podcast listening, with poor scores in such categories. 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 Live Buds 3
Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q20
Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.8/10
7.0/10
The JBL Live Buds 3 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both good for music, though the JBL Live Buds 3 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9/10
4.7/10
The JBL Live Buds 3 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Live Buds 3 is somewhat better.
Battery
10.0 Hours
32.3 Hours
The JBL Live Buds 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$216
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Buds 3 has a price of $216 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $50.
"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 Live Buds 3 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
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.