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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize microphone quality and using your earbuds for calls and meetings, the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is a better choice as it also features a sleek design and low latency mode for watching videos and gaming. However, if noise isolation, especially during air travel, and longer battery life are more important to you, the Soundcore Life Q20 headphones are the better option, as they offer active noise cancelling and a longer battery life for extended listening sessions. Keep in mind the Life Q20 also has a wired option, which can be useful if you often forget to charge your devices. 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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q20
- Good for music
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.1
7.0
The Soundcore Life Q20 is good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
8.1
5.2
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.6
4.9
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
4.7
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
TV and Video
7.5
5.3
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good for TV and video, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q20 is very good for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
32.3 Hours
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$99
$60
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has a price of $99 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has excellent build quality, while the Soundcore Life Q20 has very good build quality.
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How the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | "Nothing" Brand | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2022 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.2/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.2 Hours | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.4 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | December 2022
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick or the Soundcore Life Q20
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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