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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for affordability and portability, the Skullcandy Dime is the better choice as it's less expensive and boasts a high portability score. However, the Soundcore Life Q20 offers better noise isolation and a significantly longer battery life for extended use, making it ideal for air travel or long listening sessions. Both have built-in microphones, but neither supports a lossless codec. The Dime is more suited to exercise, being sweatproof, but the Life Q20 provides the comfort of over-ear headphones and features active noise canceling for quieter listening environments. Choose the Dime for cost savings and a lightweight design or the Life Q20 for comfort, noise isolation, and battery life. 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 Skullcandy Dime
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q20
- Good for music
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
5.7
7.0
The Soundcore Life Q20 is good for music, while the Skullcandy Dime is poor.
Phone Calls
6.2
4.9
The Skullcandy Dime is only fair for phone calls, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
4.7
The Skullcandy Dime is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q20 is very good for noise reduction, while the Skullcandy Dime is only fair.
Battery
3.5 Hours
32.3 Hours
The Skullcandy Dime has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$16
$50
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Skullcandy Dime has a price of $16 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $50.
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Key similarities
Gaming
4.8
5.2
The Soundcore Life Q20 and Skullcandy Dime are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.3
5.3
The Skullcandy Dime and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for TV and video.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Skullcandy Dime and Soundcore Life Q20 both have very good build quality.
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How the Skullcandy Dime and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Skullcandy Dime | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$16 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Skullcandy | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.7/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.2/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 4.8/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 3.5 Hours | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1 Hours | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 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) | 4.5 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Skullcandy Dime
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | April 2021
"For $25, the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless Earbuds deliver a powerful, balanced, rich, and bright sound signature. There’s really not much else to talk about, but the audio is better than you would expect for the price."
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 Skullcandy Dime or the Soundcore Life Q20
About Skullcandy
Skullcandy is an American, consumer-oriented, earbuds and headphones manufacturer with 20 years of market experience. They sell a wide variety of, budget-friendly and unique, wired and wireless products that are sure to please the vast majority of users. Among their most popular offerings, the Crusher headphones, includes a pair of actual subwoofers inside the cups which makes the bass extra prominent for a unique and extra fun sound.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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