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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a tight budget and primary use is watching TV and videos, the Sony MDREX15AP is suitable due to its excellent TV score and its wired connection which eliminates latency issues. However, for a versatile experience with better noise isolation and the convenience of wireless technology, consider the more expensive Soundcore Life P3. It also provides added features such as active noise cancelling, sweatproof certification for exercise, and a companion app for sound customization. The Life P3 is more modern with better overall sound quality but has a fair soundstage score which may affect the immersive experience for music and gaming. 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 Sony MDREX15AP
Very good for music
Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the Soundcore Life P3
Very good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.3/10
5.7/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Soundcore Life P3 is poor.
Gaming
6.7/10
5.1/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is only fair for gaming, while the Soundcore Life P3 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.5/10
5.1/10
The Soundcore Life P3 and Sony MDREX15AP are both poor for phone calls, though the Soundcore Life P3 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
9.3/10
5.5/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Soundcore Life P3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0/10
9.1/10
The Soundcore Life P3 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony MDREX15AP is good.
Battery
N/A
7.0 Hours
The Sony MDREX15AP does not have a battery. The Soundcore Life P3 has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$80
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The Sony MDREX15AP has a price of $20 and the Soundcore Life P3 costs $80.
Build Quality
8.0/10
8.8/10
The Soundcore Life P3 and Sony MDREX15AP both have very good build quality, though the Soundcore Life P3 has somewhat better build quality.
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
"Anker continues its trend of stealth releases, recently dropping the Soundcore Life P3 out of nowhere. This product essentially replaces the disappointing Life A2 NC as the brand’s flagship ANC model under $100. It comes with bassy audio and enough features to give even the best noise-cancelling earbuds pause."
Get a great deal on the Sony MDREX15AP or the Soundcore Life P3
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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.