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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If price is a major consideration for you, the Sony MDREX15AP earbuds are a budget-friendly option that provides very good music quality for the cost, along with good noise isolation and a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions; they are wired, so no need to worry about battery life. However, they lack features like sweatproofing and a microphone for calls. On the other hand, the Soundcore Life Q20 headphones offer active noise cancelling for better sound isolation, particularly beneficial during air travel or in noisy environments, and they are wireless which adds convenience but requires charging. The Q20 also supports AAC codec for better audio quality with Apple devices, has an integrated microphone, and a much longer battery life for wireless use. So, if you're after a wireless experience with noise-cancelling and you use Apple devices, or if you need a built-in microphone for calls, the Soundcore Life Q20 might justify the higher price. 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 Q20
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.3
7.0
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is good.
Gaming
6.7
5.2
The Sony MDREX15AP is only fair for gaming, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.5
4.9
The Soundcore Life Q20 and Sony MDREX15AP are both poor for phone calls, though the Soundcore Life Q20 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
4.7
The Sony MDREX15AP and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Sony MDREX15AP is somewhat better.
TV and Video
9.3
5.3
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q20 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sony MDREX15AP is good.
Battery
N/A
32.3 Hours
The Sony MDREX15AP does not have a battery. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$50
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Sony MDREX15AP has a price of $20 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $50.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.0
8.0
The Sony MDREX15AP and Soundcore Life Q20 both have very good build quality.
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How the Sony MDREX15AP and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sony MDREX15AP | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$20 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sony | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2014 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.5/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.8/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.3/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 3.1 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sony MDREX15AP
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Make It Sound Great
Pete Anthony | June 2022
"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."
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 Sony MDREX15AP or the Soundcore Life Q20
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
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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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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.
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