A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM3
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q20
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.5
7.0
The Sony WF1000XM3 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both good for music, though the Sony WF1000XM3 is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
8.2
4.9
The Sony WF1000XM3 is very good for phone calls, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.7
4.7
The Sony WF1000XM3 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
32.3 Hours
The Sony WF1000XM3 has 6 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$180
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Sony WF1000XM3 has a price of $180 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM3 has excellent build quality, while the Soundcore Life Q20 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.6
5.2
The Sony WF1000XM3 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.7
5.3
The Sony WF1000XM3 and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
8.3
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q20 and Sony WF1000XM3 are both very good for noise reduction.
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How the Sony WF1000XM3 and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sony WF1000XM3 | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$180 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sony | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2019 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.2/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6 Hours | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3.5 Hours | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 9 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sony WF1000XM3
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | November 2022
"Wireless earbuds are a dime a dozen, and the Sony WF-1000XM3 makes it easy to justify the cost. The design and comfort are good, and the connection strength is consistent. While the lack of aptX or LDAC support is a big drawback, DSEE HX processing improves low-quality audio files. If you want stylish active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds, the WF-1000XM3 needs to be at the top of your list."
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 WF1000XM3 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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