Sony WH-CH720N vs. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 – A hard-fought battle

Whenever we talk about Sony, we do so to highlight its highest-end models. However, the technology giant has a wide catalog of mid-range wireless headphones that are increasingly in demand. It is not surprising, because their price is lower, but they maintain the sound quality and excellence that characterizes them. In this article we compare the Sony WH-CH720N with the Anker Soundcore Life Q30, another of the best-selling wireless headphones on Amazon.

The first thing you should know is that, at the time of this review, both have a very similar price, which makes this comparison even more interesting. However, without cheap offers, those from Sony are somewhat more expensive than those from Anker, although they remain within the brand’s economic range. In addition, we are looking at two circumaural models with a practically identical size.

Despite this, the Sony WH-CH720N are lighter and, in our opinion, more comfortable. Then we will tell you why. But, focusing on the more technical aspects, we will tell you that both have active noise cancellation, transparency mode and the possibility of customizing the equalizer. Sony headphones also have a spatial audio function and adaptive sound control.

As far as battery life is concerned, although both have surprised us for the better, the victory goes to the Anker Soundcore Life Q30, which lasts between 40 and 60 hours, depending on whether the noise cancellation is active or not. In addition, they have a slightly wider Bluetooth range, and the drivers are slightly wider than those of Sony headphones. That said, the best way to know which headphones are perfect for you is to analyze them in detail. And that’s what we’re going to do next. Join us!

Sony WH-CH720N vs Anker Soundcore Life Q30 – Comparison Table

If you are thinking of buying cheap but high-quality wireless headphones, we advise you to take a look at our table. In it, you will be able to get a better idea about the differences and similarities between these two models:

Let’s talk about design, are there differences?

The first thing we see in any electronic device is its design, and, in this case, there are some points to take into account. Although, first, let’s talk about their differences. They are both circumaural headphones; That is, the pad covers the ear completely, which makes the noise cancellation (which we will talk about later) better. Now, the Sony WH-CH720N have oval ear pads that we particularly find more comfortable than circular ear pads, because they adapt better to the natural shape of the ear.

When it comes to size, it should be noted that both are practically the same, but the Sony headphones are lighter. In fact, we were surprised by its lightness, it’s almost as if you didn’t notice anything. The only thing they fail is that they do not have a carrying case in their standard equipment, as the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 does. Finally, in both cases you can choose between three colors.

Noise cancellation on both headphones

Knowing whether or not they have noise cancellation is one of the priorities for many users, and it is one of the first things we look at. In this case, both the Sony WH-CH720N and the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 have active noise cancellation and transparency mode. That is, you can regulate the amount of outside sound you want to perceive or if, on the contrary, you prefer to isolate yourself completely from external noise.

We have to say that we are more convinced by the isolation capacity of the Sony, although the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are not bad either. In this sense, it is worth noting that both headphones have dual microphones, which greatly improves the ability to perceive outside noise and isolate it, but the Sony ones maintain the sound with less distortion in the bass than the Anker ones.

What additional features do Sony headphones have?

In addition to noise cancellation and transparency mode, the Sony WH-CH720N has two additional functions that we do not find in the Anker. On the one hand, they perform adaptive sound control, which means that they are able to recognize the environment you are in (previously configured, of course), and adjust the noise cancellation more optimally. For example, if they detect that you are at the gym, they will raise the volume more and reduce the noise cancellation than if you are in a library or somewhere quieter.

On the other hand, the Sony WH-CH720N have 360º spatial audio. This makes them adapt the sound to the shape of your ear and also creates a more enveloping 360º sound. That is, turn your head anywhere, you will hear the sound as if it were in the foreground and in the same way.

Autonomy, from good to very good

We continue talking about another of the most important aspects for users, autonomy. In this case, we recognize that the two wireless headphones have surprised us for the better. However, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 stand out especially. These headphones can run for 40 hours with noise cancellation active, and up to 60 hours without it. The Sony WH-CH720N, for their part, reduce their autonomy to about 35 and 50 hours respectively, which is not bad at all. Above all, considering that we are talking about quite affordable headphones. In addition, both have a fast charging function.

Bluetooth connectivity, slight differences

Now, we analyze the differences between the two headphones in terms of connectivity. Both are compatible with Bluetooth technology, but there are some nuances to keep in mind. Anker headphones are compatible with version 5.0 while Sony headphones are compatible with 5.2. However, Anker’s have a slightly wider range, reaching up to about 15 meters, compared to the 10 meters achieved by Sony’s.

On the other hand, both are compatible with NFC technology, which allows them to synchronize with other devices. In fact, they share the multipoint connection function. That is, you can switch between the sound of the laptop and the mobile phone, for example, if you receive a call, with a single button.

How do you control wireless headphones?

This is another aspect where we hardly find any differences, since both share the same form of control. Both the Sony WH-CH720N and the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are controlled using the buttons on each of the headphones, or through a voice assistant. They don’t have touch controls, but using the buttons is quite intuitive.

So, should we stick with the wireless headphones from Sony or Anker?

This is the big question that arises after analyzing the similarities and differences between the two models. First of all, let us tell you that any of them are an excellent option when it comes to value for money. In the case of Sony, in the WH-CH720N it has given up some of the features that we do see in the higher-end models, such as the Speak-to-Chat functionalities, the proximity sensor or the touch controls, but it maintains the which, for us, are more important. Their philosophy is that, no matter how cheap wireless headphones are, they must meet minimum quality standards. And boy do they do it.

On the other hand, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 have been one of the great revelations in recent months. Being a lesser-known brand, we cannot help but have some initial reluctance and think that they are not going to reach the perfection of the Sony. And yet, they are very reliable wireless headphones in terms of sound quality and noise cancellation. Perhaps it lacks the extra point that the Sony have with features such as adaptive sound control, but we must remember its price.

In short, think about what aspects are most important to you and how far you can increase your budget to choose between these two wireless headphones. Whatever your decision, both have been designed to meet the expectations we may have for cheap headphones.