Anker Soundcore Life Q50 wishlist: All the features I want to see

Anker produces some of the best cheap headphones on the market. The Anker Soundcore Space One take the crown and provide a comprehensive companion app, powerful active noise canceling, and handy automatic wear detection capabilities. However, the company’s Soundcore Life Q headphones are renowned for their pleasing feature set and low price tag. For example, the Soundcore Life Q30 profit superior ANC, excellent battery life, and a comfortable design. The company’s latest follow-up, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45, enjoy even longer battery life, multipoint, and updated Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. With a history of delivering pleasing and affordable headphones, it is little wonder fans are excited about the Anker Soundcore Life Q50.

Sadly, Anker has not made an official announcement regarding its next-gen headphones. While we wait for concrete details, here are all the features I hope to see if and when the Anker Soundcore Life Q50 materialize.

Better sound quality

We all have different tastes regarding what constitutes pleasing sound quality. That said, the vast majority of listeners enjoy a V-shaped frequency curve. This over-emphasizes bass and treble frequencies and underemphasizes the mids, producing an auditory profile with more oomph and brightness. Some headphones, like the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, accentuate sub-bass sounds so much that vocals and other fundamental frequencies sound comparatively subdued.

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 owns a steep V-shaped frequency curve. In particular, the headphones accentuate sub-bass frequencies around 25Hz by over 10dB, while high-end content undulates above 5kHz. Counterwise, bass and midrange frequencies between 140-625Hz are underemphasized by over 7dB. This frequency curve makes high-frequency elements sound hissy and unnatural, while the mid-range scoop makes instruments like synths lack punch. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 will appease more listeners if they own a flatter frequency response.

An improved app

Headphone companion apps are vital for unlocking the most advanced features on the market. These include spatial audio, Find My, and important firmware updates. Some apps, like Sony Sound Connect, have a five-band custom equalizer, nine EQ presets, and handy noise canceling tools. Others, like the AKG Headphones app, often receive complaints for a clunky user experience, connectivity issues, and limited high-end features.

Connecting Anker’s current Space Q45 to the Soundcore app awards useful features, including Bluetooth codec selection, EQ presets, and wind noise reduction. The app allows you to change the headphone’s operation, create custom EQ profiles, and enable prompt tones. However, using the Soundcore app with the Space Q45 feels like a cheaper experience than its rivals. Consequently, many may decide it is not essential to use the app. At launch, the Anker Soundcore Life Q50 should provide a less finicky companion app.

An IP rating

Knowing that your precious and expensive purchases are protected from the elements is comforting. Thankfully, headphone manufacturers now virtually always design their audio products with an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. This protects against water and dust and allows you to wear your product at the gym and in harsh climates. Some headphones, like the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100 ($69 at Amazon,) have an IPX5 water-resistant rating that guards against water jets.

However, unlike most wireless earbuds, few over-ear headphones adorn an IP rating. The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 fall into this category and wear an all-plastic exterior susceptible to moisture and dust. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 could learn lessons from the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100 and implement an adjustable headband mechanism to tighten the fit when needed. This could protect the drivers from sweat and increase the level of isolation. At the very least, the Anker Soundcore Life Q50 would benefit from a robust IP-rated exterior.

A revamped design

Headphones come in all different shapes, materials, and sizes. More premium models usually opt for metal elements in place of plastic. This provides headphones with a sturdier exterior that is less likely to break when used and stored. Unfortunately, metal frames are heavier than their plastic counterparts. For example, the Shure AONIC 50 feature a metal headband and aluminum yokes and weigh 334g. Counterwise, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 comprise a mostly plastic build and weigh 281g. The former are also considerably more expensive than the latter.

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 feature reasonably adjustable ear cups that can swivel flat and fold up for easy storage. However, the pleather padding is less breathable than fabric rivals like the Apple AirPods Max. The primarily plastic exterior is also a scratch magnet that shows visibly against the black colorway. There have been reports of build quality issues with Anker devices that could pose a problem if your warranty expires. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 should adopt a revamped design and breathable ear cups.

LE Audio, Auracast, and Bluetooth 5.4

Recent advances in Bluetooth technology have brought a string of handy features. For example, devices running Bluetooth versions 5.2 or later support the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) protocol and LC3 codec. This provides high-quality, low-power audio streaming that is better than the standard SBC codec. Recent Bluetooth devices can also use Auracast broadcasting, allowing devices to stream audio to many other devices without directly pairing.

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 connects via Bluetooth 5.3 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs — the last profits up to 990kbps, 24-bit/96kHz audio sampling. Bluetooth 5.3 also improves power consumption and introduces channel classification to avoid interference in congested environments. However, the headphones do not support Bluetooth LE, Auracast, or the LC3 codec. The Anker Soundcore Life Q50 should run Bluetooth 5.4 to reduce latency, improve transfer speeds, and consume less power than their predecessor.

Will there be an Anker Soundcore Life Q50?

It is clear Anker remains invested in its over-ear headphones category. For example, the company released the latest Soundcore Space One Pro in the fall of 2024. These cans bring decent ANC, a compact design, and a comfortable fit. Unfortunately, their skull-rattling bass response, lack of USB audio, and useless EQ presets do little to justify the price. Counterwise, Anker’s Soundcore Life Q-series headphones deliver high-end features at an affordable price. While fans have had to wait longer than expected, I hope the Anker Soundcore Life Q50 hit shelves soon. That said, Anker has yet to release any details regarding its next-gen headphones, and rumors are sparse at the time of writing.

• Anker Soundcore Life Q30 — September 2020
• Anker Soundcore Life Q35 — February 21, 2021
• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 — August 25, 2022

As you can see from the list above, Anker tends to refresh its Soundcore Life Q-series headphones approximately every year. For example, the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 came to market just five months after the Soundcore Life Q30 launched. The latest Soundcore Space Q45 followed one year and six months later on August 25, 2022. Taking the average time between each release, we should have seen the Anker Soundcore Life Q50 materialize in the summer of 2023. Given it has been two years and six months since the company’s last Life Q headphones, fans will be chomping at the bit for an official announcement.

Should you wait for the Anker Soundcore Life Q50?

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 are excellent and affordable noise canceling wireless headphones. Interested parties can purchase a pair from major retailers including Amazon and Best Buy. However, given the Soundcore Life Q50 should have already materialized, it is a gamble whether to wait for the company’s next-gen upgrade.

Price-savvy shoppers wanting decent noise canceling and a comfortable fit should grab the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($149 at Amazon.) These headphones use intuitive controls and a rocker on the right ear cup for music playback, song skipping, and adjusting volume. Battery life is impressive, yielding over 55 hours with ANC on and roughly 65 hours with it switched off. Fast charging is also supported, with a five-minute top-up profiting four hours of playback time. Sound isolation and noise canceling are decent, and the cans profit a sound passthrough mode for conversing with store clerks or crossing the road. Frequent Zoom callers will enjoy the Space Q45 thanks to their dual microphone array and noise rejection algorithms. Those running multiple devices can use Bluetooth multipoint, and the LDAC codec allows for high-res audio streaming. Unfortunately, the headphones are let down by their default frequency response and clunky app experience.

Those familiar with the Sony ecosystem should consider the Sony WH-CH720N ($799 at Amazon.) Weighing 89g less than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45, the WH-CH720N wear a comfortable all-plastic build with controls handily placed on the sides of the ear cups. Just note that the volume and pause/play buttons feel similar and require some getting used to. The headphones connect via Bluetooth 5.2 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. Those with multiple devices can use Bluetooth multipoint, and analog fans can enjoy lossless listening with the included cable and headphone jack. The cans last roughly 40 hours with ANC enabled and work passively over wires when the battery runs flat. Those in a bind can achieve one hour of playback time from a three-minute top-up. Noise canceling and sound quality is fine, but you’ll want to tinker with the Sony Headphones Connect app to EQ the exaggerated bass and treble frequencies.

Rather than shelling out for the newer Pro model, we recommend fans purchase the original Anker Soundcore Space One ($99.99 at Amazon.) These share many of the same features as the Pro version but cost significantly less. For example, the headphones deliver excellent passive isolation and noise canceling. The Soundcore app also allows you to select the strength of ANC and a host of handy features. These include firmware updates, control customization, wind noise reduction, and an eight-band custom EQ. The last is vital for taming the headphones’ over-accentuated bass and treble. The headphones connect with Bluetooth 5.3 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, and you can switch between two devices with Bluetooth multipoint. Battery life yields over 42 hours of ANC-enabled listening time, and fast-charging the cans delivers four hours of playback from a five-minute boost.

Noise canceling enthusiasts should grab the Monoprice BT-600ANC ($84.99 at Amazon.) These headphones rival the best noise canceling headphones that cost significantly more, attenuating most ambient noises by 20-30dB. Decent clamping force also creates a tight seal, providing good isolation that effectively quells higher frequencies. Battery life lasts over 36 hours, although there is no quick charge for topping up on the fly. However, you can connect the headphones with wires and listen the old-fashioned way when the battery runs flat. The headphones run Bluetooth 5.0 and support the SBC, AAC, and aptX HD codecs, with the last profiting 576kbps, 48kHz/24-bit LPCM audio sampling. Unfortunately, the Monoprice BT-600ANC show their price regarding sound quality. Here, the headphones have an uneven frequency response with undulating highs and over-emphasized bass. There is also no companion app, meaning you can only correct the sound profile with a third-party EQ.

Anker Soundcore Life Q50 FAQs