If you are looking for a great pair of wireless headphones, you have a lot of different options to choose from. Two of the most popular options are the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 and the Sony WH-1000XM4. Both these ANC headphones have long battery life, hi-res audio quality, and many features. There are also some key differences between these two devices. In this article, we will compare the two over-ear headphones and help you decide which one is better for you. You can find a quick high-level summary below followed by a more detailed breakdown. You can also check out our guide to the best available ANC headphones here.
- Battery Life: 30 Hours w/ ANC
- ANC: Industry leading performance
- Sound: Dynamic and Detailed
- Cost: $$$$
- Battery Life: 40 Hours w/ ANC
- ANC: Above Average
- Sound: Bass-Heavy and Lively
- Cost: $$
Table of Contents
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Anker Soundcore Life Q35: Key Factors
Battery Life and Charging
When it comes to all our devices, we can’t get enough battery life. Active noise cancelling is a desirable feature for headphones, though it can shorten battery life. Can both these headphones deliver enough battery life to get you through the day? With the Sony WH-1000XM4, you’ll get an impressively long battery life of 30 hours with ANC enabled. Despite those more than respectable figures, the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 still tops Sony with 40 hours of battery life with noise cancellation enabled. Each of these ANC headphones delivers more than enough for long commuters who want to avoid battery anxiety.
On the quick charging front, The Q35 wireless headphones also deliver. A 5-minute charge provides 4 hours of battery life. A 10-minute charge of the Sony WH-1000XM4 allows for 5 hours. While it may seem like splitting hairs, I would give the edge to the Q35s. Both headphones have good quick charge capability that should provide some peace of mind when you’re in a pinch. Both headphones are charged with a USB type C cable. A wired connection is also available on both to extend battery life.
Verdict: Anker Soundcore Life Q35
Connectivity and Features
Both Sony’s WH-1000XM4 and the Soundcore Q35 have Bluetooth 5.0. This helps each provide a stable connection with good Bluetooth range free of audio lag. Both Bluetooth devices also have NFC pairing and 3.5mm headphone jacks with included headphone cables. As far as codec support, both devices support SBC and AAC. Support of the LDAC codec for hi-res audio quality is also available on both the WH-1000XM4 and Q35. We should note that Android supports the LDAC codec, it’s not a connectivity option for iPhones. Bluetooth multipoint technology is available on both headphones allowing simultaneous connections to multiple devices. All this makes these Bluetooth devices an excellent option for productivity and working from home.
App support is another feature available for both of these noise-cancelling headphones. It just so happens that Sony and Anker have the best companion apps on the consumer audio market. The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 utilizes the Soundcore app, while the WH-1000XM4 uses the Sony Headphones Connect app. The two devices can each use their respective apps to set up the headphones, configure ANC options, adjust EQ, and much more. Both apps greatly increase the capability of these two models of wireless headphones. While I love both apps, I must say the Soundcore app has recently been more active in adding new features like its Sleep Mode.
There are so many features these two devices pack in to add to the listening experience. Wear detection on both devices uses sensors to auto-play and pause audio when you put on or remove your headphones. While I’m not a huge fan of this feature, it’s definitely more stable on the XM4 in my experience. The Soundcore Q35 does match Sony’s speak-to-talk function for temporary transparency mode. As you spend more time with both headphones though, you’ll notice the WH-1000XM4 packs a few more features. Some of Sony’s features like Smart Listening may not add obvious improvements to sound quality. There are other features like Adaptive Sound Control and DSEE Extreme that may add extra value for commuters and audiophiles, respectively.
Verdict: Sony WH-1000XM4
Design and Controls
The look and form factor of each pair of these headphones are pretty different. While some preference will always be involved, it’s tough to ignore the price difference here. The premium price tag of the Sony XM4 headphones shows in its design and build quality. It shows in the sturdiness and solid feel of the high-quality plastic. Material aside, the overall design of the WH-1000XM4 looks more sleek and modern than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35. While the Q35 headphones are plastic, they don’t feel cheap. They feel solid and have a decent-looking design even if it seems a little plain. When playing with the hinges of both headphones, you can also feel the superior build quality of the Sony XM4.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 has touch controls that live on the right ear cup. For volume control, you simply swipe up and down on the earcup. Swiping back goes to the previous track while swiping forward goes to the next track. A quick double tap in the center of the earcup will pause and play audio. Holding the center of the same ear cup will activate your voice assistant. You’re probably familiar with these touch control schemes if you’ve used any Sony over-the-head headphones in recent years. While it’s not initially the most intuitive, it’s better after the short learning curve. On the left ear cup, you’ll find a power button that can put the XM4 in pairing mode when held. The other button on the left ear cup will switch the XM4 between active noise cancellation and transparency mode.
On the right ear cup, of the Soundcore Q35 headphone, there are three physical buttons. Two of these buttons increase and decrease volume. The third button for playing and pausing audio. Holding it for one second will activate your preferred voice assistant. Holding the decrease volume button for 1 second goes to the previous track. Simply hold the volume increase button for one second to skip to the next track. The NC button on the left earcup enables active noise cancellation mode.
The two models of ANC headphones both temporarily enable transparency mode when you hold your hand over the right earcup. This is essentially the opposite of noise cancelling. Rather than suppressing unwanted noise, transparency mode lets in ambient noises. This is ideal for scenarios when users want a little more situational awareness. Neither of these headphones offers any water resistance. While both are comfortable, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are better for long period thanks to its soft padding. Both can be folded for max portability and come with a carrying case.
Verdict: Sony WH-1000XM4
Sound Quality
The Sony WH-1000XM4 actually shares some similarities with the Soundcore Q35 headphones despite the higher price of the XM4. They both share a default EQ and frequency response with slightly overemphasized bass. Sony and Soundcore aren’t alone in the industry when it comes to reproducing completely neutral or accurate sound quality. If more users preferred a more neutral sound, this wouldn’t be the case. Many consumers like the bassy sound profile of these wireless headphones, which is why it’s not much of an issue. Some, like myself, like to listen to different EQ settings based on content and mood. Luckily, both Bluetooth headphones have pretty extensive EQ options within their apps. That includes customizable graphic equalizers and available EQ presets. On the Sony WH-1000XM4, you can their Clear Bass setting to specifically adjust low frequencies.
EQ aside, the WH-1000XM4 outdo Anker’s Q35 headphones with detail, clarity, and overall imaging. In listening to the WH-1000XM4, instrument separation and crispness of high frequencies stood out. The treble on the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 didn’t always sound quite as lively during music playback. There was a tendency for higher frequencies to seem like they were taking a backseat with the Q35s. Mids and vocals are done well by both the Q35 and XM4 ANC headphones. If you like vocal-centric music or content, it will be helpful to play with the EQ presets as the bass may muddy the midrange too much for some.
While the bass on the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 seems quicker to feel bloated, both of these headphones have overemphasized bass. We’ve detailed how the best bass-heavy headphones can be done well. Both these wireless headphones execute this well. The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 headphones just sound lightly less clean since the bass is felt more across the frequency range. The result is an overall warmer-sounding EQ by default. On the other hand, the Sony WH-XM1000XM4 headphones are a little more effective at allowing the treble and mids to shine. I’ve not convinced the superior sound quality of the XM4 is large enough to justify the higher price for most users. Considering the Soundcore app EQ customization and hi-res audio support (LDAC), the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 still provides a ton of advantages for music listening.
Both headphones have a microphone to allow for phone calls and noise cancelling. While both will be sufficient for voice calls and zoom meetings, the Sony XM-1000XM4 can surprisingly struggle with call quality when there is background noise. Despite the price difference, output from the Anker Soundcore Q35 microphones comes through with better overall clarity. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to overcome the XM4’s superior sound quality.
Verdict: Sony WH-1000XM4
Anker Soundcore Life Q35 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: Which Has Better Noise Cancelling?
Active noise cancellation is an ideal feature for commuters and productivity tasks. The noise isolation is great for mitigating background noise while in an office, airport, or train station. Both the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 and Sony WH-1000XM4 also have transparency modes that allow users to ambient noises. This is a convenient option for those moments when situational awareness is required. It’s important to remember blocking out background noise can be a safety concern in some circumstances. How do both headphones actually perform for active noise cancellation duties? Pretty well.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 has two microphones and multiple modes for active noise cancellation. Options include separate modes for Outdoor, Indoor, and Transport which are optimized for different scenarios. Like most quality ANC headphones, they perform the best for lower-frequency sounds like a humming AC. With the dryer running 8 feet from my desk, the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 completely blocked out the sound during music playback at low to moderate volumes. They’ll also hold up decently well for office background noise like paper shuffling and voices. While you shouldn’t expect miracles, the Soundcore Q35 is undoubtedly one of the best budget ANC headphones out there. Its noise isolation capabilities outdo competitors in the same price range.
Despite the impressiveness of the ANC on the Anker Soundcore Life 35, it can’t top the WH-1000XM4. Five microphones are built into the XM4 headphones along with hardware and software Sony continues to master. The Sony WH-1000XM4s are simply top-tier when it comes to the best active noise cancelling headphones. An underrated aspect of wireless headphones with noise cancellation is uninterrupted music listening at low to moderate volumes. I found the Sony WH-1000XM4 was able to block out background noise effectively even during audio playback at low levels. With a typical pair of noise cancelling headphones, I might have to opt for music at a moderate volume over a podcast to aid efforts to mitigate unwanted noise. In my experience, the WH-1000X4 made it less likely for me to do this constant adjustment based on the level of ambient noises.
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 mitigates noises across the entire frequency range better than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35. The Sony WH-1000XM4s will provide superior noise isolation whether it’s office chatter, the droning of train engines, or your air conditioner. Whether that’s enough to justify the higher price will vary from user to user. Frequent travelers and those with brutal commutes or loud offices may want to spring for the premium active noise cancellation of the WH-1000XM4. Budget shoppers will still get more than capable ANC performance with value for commuters and productivity.
Verdict: Sony WH-1000XM4
In Conclusion: Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Anker Soundcore Life Q35
So, are the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 wireless headphones your money? The answer is a resounding yes! They offer great value, tons of features, good noise cancelling capabilities, and top-notch app support. There are a lot of advantages these Bluetooth headphones share. Either will provide long battery life, EQ customization, hi-res audio (LDAC), and great connectivity (Bluetooth, wired, NFC pairing). That said, if you’re looking for best-in-class noise isolation, better sound quality, a more polished design, and an overall more premium experience, then the Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best headphones to buy.
If you want a similarly priced alternative to the Sony WH-1000XM4, the Bose QC45 fared well in our headphone comparison. The WH-1000XM5, which is a sequel to the XM4 is another obvious alternative. For those looking for another budget ANC option, Sony’s XB910N also deserves consideration. Thanks for reading our comparison of these two excellent noise cancelling headphones!
FAQs: Choosing The Best Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
Who Are ANC Headphones For?
Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling are targeted at travelers, commuters, and general productivity. If you find yourself hearing a lot of background noise at normal listening levels, headphones with active noise cancellation are worth a shot.
Do The Soundcore Life Q35 Have Good Noise Cancellation?
Yes. While they aren’t better than Sony’s WH-1000XM4, they offer good noise isolation capabilities that are fairly effective to combat common background noise like air conditioning, rumbling trains, and office chatter.
Is The Bassy Sound of These Headphones Bad?
Not at all. As a matter of fact, it’s generally a sound profile many consumers enjoy. Those with a more critical ear might prefer a more natural sound. Thankfully, that’s possible with EQ customization through both apps.
Keith Collins has been writing for over 15 years for various publications. He’s a lover of music, home theater, and excellent sound quality. His fondness for technology in addition to his non-stop curiosity fuels his writing ventures.