Anker came into being back in 2011. The company started its operation by selling smartphone charging accessories. Later on, it added smart home appliances as well as security devices under its sub-brand Eufy.
Under its umbrella, there is another sub-brand called Nebula, which is for portable video projectors. Anker’s Soundcore sub-brand is for Bluetooth speakers and headphones.
Since the time of its inception, the company has grown its business in various continents across the globe. It has become one of the prestigious names in the electronics industry.
Anker Bluetooth headphones have created a buzz in the market with its top 3 models Q10, Q20, and Vortex. But users often find it difficult to choose between them.
For your convenience, I’m going to review three of the top Anker Bluetooth headphones and see which one comes out on top.
So let’s begin with a brief comparison chart if you are in a hurry!
Table of Contents
Comparison Chart
| Features | Anker Soundcore Q10 | Anker Soundcore Q20 | Anker Soundcore Vortex |
| Playtime | 60 hrs | 60 hrs (40 hrs with ANC off) | 20 hrs |
| Dynamic Drivers | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Fast charging | Yes (5 min for 5 hrs) | Yes (5 min for 4 hrs) | No |
| Bluetooth | v5.0 | v5.0 | v4.1 |
| Microphone | Inbuilt | Inbuilt | None |
| Weight | 0.57 ounce | 0.58 ounce | 0.67 ounce |
Anker Bluetooth Headphones: Which one is better?
So, I’m going to begin this comparison between three of the top Anker Bluetooth headphones. But before getting on the way, I would like to mention that the only major difference that will have a significant impact on the overall performance of each of these pieces is the playback time.
All these headphones vary from each other in this department, with a few other differences in designs and under-the-hood features. All three of these products serve different users. So for those of you who can’t find much difference between these three, this post is right for you.
For most users, the three most important features that they consider when buying Bluetooth headphones are sound quality, connectivity, and battery life. I’m going to focus on these three factors in this matchup between these three Anker Bluetooth headphones.
Sound quality
· Anker Soundcore Q10
The Q10 headphones come with high-resolution sound, and the logo mentioned in this piece is the clear evidence of that. If you connect it with good quality devices, you will get the sound that you want to listen. This pair of headphones will allow you to experience top-notch 40 kHz of rich listening experience.
With the special BassUp technology from Anker, the headphones can assess the low frequencies. They will automatically increase the bass for them. There are 40mm dynamic drivers in these headphones.
Q10 work pretty well with this feature that you can turn on by just a press of the button. The headphones also come with a dual EQ mode for preset audio profiles.
· Anker Soundcore Q20
The Q20 headphones, on the other hand, also come with hi-res sound. Apart from that, these headphones also come with active noise cancellation (ANC). With this feature, the headphones can reduce background noise by up to 90%.
ANC is not there in the Q10 model, but it significantly impacts the battery life of Q20 as well. The Q20 headphones will provide you with a high-quality listening experience (40 kHz).
Additionally, the Q20 headphones also come with BassUp technology. So you won’t have to experience low-frequency sound with low bass. These headphones also feature 40mm dynamic drivers like the Q10.
And there is a button to turn on this feature, just like in the case of Q10. Again just like the Q10 model, the Q20 also features dual EQ mode.
· Anker Soundcore Vortex
These headphones are designed for the users to use at home or in the office rather than anywhere else. Q10 and Q20 headphones are more focused on providing you with long hours of playtime because you can use them for traveling too.
These headphones are not too great for music as well. There are no active noise cancellation features like Q20 has. There is a hi-res sound feature available here, like both the Q20 and Q10 have. But there is no BassUp feature here or an inbuilt mic.
· Winner
The winner, when it comes to the overall sound quality, is the Anker Soundcore Q20 because it has all the features of Q20 and also comes with active noise cancellation. The Q10 model doesn’t feature ANC, nor does the Vortex. So, in terms of sound quality, Q20 is the winner.
Battery life
· Anker Soundcore Q10
The battery life of these headphones is quite impressive. You can get 60 hours of playtime from a full charge that doesn’t take much time. With the fast charging feature, you can only charge it for five minutes and get five hours of music. You can conveniently charge it with a USB port Type-C.
· Anker Soundcore Q20
Q20’s battery life is pretty decent. You will get 40 hours of playtime from a full charge that doesn’t take much time. If you want to get more playtime (60 hours), then you will have to turn off active noise canceling features to prevent battery drain.
It also comes with fast charging, and you can have four hours of playtime with five minutes of charging. Charging can be done through a USB-C.
· Anker Soundcore Vortex
The Vortex is not that great when we talk about battery life because the playtime that it offers is only 20 hours. Apart from that, there is no fast charging available here, which might not be that big of an issue because you are not going to use it on the go in the first place.
It does, however, fully charge in less than two and a half hours, which is quicker than both Q20 and Q10 charging times.
· Winner
I’m afraid there is going to be a tie between Q20 and Q10 here. Q20 can provide you with a playtime of 60 hours, which is the playtime of Q10 but to achieve that, you will have to turn off ANC.
So Q20 gets into a lead here, but for fast charging, Q10 is better as you can get a playtime of 5 hours in just five minutes as opposed to Q20’s 4 hours of playtime in five minutes. On the other hand, Vortex, with only 20 hours of playtime, doesn’t even come close to these two.
Connectivity
· Anker Soundcore Q10
The Q10 headphones come with Bluetooth 5.0 technology. It provides you with exceptional connection stability. The wireless range of these headphones is up to 50 feet. And the good thing is that even in crowded places you won’t have to deal with skippy audio.
In the aux mode, you can get infinite playtime through the 3.5mm port. Apart from that, these headphones also feature a hands-free microphone.
· Anker Soundcore Q20
The Q20 headphones also feature Bluetooth 5.0 technology. And the connection is going to be very stable and quick. Just like the Q10 headphones, this headset also has a range of up to 50 feet.
There will be no skippy audio experience that you will have to deal with. With auxiliary mode, the playtime goes up to infinite with the help of the 3.5mm jack. There is an inbuilt mic in these headphones too.
· Anker Soundcore Vortex
The Vortex doesn’t come with an inbuilt mic like its other two counterparts. But it does support Bluetooth 4.1. You can charge the headphones using a type C USB port and can use the Aux cable for non-stop music.
· Winner
There is a tie between Q20 and Q10 here because they both feature Aux mode and are equipped with Bluetooth 5.0. And they both have inbuilt mics too. Vortex doesn’t come with an inbuilt mic.
You can read more about headphones: 6 Best Wireless Over The Ear Noise Reducing Headphones
Design
· Anker Soundcore Q10
The Q10 has a very comfortable design that you can easily fold for portability. It means that you can conveniently store and transport your Q10 with ease.
The reinforced hinges that the frame of these headphones has ensured full reliability and durability. The ear cups are made of memory foam that makes wearing for long hours very comfortable for the user.
· Anker Soundcore Q20
The Q20 also has an ergonomic wearing construction. You can comfortably use it for easy transportation or storage as well. These headphones also feature reinforced hinges to ensure reliability for a long time.
Anker has used high-quality memory foam, and you can wear these headphones for as long as you want.
· Anker Soundcore Vortex
These headphones also have memory foam ear cups, and the headband is covered with synthetic leather for high breathability. You can wear these headphones for long hours if you want.
· Winner
There is an overall tie here because all these headphones have exceptional designs that you can wear for a long period without any discomfort. These designs are durable, and they fold comfortably as well. Therefore, in terms of design and construction, all three of these headphones are quite superb.
Merits & Demerits (Pros & Cons)
Anker Soundcore Q10
Anker Soundcore Q20
Anker Soundcore Vortex
| Pros | Cons |
| High-resolution sound.
Memory foam ear cups. 20 hours of playtime. Bluetooth 4.1 technology. Unlimited playtime with Aux mode. |
Pretty heavy headphones as compared to Q10 and Q20.
No fast charging or inbuilt. No BassUp feature and ANC. |
Conclusion
So here is my verdict, if you are looking to get the best bang of your buck, then the best Anker Bluetooth headphones are the Q10. However, if active noise cancellation is something that you need as well, along with all other features, then you need to choose the Q20 headphones.
The Q10 tops the chart with excellent battery life and fast charging capabilities. Q20 tops get into lead with its exclusive active noise cancellation feature. Vortex falls behind in all departments, but there is a reason for that. Vortex is not meant for traveling. It is designed for users to use at home and connect with their TVs or phones.
Both Q10 and Q20 are designed for traveling. And they both do a pretty fine job in that department. In terms of design, all three of these headphones are top-notch. They are extremely durable and highly reliable when it comes to comfort.
So which one of these three do you think is the winner for you? Let me know by leaving your comments below!
I have over 15 years of knowledge in the technology field. Studied IT systems administration and now installing security cameras and smart home devices into user’s homes and offices.