When it comes to affordable over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), two popular options are the QCY H3 ANC and the Anker Soundcore Life Q30.
In this article, we’ll compare these two headphones across several key factors to help you decide which one is the best choice for you.
QCY H3 ANC vs Anker Q30: Specs Comparison
| Specification | QCY H3 ANC | Anker Soundcore Life Q30 |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Comfort | Sleek design, comfortable fit | Premium and sturdy construction, comfortable |
| Driver Size | 40mm | 40mm |
| Sound Quality | Best in QCY lineup, good bass and volume | Great audio with punchy bass, clear mids and highs |
| App Support | QCY app for EQ adjustments | Soundcore app for EQ adjustments |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Effective ANC, on/off toggle | Effective ANC with three modes |
| Battery Life | Up to 60 hours of continuous playback | Up to 60 hours of continuous playback |
| Charging | USB-C, supports wired playback | USB-C, supports wired playback |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Extra Features | Low-latency gaming mode | N/A |
| Microphone Quality | Basic and simple | Better than QCY H3 |
QCY H3 ANC vs Anker Q30: Detailed review
Design and Comfort
Both the QCY H3 and Anker Q30 have an attractive over-ear design. The QCY H3 has a sleek look with a comfortable fit. The Anker Q30 feels slightly more premium and sturdy in its construction compared to the QCY H3. Both headphones use 40mm drivers.
In terms of comfort, both are pleasant to wear for extended periods. The earcups are soft and the headbands have ample padding. It comes down to personal preference, but both score well for design and comfort.
Sound Quality
The QCY H3 delivers the best sound quality of any QCY headphones to date. It has powerful bass, good volume, and an overall enjoyable sound profile. You can tweak the EQ settings to your preferences using the QCY app.
The Anker Q30 also provides great audio, with punchy bass and clear mids and highs. Like the H3, you can adjust the sound profile in the Soundcore app from Anker. Both headphones offer very good sound quality for the price.
Active Noise Cancellation
The QCY H3 and Anker Q30 both feature active noise cancellation to block out background sounds. The ANC works well on both, notably reducing low-frequency noises like engines or fans.
One advantage of the Q30 is that it offers three different ANC modes that you can cycle between based on your environment, while the H3 just has ANC on or off. However, the H3’s noise cancellation is still quite effective.
Battery Life
Battery life is excellent on both headphones. The QCY H3 and Anker Q30 are both rated for up to 60 hours of continuous music playback, depending on your volume levels. This is class-leading battery life that will get you through many days of usage before needing to recharge.
Speaking of charging, both have USB-C ports for convenient charging with modern cables. They also support wired playback with an included cable for times you can’t use Bluetooth.
Bluetooth Connectivity
The QCY H3 has a leg up in terms of Bluetooth, using the latest Bluetooth 5.3 compared to Bluetooth 5.0 on the Anker Q30. This means the H3 will have slightly better wireless range and stability.
Both headphones maintain solid connections to your phone or other devices and I didn’t experience any notable Bluetooth problems with either.
Extra Features
One unique feature of the QCY H3 is a low-latency gaming mode to minimize audio lag when gaming on your phone. This is missing from the Anker Q30.
On the flip side, a weakness of the H3 is the simplicity of its microphone for voice calls – the Q30 does better here.
Both headphones support using a digital assistant like Siri via a button press, which works as expected.
Price
At the time of this writing, the QCY H3 cost approximately $50 imported, while the Anker Q30 cost $80, both with taxes included.
The H3 is notably cheaper, though prices always fluctuate over time, so check the current rates. This price difference may sway you to the H3 if you’re on a tight budget.
Best Deals:
QCY H3 ANC: View on AliExpress
Anker Q30: View on AliExpress
QCY H3 ANC vs Anker Q30: Final Verdict
Overall, the QCY H3 ANC and Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are both excellent affordable headphones. They each have minor strengths and weaknesses, but both offer great sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and extraordinary battery life for the price.
The QCY H3 has a gaming mode and slightly better Bluetooth, while the Anker Q30 offers a sturdier design and a better microphone. The Q30 is a bit more expensive.
So, the QCY H3 seems to offer better overall value for the price. But the Anker Q30 is also a fantastic choice if you prefer its advantages and don’t mind paying a bit more.
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Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
