TRENDING ON AMAZON
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review: Is It Worth It?
The $130 wireless headphones that get you 80% of Sony XM5 noise cancelling and battery life — the smart-money noise-cancelling pick.
Illustrative image — see Amazon for the actual product.
Our verdict
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is the smart-money ANC pick — 80% of Sony XM5 performance at 33% of the price, plus longer battery life. If you don't need best-in-class ANC and $400 is more than you want to spend, this is the right headphone. For remote workers and travelers, hard to beat.
The short version
Anker's Soundcore Space Q45 is the specific noise-cancelling headphone people buy when they can't spend $400 on Sony XM5 or Bose QuietComfort but still want serious ANC. It uses a hybrid active noise cancellation system with two exterior microphones and two interior microphones for real-time noise adaptation, LDAC hi-res audio support over Bluetooth, and a 50-hour battery life with ANC on (65 hours with ANC off). The build isn't premium — plastic-heavy vs the metal-and-fabric feel of a Sony XM5 — but the sound signature is genuinely good, and the ANC is close enough to premium headphones that most listeners can't tell the difference on a plane or in a coffee shop. For anyone whose upper limit is $200, this is the pick.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Strong hybrid ANC — close to premium alternatives
- 50-hour battery life with ANC on
- LDAC hi-res audio support
- Multipoint Bluetooth (connect to laptop + phone)
- Under $150 street price
- Foldable design for travel
Cons
- Plastic-heavy build vs Sony/Bose
- Mic quality is average for calls
- No head-detection auto-pause
Why people love it
Adaptive hybrid ANC
Four microphones (two exterior, two interior) constantly sample ambient noise and compensate with inverse audio signals — the same fundamental approach as Sony's XM5 at a fraction of the price.
LDAC hi-res over Bluetooth
Supports LDAC codec (up to 990 kbps) for near-lossless audio quality — significantly better than the SBC codec most Bluetooth headphones default to.
50-hour battery life
A 990 mAh battery delivers 50 hours with ANC on (65 with ANC off) — around 2-3× the runtime of Sony XM5 and 3-4× Bose QuietComfort.
Who it's for
- Remote workers and students on a budget
- Frequent travelers who need ANC
- Music listeners under $200
- Anyone tired of tangled wired earbuds
Is Anker Soundcore genuinely competitive with Sony and Bose, or just cheap?
Anker built Soundcore into a legitimate audio brand over the last decade, and by 2024-2026, they're producing headphones that legitimately compete with premium brands in the sub-$200 bracket. The Space Q45 specifically is the model that closed the gap most dramatically — hybrid ANC that measurably approaches Sony XM5 performance, LDAC codec support that only high-end brands offered until recently, 50-hour battery life that beats every $400 competitor, and a sound signature that professional reviewers consistently rate at 4-4.5 stars out of 5. This is a headphone that would have been considered flagship-tier just 3-4 years ago.
What Anker still can't match: brand cachet (Sony and Bose have decades of premium reputation), edge-case ANC performance (in the most demanding environments Sony still wins by 10-20%), Sony's specific LDAC + DSEE-Extreme audio processing chain, and premium build materials. If you're evaluating headphones purely on 'does it sound and cancel noise well,' the gap is much smaller than the price gap suggests. If build quality and brand matter to you, or you need best-in-class ANC for professional use, Sony XM5 or Bose Ultra are worth the premium. For most people whose upper limit is a couple of hundred dollars, the Q45 is the smart choice.
How to pick the right wireless headphones for your specific use case
The wireless headphone market is now dominated by four categories, each optimized for different use. Premium ANC over-ears (Sony XM5, Bose QC Ultra, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Apple AirPods Max) at $400-$550 — best noise-cancelling, premium build, ideal for frequent flyers and audio enthusiasts who justify the price. Mid-tier ANC over-ears (Anker Soundcore Q45, Sennheiser Accentum, Sony WH-CH720N) at $130-$250 — very good ANC and sound at half the price. Premium ANC earbuds (Sony WF-1000XM5, AirPods Pro 2, Bose QC Ultra Buds) at $250-$350 — portable, great for calls, similar ANC performance to over-ears in a smaller form. Budget wireless (JLab, Anker Life series, Skullcandy) at $30-$80 — basic wireless, minimal or no ANC, fine for casual use.
Pick premium ANC over-ears (Sony XM5, Bose Ultra) if you fly frequently, work in open-plan offices, and want the best-possible experience. Pick mid-tier (Anker Q45) if you want ANC and hi-res audio without $400 spend. Pick premium ANC earbuds if portability matters more than sound quality. Pick budget wireless if you just want music while working out or walking the dog. There's no single 'best' — matching to use is what determines satisfaction.
How to actually use ANC headphones for maximum benefit (and health precautions)
The best use of ANC headphones is not blasting music louder — it's playing music quieter. Regular headphones require you to raise volume to overcome background noise; ANC removes the background noise, so you can hear music clearly at lower volumes. This protects hearing significantly over decades. Set music to around 40-50% max volume when using ANC; if you can hear a normal conversation at that volume, you're at a safe level. Over 60% for extended periods causes hearing damage regardless of headphone type.
Take breaks. ANC headphones on for 8+ hours creates ear fatigue — the constant slight air-pressure sensation from the ANC-processing and the physical clamping force cause tension. Every 60-90 minutes, remove them for 5-10 minutes. This is also better for productivity — background awareness helps with certain kinds of thinking, and isolation for others. Use ANC strategically. Also: keep them clean. Wipe ear pads with a slightly damp cloth weekly, and replace the pads every 2-3 years — the memory foam degrades and comfort suffers. Anker sells Q45 replacement pads for $15-20.
See Soundcore Space Q45 on Amazon
Check the latest price, photos and buyer reviews on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Sold and shipped by AmazonFrequently asked questions
Soundcore Q45 vs Sony XM5 vs Bose QC Ultra: what am I actually giving up?
For $200 less, you're giving up premium build materials (metal vs plastic), slightly better ANC at the extreme end (Sony XM5 still wins the noise-cancelling arms race), Sony's LDAC-plus-DSEE-Extreme audio processing (small quality edge), Bose's specific 'quiet' character (Bose ANC has a slightly warmer, less-processed feel), and better microphone quality for calls. Everything else — battery life, connectivity, comfort, sound signature quality — is very close. Sony's noise-cancelling is 10-20% better than the Q45 in the most challenging environments (plane engines, subways); in a coffee shop or open-plan office, most people can't tell them apart. If you can't hear the difference in a store demo, save the $200.
Is ANC really necessary, or can I get away with cheaper regular headphones?
Depends heavily on your environment. In a quiet home office, ANC is unnecessary — a good pair of $50 regular headphones sounds just as good. In an open-plan office with people talking around you, ANC dramatically improves focus. On a plane, ANC is transformative — you can hear music at 40% the volume you'd need without ANC, which protects hearing during long flights. In a subway or bus, ANC is welcome but not essential. Rule of thumb: if you commute by public transit, fly more than 4 times/year, or work in a noisy office, ANC is worth the premium. Otherwise, cheaper open-back or on-ear headphones may be better value.
How does it compare to the older Soundcore Life Q30 or Q35?
The Space Q45 is meaningfully better than the older Q30 or Q35 in three specific ways: (1) noticeably improved ANC (hybrid 4-mic system vs older 2-mic), (2) LDAC codec support (older models were SBC/AAC only), (3) longer battery life. The build and comfort are similar. If you're choosing between them at similar prices (Q30 is now often discounted below $70), Q30 is fine for a budget everyday pair. If you specifically want the best ANC-per-dollar in Anker's lineup, Q45 is the clear upgrade.
Multipoint Bluetooth — how well does it work?
Well enough to be useful, imperfectly enough to notice occasionally. Multipoint lets the Q45 connect to your laptop and phone simultaneously — you can play music from your laptop, and when a call comes in on your phone, the headphones automatically switch. This works reliably in 90% of use, with occasional switching hiccups (music resuming late, phone call audio going to the wrong source). Sony XM5 and Bose Ultra handle this slightly more smoothly. Still, for the price, Anker's implementation is genuinely useful and rare in this bracket.
Are they comfortable for 8-hour work days?
Mostly yes, with some caveats. The Q45 uses plush memory foam ear pads and a padded headband with good clamping force distribution. Most people find them comfortable for 3-4 hours of continuous wear and okay for 8-hour work days with occasional breaks. If you wear glasses, the frame + headphone pressure on the temples can become uncomfortable after several hours (Sony XM5 has slightly softer pads that are gentler on glasses wearers). Ear pads are replaceable — after 2-3 years the memory foam degrades and can be swapped for around $20.
Is the microphone good for calls?
Average. The Q45's call microphones use noise-cancellation processing to filter out background noise, and they're perfectly usable for Zoom and phone calls. Voice quality is clear but lacks the fullness of a dedicated USB microphone or the newer generations of AirPods Pro. In a quiet room, it's fine. In a noisy environment, the mic will clip and process your voice slightly. For serious video calls or podcasting, use a dedicated mic; for daily work calls, the Q45 is adequate.
As an Amazon Associate, TopCrate earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The image above is illustrative; price, availability and current ratings are shown on Amazon and are subject to change.
