Anker Soundcore Space Q45 vs Soundcore C40i by Anker
Quick take: The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 has active noise cancelling while the Soundcore C40i by Anker doesn't; the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 lasts longer per charge (50 hrs).
Which one to buy
Same brand, same $100, opposite goals. The Space Q45 is built to shut the world out, and the C40i is built to let it in. If you're unsure whether you want isolation or awareness, start there.
The Q45 is an over-ear travel headphone with adaptive ANC that owners compare to sets costing twice as much against airplane drone. It also gets 50 hours with ANC on, adds LDAC, multipoint and a 3.5mm jack, and weighs 292g. Its quirks are specific: hiss at the highest ANC levels, bass that can flutter when you move your head or hit bumps, a clamp that's tight at first, and thin mids until you EQ.
The C40i is a pair of roughly 6g clip-on buds that sit on the edge of your ear, with nothing in the canal and nothing on the temple, so glasses and canal-sensitive ears are both fine. It gets 7 hours per charge and 21 total, IPX4, and physical buttons. Out of the box owners call the sound flat, and the app EQ is mandatory; bass has a ceiling no EQ fixes. Some smaller-eared owners get soreness on the ear edge after an hour.
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
If you fly, commute on loud transit or work in a noisy office and want as much quiet and battery as $100 can buy.
Soundcore C40i by Anker
Best if you want to hear the room or the street, can't stand anything in your ear canals, or wear glasses all day.
| Spec | Anker Soundcore Space Q45 | Soundcore C40i by Anker |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$100 | ~$100 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Over-Ear Headphones | Open-Ear & Bone Conduction |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 50 hrs | 7 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | 21 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 5 min = 4 hrs | 10 min = 2 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 12 mm |
| Weight | 292 g | 6 g |
| Water Resistance | — | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
- ✓50 hours with ANC on beats most $300 flagships
- ✓Three-stage adaptive ANC embarrasses pricier headphones on plane drone
- ✓LDAC and Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint included
- ✓Sturdier build and stronger low-end ANC than Space One
- ✓Frequent 40%-off deals drop it near $90
- ✓5-minute charge buys 4 hours
- ✗Heavier than it looks at 292 grams
- ✗Tight clamp on larger heads for the first weeks
- ✗Boomy V-shaped mid-bass needs app EQ to sort out
- ✗ANC adds ear pressure and hiss in silence
- ✗Mics merely okay for calls
Soundcore C40i by Anker
- ✓Cheapest credible entry into the clip-on open-ear category
- ✓5.8g per bud — most wearers forget they're on
- ✓Physical button controls beat the flaky touch controls on pricier rivals
- ✓Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint
- ✓10-minute quick charge adds 2 hours
- ✓soundcore app EQ meaningfully improves the sound
- ✓Works fine with glasses
- ✗Out-of-box tuning is mediocre — plan on EQ tweaking
- ✗Buds run large; some smaller-eared owners report soreness after an hour
- ✗21-hour total battery trails the OpenDots One's 40
- ✗Codec support unpublished; no hi-res options
- ✗IPX4 only — sweat-safe, nothing more
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 vs Soundcore C40i by Anker: common questions
Can the C40i block noise on a plane like the Q45?▾
No. The C40i is open-ear by design, with no ANC and no seal, so cabin noise comes straight through. The Q45's adaptive ANC is the point of that headphone, and owners rate it highly against engine drone.
Is the clip-on C40i or the over-ear Space Q45 the better gym pair?▾
The C40i. At about 6g per bud with IPX4 and physical buttons, it stays put through walking and running for most owners and keeps you aware of the room. The 292g Q45 has no published IP rating and isn't built for sweat.