The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. Although they look and feel very similar to the previous generation, they now support LDAC codec, which is nice if you like to listen to high-resolution audio, and have an improved mic performance. However, their active noise cancelling (ANC) performance falls short of their predecessor and can perform more inconsistently depending on fit. On the upside, they retain a customizable sound profile thanks to their companion app and come with a few extra accessories like an audio cable with a built-in mic, carrying case, and an airplane adapter.
The Anker Life Q35 are fair for neutral sound. They have a bass-heavy sound profile which may be too boomy for some users. That said, they have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets, so you can adjust their sound to better suit your needs. While they're somewhat prone to inconsistent audio delivery, as long as you take the time to adjust their fit and positioning, you should be able to get a more consistent sound each time you wear them. However, due to their closed-back design, their passive soundstage doesn't sound very natural or immersive.
The Anker Q35 are good for commute and travel. They have over 44 hours of continuous battery life, a comfortable fit, and sturdy build quality. They also have an ANC feature, which can block out a great amount of noise around you, like the rumble of bus and plane engines. That said, they're a bit bulky, which may make them a bit harder to take with you on the go.
The Anker Q35 are satisfactory for sports and fitness. They have a comfortable fit and, thanks to their wireless design, you don't have to worry about something snagging your headphones off your head while you move. That said, they may fall off during moderate physical exercise, can make you sweat as they have mediocre breathability, and lack an IP rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for it.
The Anker Q35 are decent for office use. They have a comfortable fit, and their battery should last through long workdays without an issue. They also have ANC, so they can cut down ambient chatter around you, and support multi-device pairing with up to two devices at a time. However, they leak some audio at high volumes, so people around you may hear it.
The Anker Life Q35 are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. However, their latency is too high to be suitable for wireless gaming. They also can't be used wirelessly with PS4 or Xbox One consoles.
The Anker Q35 are decent for wired gaming. They come with a TRS to TRRS cable with a built-in microphone, so you can use them wired on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox with full audio and mic compatibility. They also have a comfortable fit and a good overall mic performance. You can even customize their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
The Anker Life Q35 are good for phone calls. They have a good recording quality so you're heard clearly, even in a moderately noisy environment. They also have ANC, which can block out a great amount of noise around you so you can focus on your call.
Update 09/17/2021: Thanks to user feedback, we have added the 'Pink' variant to our review. Although we didn't test this variant, we expect them to perform similarly to our unit.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 come in two color variants, 'Blue' and 'Pink'. We tested the Blue variant and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
The Anker Q35 are the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. They have a similar look and design but now support LDAC codec for high-res audio. Compared to their predecessor, they have a better overall mic performance, but their active noise cancelling (ANC) performance has a more inconsistent performance depending on fit, and it still falls a bit short when compared to other mid-range models like the Razer Opus Wireless.
Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones under $200, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best over-ear headphones.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. Unlike the previous generation, the Q45 have an adaptive ANC system instead of three ANC presets, and overall, are significantly better at isolating you from ambient noise than their predecessor. Their headband padding is a bit thinner though, and even though they're advertised to last 50 hours continuously, we measured just under 28 hours.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Anker have a significantly better noise isolation performance, a longer continuous battery life, and their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets so that you can adjust their sound to your liking. However, the Beats would be more comfortable, and they have a W1 chip, so you can seamlessly pair them with your Apple devices.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are very similar headphones with slight differences. While both headphones are comfortable, the Q30 have a better ANC performance. However, the Q35 have a better overall mic performance and support LDAC codec for high-quality audio, which some users may prefer.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are better over-ears than the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless. The Life Q35 are more comfortable, come with a hard carrying case, making them feel more durable on the go than the Space One's cloth pouch, and have a better overall noise isolation performance. However, the Space One leak less audio.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Q35 are better-built, have a better-performing ANC, and have longer-lasting battery life. They're also compatible with the Anker Soundcore app, which allows you to customize their sound with a graphic EQ or presets. They can also be paired with up to two devices at once and support LDAC codec for high-quality audio.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better over-ears than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable and better built. They have a significantly better performing ANC and an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when not in use. However, the Anker have a longer continuous battery life.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are better headphones than the JBL Tune 760NC Wireless for most uses. The Anker have better noise isolation, and they're more comfortable and better built. Also, their companion app has a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, the JBL have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and they have a more stable fit.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better overall over-ear headphones for most uses than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have an outstanding noise isolation performance thanks to their powerful ANC. However, the Anker have longer continuous battery life, and their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound to your liking.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better over-ear headphones for commute and travel than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, feel better built, and have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have better noise isolation and overall performance. However, the Anker have EQ presets in addition to their graphic EQ.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless have different strengths. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Liberty 3 Pro have a more stable fit, thanks to their in-ear design. They also deliver audio more consistently and have a somewhat better noise isolation performance. However, the Life Q35 are over-ears with a significantly longer continuous battery life and a better overall mic performance.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable and better-built. They also deliver audio more consistently and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They have a better-performing ANC, which can cut down more ambient noise around you too. However, the Anker have longer continuous battery life and can pair with up to two devices at a time.
The Jabra Elite 85h Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. The Jabra are more comfortable and have a more neutral sound profile that some users may prefer. However, the Anker have a better ANC and overall mic performance.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless and the Razer Opus X Wireless have different strengths and depending on your usage, you may prefer either one. The Anker have a significantly better noise isolation performance, which is handy if you commute or travel a lot. Their integrated mic also offers a better overall performance, you can customize their sound profile using their companion app's graphic EQ, and they support multi-device pairing with up to two devices at a time. Conversely, the Razer have a more neutral default sound profile, and their continuous battery life is longer.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are similarly performing headphones; you may enjoy either. While both headphones have customizable sound profiles, thanks to their companion apps, the Anker have a better noise isolation performance and support NFC pairing. The Sony are more comfortable though, and have a better battery performance thanks to their auto-timer.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2020 are better over-ear headphones than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. The Razer are more stable, and are better-built. The Razer have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box and have a significantly better ANC performance. However, the Anker have a better overall microphone performance and a longer continuous battery life. They also can be paired with up to two devices at a time.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless have different strengths; depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Sennheiser have a more stable fit and a more neutral default sound profile that some users may prefer. They also have a better overall battery performance. The Anker's ANC does a better job of blocking out ambient noise around you, they have a longer continuous battery life, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ to help customize their sound.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Beats Solo Pro Wireless. The Anker are more comfortable, have a customizable sound profile thanks to their companion app's graphic EQ and presets, and have a better performing ANC. Their mic also does a better job of recording your voice, even in noisy environments, and they have a better battery performance. However, the Beats are better-built and have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box.
The Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless have different strengths. While both headphones are comfortable, well-built, and have similar noise isolation performances, the Sony have a more neutral default sound profile, which some may prefer, and better overall battery performance. However, the Anker are able to block out slightly more bass-range noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines and they support multi-device pairing.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are better headphones than the TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Anker ones have a more neutral sound profile, more customization features such as a graphic EQ and presets, and a slightly better noise isolation performance. However, the TREBLAB have a better battery performance, and they support aptX and aptX HD codecs, which is good if you prefer high-quality audio.
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2020 and the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless are for different purposes, and depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. While both headphones are comfortable, the Razer are for gaming. They have a virtual soundstage feature, and their boom mic offers a significantly better noise handling performance. They're also compatible with Razer Synapse software, which offers a graphic EQ, presets, and mic control, and they support non-Bluetooth wireless for low latency gaming. In contrast, the Anker are better for more casual use as they're better-built. They have an ANC feature that can reduce a great amount of noise around you, and they have longer continuous battery life.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35Â look almost identical to the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. They have a simple design with a dark blue satin finish. Unlike the previous generation, their brand markings on the ear cups are now blue too, which doesn't stand out as much. They come in two color variants: 'Blue' and 'Pink'.
 The Anker Q35 are comfortable headphones. They clamp a little more than the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, but they shouldn't fit too tightly. They also feel light on the head. However, the headband's padding seems thin, and it may become uncomfortable if you're wearing them for long periods.
The Anker Soundcore Q35Â have a good control scheme. There's a touch-sensitive surface on only the right ear cup, but most of the controls are physical buttons found on the underside of both cups. You can play or pause audio, adjust volume, and cycle through different ANC settings: 'ANC', 'Transparency', which allows you to hear what's going on around you without turning off your audio, and 'Normal', which is the off mode. You can also switch between 'Normal' and 'Transparency' mode by touching and holding the right cup for two seconds. You can hold the volume up or down for one second to skip the track forward or backward, respectively, or activate voice assistant by holding down the play button for two seconds. The buttons are clicky and are easy to use. There are voice prompts when changing ANC settings, but there aren't beeps for the other commands.
The Anker Life Q35Â are passably portable. They're a bit bulky, and while the ear cups can swivel to lay flat, they can still be hard to take with you. Luckily, they come with a hard case to help protect them, but it still takes up some room in your bag or backpack.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 come with a good case. It's more rounded than that of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, but it otherwise hasn't changed too much. It has a zipper that fully closes and it has a small pouch inside to store the cables and airplane adapter. It should protect your headphones from minor water exposure and accidental drops.
The Anker Life Q35 have a good build quality. They're made of dense plastic and a silicone-like material with a metal plate in the headband, making them feel sturdy overall. They have faux leather padding on the headband and ear cups. Like the Anker Soundcore Space One Wireless, they feel like they should survive a few accidental drops or falls without taking too much damage. However, the headband padding can become thin with time. They also lack an IP rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this.
The Anker Q35 are fairly stable headphones. They should stay in place while working at your desk, but they can fall off with more intense head movements. Luckily, their wireless design eliminates the risk of an audio cable snagging on something and pulling them off your head. For a more stable pair of wireless headphones, check out the JBL Tune 760NC Wireless.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 have a bass-heavy sound profile. They deliver extra thump, rumble, and boom, which is well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to customize their sound.
There is a noticeable difference in sound profile when using the ANC on and off. Although we tested these headphones with their ANC on, the audio sounds hollow and thin if you turn the ANC off. We ran a few frequency response passes with the ANC on and off to confirm this using a wired connection and Bluetooth. You can see our graph here, which shows a drop in bass with the ANC on regardless of whether you're using a wired or Bluetooth connection.
There have also been user reports of audio cutting out when using a wired connection. Over the course of a couple of hours using the headphones wired and with ANC on, we didn't experience anything unusual, and our unit performs as intended. However, this may be related to flaws in a particular product batch. If you've encountered either issue, please let us know in the forums below.
The Anker Soundcore Q35 have okay frequency response consistency. Their treble delivery can vary depending on fit, seal, and positioning, so you may need to adjust them on your head to get a more consistent listening experience each time you use them.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 have unremarkable bass accuracy. It's overemphasized across the range, so your mixes have intense thump, punch, and warmth. However, some users may find it sounds a bit boomy.
These headphones have outstanding mid accuracy. The range is fairly well-balanced and neutral, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear, present, and accurate.
The treble accuracy of the Anker Q35 is passable. The low-treble is underemphasized, which veils vocals and lead instruments. The mid-treble is also slightly underemphasized, so sibilants are a bit dull and lispy. That said, treble delivery can vary depending on fit, positioning, and seal, and our results represent the average response.
The Anker Life Q35 have satisfactory peaks and dips performance. A peak in the mid-bass adds punch to your mixes, while a dip in the high-bass reduces boom. A dip in the mid-mid in the left driver nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix, while two peaks in the high-mids make them sound honky and harsh. A dip in the low-treble veils the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments, while an uneven mid-treble makes sibilants alternatingly dull and piercing.
The Anker Soundcore Q35 have a good imaging performance. Most of the group delay response falls below the audibility threshold, although small bumps in the bass range could indicate a loose bass. However, the treble is transparent. Our unit's L/R drivers are also well-matched in amplitude and frequency response. There's a large phase mismatch, though, which suggests that there could be inaccuracies in the stereo image. That said, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 have a disappointing passive soundstage. It's perceived as wide and somewhat coming from out in front of you, rather than from inside your head, but it doesn't sound natural. Since they also have a closed-back design, they don't sound as open or spacious as open-back headphones.
The weighted harmonic distortion performance of the Anker Q35 is decent. There's a peak at high volumes in the high-bass range as well as a peak in the low-treble at more moderate volumes. However, this is minor and can be hard to hear with real-life content. Most frequencies otherwise fall within good limits, which results in fair and clear audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test the headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
The Anker Q35 have a great noise isolation performance. We expected similar results to the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, but we had a lot of trouble getting consistent results. We needed to conduct several passes to get similar results, and changing the placement of the headphones on our dummy head created a difference with active noise cancelling (ANC) turned on. With ANC on and set to 'Transport' mode, they cut down a good amount of bass-range noise like bus or plane engine rumbles. They can also block out mid-range sounds like ambient chatter and high-pitched noise like the hum of an AC unit. If you're looking for even better noise isolation from an Anker product, check out the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless.
These headphones also have two additional ANC modes, but we don't currently test them. The manufacturer advertises 'Outdoor' mode to help cut down traffic and wind noise, while 'Indoor' mode is more focused on reducing mid and treble-range noise like office chatter and the hum of fans.
The Anker Q35 Wireless have an alright leakage performance. Their leakage is concentrated in the mid-range, so it sounds somewhat full. If you like to listen to your audio at high volumes, people around you in a moderately noisy environment may hear it.
These headphones have an integrated mic. They also come with a TRS to TRRS cable, which has a built-in microphone if you want to use the headphones wired.
The recording quality of the Anker Q35's integrated mic is good. Although it sounds a bit thin, your voice should still be heard clearly by whoever is on the other end of the line.
The mic's noise handling performance is decent. It can separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you, so you should be heard somewhat clearly, even if you're talking on a busy street.
The battery performance of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 is very good. They're advertised to last 40 hours with their ANC on, but we measured over 44. However, battery performance can vary depending on usage, so your results may vary. Luckily, if you run out of battery life, you can also use these headphones passively with their included TRS to TRRS cable.
The Anker Soundcore app is great. It has a graphic EQ and presets so that you can tweak its sound to your liking. You can also adjust their ANC between three different levels: 'Transport' mode, 'Outdoor' mode, and 'Indoor' mode. Just like the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, there are also sleep-related features available, like a timer or calming ambient sounds.
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 have outstanding Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair them with up to two devices at a time, and they support NFC pairing. While their latency is a bit high on PC, it's lower on iOS and Android, which is nice if you like to stream videos. That said, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently, so your mileage may vary with real-life usage. These headphones also support AAC and LDAC codec, which allow you to stream high-quality audio. We don't currently test their performance in this regard, though.
The Anker Life Q35 come with a 1/8" TRS to 1/8" TRRS cable that you can use to passively listen to audio. It also has a built-in microphone so that you can take calls or chat with others. They also come with a USB-C to USB-A cable to charge the headphones and an airplane adapter.
The Anker Q35 can only be used via their analog cable with Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles. However, they have full audio and mic compatibility using this connection.