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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-08 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Anker Soundcore (Space Q45) — biggest strength: Up to 50 hours of playtime with noise cancelling on, up to 65 in standard mode, plus a 5-minute charge that yields 4 hours of listening.
• Anker Soundcore (Space Q45) — biggest trade-off: No headphone jack, so wired listening isn't an option, and the app is required to unlock the full five-level noise-cancelling customization.
• Sony WH-CH720N — biggest strength: A lightweight, ergonomic over-ear build that stays comfortable for long sessions, paired with Precise Voice Pickup and beamforming mics for clearer calls.
• Sony WH-CH720N — biggest trade-off: Up to 35 hours of battery life is solid but well short of the Soundcore's 50, and there's no LDAC Hi-Res wireless support listed.
• Who each pick is for: Go Anker Soundcore if battery life, deep bass and adaptive ANC matter most; go Sony WH-CH720N if comfort, call clarity and balanced tuning matter most.
The Soundcore Space Q45 is built around one idea: block out as much noise as possible, for as long as possible. Its three-stage adaptive noise cancelling system targets a wide range of sounds, and it can automatically pick a suitable cancellation level based on where you are — indoors, outdoors, commuting, or on a flight. You can also override that with five manual levels through the app if you'd rather fine-tune it yourself.
The headline number here is battery. Up to 50 hours with ANC on, up to 65 hours in standard mode, and a 5-minute top-up that gives you 4 hours of playtime. For anyone who works long shifts, travels frequently, or simply hates charging cables, that's the most persuasive spec on the sheet. The 40mm drivers use a double-layer silk-and-ceramic diaphragm, which the specs describe as producing intense bass and crisp treble, and LDAC support means Hi-Res Audio Wireless is on the table if your source device supports it. Bluetooth 5.3 and an 18-month warranty round things out.
Who should buy it: bass-forward listeners, frequent travelers, long-shift workers, and anyone who wants adaptive noise cancelling without babysitting the settings. Who should skip it: anyone who wants a wired fallback. There's no headphone jack here, and it's an over-ear design at 10.4 ounces — heavier than some commuters will want to wear for hours on end. Sports earbuds or ear clip headphones for construction work are a different category entirely; this is a full-size over-ear pair, so if you need something that tucks into a hard hat or ear-defender setup, this isn't it. But as a set of earbuds for construction work alternatives in over-ear form, the noise blocking and battery life are the selling points. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
Sony's WH-CH720N takes the opposite approach: lighter, simpler, and tuned for everyday comfort. The spec sheet calls out a lightweight, ergonomic construction designed to make the most of its 35-hour battery life — the implication being that you'll actually want to keep them on for those 35 hours. That's the real pitch, and for office workers, students, and commuters it lands.
Sound is handled by the Integrated Processor V1 and Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, aiming for natural vocals, crystal clear sound and balanced tuning rather than thumping bass. You can adjust the EQ in the Sony Headphones Connect app, and 360 Reality Audio is supported if you go through the app's ear-shape analysis. On the call side, Precise Voice Pickup Technology, a wind noise reduction structure, and beamforming mics are specifically designed to pick up your voice more clearly in breezy or noisy conditions.
Practicalities: Multipoint Connection, Swift Pair and Fast Pair, voice control, easy button operation, and a quick charge that gives 60 minutes of playback from a 10-minute top-up. There's a stereo mini jack, so wired listening is possible, and Bluetooth range is listed at 10 meters. Earpieces are an around-the-ear shape in a plastic and TPE enclosure.
Who should buy it: people who take a lot of calls, want a lighter fit for long wear, prefer balanced sound over heavy bass, or want the option of a wired connection. Who should skip it: anyone who needs maximum battery or Hi-Res wireless codecs. At 35 hours it's respectable, but it isn't the endurance champion here.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → Anker Soundcore. Up to 50 hours with ANC on and 65 in standard mode, versus 35 hours on the Sony.
• Best for call clarity → Sony WH-CH720N. Beamforming mics, Precise Voice Pickup Technology and a wind noise reduction structure are explicitly built for voice.
• Best for bass-heavy listening → Anker Soundcore. The double-layer silk-and-ceramic diaphragm is tuned for intense bass and crisp treble.
• Best for Hi-Res wireless audio → Anker Soundcore. LDAC support is listed; the Sony sheet doesn't mention an equivalent codec.
• Best for all-day comfort → Sony WH-CH720N. Lightweight, ergonomic construction is the core design goal, and it's the lighter of the two.
• Best for adaptive, set-and-forget noise cancelling → Anker Soundcore. It automatically selects a cancellation level based on your surroundings, with five manual levels available in the app.
• Best for wired listening → Sony WH-CH720N. It has a stereo mini jack; the Soundcore has no headphone jack at all.
• Best for customization via app → Anker Soundcore. Five noise cancelling levels plus transparency control give you more granular control.
In my opinion, I'd buy the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 if battery life and noise blocking are your priorities — and for construction work specifically, that's exactly what I'd weigh most heavily. The 50-hour ANC runtime and adaptive cancellation mean fewer charges and more quiet, which matters when you're wearing these through a long shift in a loud environment. The lack of a headphone jack is a real limitation, and I'd steer toward the Sony WH-CH720N instead if you take frequent calls, want a lighter fit, or need a wired fallback. But on raw endurance and noise-cancelling flexibility, the Soundcore wins my vote.
There's no single answer that holds across every category and retailer, and this page deliberately avoids sales figures since they change constantly. What I can say is that both of these models compete in the popular over-ear noise-cancelling space — the Soundcore Space Q45 on battery life and adaptive ANC, the Sony WH-CH720N on comfort and call clarity. Check current availability on Amazon for either.
That's a historical question no spec sheet can answer, and I won't invent numbers. What matters more for a buyer is fit: the Soundcore Space Q45 offers up to 50 hours of ANC playback and LDAC Hi-Res audio, while the Sony WH-CH720N offers a lighter build, 35 hours, and a wired stereo mini jack option.
Popularity varies by region, retailer and season, so I'd treat any single claim with suspicion. Judge by what you need: maximum battery and adaptive noise cancelling point to the Anker Soundcore; lighter weight, clearer calls and balanced tuning point to the Sony WH-CH720N.
Brand popularity shifts constantly and isn't something I can measure from spec sheets. Both Anker (Soundcore) and Sony are established audio brands with distinct strengths here — Anker on endurance and bass, Sony on comfort, voice pickup and everyday usability. The right pick depends on your priorities, not on a popularity contest.
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