If you want lightweight on-ear headphones with a simple, long-lasting setup for your MacBook, choose JBL Tune 510BT; if you need over-ear comfort and active noise cancellation, choose Soundcore Anker Q20i. For a MacBook, the deciding difference is less about whether either can connect wirelessly and more about how you want to listen: compact on-ear simplicity or noise-reducing over-ear coverage.
Both offer Bluetooth, 40 hours of stated battery life in their listed modes, and the ability to connect with two devices. But their designs serve different routines. JBL keeps the controls and call microphone on the ear cup, while Soundcore adds hybrid noise cancellation, an app for customization, and a 3.5 mm audio connection. Here is how I’d choose between them.
• JBL Tune 510BT: On-ear headphones with JBL Pure Bass sound, an adjustable headband, and up to 40 hours of battery life. Trade-off: there is no listed noise control.
• Soundcore Anker Q20i: Over-ear headphones with hybrid active noise cancellation, app customization, and up to 60 hours in normal mode. Trade-off: the listed battery charge time is 8.33 hours.
• JBL is for: MacBook listeners who want a relatively light on-ear design, straightforward buttons, and a microphone for hands-free calls.
• Soundcore is for: People who want over-ear coverage, noise cancellation for environments such as planes or cars, and simultaneous connections to two devices.
• Both: Support Bluetooth and can connect with two devices, so switching between a laptop and phone is part of the appeal.
The JBL Tune 510BT is an on-ear Bluetooth headphone with JBL Pure Bass sound, an adjustable headband, and soft ear cushions. The listed weight is 5.6 ounces, which makes it the lighter of these two on paper. Its foldable design is another practical point if you want headphones that can be packed away between work sessions or carried along with a laptop.
For MacBook use, its strengths are uncomplicated: connect over Bluetooth, listen to music or video, and manage playback or calls with buttons on the ear cup. The built-in microphone supports hands-free calls, and the headphones can switch between two Bluetooth devices. That may suit someone who works on a MacBook but also wants to keep a phone connected for calls. Siri or Hey Google can be activated with the multifunction button.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-17 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
The Soundcore Anker Q20i takes the over-ear route. Its hybrid active noise cancellation uses two internal and two external microphones, and the product information says it can reduce up to 90% of external noise such as plane and car-engine sounds. That figure describes the stated noise-reduction capability; it does not mean every sound in every setting disappears. Still, noise cancellation is the clearest reason to choose the Q20i over the JBL.
Its 40 mm dynamic drivers and BassUp technology are intended for detailed audio and stronger bass, while the companion app lets you customize the sound. The Q20i can connect to two devices at once over Bluetooth 5.0 and switch audio to the device you need to hear. For a MacBook owner moving between laptop audio and phone calls, that dual connection is useful without making either device the only one paired.
Battery life depends on the mode: the listed figures are 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours in normal mode. A five-minute charge is stated to add four hours of playback. The trade-off is its listed full charge time of 8.33 hours, longer than the JBL’s two hours. The Q20i also includes a 3.5 mm jack and is compatible with a separately described AUX listening option for Hi-Res certified audio. Skip it if you want the lighter on-ear design or a shorter listed full-charge time.
• Best for MacBook listening with a lighter listed weight → JBL Tune 510BT. At 5.6 ounces, it is the lighter option based on the supplied specifications.
• Best for reducing background noise → Soundcore Anker Q20i. It has hybrid active noise cancellation; the JBL lists no noise control.
• Best for a quick battery boost → Soundcore Anker Q20i. Five minutes of charging is stated to add four hours, compared with two extra hours for the JBL.
• Best if a short full-charge time matters → JBL Tune 510BT. Its listed charge time is two hours, while the Q20i lists 8.33 hours.
• Best for maximum stated battery life in normal mode → Soundcore Anker Q20i. It lists up to 60 hours without ANC, versus up to 40 hours for the JBL.
• Best for on-headphone call and playback buttons → JBL Tune 510BT. It has ear-cup controls and a built-in microphone for hands-free calls.
• Best for wired listening flexibility → Soundcore Anker Q20i. It includes a 3.5 mm jack; the JBL has no headphone jack.
• Best for bass-focused listening with an app to tailor the sound → Soundcore Anker Q20i. Its BassUp technology and app customization are features the JBL’s supplied specifications do not list.
For my MacBook, I would choose the Soundcore Anker Q20i if I wanted a more versatile work-and-travel headphone: over-ear coverage, hybrid noise cancellation, app customization, and up to 60 hours in normal mode make a compelling combination. I’d choose the JBL Tune 510BT instead for its lighter listed weight, on-ear simplicity, shorter full-charge time, and hands-free call controls. My preference is the Q20i when reducing surrounding noise is the priority; the JBL is the more straightforward pick when it isn’t.
Think first about where you’ll use these headphones. A quiet desk is a different setting from a commute or a shared space. If surrounding noise is a concern, the Q20i’s hybrid active noise cancellation is a concrete advantage. If you mainly want to hear music or video from your laptop without adding a noise-control feature, the JBL’s simpler on-ear design may be enough.
Fit is just as personal. The JBL rests on the ears and has an adjustable headband; the Q20i surrounds the ears. The specifications establish those design differences, but they cannot determine which will feel more comfortable for your head and ears over a long session. Consider whether you prefer a compact, lighter listed headphone or an over-ear shape.
Also consider your charging habits. Both offer long stated listening times, but the figures are not identical: JBL lists up to 40 hours, while Soundcore lists up to 40 hours with ANC on or 60 hours in normal mode. Their quick-charge claims differ too. JBL says five minutes provides two additional hours; Soundcore says five minutes provides four. If you usually recharge overnight, the JBL’s shorter listed full-charge time may matter more than the Q20i’s longer normal-mode figure. If a short top-up is more useful, the Q20i has the stronger listed quick-charge claim.
Finally, decide whether you need a wired option. The Q20i has a 3.5 mm jack and supports AUX listening, while the JBL lists no headphone jack. Both are Bluetooth headphones for MacBook use, and both support connections to two devices. If you’re comparing a rechargeable Bluetooth headset for MacBook calls and media, JBL explicitly lists a microphone and hands-free call controls; Soundcore’s supplied details emphasize noise control, dual-device connections, and sound customization instead.
Choose the Q20i if you want over-ear headphones with hybrid noise cancellation and app customization. Choose the JBL if you prefer a lighter listed weight, on-ear fit, ear-cup call controls, and a shorter listed full-charge time.
The Soundcore Anker Q20i is the only one of the two with listed noise control. Its hybrid active noise cancellation is stated to reduce up to 90% of external noise, including sounds such as planes and car engines; the JBL lists no noise control.
The Q20i lists up to 60 hours in normal mode and 40 hours with ANC on. JBL lists up to 40 hours, so the Soundcore’s longest stated runtime applies when noise cancellation is off.
Yes. Both support Bluetooth and can connect with two devices. JBL also lists a built-in microphone and hands-free call controls; Soundcore describes automatic audio switching between its connected devices.
• H HIFIHEAR CCA C10 vs Jooy Paii Odio Ear Monitor Headphones
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.