Anker Soundcore Space Q45: Budget ANC That Punches Far Above Its Price

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is the headphone that makes premium-tier buyers uncomfortable. At $79 — a price point where most ANC headphones are compromised products with shallow noise cancellation and mediocre sound — the Q45 ships with LDAC codec support, a 50-hour battery, a hard-shell carry case, multipoint Bluetooth 5.3, and adaptive ANC. Features on this checklist cost two, three, or four times as much on competing products.

Anker — the Shenzhen-based accessories brand that built its reputation on USB chargers and cables — has invested heavily in audio through its Soundcore sub-brand. The Q45 is the result of several hardware generations and represents a genuine engineering achievement at the price. The question is not whether it outperforms a $349 Sony XM5 — it does not — but whether its real-world performance justifies a purchase at $79 for budget-conscious buyers.

Across daily commuting and travel scenarios, the Q45's value is best understood against pricier benchmarks like the Bose QC45 and Sony XM5.

The Q45's 40mm drivers deliver a V-shaped sound signature — boosted bass and treble with a slightly recessed mid-range. Out of the box, this sounds lively and engaging for pop, electronic, hip-hop, and any genre that benefits from low-end weight. The default tuning can feel congested on complex orchestral recordings or acoustic jazz, where mid-range detail matters more.

Anker Innovations / Anker Soundcore (Manufacturer product image)

The Soundcore app's 22-band equalizer is legitimately impressive for the price. Dialing back the bass shelf by 2–3 dB and adding 1–2 dB to the upper mid-range produces a significantly more balanced response that serves a wider range of genres. This degree of EQ granularity typically arrives in headphones costing $150–$200 or more.

LDAC support is the specification that most surprises at this price. With an Android device streaming at 990 kbps in LDAC mode, the Q45 resolves more detail than the same source through AAC, with audible improvements in separation and micro-detail on well-recorded tracks. LDAC at this price is effectively unmatched in the market.

The Q45's adaptive ANC system offers six preset levels — from minimal to maximum — which can be adjusted in the Soundcore app or cycled through via button. At maximum, independent measurements put low-frequency noise reduction (HVAC, train rumble, airplane cabin roar) at approximately 15–20 dB — meaningful attenuation, but 8–12 dB short of the Sony XM5 and Bose QC45 at their best.

Anker Innovations / Anker Soundcore (Manufacturer product image)

In practical terms:

• Train and subway noise is noticeably reduced, to the point where music at moderate volume plays cleanly without raising the volume to uncomfortable levels
• Office HVAC and ambient chatter are reduced but not eliminated — the environment becomes more comfortable, not silent
• Airplane cabin noise is attenuated enough that most users will find music or podcasts listenable without significant fatigue

For budget commuters and office workers, the Q45's ANC delivers genuine utility. For frequent long-haul air travelers who use ANC headphones as isolation tools on 10-hour flights, the gap between the Q45 and the Bose QC45 or Sony XM5 will be noticeable.

The Q45 is a plastic headphone, and it looks and feels like one. The construction is not flimsy — hinges and sliders have adequate stiffness, with enough resilience for normal bag bumps and adjustment — but there is no mistaking the material grade for aluminum or stainless steel.

Anker Innovations / Anker Soundcore (Manufacturer product image)

The ear cushions are protein leather over foam in an oval shape. Padding is adequate but shallower than the Bose QC45's plush cushions, and users with larger ears occasionally reported contact between their ear and the driver grille. Clamping force is firmer than Bose QC-series headphones — useful for secure fit during movement, but contributing to noticeable pressure over sessions longer than three hours.

At 253 grams, the Q45 is comparable in weight to the Sony XM5 (250g) but heavier than the Bose QC45 (238g). Weight distribution is even. The wear detection sensor, which automatically pauses playback when the headphones are lifted off the head, is a feature that many headphones costing twice as much do not include.

The hard-shell carry case is a genuine highlight. A hard case at $79 typically signals a premium product; Anker including one here adds practical value for daily bag use and travel.

The Soundcore app is functional and well-designed for the price. Beyond the 22-band EQ, it provides ANC level presets, transparency mode control, a sleep timer, and game mode (low-latency processing for mobile gaming). Firmware updates are delivered through the app.

Anker Innovations / Anker Soundcore (Manufacturer product image)

Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 enables simultaneous connection to a phone and laptop. Device switching is quick and reliable. The quick charge feature — 5 minutes for 4 hours of playback — is practically useful and more capable than the Bose QC45's 15-minute quick charge.

Anker rates the Q45 at 50 hours with ANC enabled, making battery life its single most impressive specification. For typical daily use averaging 4–5 hours per day, that translates to roughly two full workweeks between charges. For users who want to travel for a week without carrying a charging cable for their headphones, the Q45 makes this possible in a way the Sony XM5 (30 hours) and Bose QC45 (24 hours) cannot.

In LDAC mode, battery life drops to approximately 35–40 hours — still exceptional. With ANC off and in standard SBC/AAC mode, rated life extends to 65 hours.

• Budget-conscious buyers who need ANC for commuting or office use and cannot justify $279–$349 for a premium option
• Android users who want LDAC at any price — the Q45 is the only way to get LDAC at this price tier
• Travelers who need maximum battery life — 50 hours of ANC operation is unmatched across the entire headphone market
• EQ enthusiasts who want granular sound customization without spending premium prices

Not suitable for frequent long-haul flyers who need maximum ANC depth, listeners who prioritize all-day comfort over 4+ hour sessions, or users who want the best possible call quality.