The Swift Summary
Pros
Cons
- Active noise cancelling
- Up to 40 hours playback
- High resolution sound
- NFC pairing
- Pair with 2 devices
- EQ personalisation
- Available in colours other than black
- Requires an app to get the best out of them
Feature list for the Soundcore Life Q35 headphones
- Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)
- 3 noise cancelling modes tailored to different surroundings: Travel (to reduce trains/aircraft noises), Outdoor (to reduce traffic/wind) and Indoor (to reduce general ambience)
- Up to 60 hours playback with ANC off, up to 40 hours with ANC on
- High-speed lossless Bluetooth technology (LDAC)
- Beam-forming microphones for a clearer voice during calls
- Automatic music pausing when you take your headphones off
- Connect to 2 devices, for quick switching between calls, music and meetings for example
- Adjust ANC settings, EQ settings, Soundscape personalisation and firmware updates
- Transparency mode – let’s you quickly listen in on your surroundings
- Comes with an airplane adapter
- 18 month manufacturers’ warranty
Swift Thoughts
Design
The design of the Soundcore Life Q35 headphones is clean, minimal and uncluttered. I particularly like the curved endings to the head strap and the flush fitting cup hinges. The Q35s are not too dissimilar to brand offerings more than three times the price!
Dual folding ear-cups allow the headphones to be stored compactly. They even come supplied with a sturdy travel case.
Audio Performance
The audio performance is very good–a definite upgrade from its predecessor. The Q35s come with custom 40mm silk-diaphragm drivers which reproduce audio without distortion and offer a wide immersive soundstage.
What I would say is don’t judge them without first downloading the Soundcore Audio app first. We all have different audio preferences and the app does a great job of customising your setup. They can almost sound like different headphones with just a few minutes of experimentation.
Build Quality
Being a product from Anker, you can rest assured the build quality is going to be second to none–the Q35s certainly hasn’t changed my opinion in this regard. The hinges, buttons and materials used all feel quality and built to last.
Comfort
The Life Q35s have a simple ergonomic design with plenty of rotation in the ear cups. The padding is nice and soft and I could easily wear them for long periods of time.
Functionality
The Life Q35s are packed with technological functions, most of which are neatly handled by the app. I particularly liked the so called ‘transparency mode’ which allows you to hear ambient noises at a natural level. It effectively cuts out the ANC and cleverly utilises the microphones so you can hear as if you weren’t wearing headphones. The feature is activated with a simple touch control on the right earcup.
Swift Scores
Design
Audio Performance
Comfort
Build Quality
Functionality
Battery Life
FAQs
Q: Does noise cancelling work in both wireless and wired modes?
A: Yes
Q: What’s the audio latency like?
A: I didn’t have any problems with audio lag. The built-in LDAC technology transfers data 3x faster than standard.
Q: Is there any audio leak?
A: No.
Q: Can you play/pause and skip tracks with the buttons?
A: Yes.
Q: What’s the wireless range?
A: Approx. 15 metres (50 feet)
Q: Can I completely turn off noise cancelling?
A: Yes, with the app.
Q: How large are the earcups?
A: The overall size of the earcups are approx. 80mm (width) x 95mm (height). The inner dimensions are 50mm (width) x 65mm (height).
Q: Can I pair the Life Q35s with Apple devices (ie iPod, iPad, iPhone etc)?
A: Yes.
Q: Is there a visual indication when the headphones are fully charged?
A: Yes, a small LED light is red whilst charging and turns off once fully charged.
What’s in the box?
- Soundcore Life Q35 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones,
- 3.5mm AUX audio cable with remote control
- USB-C charging cable
- Airplane adapter plug
- Padded travel case
You want it? We’ve found it.
Soundcore (by Anker) Life Q35 headphones are available in 3 colours: black, blue and pink.
Tech Talk
What does NFC touch pairing mean and how does it work?
NFC stands for Near Field Communication which is a short-range wireless technology in which wireless pairing starts by simply touching the two devices to each other.
In most cases pairing is simple and intuitive. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled and NFC mode activated on both devices. Move the devices physically close together or actually have them touch and wait for a visual or audible cue to know that the connection has been successful.
