Soundcore Q20i vs Sony WH-CH720N Canada

The Sony WH-CH720N wins for anyone who will actually use these for extended daily wear: its more balanced sound, wider-spectrum ANC, and lighter 192 g frame justify the premium over the Q20i, but only if $248.00 CAD fits your budget, at $47.99 CAD, the Q20i is genuinely hard to argue against for casual listeners.

Amazon links are affiliate links — if you buy through them, Comparomania may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't affect our verdict.

Full spec sheet

Spec	soundcore by Anker Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling	Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones Bluetooth Over
Price	$47.99 CAD (amazon.ca)	$248.00 CAD (amazon.ca)
Noise Cancellation	Hybrid ANC, ~25 dB avg reduction, best on low/mid freq	Dual Noise Sensor + V1 processor, ~28 dB peak at 80 Hz, wider freq coverage
Battery Life	40 hrs ANC on (tested ~49 hrs), 5-min charge = 4 hrs	35 hrs ANC on (tested ~47 hrs), 3-min charge = 60 min
Sound Quality	U-shaped, bass-heavy; EQ app helps but needs correction	Warm, more balanced tuning; DSEE upscaling; better out-of-box
Build and Comfort	~243–263 g, foldable, memory foam cushions, no carry case	192 g, Sony's lightest ANC headband, non-folding, no carry case
Features	BT 5.0, 40mm Hi-Res drivers, 22 EQ presets, transparency mode, multipoint	BT 5.2, 360 Reality Audio, DSEE upscaling, Alexa, 20-level ambient mode, multipoint

What you pay

The soundcore Q20i is $47.99 CAD on amazon.ca. The Sony WH-CH720N is $248.00 CAD. That's a $200.01 CAD gap for two headphones that both have ANC, multipoint pairing, and a companion app.

Noise cancellation that actually measures

The Q20i averages around 25 dB of noise reduction across frequencies, with four hybrid mics handling low and mid-frequency noise well but letting higher-pitched sounds through. The Sony's ANC uses Dual Noise Sensor technology with an integrated processor, and independent testing found it peaks near 28 dB at 80 Hz with solid attenuation across a wider frequency range, including mids where budget headphones typically fail. For commute-level drone and office hum, both work. For busier, more varied noise environments, Sony holds the edge.

Battery life

The Q20i claims 40 hours with ANC on; independent testing measured closer to 49 hours. The Sony rates 35 hours with ANC on, and one real-world test clocked 47 hours, both overdeliver. The Q20i adds a 5-minute fast charge for 4 hours of extra play; Sony offers 3 minutes for 60 minutes. On raw stamina, the Q20i wins by a clear margin.

Sound quality

This is where the price gap shows up most honestly. The Q20i has a U-shaped frequency response: bass-heavy, treble-boosted, mids caught in the middle. The Sony carries a warm but more balanced tuning, still bassy, but reviewers consistently find it more refined and easier to listen to across genres without EQ adjustment. Both have customizable EQ apps, but the Sony needs less corrective work out of the box.

Build and weight

The Q20i weighs roughly 243–263 g depending on the source; it folds flat for travel but ships without a case. The Sony is 192 g, noticeably lighter on extended wear, though it also doesn't fold inward and ships without a carry case. Both are all-plastic. The Q20i's memory foam cushions get consistent praise for long-session comfort; the Sony's lighter frame means less fatigue across a full workday.

Features

Both support multipoint Bluetooth pairing and have transparency modes. The Q20i uses Bluetooth 5.0, 40mm drivers, and Hi-Res Audio certification via the 3.5mm cable. The Sony runs Bluetooth 5.2, supports Sony's 360 Reality Audio, DSEE audio upscaling, and Alexa built-in, a noticeably broader feature set for the price difference.

Common questions

Which is cheaper, soundcore by Anker Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling or Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones Bluetooth Over?

The soundcore Q20i is significantly cheaper at $47.99 CAD on amazon.ca, versus $248.00 CAD for the Sony WH-CH720N — a difference of $200.01 CAD.

Is soundcore by Anker Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling better than Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones Bluetooth Over?

For the price, the Q20i is outstanding, but the Sony WH-CH720N is the better overall headphone: it has wider-spectrum ANC, more balanced sound, a lighter 192 g build, and a broader feature set — it's just whether $248.00 CAD versus $47.99 CAD makes sense for your budget.

What's the biggest difference between them?

Price is the single largest gap — $47.99 CAD vs $248.00 CAD — but the performance difference that justifies it is sound quality: the Sony delivers a more balanced, refined tuning out of the box, while the Q20i's bass-heavy U-shaped profile often needs EQ correction to sound its best.

Comparomania publishes independent comparisons based on publicly available reviews and specifications. No brand payments. No sponsored results.

soundcore by Anker Q20i vs Sony WH-CH720N noise cancelling headphones

How they score