Anker Soundcore by Anker Space One Wireless Noise Review

The Anker Soundcore Space One is the best value in noise-canceling headphones under $100. You get effective ANC, killer 40-hour battery life, and premium features like LDAC audio support. Just don't expect them to excel on work calls. For commuters and travelers on a budget, they're a no-brainer. For home office warriors, look for something with a better microphone.

The Anker Soundcore Space One lands in that sweet spot where you want decent noise cancellation without spending a fortune. We're talking about a pair of wireless over-ears that promise to block out the world for your commute or travel, all for under a hundred bucks. Anker's built a reputation on delivering solid value, and with the Space One, they're taking aim at the giants like Sony and Bose.

Honestly, if you're looking at these, you're probably tired of the premium headphone tax. You want something that works well enough for daily use, doesn't feel cheap, and won't make you wince if you leave it in a seatback pocket. The Space One is built for exactly that person: the practical listener who prioritizes function over absolute audiophile perfection.

What makes these interesting is the spec sheet they're packing at this price. Adaptive noise canceling, 40-hour battery life with ANC on, and support for higher-quality LDAC audio codecs? That's a combo you typically don't see until you're well over the $200 mark. It's a classic Anker move—throw in features that make the competition look stingy and see what sticks.

Looking at our database, the Space One's performance lands right in the middle of the pack across the board. Its sound quality sits in the 49th percentile, which translates to a perfectly fine, balanced listening experience for most pop, rock, and podcasts. The bass is present but not overwhelming, and the highs are clear without being harsh. They won't blow your mind, but they also won't disappoint for casual listening.

The noise cancellation, rated at the 48th percentile, is effective for constant, low-frequency rumbles like airplane engines or bus hum. It does a decent job of taking the edge off a noisy environment. Where it struggles a bit, according to the data, is with sudden, sharp noises or complex soundscapes. The 'extrastrong voice reduction' feature helps, but don't expect it to completely silence a chatty coworker right next to you. For the price, it's a capable system that makes commutes and flights noticeably more peaceful.

This is where the Space One absolutely shines. With a street price hovering between $70 and $100, it's punching way above its weight class on paper. You're getting 80% of the core experience of a $350 pair of headphones for less than a third of the price. The price-to-performance ratio here is genuinely excellent.

When you stack it up against the competition on features alone, it's hard to argue. A Sony WH-1000XM5 offers better ANC and sound, but it costs three to four times as much. The Space One asks a very simple question: how much are those last few percentage points of performance really worth to you? For most people on a budget, the answer is 'not that much.'

Let's talk competitors. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the king of noise cancellation. If your main goal is absolute silence and you have the budget, the Sony is still the target. Its ANC is in a different league. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra offers arguably the best comfort and a more spacious soundstage, but again, you're paying a massive premium.

For a more direct budget rival, look at something like the older Sony WH-CH720N. It's often around the same price. The trade-off there is that the Sony might have slightly more refined ANC algorithms from a company that's been doing it longer, but the Space One often counters with better battery life and LDAC support. The Beats Studio Pro is another option in the low-to-mid range, but it tends to favor a bass-heavy sound profile and often lacks some of the connectivity features the Anker has. It's a classic features-versus-polish battle.

Skip the Space One if you're primarily buying headphones for work-from-home or all-day video conferencing. Our data flags 'work' as its absolute weakest area at a dismal 5.7 out of 100, largely due to the mediocre microphone performance. In a quiet home office, they're fine, but if you have kids, pets, or street noise in the background, your colleagues will notice. Also, skip them if you're a true audiophile chasing the last detail in your music. The safe sound signature won't satisfy you. For those users, a dedicated gaming headset with a boom mic or saving up for a used pair of Bose 700s would be a much better investment.

If you need a reliable, no-fuss pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones for commuting, travel, or casual listening at home, and your budget is firmly under $100, the Soundcore Space One is an easy recommendation. It delivers the core features you want without any glaring weaknesses, and the battery life is a legit advantage.

However, if you take a lot of work calls in noisy environments, or if you're an audio purist who dissects every note, you should look elsewhere. The microphone and 'work' performance scores are its Achilles' heel. In those cases, stretching your budget for a used pair of higher-tier Sonys or investing in a dedicated gaming headset with a better mic would be a smarter move.