Sometimes cheaper is better: Reviewing the Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro headphones

I think we can all agree that headphone prices have gotten out of hand. Even if the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are worth their price tags, the average person can't spend $400 to $500 on a pair of headphones. Affordable noise-cancelling headphones are widely available, but are they any good? Previously, we've loved the JLab Lux headphones, but what about Soundcore's lineup?

Soundcore's Space One and Space One Pro offer affordable and midrange options to the headphone game. And both are wildly popular: the Soundcore headphones have over 14,000 reviews on Amazon, and I see them everywhere. As a product reviewer, I'm always eyeing what people are wearing at the gym or coffee shop, and quickly, I noticed how many folks were wearing the Space One and Space One Pro headphones.

Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro price and specs

Soundcore's Space One and Space One Pro headphones are similar to Bose's headphone tiers, with the Bose QuietComfort and QuietComfort Ultra. While that means they exist at two different price points, it also means the headphones are similar with a few key differences.

The Soundcore Space One headphones are priced at $99.99 with the following features:

• Noise cancellation: Adaptive active noise cancellation

• Sound: Hi-Res

• Battery life: 40 hours with ANC or 55 hours without ANC

• Fast charging: 5 minutes of charging for 4 hours of playback

• Mics: 3 Mics

• Weight: 265 grams

• Colors: Cloud pink, latte cream, sky blue, and abyss black

The Soundcore Space One Pro headphones are priced at $199.99 with the following features:

• Noise cancellation: Adaptive active noise cancellation 3.0

• Sound: Hi-Res with lossless audio support

• Battery life: 40 hours with ANC or 60 hours without ANC

• Fast charging: 5 minutes of charging for 8 hours of playback

• Mics: 4 Mics

• Weight: 286.2 grams

• Colors: Cream white and jet black

The Soundcore Space One looks like Beats and Bose had a baby

The Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro both have a great look, especially for budget headphones. When I first spotted them out in the wild, I thought they were a pair of Beats because they looked like the Studio Pros. Turns out, the Soundcore and Beats logos just look remarkably similar.

The Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro headphones stand on their own, with sleek, shiny design elements and rounded features. Both are made from lightweight plastic, so while they look expensive, they do feel noticeably cheaper than higher-end brands. The Space One Pros have a little more heft, so they feel more expensive, earning their higher price tag.

The controls are the exact same. On the left ear cup is the power button and a button to control noise cancellation. On the right ear cup is the play/pause button and the volume controls. All the buttons work great, and I prefer them far more than the touch controls of higher-end headphones.

One pair is surprising more comfortable than the other

One odd design choice separating the Space One and Space One Pro is that the ear cups on the Space Ones have a slight eight-degree tilt for an adjustable fit.

Generally, the Space One headphones weren't as snug a fit as the Space One Pros. That being said, I preferred the comfort of the Space One headphones. I wear glasses and earrings daily, and while wearing the Space Ones, I was always comfortable with no pinching on my ears.

The Space One Pros have a tighter fit, which, on the one hand, means better passive noise cancellation. On the other hand, it is harder to get comfortable with the Space One Pro headphones. The tight fit on the headphones meant I was constantly adjusting to get them comfortable, and wearing them for an hour started to give me a headache.

So, on comfort alone, I prefer the Space Ones.

Middling audio quality and noise cancellation

I wasn't blown away by either the Soundcore Space One or Space One pro headphones — both were good but not great. On specs alone, the Space One and Space One Pro are incredibly similar, both with active noise cancellation and hi-res sound. Where the Pros have a leg up is a more advanced version of ANC and lossless audio. In my experience, the sound is virtually the same.

What it ultimately came down to was the headphones' fit. Since the Space One Pro headphones have a tighter fit, it created more passive noise cancellation. When I wore both out at a coffee shop to work, the Space One Pros were better at blocking out the cafe's buzz.

Battery life to last for days

Despite the $100 price difference between the two pairs of headphones, their battery life is fairly similar. The Space One headphones have 40 hours of battery life with ANC and 55 hours without, while the Space One Pro headphones have the same battery life with ANC but 60 hours without.

In my time testing the two pairs of headphones, I found similar results. When using the headphones for a couple of hours a day, I could go about two weeks before needing to recharge them — and that's with active noise cancellation on.

Unless you don't plan to use active noise cancellation on the headphones, the Pros aren't worth it given the battery life.

Go for the cheaper pair: The Soundcore Space One

Testing the Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro headphones side by side, the biggest difference is their price tags. Since that's the case, I say go for the cheaper option, the Soundcore Space One. The battery life is essentially the same as the Pros, plus, they're the more comfortable pair of headphones.

If you want to splurge and prioritize noise cancellation, go for the Soundcore Space One Pro headphones. They have a tighter fit, resulting in better noise cancellation. However, we're big fans of saving money where you can, and in this case, the cheaper Soundcore Space One are our preferred headphones.