soundcore Q31i Wireless ANC Headphones (Black, D1404Z11) review

Soundcore · Current-reference U.S. model · Black D1404Z11

The soundcore Q31i is an over-ear Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphone sold on the U.S. manufacturer site as Black SKU D1404Z11. Its official page and D1404 guide document adaptive ANC, Transparency, app controls, a 3.5 mm input and two-device Bluetooth switching. This is a source-based assessment of those claims, not a listening test or a prediction of the experience on a particular head.

What the Q31i’s noise-control modes actually do

The U.S. product page describes four-microphone adaptive ANC, five adjustable cancellation levels in the app and Transparency mode. Soundcore’s support overview lists an approximate ANC depth; these are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements of how much noise every wearer will perceive. The D1404 manual advises wearing the cups so they cover the ears, and the fit-related support guidance notes that gaps or blocked microphones can affect the system. A seal, glasses, hair, head shape and changing sounds remain practical variables.

The manual says the headphone starts in Noise Cancelling mode, with the NC button switching between ANC and Transparency. ANC-off Normal mode is selected in the app unless the button is customized. That is useful to know before leaving home: the button’s default behavior does not cycle through all three modes. Soundcore claims up to 50 hours of playback with ANC on and up to 80 with it off. Its support overview gives a 50% volume test condition and separately lists approximately 40 hours with ANC and LDAC enabled. Those are maximum ratings, not promises for calls, higher volume, extra app features, an aged battery or an individual commute. The current regional support page publishes different Q31i runtime numbers, 58 and 84 hours, without reconciling them; the U.S. SKU’s own page and English D1404 manual retain 50/80, so the discrepancy is disclosed rather than averaged.

Two devices and LDAC are different arrangements

The D1404 manual and the official connection guide explain how to pair a second device and change the active source. This is a convenience for moving between, for example, a phone and a computer; the guide describes switching playback, not mixing two audio programs. It also says LDAC is unavailable while the headphone is connected to two devices at once. LDAC requires a supported Android source and the soundcore app, and the support overview gives a separate ANC-plus-LDAC maximum. A buyer who values high-bitrate LDAC therefore has to give up the documented dual-link arrangement, and the product does not have a published 50-hour ANC test for multipoint mode.

Compared with the related Q20i A3004 assessment, the Q31i uses the newer D1404 family, lists Bluetooth 6.0 and LDAC, and has a higher U.S. ANC-on headline rating. The Q20i also documents two-device switching, so multipoint alone does not distinguish them. Their manuals also differ on wired details and neither product page establishes the exact AUX cable contents of every seller box.

AUX works differently from Bluetooth

The Q31i has a 3.5 mm input, but a cable is not a way to keep ANC running. The U.S. product page states that ANC is not available in wired mode and that plugging in the audio lead powers the headphone off. The D1404 guide says wired listening turns Bluetooth off and controls are unavailable; the model-specific connection article says a powered-off headphone can be used directly in AUX mode. Together these instructions support an analog, power-off listening arrangement, separate from ANC and Transparency. No microphone call route is documented over the cable.

Soundcore’s U.S. page and manual do not settle whether a given retailer’s box includes the 3.5 mm lead. Confirm the exact listing, cable, return terms and device jack before relying on wired travel use. The USB-C port is documented for charging; it is not evidence of USB audio input.

Fit, controls and purchase checks

The U.S. page lists a 265 g weight, oval earcups, more room for the ears and a 40 mm silk-and-metal-ceramic diaphragm design. These are useful specifications for shortlisting, not a substitute for a fit check. The same page describes three microphones and AI call processing, but neither that description nor the existence of microphones establishes how a voice will sound in a particular meeting. The manual lists a two-hour full charge and a ten-minute charge for up to ten hours of wireless play; actual runtime still depends on the operating mode and source material.

Before buying, verify that the offer is the U.S. Black D1404Z11, not a similarly named model or regional finish; check the exact accessories; and make sure your phone/computer setup matches your priorities. If multipoint matters, plan on standard Bluetooth codecs rather than LDAC. If passive cable listening matters, verify an AUX cable is supplied or obtain a compatible one. The current manufacturer page is a product reference, not confirmation of a retailer’s inventory, unit condition, serial eligibility or warranty outcome. Exact-name U.S. CPSC queries for “Q31i” and “D1404” returned no rows in this review cycle, but narrow name searches cannot certify a serial number or future recall status.

Sources checked

• soundcore U.S. Q31i product page, Black D1404Z11
• Anker soundcore Q31i User Guide (D1404)
• soundcore Q31i product overview and specifications
• soundcore Q31i Bluetooth, dual-device and AUX connection guide
• soundcore Q31i ANC modes and app controls

Sources checked 31 October 2026. No product ownership, hands-on use, lab measurement or independent ANC/call test is claimed.