Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
soundcore vs Timekettle
soundcore
Higher score in this comparison
Timekettle
soundcore vs Timekettle: the differences
| Compare | soundcoreReviewVisitVisit | TimekettleReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99.99Lower | $119.99 |
| Battery life | 28 hours | 36 hoursHigher |
| IP rating | IPX7 | IPX4 |
| Markets | US, GB, DE, CA, FR, ES, IT, AU, VN, FI, NO, SE, IS, AE, DK | AU, AT, BE, CA, CH, DE, ES, FR, GB, ID, IT, JP, LI, LU, RU, SG, TH, TW, UA, US, VN |
| Warranty | Not confirmed | 1 year |
Same on both: Noise cancelling (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- soundcore scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Price from is lower at soundcore: $99.99 vs $119.99.
- Battery life is higher at Timekettle: 36 hours vs 28 hours.
- Support channels: only Timekettle offers Community.
- Founded is lower at soundcore: 2011 vs 2016.
- Timekettle is available in 5 more countries.
- Products: only soundcore offers Headphones, Speakers, Portable speakers.
- Markets: only soundcore offers FI, NO, SE.
- Markets: only Timekettle offers AT, BE, CH.
Our verdict on each
soundcore
soundcore suits commuters and everyday listeners who want noise cancelling earbuds, headphones and portable speakers from one brand, without the wider hi-fi range JBL carries. Battery life of 28 hours is the trade-off, and the 30 day return window keeps a first buy low risk.
Timekettle
Timekettle suits buyers who want noise cancelling earbuds, 36 hours of battery and an entry price of $119.99 without stepping up to a premium tier. The trade offs are a 1 year warranty and an earbuds only range, so anyone after over ear headphones or longer cover should widen the search.
Score breakdown
| Area | soundcore | Timekettle |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7HigherEntry price of $99.99 ranks 46 of 64 brands, putting soundcore mid-table on cost. | 8.5Entry price of $119.99 ranks 52 of 64, and the cost score part is 8.5. |
| Offer | 9.2Product types cover headphones, earbuds and speakers, and the store's categories are audio and refurbished. | 9.2Noise cancelling is yes and battery runs 36 hours, with an offer score part of 9.2. |
| Trust | 8.6HigherReturns run 30 days with email, phone and chat, under Fantasia Trading LLC in HK. | 8.3Warranty of 1 years plus phone and help centre support gives a trust score part of 8.3. |
Choosing between them
Pick soundcore if trust and price from matter most.
Pick Timekettle if battery life matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | soundcore | Timekettle |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | China |
Available in 9 countries for both. Additional countries for soundcore: 6. Additional countries for Timekettle: 11.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | soundcore | Timekettle |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones and earbuds | 18 of 119 | 1 of 119 |
What we checked
soundcore
- soundcore.com: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Timekettle
- timekettle.co: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | soundcore | Timekettle |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Headphones, Earbuds, Speakers, Portable speakersCovers more | Earbuds |
| Bluetooth codecs | Aac, Ldac | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Fantasia Trading LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | China |
| Founded | 2011Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Electronics stores
| Fact | soundcore | Timekettle |
|---|---|---|
| Departments | Audio, Refurbished | Not confirmed |
| Free delivery threshold | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Return window | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | soundcore | Timekettle | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99.99above the median | $119.99highest quarter | $64.98 |
| Battery life | 28 hoursbelow the median | 36 hoursbelow the median | 48 hours |
| Warranty | Not confirmed | 1 yearbelow the median | 2 years |
Median across 72 listed brands.
Pros and cons
soundcore
Pros
- Noise cancelling is a yes on the earbuds soundcore puts at the front of the range, so the feature that does most work on a commute does not wait for a pricier model.
- An ingress rating of IPX7 on those earbuds covers rain, sweat and everyday commuting mishaps.
- A battery figure of 28 hours covers a working day of calls and music on a single charge.
Cons
- A battery figure of 28 hours ranks 42 of 61 brands, under the 48.5 typical of the headphones and earbuds list, so long journeys need a top-up.
- The catalogue stops at headphones, earbuds and speakers, where JBL's headphones, earbuds and speakers adds soundbars, hi-fi and turntables for home listening.
- Entry at $99.99 is mid-table at 46 of 64, so the cheapest route into noise cancelling audio sits with another brand.
Timekettle
Pros
- Entry price of $119.99 puts Timekettle in the middle of the price ranking rather than at the top of it
- Noise cancelling is yes across the range, matching the 70.1% share of the category
- Battery of 36 hours is long enough for travel days without carrying a case everywhere
Cons
- Warranty of 1 years sits at rank 29 of 56 on our warranty data
- The range is earbuds only, so anyone after over-ear headphones has to look at JBL or HyperX
- Battery of 36 hours ranks 34 of 61, below the category median of 40 hours
Who each suits
soundcore
Who it suits
- Commuters who want noise cancelling earbuds, headphones and portable speakers in one catalogue instead of the soundbar and turntable spread JBL carries.
- Shoppers who want a return window and phone support close by rather than a headset only shop such as CORSAIR, whose range is headphones.
- Buyers in the listed US, GB and DE markets who want water-resistant earbuds at IPX7 rather than the narrower headphones and earbuds line from HyperX.
Who should look elsewhere
- Home cinema and vinyl buyers: JBL's headphones, earbuds and speakers covers soundbars, hi-fi and turntables, none of which appear in soundcore's headphones, earbuds and speakers.
- Gaming headset shoppers: CORSAIR lists headphones, a narrower lane than soundcore's headphones, earbuds and speakers.
- Long-haul listeners who need more than 28 hours, since the headphones and earbuds list runs up to 70.
Timekettle
Who it suits
- Travelers who want noise cancelling earbuds with a 36 hour battery at an entry price of $119.99
- Earbud only shoppers who would rather keep one product shape than browse across headphone types
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after over-ear headphones, since the range is earbuds only and JBL or HyperX cover both forms
- Buyers who want a longer warranty than 1 years and can find better cover elsewhere in the rankings
Country by country
| Country | soundcore | Timekettle |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| Finland | Yes | No |
| Iceland | Yes | No |
| Indonesia | No | Yes |
| Japan | No | Yes |
| Liechtenstein | No | Yes |
8 of 26 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
soundcore
What does soundcore equipment cost?+
The entry price is $99.99, and it buys any of the products in headphones, earbuds and speakers. Payment is made once, in the store, so the outlay is straightforward to plan. On the price ranking soundcore sits at 46 of 64, which is mid-table: neither the cheapest ticket in the group nor the most expensive.
Is there a renewal charge after buying soundcore gear?+
soundcore sets a price per product rather than per period, so $99.99 is what a buyer pays at the checkout and no second amount follows later. The store also lists refurbished audio alongside new stock under audio and refurbished, which is the practical way to spend less than the entry price. A 30 day return window covers a change of mind.
Timekettle
How much do Timekettle earbuds cost to start with?+
Timekettle earbuds start at $119.99, which is the entry point across the range rather than a promotional figure. That price places it at rank 52 of 64 on our price ranking, so it sits in the middle of the field. Support runs on email, chat and phone, and cover lasts 1 years.
Do Timekettle earbuds have noise cancelling?+
Noise cancelling is yes across the Timekettle range, so background noise is reduced on the buds themselves. Battery life of 36 hours supports long listening sessions, and the IPX4 rating covers sweat and rain. That pairing is unusual at an entry price of $119.99.