Clockwise from top right: Space A40, Sport X20, Liberty 4 NC
Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone
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These days, Anker makes everything from 3D printers to home security systems, and like that friend that picks up your hobby only to be naturally (and frustratingly) good at it, the brand does a lot of things well. Their audio brand, Soundcore, makes some of the best earbuds for the price, with great customizability, reliable performance, and plenty of features.
Clockwise from top right: Space A40, Sport X20, Liberty 4 NC
Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone
The only catch is that Soundcore has a dizzying number of options to choose from, with a price range from roughly $20 up to around $150. If you’ve heard good things about Soundcore but aren’t sure where to start, we put some of their most popular earbuds to the test to find the best options, evaluating features like audio quality, active noise-canceling, and workout-friendliness. These are our picks for the best earbuds to buy from Soundcore.
best overall
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Quick Summary: With dependable ANC performance and handy features like in-ear detection, Soundcore’s Liberty 4 NC is a great option for just under $100. They sounded clear when I tested them for phone calls and feature a long battery life.
Active Noise Canceling: ANC, transparency mode, and wind noise reduction
Stated Battery Life: Up to 10 hours with buds/50 hrs with case (ANC off)
The earbuds have three automatic modes in the ambient setting, including ANC, Normal, and Transparency. The manual ANC mode features five settings, and there’s even a transportation mode that adjusts based on your environment, allowing you to choose between planes, trains, and automobiles.
In-ear detection reliably pauses the music when you pop an earbud out, making these earbuds a great option if you’re frequently switching between listening to music and having conversations. The in-ear detection isn’t as quick as other options I’ve tested — there’s maybe a one-and-a-half-second delay — but it’s otherwise mostly dependable.
As for the controls, the earbuds feature customizable tap controls, letting you control playback or answer calls with a single, double, or triple tap, and a long press can be customized to lower or raise the volume. The left and right earbuds are independently customizable, too.
The sound quality is solid, there are a lot of colors to choose from, and they’re among the most feature-rich earbuds in Anker’s lineup, making these arguably the best option for most.
best value
Soundcore Space A40
Quick Summary: With a more modest price point and smaller case than the Liberty 4 NC, the Space A40 earbuds are the ideal affordable everyday buds, although you lose out on some features, like in-ear detection.
Active Noise Canceling: ANC, transparency mode, and manual mode.
Stated Battery Life: Up to 10 hours with buds/50 hrs with case (ANC off)
The Space A40 earbuds have a more compact in-ear design compared to the more conspicuous stemmed design of the Liberty 4 NC. The list price is typically $80, but they’re regularly available for $60 or less, making them a great value option.
The ANC settings are less comprehensive than the Liberty 4 NC, but you get multiple ANC modes, including an ambient setting that adjusts to your surroundings or a manual mode featuring three levels of noise-canceling. You can also customize the tap controls; I set double tap to play and pause to prevent accidental taps from a single press. However, the earbuds lack in-ear detection, so you’ll need to manually pause.
The sound quality on the Liberty 4 NC slightly outperforms the Space A40, but it’s hard to complain at this price, particularly because these earbuds have customizable EQ and unique features like 3D surround sound (a feature I generally find a little gimmicky, but a nice-to-have nonetheless).
These earbuds also boast a robust battery life, with up to 10 hours with the buds or 50 hours with the case with ANC off, though you can expect a dropoff using features like ANC.
best for workouts
Soundcore Sport X20
Quick Summary: Soundcore’s workout-focused X20 earbuds feature IP68 water-resistance and flexible ear hooks for a secure, comfortable fit for every workout.
Active Noise Canceling: ANC, transparency mode, and manual mode.
Stated Battery Life: Up to 12 hours with buds/48 hrs with case (ANC off)
Sports-style earbuds often have wings or hooks for a secure fit. Having tested a number of the best earbuds with ear hooks, I can say these are among the most comfortable. They have a soft, flexible hook that keeps the buds securely in place without exerting too much pressure.
These earbuds also have the features you’d want from a pair of workout-focused earbuds, including IP68 protection from dust and water, meaning they’re up to the task for the sweatiest, grimiest workouts. The X20 earbuds also have another feature I appreciate in sport earbuds, which is a physical button instead of tap controls. The button is awkwardly positioned, but it helps prevent accidental taps and can be used to control playback and answer calls. Both the left and right earbud have customizable controls, although the earbuds lack in-ear detection.
The X20 earbuds also come in a relatively compact case, compared to the often oversized case of sport earbuds. The ANC is dependable (though not as impressive as picks from Sony, Apple, or Bose). The ANC is also customizable. The sound profile on these is pretty bass-forward, which isn’t a problem for a pair of sport-focused earbuds, but the EQ is customizable if you’re not a fan.
The first thing to do with a pair of open-ear earbuds is temper your expectations: the best ones won’t sound as clear as the best in-ear earbuds. But whether you work in an office and want to stay aware of conversations, you’re a runner or cyclist keeping an ear out for cars, or you simply find in-ear earbuds uncomfortable, open-ear earbuds can be a great option.
Soundcore’s AeroFit 2 earbuds are a great option for any of those use-cases, with a secure but lightweight ear hook that keeps them in place. They boast surprisingly clear sound, and the earbuds are adjustable to better face the ear canal. The touch controls are customizable but fairly sensitive; I turned off single tap to reduce accidental presses, setting double tap to play and pause. Like most open-ear earbuds, these don’t have in-ear detection.
The case is pretty large, but it’s slimmer than other earbuds with ear hooks, and while I wouldn’t call them pocket-friendly, they’re not overly cumbersome to take on the go.
There are many other Anker earbuds to consider (nearly too many), but these other options from Soundcore offer other features worth considering.
also consider
Soundcore C30i
Soundcore’s C30i earbuds have a similar design to Bose’s Ultra Open earbuds, with a clip-on design that attaches to the outer ear. Though they’re not as crisp or comfortable as the similarly styled Bose Ultra Open earbuds, they’re much more affordable. The C30i earbuds also have detachable grips for a customizable fit.
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