Soundcore P31i
Plugfones Guardian EX1
What Buyers Say
Soundcore P31i
The Soundcore P31i earbuds are overwhelmingly praised for their exceptional sound quality, effective active noise cancellation, and impressive battery life, all at a very affordable price. Users highlight the companion app's powerful EQ and adaptive ANC features, though a few note fit issues with the ear tips. Overall, they are seen as a fantastic value, often compared favorably to much more expensive competitors like AirPods.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality
- Effective active noise cancellation
- Long battery life
- Powerful companion app with EQ
- Comfortable fit with multiple ear tip sizes
Cons
- Ear tips may not fit all ear shapes
- Case is larger than previous models
- App requires data collection
- Translation feature is tricky
Plugfones Guardian EX1
The Plugfones are a budget-friendly hybrid of earplugs and earbuds, praised for comfort, decent sound, and effective noise reduction in moderate environments. However, some users report durability issues like foam tips breaking off in the ear, and the noise blocking may not suffice for extremely loud settings. The loose audio jack is a minor but recurring annoyance.
Pros
- Comfortable for long wear
- Decent sound quality for price
- Effective noise reduction in moderate noise
- Discreet design for workplace use
- Comes with carrying case
Cons
- Foam tips may break off in ear
- Noise reduction insufficient for very loud environments
- Loose audio jack causes intermittent sound
- No microphone or volume control
- Low-end bass not prominent
Scores
Specifications
| Soundcore P31i | Plugfones Guardian EX1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | — |
| Ear Tips | XS, S, M, L | — |
| Weight | 0.06 kg | 0.04 kg★ |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | hybrid |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | — |
| Drivers | 1★ | — |
| Freq Max | 40 kHz★ | — |
| Impedance | 14.199999809265137 Ω | — |
| Sensitivity | 120 dB★ | — |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓★ | — |
| Codecs | LDAC | — |
| Surround | Spatial Audio | — |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | adaptive | — |
| Transparency | ✗ | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | — |
| Wired Connector | USB Type C | — |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 10 hrs★ | — |
| Charge Time | 3 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 3.5 hours playback | — |
| Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 50 hrs★ | — |
| Case Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Wireless Charging | ✓★ | — |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓★ | — |
| Mic Count | 6★ | — |
| NC Mic | ✓★ | — |
| Features | ||
| Touch Controls | ✓★ | — |
| App | soundcore | — |
| Gaming Mode | ✗ | — |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | — |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | — |
Pros & Cons
Soundcore P31i
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong sound (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong battery (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
Plugfones Guardian EX1
- Strong anc (73rd percentile)
- Strong social proof (73rd percentile)
- Strong comfort (72nd percentile)
- Below average mic (12th percentile)12th %ile
- Below average connectivity (12th percentile)12th %ile
- Below average build (34th percentile)
Pricing
Soundcore P31i offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 16 of 34 specs.