Soundcore P25i

The Soundcore P25i delivers 10 hours of earbud battery, solid build quality, and an app full of EQ presets for as little as $15. Audio still lands in the bottom 28th percentile with a 39.9 music score, but owner sentiment has climbed to a much healthier 78 out of 100. Treat it as a cheap, long-lasting backup and you won't feel burned.

Let's get straight to the numbers. Despite the 10mm dynamic driver, the P25i's sound quality lands in the bottom 28th percentile. Our music score is a weak 39.9 out of 100—that's one of the lowest we've seen. The bass is muddy and the highs lack detail, which undercuts the 'big bass' marketing. Connectivity is where things brighten up: Bluetooth 5.3 kept a rock-solid link in our tests, earning an 83rd percentile rank. Battery life is a genuine bright spot, too. You get 10 hours from the buds and another 30 from the case, putting it at the 83rd percentile, and the quick-charge feature (10 minutes for 2 hours) is clutch. Build quality surprised us—it's sturdy and the IPX5 rating means sweat and splashes won't kill it, landing at the 91st percentile. But comfort is just average (70th percentile), and the microphone performs at a middling 54th percentile. It'll handle a quiet call, but don't expect it to cut through street noise.

When you stack the P25i against its peers, the audio weakness is still the main hurdle. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ adds active noise cancellation and a far richer sound signature for around $50, a small price jump for a massive upgrade. The new competitive set has also shifted the high end: Technics EAH-AZ100, Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Apple AirPods Pro 3 now dominate the top ranks, reminding us just how good flagship buds have gotten. For budget alternatives, the TOZO Crystal Pods deliver clearer audio, though the Soundcore's battery life edges them out. If call clarity matters, the Sony WF-C700N offers cleaner mics and ANC for a reasonable step up. The P25i carves out a narrow niche: maximum playback hours for minimum cash, preferably at that $15 sweet spot.

Pricing for the P25i has settled into a much saner window. Where it once swung wildly from $25 to an absurd $399, you can now find it reliably between $15 and $34. Best Buy again tends to have the lowest sticker, often at that $15 floor. At that price, the long battery and IPX5 build start to look genuinely fair. Our total score is still a modest 53.8, so you're not getting a hidden gem, but the value proposition has shifted from 'only if you're broke' to 'a reasonable beater for the money.' If you pay above $30, you're leaving better options on the table.

The Soundcore by Anker P25i is a bit of a puzzle. On one hand, it's wildly popular—its social proof score sits in the 95th percentile thanks to over 5,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating on Best Buy. On the other hand, our aggregated user sentiment score lands at a grim 1st percentile, meaning owners report more frustrations than with almost any other true wireless bud we track. The spec sheet looks decent enough: 10mm drivers with 'big bass,' 10 hours of earbud life, IPX5 water resistance, and a companion app. But our test data reveals some rough edges that explain the mixed feelings.

Music lovers should still look elsewhere. A 39.9 music score is too low for anyone who cares about detail or clarity, and the EarFun Air Pro 4+ remains a far better listen for around $50. Anyone who takes frequent calls in noisy environments will also be disappointed by the microphone's struggle with background noise. And if you need earbuds that stay locked in during a run or gym session, the JBL Endurance Race 2 with its secure hook design is a smarter fitness pick.

The data still calls the P25i a battery-first bud with compromised sound, but there's been a shift in how owners feel about it. The music score hasn't budged from a weak 39.9 and the 28th percentile sound ranking, but user sentiment has climbed significantly, suggesting everyday buyers are finding more to like than our test bench does. The 10-hour earbud life and quick charging remain the headline acts, and the build quality holds up. It's no longer the worst-rated bud by owner sentiment; it's now a middle-of-the-pack option that some folks genuinely enjoy. At $15, it's a capable backup or podcast companion. I'd still nudge you toward the EarFun Air Pro 4+ if you can spare $50, but the P25i is no longer a total write-off.