Soundcore P20i

The Soundcore P20i true wireless earbuds are a budget-friendly pick with massive bass, stellar 10-hour battery life, and a handy app. Sound quality is muddy and there's no real ANC, but for under $40, they're a solid choice for casual listening and workouts.

The 10mm dynamic drivers do exactly what Anker promises: they pump out bass. In our testing, the low-end is punchy and energetic, making these a solid pick for bass-heavy playlists. But the overall sound signature is muddy in the mids and rolled off in the highs, which drags the music score down to a 40.9 out of 100. It's one of the weaker audio performances we've tracked, so if you listen to a lot of acoustic, classical, or vocal-forward tracks, you'll notice the lack of clarity.

Battery life is a different story. You get 10 hours out of the buds themselves, which is well above average and lands in the 82nd percentile. The case pushes that to 30 hours, and a quick 10-minute charge gives you 2 hours of playback. Connectivity is also a standout, hitting the 91st percentile thanks to stable Bluetooth 5.3 with very few dropouts in our tests. The dual mics with AI noise reduction for calls are decent too, sitting in the 79th percentile. Callers said we sounded clear, though a bit compressed in noisy environments.

Stacked against the EarFun Air Pro 4+, the P20i gets smoked on sound quality and noise cancellation. The EarFun has a more refined audio profile and real ANC, but it also costs more. The JBL Endurance Race 2 is a closer fight: the JBL has a more secure fit for running and a more durable build, but the Soundcore wins on battery life and app features. The Nothing Buds 2 are in a different league for design and sound clarity, but they're also pricier. If you're cross-shopping the Baseus Bass BP1 Pro, the P20i has a better app and longer battery, though the Baseus feels more premium in the hand. The TOZO Crystal Pods are a direct competitor on price, and the TOZO often edges ahead in comfort, but the Soundcore's bass hits harder.

For the price, which floats between $17 and $40, the P20i is a steal if your priority list starts with bass and battery life. You're getting features like an app with a full EQ and Find My Earbuds that are rare in this price bracket. But if sound quality is your top concern, spending a bit more gets you into something like the EarFun Air Pro 4+, which offers better balance and actual ANC. The P20i is a budget champ for casual listening, not an audiophile's secret weapon.

If you're hunting for true wireless earbuds that won't make your wallet cry, the Soundcore P20i A3949 keeps popping up everywhere, and for good reason. Priced somewhere between $17 and $40 depending on the sale, these little guys pack oversized 10mm drivers that Anker tuned specifically for big bass. You get Bluetooth 5.3, a customizable app with 22 EQ presets, and a total of 30 hours of playtime with the case. It's the kind of spec sheet that usually costs twice as much.

Fit and comfort are solid for most ear shapes, and the IPX water-resistant design means you don't have to panic if you get caught in the rain or sweat through a workout. The case is tiny, has a built-in lanyard loop, and slips into a pocket easily. It's a practical, no-fuss design that focuses on the basics.

But let's be real: at this price, corners get cut somewhere. The sound profile is very bass-forward, which is fun for pop and hip-hop, but the overall sound quality lands in the 27th percentile in our database. That means if you care about crisp mids or detailed highs, these aren't going to impress you. They're built for thump, not for nuance.

Skip the Soundcore P20i if you're an audiophile or listen to a lot of vocal-centric, acoustic, or classical music. The muddy mids and rolled-off highs will drive you nuts. Also look elsewhere if you need real active noise cancellation for commuting or office work. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ or Nothing Buds 2 are better fits for those needs. If you have smaller ears or find stem-style earbuds uncomfortable after an hour, the JBL Endurance Race 2 might be a more ergonomic choice.

Should you buy the Soundcore P20i? If you want cheap earbuds that thump, last a long time, and don't drop the connection, yes. These are perfect for gym sessions, podcasts, and bass-heavy playlists where you're not analyzing every detail. The battery life alone makes them a great backup pair to keep in your bag.

But if you care about hearing the strum of an acoustic guitar or the breath in a vocal, skip these. The sound is just too muddy for critical listening. And don't buy these thinking you're getting noise cancellation. The marketing is confusing, but this is passive isolation only. For the money, they're a fun, bassy beater pair, not a primary set for music lovers.