06 Dec
Blog

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Review: Style Meets Substance

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro

RRP $ 170.00

"Soundcore's flagship earphones just got better, with ANC and Hi-Res audio."

advantages

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Good noise cancellation

  • Very good transparency

  • Very good call quality

  • Wireless charging

  • LDAC Hi-Res audio

disadvantage

  • A bit bulky

  • Somewhat awkward charging case

Ankers Soundcore audio brand has consistently wowed us with wireless headphones and true wireless earbuds that are impressive value for money. We thought Liberty 2 Pro was an excellent choice last year for $ 150 because it offers great and detailed sound quality. With its newest model, the $ 170 Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, the brand is taking a giant leap forward with the addition of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, wear sensors, and high-resolution audio via Sony's LDAC Bluetooth codec – all features that the Liberty 2 Pro was missing. That's not bad for the $ 20 price tag. Do these additions make the Liberty 3 Pro a breeze for fans of high quality audio? Let's check them out.

Smaller and slimmer

Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro alongside Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro (left) and Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As much as we enjoyed the sound of the Liberty 2 Pro, we didn't really love its shape or style. Our reviewer noted that they protruded quite a bit from his head and that “everyone around you is acutely aware of the buds; they are impossible to ignore. ”The Liberty 3 Pro are significantly slimmer. They're still hard to ignore, but this time around, it's in a good way. The highly polished exterior of our Fog Gray tester looks like jewelry rather than a plastic audio accessory.

Soundcore has replaced the tiny, difficult-to-use physical buttons on the Liberty 2 Pro with touch controls that also help keep the earbuds in place. Instead of squeezing it between your thumb and forefinger, you can just type.

The silicone ear wings or wingtips have also been improved. With the Liberty 2 Pro, I found it too soft to really offer additional security. But the 3 Pro's wingtips are sturdier and wedge deeper into the folds of my ears. Soundcore also offers an excellent selection of wingtips and earplugs – each in four sizes.

A case for better ergonomics

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

One of the coolest features of the Liberty 2 Pro – the sliding lid of the wireless charging case – returns to the Liberty 3 Pro and is just as satisfying to use. The mechanism lets you slide the lid open and closed with one hand and I guarantee you will play with it like a fidget toy even when you don't need the earbuds.

What has unfortunately also returned is the awkward orientation of the earbuds inside the case. There's just no way you can pull it out and put it in your ear in one continuous motion – god knows I've tried. It's just as awkward to put back when you're done. Something about the alignment they need to be in when carrying them compared to the way they need to be placed in the bag goes against every instinct in your brain as to how it should work.

But what the case lacks in ergonomics it makes up for in style. Although it's bigger than many charging cases, its perfectly smooth, rounded contours sit comfortably in the hand, and when you slide the lid open, you'll be treated to a light show of the embedded LEDs – the Liberty 3 Pro looks like it's from an imaginary one Science fiction future.

Sublime sound

Man with Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I had the opportunity to try several Soundcore products: The Life Q30 ANC headphones, Liberty 2 Pro, Liberty Air 2 Pro and Life P3. Each one far exceeded my expectations considering the other products that you can buy at similar prices. The Liberty 3 Pro are no exception and deliver beautiful, powerful sound that will suit whatever genre of music you want them to offer. Its dual driver architecture, which combines a dynamic driver for the low frequencies with a balanced armature driver for the mids and highs, works like a charm.

The bass response is excellent. The Liberty 2 Pro also offered powerful bass, but the 3 Pro makes this more controlled. If you listen to The Doors' Dolby Atmos Music version of Riders On The Storm, you can feel the deep roar of the bass line at the start of the track, but at no point does it interfere with the jingling notes of Ray Manzarek's Rhodes piano that seem to fly completely weightless through the air. In the very highest registers there is a slight tendency to hiss, but thanks to the huge number of EQ presets and manual adjustments of the Soundcore app, it is possible to switch this back down if it bothers you.

The HearID feature, which was designed to match the earbuds to your specific hearing profile, actually worked for me – a surprise as I haven't had much luck with digital enhancements like this in the past. Turning it on gave me a much needed boost in certain frequencies and I enjoyed the way it changed the sound. Your mileage may vary.

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Soundcore contains a simulated 3D surround setting in its app. While this improves the feeling of space, it also undermines the sound and cannot compete with a real Dolby Atmos track.

The hardest part of the Liberty 3 Pro to judge is its hi-res wireless audio made possible by the inclusion of Sony's LDAC Bluetooth codec. In doing so, Soundcore chose to ditch the Liberty 2 Pro's aptX, but I think it's an acceptable compromise.

If you listen to a very high quality recording in a quiet room, you can notice an extra level of smoothness and depth.

By the way, if you want to use this function, it must first be activated in the Soundcore app, otherwise it will not be recognized by Android devices as LDAC-enabled headphones. It's also worth noting that iPhones don't support LDAC.

My experience with LDAC is that it can bring about improvements in audio quality. But the difference is incredibly subtle, even with very high quality headphones and when streaming 24-bit lossless tracks from a service like Amazon Music. This is the case with the Liberty 3 Pro. In a perfectly quiet room, while listening to a very high quality recording, you can notice an extra level of smoothness and depth – as if someone had carefully trimmed the sharp points, giving you a more natural sounding signature. Or, you may not even notice the difference.

Given that turning on LDAC significantly affects battery life (4.5 hours when turned on versus 8 hours when turned off) and prevents the Liberty 3 Pro from connecting to a second Bluetooth device (more on that later), maybe it's just not worth it to you

Not very calm

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

ANC makes a good addition to any set of true wireless earbuds, but not all ANC systems are created equal. In the case of soundcore, it has yet to master the art of complete silence. I found the same situation with the Liberty 3 Pro as the company's Liberty Air 2 Pro: ANC definitely reduces external noise, but when you're not playing music you will hear a slight hiss. Is it a deal breaker? No, but if you're buying a set of ANC earbuds to silence the world so you can think or sleep, you should probably look into other options like the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, Jabra Elite 7 Pro, or the Technics EAH-AZ60.

Transparency mode, on the other hand, can be very effective, especially if you turn on the Singing Mode option, which is great for hearing voices, including your own.

Thanks to the HearID feature of the Soundcore app, there are some interesting tweaks to both settings, but I didn't find a huge difference.

Good call

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro scope of delivery.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Liberty 3 Pro's multiple microphones do a really good job of recording your voice for calls. It's a full, natural, and resonant sound that – under optimal circumstances – is as good or better than what your phone's microphone can do.

That changes a bit when things get loud around you. Interestingly, your callers may never even hear these other sounds because the ambient noise cancellation is great. But since the software is working overtime to mask these noises, it also goes a little overboard and creates a noticeable warble in your voice. This compression can be extreme at times. Still, find a relatively quiet place and you should be able to hear your callers loud and clear without any problems.

Go the distance

Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The battery life of six hours on a single charge (24 hours with charging case) is more than sufficient if you leave ANC switched on. This jumps to 8/32 when switched off. Those are numbers that put the Liberty 3 Pro on par with some of the best ANC earbuds, and give them a healthy edge over the AirPods Pro.

If you run out of juice, a 15-minute quick charge in the case gives you three hours more time, which is great: Most competitors only get an additional hour on a 10-minute charge.

Extras

Soundcore doesn't skimp on bells and whistles. You can customize the touch controls with full freedom to select every function and gesture on both earbuds – even the volume that the Liberty 2 Pro lacked. There's a fit test to help you determine the correct size earbuds, and you can decide whether or not you want the wearing sensors to automatically pause your music when you remove an earbud.

Each earbud can be used independently for both calls and music, and as previously mentioned, you can pair the Liberty 3 Pro with two devices at the same time – a great convenience for people who and don't routinely have to switch between their computer and phone do want to dive into their settings every time.

After all, an IPX4 rating for water resistance means that you should withstand a very sweaty workout or a rainy run without any problems.

Our opinion

While the Liberty 3 Pro are still more powerful than many other true wireless earbuds, they are easy to recommend, with great sound quality, capable ANC, and tons of useful and practical features.

Is there a better alternative?

At $ 170, Soundcore has an interesting niche for that Liberty 3 Pro. If you spend a little more – let's say $ 200 – you can get that Jabra Elite 7 Prowhich, in this reviewer's opinion, are a perfect set of earbuds. They're smaller, more comfortable, and have better ANC performance, but I'm not sure they sound quite as dynamic as the Libertys. And ironically, they currently lack Bluetooth multipoint, a signature Jabra feature, while the Liberty 3 Pro does.

Spend a little less – let's say $ 150 – and you can get it Technology EAH-AZ40, with fantastic sound quality, but very few frills. There's no wireless charging, no ANC, and no advanced bluetooth codecs.

How long will they last?

Hard to say about true wireless earbuds, but the Liberty 3 Pro have a few things that should help with their longevity: A good starting battery life of 8 hours (this tends to decline as the earbuds age), 18 Months warranty and an IPX4 rating for water protection. If you care for them, they should last for many years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. They are great value for money in a range of true wireless noise canceling earbuds.

Editor's recommendations



07 Jul
Blog

Soundcore Life P3 Review: Feature-Loaded Affordable Earbuds

Soundcore Life P3 in a charging case.

Soundcore Life P3

RRP $ 80.00

"The Life P3 has features typically found in expensive earbuds and is great value for money."

advantages

  • Customizable EQ

  • Customizable controls

  • Wireless charging

  • Good battery life

disadvantage

  • No wear sensors

  • Transparency during calls cannot be activated

Ever since Anker launched its Soundcore audio products, they have impressed us with their consistently high quality and low prices. Soundcore's latest product is the Life P3, a $ 80 set of true wireless earbuds that take that value equation even further with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and wireless charging – two features that typically appear on earbuds that are twice as expensive . Are the Life P3s as good as they look on paper? Let's check them out.

What's in the box?

Scope of delivery of the Soundcore Life P3.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

First, let's give some well-deserved praise to Soundcore: Previous Soundcore earbuds came in large, heavy boxes with embedded magnets and lots of plastic – not exactly easy to recycle in most places. The Life P3 comes in a much simpler box that is smaller and uses less material. The magnets are gone, but a black plastic tray remains in there. Still, this is a big step towards more sustainable packaging that we want to encourage.

Soundcore has a successful design formula.

In the packaging you will find the Life P3 earbuds already in their charging case, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, four additional sizes of silicone earbuds (a fifth set is installed on the earbuds) and some paper documents.

design

Soundcore Life P3 in a charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Life P3 uses a familiar AirPod-esque design with slim, touch-sensitive stems that protrude down from a small, rounded body. If you want something that doesn't stand out, the colors black and blue are muted and subtle, but there are more vibrant options too: white, sky blue, and coral red. This type of color choice is unusual in the world of true wireless earbuds – most models only offer two colors (usually black or white), if they offer a choice at all.

The matching charging case is smoothly rounded and relatively compact, but not as pocket-friendly as the AirPods or Google Pixel Buds. Earlier Soundcore earbuds like the Liberty 2 Pro and Liberty Air 2 Pro used a smooth sliding mechanism for their charging case lids, but the Life P3 stick with a more conventional flip hinge – an obvious place to save some money.

What is really impressive is the degree to which you can customize the tap controls.

But while this hinge may make the case cheaper to manufacture, the case doesn't feel cheap at all. The lid is spring-loaded and opens automatically when it is lifted, which makes one-handed operation much easier than with similar housing designs. It also stays open if you want it to. The earphones simply snap into their charging sockets and are just as easy to remove.

With the case's wireless charging capability and the earbuds IPX5 rating for water resistance, Soundcore has a winning design formula.

Comfort, controls and connections

The scope of delivery of the Soundcore Life P3.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I found the Life P3 very comfortable to wear over a long period of time. You will likely get a snug fit from several of the included silicone earbuds. The handy Soundcore app also includes a leak test feature to ensure that the tips you choose effectively seal your ear canal. Too many people just use the factory-installed tips because they feel good, but that can be a recipe for poor sound quality and poor ANC performance, so be sure to try several sizes.

Without wing tips or ear hooks, the Life P3 won't sit as securely as earbuds designed for running or heavy workouts, but they should be suitable for all kinds of low-impact activities like brisk walking, biking, rowing, or weight lifting. They're definitely safer than Apple's AirPods because of the silicone earbuds.

Touch controls don't always respond as responsively as physical buttons, mostly because they can be difficult to tap accurately every time. The Life P3's touch controls don't really change this situation – the touch area is pretty small – but they do help you know when you've typed successfully or not with a confirmation touch tone that can be disabled if you are don't need it.

But what is really impressive is the degree to which you can customize these tap controls. You can have up to three tapping gestures per earbud – single tap, double tap, and tap and hold – for a total of six functions. Each can be set to control your choice of volume, play / pause, skip forward / backward tracks, activate voice assistant and select ANC / transparency mode. Better still, you can choose between which ANC options you want to toggle: ANC, transparency, or "normal" (both ANC and transparency disabled). You can switch between all three or choose a combination of just two modes.

Audiophiles won't be blown away by the Life P3's performance, but it sounds great for its price.

The only thing missing is wear sensors – the Life P3 cannot automatically pause your music when you remove an earbud.

The Life P3 uses Bluetooth 5.0 and I had no problem pairing it with my iPhone 11 quickly. That connection stayed strong and stable – I could leave my phone in my home office and the earbuds never failed no matter where I was, from the basement to the third floor. Each earbud can be used individually – perfect for making calls or simply to extend battery life. The ability to connect to two bluetooth devices at the same time would have been a nice touch, but that feature remains a rarity in the true wireless realm, so I can barely knock an 80-dollar set of buds if I don't have it.

Sound quality

Soundcore always amazes us with the great sound of its earphones, especially when compared to much more expensive products. The Life P3 are no exception. You get a very full frequency response and really good clarity over the entire spectrum. For genres like rap and hip-hop, there is a lot of bass power in the lower range, but it doesn't tarnish the mids.

Out of the box, the P3 are set to a flat EQ. This is a good, neutral starting point, but you owe it to yourself to dive into the Soundcore app's huge selection of EQ presets. Regardless of whether you want to emphasize or weaken bass or vocals, there are no limits to the possibilities. Can't find what you want? With the custom 8-band EQ function, you can create your own presets.

I found that the acoustic preset did the most to improve clarity and energy without compromising the bass too much.

Audiophiles won't be blown away by the Life P3's performance, but for its price, it sounds great. The only way to get better sound for the same or less money is to find a much more expensive model on offer.

Noise cancellation and transparency

Soundcore Life P3 earbuds outside the charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

At this price point, you don't get the same ANC performance as the Sony WF-1000XM4, AirPods Pro, or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, but the Life P3 still offers really noticeable noise reduction in a variety of scenarios, from the constant roar of a loud fan for background discussions in a café.

This ANC function can be set with the Soundcore app with a choice of three modes: indoor, outdoor and transport. I found that outdoor made a very slight noise when there was no music, but indoor and transportation were both nice and quiet. That might make you think you should just stick with indoor or transport, but if the wind blows you'll be glad that outdoor is an option: it almost completely kills wind noise where the other two modes struggle . The transparency mode can also be set with the fully transparent or vocal mode. The vocal mode, as the name suggests, helps in finding voices. It works really well, but with one small drawback – you have to activate it before placing a call as you cannot switch between ANC / Transparency once a call is in progress. In fact, you cannot access the Soundcore app at all while on a call.

Battery life

Soundcore claims the Life P3 has seven hours of lifespan per charge when ANC and transparency are disabled, and a total of 35 hours when you include the charging case. These numbers drop to six hours or 30 hours when you turn on ANC or transparency. When testing, I actually got a little more with around 7.5 hours of non-ANC time. Either way, these are really solid numbers that are better than many other earbuds at this price point and vastly better than the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro (4.5 to 5 hours per charge, 24 hours total).

The performance data of the Life P3 are rounded off by a quick charge function, which gives you two hours more time after 10 minutes of socket time, which is also very good.

Call quality

Despite the presence of six microphones, telephoning with the Life P3 is only average. Outside there were no dropouts and most of the background noise was kept in check, but my voice sounded thin and at times quite distant. Your callers may need to turn up their volume to hear you clearly. Indoors, like most earbuds, the call quality was much better.

Extras

There are some fun extras in the Soundcore app like the Find My Earbuds feature. It doesn't actually locate them for you like some other companies like Apple and Jabra do, but you can make each earbud emit a loud tone which should help you find them if they're around.

You will also find that Soundcore has compiled dozens of its own playlists taken from tracks available on the Lum streaming service. I didn't know any of the featured artists, but that makes it a great companion to traditional streaming services as a discovery tool.

Soundcore also offers a sleep soundtrack tool that allows you to mix and match a variety of ambient sounds like the sound of waves or the chirping of birds to help you drift away. You can play them in an endless loop or set them on a timer.

Our opinion

The Soundcore Life P3 combines an incredible number of functions in one compact, comfortable and affordable set of true wireless earphones. For the price, they're an exceptional value.

Is there a better alternative?

The closest competitor to the Life P3 is the $ 90 Earfun Air Pro. They're very close when it comes to ANC, sound quality, and battery life. The Earfuns have wear sensors to automatically pause music, but they lack wireless charging. Where the P3 has a big advantage are its app-based adjustments for EQ, controls, ANC, and more. The Earfun do not have an app, which limits the possibilities.

How long will they last?

With true wireless earbuds, it's always hard to tell, but the Life P3 should deliver years of use. With the IPX5 protection, you will survive encounters with water, but avoid splashing in your case – it is not protected. The battery life will decrease over time, but with seven hours of startup time, it should still be quite usable after halving it. Thanks to the Soundcore app, the company can issue firmware updates over time if problems arise. Soundcore backs the Life P3 with an 18-month warranty – six months longer than most companies.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. Unless you are an audiophile with exacting standards, the Soundcore Life P3 has the features, quality, and price to make it an excellent choice for everyday use.

Editor's recommendations



22 Jan
Blog

Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Review: Affordably Awesome

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro

Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro

"Great sound quality and tons of features make these ANC Buds great value for money."

  • Very convenient

  • Very good sound quality

  • Effective ANC

  • Customizable sound and controls

  • Some functions still require phone access

  • So-so call quality

Much to the surprise of seasoned audio reviewers, Anker Soundcore has evolved from the depths of the Amazon brand basement into a manufacturer of great sounding wireless headphones, bluetooth speakers, and true wireless earbuds. In 2020, Digital Trends reviewed the $ 110 worth of Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, praising the wide soundstage and overall sound quality, despite some concerns about the overall design of the buds.

Now Soundcore is back with nothing less than its sights on dethroning Apple's AirPods Pro for $ 249 at $ 130 Liberty Air 2 Pro, the company's first true wireless earbuds to offer active noise cancellation (ANC). Can Soundcore deliver the same functionality as Apple for almost $ 120 less? Let's take a look.

What's in the box?

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Anker Soundcore continues to use way too much packaging for its true wireless earbuds. The Liberty Air 2 Pro comes in a glossy, book-style, printed box with the lid closed by magnets. Inside there is a lot of plastic and foam that surrounds the important parts: the earphones, the charging case, a USB-C charging cable, and some documentation. But as much as I dislike all of this unnecessary material, I have to give Soundcore props for nine sets of silicone earplugs. A good fit is critical to comfort, sound quality and noise cancellation. Having a variety of earbud sizes is key to a good fit.

design

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Liberty Air 2 Pro, which comes in four colors (black, blue, pink, and white), certainly looks a bit similar to the AirPods Pro. This is mainly due to the elongated stem sticking down from your ear. But they are even more similar to Earfun's $ 80 Air Pro and the $ 100 Edifier TWS NB2. All three use an ergonomically shaped main body that sits in your outer ear, a silicone-tipped horn that goes into your ear canal, and a pronounced stem.

It's the only case design I've tried that can be effortlessly opened and closed with one hand.

Whether or not you like this AirPods-inspired shape is a matter of personal preference, but I think they look pretty good.

What I like most about the Liberty Air 2 Pro's design is the wireless charging case. It's light and relatively compact – albeit nowhere near as small as the AirPods Pro – and has the same sliding lid mechanism as the Liberty 2 Pro. It's the only case design I've tried that can be effortlessly opened and closed with one hand.

The earbuds snap into their charging sockets easily and precisely, and can just as easily be removed – which isn't always the case.

I can't say if the sliding lid is as sturdy as a traditional hinge in the long term, but it immediately feels very sturdy, which is a good sign.

Convenience, control and connections

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Liberty Air 2 Pro are very comfortable. I was able to find an earbud size (thanks to the wide choice) that provided a very good seal, which also helped the earbuds sit securely. I've found that stem-style earbuds feel less ear-filling than stem-less designs. This also applies to the Liberty Air 2 Pro.

Soundcore includes a small feedback tone for taps – this should be standard on all touch-based earphones.

However, the stems of these earbuds are longer than those of the AirPods Pro, and to me this meant they made contact with the side of my face. While this wasn't a comfort issue in and of itself, it meant that the act of speaking gradually loosened the fit so I had to adjust it more often.

The Liberty Air 2 Pro uses touch sensors on both earbuds to control key functions. I prefer physical buttons, but I found the sensors were sensitive enough and almost always detected my tapping. I really appreciate that Soundcore includes a little feedback tone to let you know when these taps have been successfully detected – this should be standard practice for all touch-based earphones.

You can customize how the touch controls work using the Soundcore app. However, you need to prioritize which functions are most important as only four commands can be assigned. Double tap and long press control volume, play / pause, track forward / backward, access to voice assistant and ANC mode. However, there aren't enough gestures to use all of them. Fortunately, you can assign one of these options to control switching between ANC and transparency modes without going through the third (normal) mode without ANC, as so many other earbuds require.

Thanks to the built-in wear sensors, the music will automatically pause and resume when you remove and replace an earbud. That worked perfectly.

The Bluetooth connection was also very reliable as both the initial pairing and subsequent repairs went smoothly. Switching from one earbud to both (and vice versa) was also very reliable.

Sound quality

The Liberty Air 2 Pro sounds really good. They offer strong bass response, a well-balanced midrange, and highs that are clear and never sizzling. What's impressive is that the bass isn't just a boom – tracks like Hans Zimmer's Time show both warmth and subtlety while also offering the deep resonance you need to appreciate the complexity in the lower range. Better still, this low end doesn't trample the chant. Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, a song that is a torture chamber for a headphone's ability to separate lows and highs, comes into its own beautifully, with Eilish's whispering ASMR-like tickle while the persistent booming bass beat remains anchored to the floor.

The Soundcore app allows you to tweak the EQ using a variety of genre-based presets and save your own custom EQ settings. The app also offers you the option of activating the HearID hearing profile system, which can be used to compensate for any frequency losses. I didn't find it improved my sound enjoyment so I left it off.

The Liberty Air 2 Pro doesn't just block outside noise.

The Liberty Air 2 Pro have a richer and more punchy sound than the AirPods Pro, but they don't display the same extremely expansive soundstage as the Liberty 2 Pro. Even so, I think most people will really enjoy the Liberty Air 2 Pro sound.

Modes for noise reduction and transparency

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Liberty Air 2 Pro's ANC performance is solid. The most intrusive noises outdoors, such as traffic and construction, were effectively canceled out so I could hear podcast voices without having to turn up the volume. Unlike some cheaper ANC earbuds, there's a noticeable difference between ANC on and ANC off, which shows that the Liberty Air 2 Pro can do more than just block outside noise.

In the Soundcore app, you can activate four different ANC modes: Transport, Indoor, Outdoor or Custom – each with its own focus on different frequencies. The transparency setting has two modes: fully transparent and vocal mode.

I like the choices this gives you, but I have a feeling that most people will just choose transport and full transparency as these are the most noticeable differences.

The fully transparent mode lets in a good amount of sound, but isn't quite as clear as on more expensive ANC earbuds like the Jabra Elite 75t or 85t or the AirPods Pro.

When listening to music, the Liberty Air 2 Pro's ANC goes well with the AirPods Pro, but when the music is turned off, you'll find that the Liberty Air 2 Pro has a noticeable noise, unlike the AirPods Pro, which produces almost noticeable noise Noise shows an eerie cone of silence.

Battery life

Soundcore has a battery life of six hours when using ANC and seven hours when the device is switched off. The charging case brings these numbers to 21 or 26 hours. I didn't fully run the Liberty Air 2 Pro during these cycles, but after each listening session I checked the Soundcore app's battery gauge and found these claims to be spot on.

Those numbers are okay, but not exceptional. The AirPods Pro might not last as long on a single charge (4.5 hours with ANC), but their case extends that time to almost 24 hours.

The quick charge is fine, with 15 minutes in the case of an extension of the game time by three hours.

Call quality

The call quality on the Liberty Air 2 Pro is a mixed bag. The noise cancellation of the six microphones is impressive. Passing cars and even noisy trucks were almost completely undetected, and wind noise – often a challenge for earphones – was handled perfectly. However, that same noise cancellation also tends to muffle your voice, especially when those other noises are around.

You can still make your voice heard, but it's rarely a crystal clear experience for your callers.

It's great when you can hear yourself on a call while in transparency mode. However, unlike the AirPods Pro, you need to turn on transparency before you make or receive a call. Once you make a call, you cannot switch.

Our opinion

The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro offers a really compelling alternative to AirPods Pro at a cheaper price.

Is there a better alternative?

If you are looking for a great set of noise canceling true wireless earbuds, the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro is hard to beat at this price point. The two closest models are the $ 80 Earfun Air Pro and the $ 100 edifier TWS NB2.

I think the Liberty Air 2 Pro has better sound quality and ANC than these two models, and the Soundcore app has a ton of customization options for sound, controls, and ANC. They also offer wireless charging, which neither the Earfun nor the Edifier have. That means they have a slightly better battery life and the Earfun Air Pro has a bit more water resistance (IPX5 versus IPX4 for the Liberty Air 2 Pro). I think the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro definitely justify their higher price.

How long will they last?

The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro comes with an 18-month warranty and lifetime technical support that is above the industry average. They appear to be very well built, so I'm assuming at this price point they can be used just as well as many similar models. The sliding lid on the charging case could be a weak point over time, but so far I haven't seen any complaints about the Liberty 2 Pro using an identical design.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro offers great sound and a very good ANC at a price that is far below that of many comparable products.

Editor's recommendations




10 Sep
Blog

Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 Review: Good, But Puzzling

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbuds

Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2

"The Spirit Dot 2 offers the winning combination of good sound and affordability."

  • Secure fit

  • Excellent passive noise reduction

  • Solid bottom end

  • Average characteristics overall

  • Limited touch controls

One of my biggest and perhaps only complaints about the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 was the design of the ear hook. It's not that putting these hooks over your ears is uncomfortable as they fit nicely. When compared to traditional true wireless earbuds, the ear hook style is a far less appealing option.

The $ 80 Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 is the company's answer to people wanting the value of the Spirit X2 in a more compact package. Features may not be quite the same, but the Dot 2 has the preferred earbud design at the same price as the Spirit X2.

Is that enough? Time to find out.

Out of the box

There is nothing special about the packaging of the Spirit Dot 2 or any of the accessories inside other than the fact that the packaging they come in is very similar to the Spirit X2 so I had to double check and make sure I did grabbed the right buds. This should of course be coordinated with Anker's uniform color scheme.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Aside from the buds and their charging case, the Spirit Dot 2's package includes four additional pairs of earplugs, two pairs of “Airwings” (or ear fins), a USB-C cable, and the standard documentation. For what it's worth, I stuck to the earplugs and ear fins that the Spirit Dot 2 came with. However, your mileage and ears may vary. So it's nice of Anker to offer different options at this price.

The Spirit Dot 2 connects to your mobile device like you are used to from most real wireless earbuds. When you pull them out of the charging case, the automatic pairing function is activated. All you have to do is find them in your phone settings and connect. In addition to the Bluetooth 5 technology supported by these buds, the Spirit Dot 2 has two transmitters that allow each earbud to be individually connected to your phone, according to Anker. The company says this can result in up to 30 percent lower latency. While I can't specifically prove this statistic, I can say that I didn't experience any significant latency issues when watching YouTube or TikTok clips on my phone.

design

I wouldn't call the Spirit Dot 2 the smallest buds I've ever put in my ears – at first glance, that honor might go to the 1More Colorbuds – but they're certainly small and significantly less vigorous than a pair like that Edifier TWS NB. It is a vague way of assessing the size of these buds, but without access to weight specifications, it is the best I can offer.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Probably the most comparable buds to the Spirit Dot 2 are the Google Pixel Buds 2. Both use similar ergonomic shapes with ear fins to position them securely in your ear. The Spirit Dot 2 are a bit more voluminous and therefore put more pressure on my ears. However, the secure and comfortable seal of the Spirit Dot 2 exactly reflects my experience with Google Pixel Buds 2. The more expensive Google product offers more comfort when listening over a longer period of time.

Although Anker recommends these buds for various purposes such as training, sports, or travel, at the time of this review I was unable to test the Spirit Dot 2 due to the poor air quality in my area. I did take them for a few walks and a handful of home workouts, however, and they held up well during these activities.

The Spirit Dot 2 have no buttons, but opt ​​for touch controls only. This works, but in limited capacity. You can play, pause and skip tracks, answer and end calls, and activate your voice assistant with a series of taps and presses – and all of these controls work as advertised. However, the Spirit Dot 2 does not contain a volume control. Anker redirects you to the "connected device" to adjust the volume in the buds manual. That may be fine if I'm taking the train during a commute (before 2020, of course), but the last thing I want to do when I'm jogging is unzipping my belt pouch, pulling out my phone, and turning up the volume. For my taste, the controls on the Spirit Dot 2 are a command that isn't fully functional, and that's an issue at this price point too.

The charging case, by the way, is a medium-sized jar with Anker's logo embedded over a lid that slides out to reveal the buds. I didn't originally plan to mention it as it seemed mostly unspectacular. But after getting through a round of chewing from a curious pup, I felt compelled to vouch for the sheer robustness of the case.

properties

I've pointed out the discrepancy between the Spirit X2 and the Spirit Dot 2 before, and I'm here to tell you that those differences are actually very real. Again, the Spirit Dot 2 offers the preferred design, but they find it difficult to compete with their counterparts with earhooks overall.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Spirit X2 has a battery life of nine hours per charge and a total playback time of 36 hours if the charging case is taken into account. In comparison, the Spirit Dot 2 offers only 5.5 hours of play time per charge and a total of 16 hours. That's better than the Google Pixel Buds 2, and since I've given the similarly priced 1More Colorbuds and their six-hour battery a pass, I'm reluctant to do the same with the Spirit Dot 2. But with buds like the $ 40 SoundPeats Truengine SE, or with the $ 30 JLab Go Air offering six or five hours of playtime, the bar will soon change for that price.

The IP68 weather resistance of the Spirit X2 protects the ear hook buds from being completely submerged in up to 2 meters of water for no more than 30 minutes. With the Spirit Dot 2, they can be immersed up to a meter deep with an IPX7 rating. This is better than most of the other budget buds we checked out at Digital Trends. This means that the Spirit X2 have full dust protection, which the Spirit Dot 2 lacks.

Both the Spirit X2 and the Spirit Dot 2 have Anker's "SweatGuard technology", which is essentially a coating of the buds that is supposed to offer more protection against sweat. Again, I don't think I've tested these buds long enough to tell how well this feature works, but I think it's important to mention as it's clear that Anker is at least making the extra effort to make his Make products work up a sweat. friendly.

Audio quality

In terms of the sound quality of the Spirit Dot 2, I thought there was a lot to like here, but also plenty of room for improvement.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Spirit Dot 2 has smaller drivers than the Spirit X2, 8 mm versus 12 mm. However, both pairs feature Anker's BassUp technology which, according to Anker, uses an algorithm to analyze and amplify the bass. While they didn't quite produce the "wow" factor that I experienced with the Spirit X2, the Spirit Dot 2 are certainly powerful earbuds when it comes to the low end. My personal workout playlist contains everything from Big Sean and Eminem's No Favors to Granger Smith's Backroad Song. While I thought the Spirit Dot 2 was crowding the lower end of the latter, these buds generally have solid bass that will please most bass-loving fitness junkies.

With a solid bass foundation, the Spirit Dot 2 have decent clarity for their cost, even if the rest of a track is sometimes overshadowed by low notes. I think I prefer the sound signature of the 1More Colorbuds – which rely far less on the lower end for a more balanced, pleasant sound – but I don't think most folks with the Spirit will have much to complain about the audio quality of Dot 2 However, the Spirit X2 has aptX support, while the Dot 2 of the same price has no support. They support AAC and SBC codecs, but skipping aptX leaves a puzzling void on the Dot 2.

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the Spirit Dot 2's sound is the passive noise reduction that the seal provides in your ear. It does a remarkable job of blocking your surroundings – my air purifier, blasting on a "turbo" about two meters away, went essentially inaudible – and serves as the basis for clear calls with the earbuds' built-in microphones. Anker seems to have the large insulation firmly under control, as the Liberty 2 Pro also has a very good seal. Sure, active noise cancellation is great when done well. However, for $ 80, it's hard to complain about how much sound these buds passively keep away from your ears.

Our opinion

These should have cost $ 60, or at least less than $ 80. Anker's pricing for these buds is puzzling as they lag significantly behind when compared to the Spirit X2 at the same price. While they sound great and come at an affordable price, which can prove to be a winning combination for many, it can be difficult to fully recommend them against the competition (including Anker's own line).

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 100 1More Colorbuds sound better but aren't that well equipped for training. The Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 for $ 80 at the same price offers better features overall and comparable sound quality. but their ear hook design may be less desirable to some people. For half the price, the $ 40 SoundPeats Truengine SE offers a fascinating mix of convenience and sound quality, but it lacks bonus features like wireless (or fast) charging.

How long will they last?

The Spirit Dot 2 comes with an 18 month limited warranty, feels durable, and is solidly water resistant. In other words, they are well suited to persist for the foreseeable future.

Should you buy it?

If features you can forego to take advantage of the in-ear style of the Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2, they're a great option. But if ear hooks aren't a deal breaker, the Spirit X2 are better across the board.

Editor's recommendations




28 Aug
Blog

Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro Review: Giant Soundstage

Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro Earbuds Review Earbuds 1

Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro

"As with a personal concert, the Liberty 2 Pro can beat the best – and win."

  • Incredible audio quality

  • Solid call quality

  • Good battery life

  • Wireless charging

  • Excellent noise isolation

  • Special value

  • Bulky design

  • Fiddly buttons with no functions

I'm going to break our valuation tradition here and just come out and say it: The Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro are truly exceptional. If you've already considered these, then don't need to read any further: buy them.

But if you're wondering why I'm so in love with these particular buds, I have a lot to say. They're not perfect in all aspects, but if sound quality is paramount to you and you crave detail, balance, and a tremendous soundstage, you can't get better than the Liberty 2 Pro right now – especially not in its $ 150 price range .

No, that's not an exaggeration.

A luxurious box

The first time I pulled the Liberty 2 out of the shipping box, I let out an audible "wow". The product box is the prettiest I've ever seen of an audio product on my huge pile. Its triple style is covered in some sort of texture that feels like a high quality matte paper magazine. On the inside of the folding cover are stunning graphics of the company's audio hardware design. The two buds and the charging case are displayed behind a transparent plastic cover.

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Under this paper and plastic tub you will find a very large pile of paper documents (based on the excess paper that is also contained in the Spirit X2, this could just be a Soundcore thing), a charging cable and six (!) Additional silicone earbuds and two extra wings that help keep the buds in place when carried. The seven earplug sizes offered here are well above the industry average and certainly contribute to comfort (more on that later).

Given the sturdiness of the box and the plastic tubs it contains, I can't agree with Anker when it comes to sustainability, but at least they seem to have given their all on the first impression. I've seen worse eco-friendly cardboard boxes that had a lot less impact. This box is so beautiful that I would like to keep it as long as I have the buds.

Chunky, bulky design

The Liberty 2 Pro has almost everything right outside of the design. Here, however, they stumble.

Let's start with the case: it feels a lot bigger than it needs to be, and the buds aren't sitting in it intuitively.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

That doesn't mean I think the case is big, but it is certainly one of the bigger ones I have on hand. It's bigger than the Master and Dynamic MW07 just because the sides are so dramatically rounded, but it's thankfully smaller than the Sony WF-SP800N and WF-1000XM3, both of which are almost obtrusively large. It's almost twice the size of the Jabra Elite 75t. I don't think I'd have such a big problem with the case if I didn't think it was made bigger for the design, not because it had to be. It seems to waste a lot of space, and the bottom of the case (where the battery appears to be) is so thin and relatively light that I just have to think that there is a better way to design it.

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Although the lid slides backwards satisfactorily, the buds are set particularly deep into the case and, oddly enough, sit in the holder. Most of the buds on the market snap down with either the earbuds (like the WF-1000XM3) or the antennas (like the Airpods). The Liberty 2 Pro are designed to sit on their side in their case, which makes taking them in and out a process that I need to actively think about to make sure I'm doing everything right. I've been using these for a few weeks now and every time I still have to play around with them.

Next, let's talk about the buds themselves: they're bulky.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

You won't notice their girth when you wear them, but they protrude significantly from your head and everyone around you will be very aware of the buds. They are impossible to ignore.

One final note: although the Liberty 2 Pro lets you pause / play / skip, turn it on and off, and answer / hang up calls, the button to do it is extremely small and poorly positioned. It's a tiny button on the top of the right earbud and reset. You certainly won't accidentally press this button, which is probably a nice perk, but it's a lot easier to control your phone or smartwatch.

This tiny button is no fun. Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

There's also no way to control the volume on the buds yourself, which is another nuisance. But since, due to the fiddly buttons mentioned above, I'll likely be using my phone to manage which song I'm listening to right now, that's probably not that big a deal.

Features and comfort

When the design doesn't get in the way, we can talk about the good things – and there are a lot of good things.

While they don't have as long battery life as their sport-loving brother, the Spirit X2, the Liberty 2 Pros have an excellent 8 hour battery life when you look at comparable performance-focused earbuds. Another three fees in this case increase the total listening time to 32 hours. They last at least as long as the Sony WH-1000XM3s, are better than the 19.5 hours you get from the Panasonic Technics TWS AZ70s, and far superior to the sad 14 hours of the Master and Dynamic MW07s. They don't match the 13 hours of the Sony WF-SP800N or the 9.5 hours of the RHA TrueConnect 2, but they beat the Jabra Elite 75T, which only took about 7 hours in our tests.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

After a charging time of just under 10 minutes, you also get 2 hours of listening time. The charging case is also compatible with USB-C and wireless Qi charging, which is impressive.

Soundcore has an excellent app that is compatible with the Liberty 2 Pros that allows you to convert the EQ from the standard sound profile (which is honestly pretty good) to one of 10 suggested calibrations by professional music producers, your own EQ, or a personalized one change a sound profile that is compiled based on a hearing test that you can perform through the app.

Personally, I enjoy making a custom EQ based on my own preferences, but it was interesting and even fun to try out my favorite songs with different calibrations from the industry pros. The personalized profile through the app felt kind of great, and the profile it created for me wasn't my favorite. I applaud the effort, but stick with the custom EQ.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Unfortunately, the Liberty 2 Pro doesn't have a sensor that detects when a bud is removed from your ears. Hence, you have to stop the music manually.

The Buds support a wide variety of codecs including aptX which is good to see.

Soundcore makes a solid argument that earbuds don't need active noise-canceling technology based on how good they are at noise isolation. When they are worn and playing music even at low volume, the sound is so well isolated that I could swear they had noise canceling. While they're not the best to wear on a plane with no music, they do a great job without the ANC.

This noise isolation means the buds will be quite snug against your ear. If you are particularly sensitive to pressure in your ear canal, it can make you feel tired. Personally, I like the fit. I use the smallest ear plugs and fins and they stay in my ears very well. I could wear them for hours without any problems.

Soundcore makes a solid argument that there is no need for active noise cancellation technology in earphones.

They aren't the most comfortable earbuds I've tested, but they strike a very good balance between comfortable and safe. I have a hell of a lot of time holding the Sony WF-1000XM3 in my ears and the very comfortable Master and Dynamic MW07s do a very poor job of isolating. For me, the Liberty 2 Pro are the goldilocks of this situation: They are exactly right.

Incredible soundstage

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro has a wider, richer soundstage than any other earbud I've tested in 2020. You can keep up with the raw bass performance of the Jabra Elite 75T and have a deeper and more robust projection of that bass. Compared to our usual standard, the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Liberty 2 Pro offers a bigger sound and a stronger bass without losing details. The XM3s sound great, but they lack detail. The Liberty 2 Pro is both sturdy and detailed, which is surprising and impressive.

That's right, I think they sound better than an earbud that costs almost twice as much.

The Liberty 2 Pro are the closest thing to the professional over-ear studio monitors I've seen in an earbud.

While I really have to pause and listen carefully to find out the background details of Katy Perry's Daisies on both the Sony and Jabra, this is clear and obvious on the Liberty 2 Pro. In Hans Zimmer's No Time for Caution, I have the feeling of sitting in the Imax Theater and seeing Interstellar again for the first time.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

When I listen to music through Liberty 2 Pro, I feel like I'm in the middle of my personal theater with my favorite band playing just for me. Somehow, Anker Soundcore managed to give me all the details about lows, mids and highs that I crave while keeping my balance flawless. Even if I change the EQ so that the bass is as high as possible, it never overpowers any of the other levels. The detail is still there.

The Liberty 2 Pro are the closest thing to the professional over-ear studio monitors I've seen in an earbud. While studio monitors tend to be more neutral in their projection to maintain balance and bring out details, the Liberty 2 Pro somehow manages to give me the nice depth and warmth that is great for easy listening without sacrificing that balance and criticism to need detail. I can't get enough of the music these buds offer, the sound is so extraordinary.

If sound quality is most important to you, the Liberty 2 Pro are hard to beat.

For me, the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro are the new standard.

Call quality

I am pleased to announce that the call quality with the Liberty 2 Pro is very good for both parties. Not only can I hear the other side of the conversation very clearly, but they can also hear me clearly. They're not the best for calling out of all of the earbuds we tested – the Apple AirPods Pro are better – but they do a great job.

Anker Soundcore says they achieve the solid call quality through four microphones and uplink noise cancellation and voice isolation. I'm not familiar with their jargon or their technology, but I can say it works very well which makes these buds great not only for music but also for work.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Our opinion

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earbuds may not be the prettiest buds out there, and their charging case is a bit cumbersome, but they make up for all of this with the best audio quality you can expect from true wireless earbuds. At $ 150, they not only dominate their price segment and beat the excellent Jabra Elite 75t and RHA TrueConnect 2, but they go even further and beat well beyond their weight class against buds that can cost twice as much. If sound quality is most important to you, the Liberty 2 Pro are hard to beat.

Is there a better alternative?

In all honesty, if audio quality is most important to you, no. We haven't found a better-sounding pair of buds for $ 150. Sound isn't everything, however. If you want to get closer but want to get smaller and more comfortable buds with a tiny charging case, the Jabra Elite 75t are great. The RHA TrueConnect 2, Happy Plugs Air 1 ANC, and Samsung Galaxy Buds + are also in the $ 150 range and are worth considering.

How long will they last?

Anker Soundcore offers an incredible 18 month guarantee on its products that is way above the norm. The build is solid too. I expect these will easily take several years.

Should you buy it?

Definitely yes. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro are standout headphones with the best high quality, detailed soundstage we've seen in real radio buds. You want her.

Editor's recommendations




26 Aug
Blog

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 Review: An Astonishing Value

Anker Soundcore SpiritX2 headphones

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2

"The Spirit X2 delivers on the promise of solid battery life, excellent weather resistance and booming bass."

  • Solid battery life

  • Excellent weather protection

  • Big bass

  • Great value for money

  • Unattractive aesthetics

  • Awkwardly positioned controls

On paper, the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 sounds too good to be true. They are offered as headphones with flawless functions at a remarkably low price. In most similar cases, there is usually a serious unmentioned disadvantage somewhere on the line.

There are a few quirks with the $ 80 Spirit X2 headphones, but they're far from serious. Apart from these small flaws, the Spirit X2 lives up to the hype.

Out of the box

The packaging of the Spirit X2 opens in a binder style and shows headphones that are housed in a transparent plastic case next to the charging case. (I don't know if this was intentional or not, but after removing the headphones and case from the plastic shell, the remaining cutouts for the product are a dead alarm clock for the face of an angry clown.)

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Beneath the annoying clown compartment is a USB-C charging cable, a wholesome amount of extra earplugs and ear fins, and something that can only be characterized as an excessive amount of documentation. I'm everything for a company that makes sure I have everything I need to operate a device, but even by those standards, it seems like too much.

All you need is the quick start guide to get started and you can effectively set the rest of the documents aside. Step 6 in the booklet instructs you to put the headphones in the charging case and then open the case without removing the phones. They'll be put into pairing mode so you can find them in your mobile device's bluetooth settings and connect. This connection is supported by Bluetooth 5 technology by the way, which works exactly as I expected, with seamless connectivity and an exceptional range.

design

The most polarizing part of the Spirit X2 design will no doubt be the large ear hooks that swing upward and rock the back of your ears. In a world where true pint-sized wireless earbuds have taken the market by storm, the bulkier footprint these headphones take is likely to give them the nickname of the group's ugly duckling.

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

And I have to agree with that feeling: somehow it's you. From a purely aesthetic point of view, I found these headphones unattractive, at least when compared to a smaller pair of sporty earphones like the Urbanista Athens. Other than looks, I found the Spirit X2 very comfortable to wear, which is arguably more important. The hooks were tight around my ears but not restrictive. The ear fins and ear plugs fit snugly into the ear, but do not exert unnecessary pressure. The Spirit X2 has threaded the needle between comfort and function well, enabling a range of intense workouts and cardio sessions without having to adjust them.

The Spirit X2 has threaded the needle well between comfort and function.

The buttons on the headphones were functional, but ultimately not fun. You can change tracks, increase or decrease the volume, answer and reject calls and activate your preferred voice assistant by pressing one of the two buttons on either headset. As long as you wish, he will do what you ask him to do right. However, it takes a lot of getting used to and it doesn't help that the controls are clumsily attached to the top of the earhooks. I used to reach for my phone to control the headphones. This is usually not what you want to do during a gym workout or for the long term.

properties

If I am being completely honest after this section of the review you can easily stop reading and you will have all you need to know about the purchase of these headphones. Because if you can get on board with the earhook design, the Spirit X2's features are a worthwhile buy for just $ 80.

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The battery life, which according to Anker is nine hours per charge and a total of 36 hours with the supplied case, makes the Spirit X2 a bargain. While these statistics may not be entirely accurate – I came in about 8.5 hours on my first few charges, even though I was listening at a higher volume most of the time – they're still better than many, far more expensive earbuds. The Apple AirPods and Google Pixel Buds 2 are nowhere near those numbers, and the Jabra Elite Active 75t comes in 7.5 hours on a single charge and just 28 hours of total battery. Thanks to the quick charge function, with which you can play for 10 minutes for two hours, the Spirit X2 are an absolute budget battery champion.

The weather resistance IP68 protects the Spirit X2 from rain and complete immersion in up to two meters of water for a maximum of 30 minutes. Although Soundcore says these headphones are not suitable for swimming, showering, or exposure to pool or ocean water, this is still a solid rating for such an affordable product. The Urbanista Athens have IP67 protection, but are $ 50 more expensive.

At less than $ 100, I don't know if real wireless sports headphones with better features exist.

Soundcore also advertises its "SweatGuard technology", a "submarine structure and hydrophobic nano-coating" that helps ward off perspiration. I think it would take a longer period of testing to really assess how well the Spirit X2 compares to the effects of sweat compared to a traditional true wireless competitor, but having extra sweat protection is certainly not a bad thing, especially for this price.

Audio quality

Anker went to great lengths to market the low-end features of the Spirit X2. The company has integrated a technology called “BassTurbo”, which is inspired by the technology of high-end loudspeakers. Essentially, the technician positions "an acoustic chamber behind the (12mm) driver" to add low-end resonance. Put simply, it seems like a lot for $ 80 headphones, so of course I went straight to bass heavy tracks when I started listening to the Spirit X2.

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Holy cow.

I have regrets for doubting the Spirit X2's marketing team, even though my reservations about the frequency with which features are overrated held valid. It's refreshing to find cases where it doesn't and the Spirit X2 delivers.

From the throbbing bass in tracks like Childish Gambino's 3005 to the low notes in Lil Nas X's Panini, the Spirit X2 delivered far better results than I'd previously thought for under $ 100 earphones. By using the dual EQ on the Spirit X2 and activating the “BassUp” mode, these headphones really rocked when listening to bass-heavy music. I no longer lift the weight I used to be (thanks to pandemic) but if I were at a gym again I would want that kind of low end in my ears when pumping up for a bench press.

These headphones really rocked when listening to bass heavy music.

The Spirit X2 doesn't handle the rest of the frequency range nearly as well, but I'd say it's definitely passable for most people shopping in this price range. The Jabra Elite Active 75t or the Sony WF-SP800N certainly sound better overall, but at a much higher cost. If you also take into account the Spirit X2's aptX support and a dual microphone approach that ensures adequate call quality, these headphones are really a bargain.

Our opinion

The Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 doesn't have the tastiest design or the simplest controls. But they did promise exceptional battery life, full water resistance, and big bass in a $ 80 package – and, amazingly, they delivered.

Are there any better alternatives?

At less than $ 100, I don't know if real wireless sports headphones with better features exist. For $ 130, the Urbanista Athens comes very close in the equipment department, offers solid sound and a more pleasant design than real funk buds. If the price doesn't scare you, the Sony WF-SP800N has better battery life and active noise cancellation for $ 200.

How long will they last?

The Spirit X2 is backed by an 18 month warranty and more waterproof protection than most people know what to do. If you don't deep-sea diving with them, they should endure well into the future.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Don't let the earhooks and oddly placed controls put you off: The Spirit X2 is currently one of the best ratings for true wireless hearing and should be at the top of the list for anyone who can leave a few quirks behind.

Editor's recommendations