The top 5 best wireless earbuds from Anker's audio brand
BUYING GUIDE - For a few years now, Soundcore is one of the most popular wireless earbuds manufacturers on Amazon. However, it can be hard to choose from the many models the brand by Anker constantly releases. Which are the best Soundcore earbuds under $100 in June 2025?
The Top 5 Soundcore earbuds in 2025:
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC - best overall under $100
Soundcore Space A40 - best comfort
Soundcore Life A3i - best under $50
Soundcore A1 - best for bass and workouts
Soundcore Life A20i - best under $30
Underneath this top 5 you will find mini-reviews and links to other popular Soundcore models under $100, like the Soundcore P30i and A30i, Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, Soundcore Life P3, Life P3i, Soundcore P2 mini, Soundcore Sports X10, and Soundcore P40i. But let's answer some questions first:
Is Soundcore a trustworthy brand?
Yes. Anker Soundcore is hands-down the most reliable Chinese manufacturer of wireless earbuds. The brands products are always sturdy and well-built, and often look and feel more polished than their price suggests. Quality control is exceptional: I've never encountered production or quality issues with the more than 20 different Soundcore earbuds I tested since 2019. Amazon user reviews reflect this.
Many models have great app support from the free Soundcore app from on iPhone and Android phones, have above-average battery life, and keep on working flawlessly after some years as well. The only exception seems to be the AirPods-like Life Note 3S. Two downsides of the brand: cheaper models often have cases that scratch easily, and the treble on some older models can feel too boosted. These models aren't included in this Buying Guide.
Who wrote this Buying Guide?
This comparison test is written by Scarbir. I've tested and reviewed 458+ wireless earbuds ranging from $15 to $100, testing them all extensively on sound quality, comfort, active noise cancelling, call quality, video playback, battery life, and more.
This is a specific Buying Guide on the best wireless earbuds by Anker's audio brand. You can also check out general Buying Guides on the best wireless earbuds under $100, under $50, under $25 or best earbuds with ANC - or other comparisons.
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These are the best earbuds from Soundcore under $100, last evaluated June 2025:
1. Best Soundcore earbuds under $100: Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The total package
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC convinces with a ton of useful features, entertaining sound and surprisingly strong Active Noise Cancelling under 100 dollars.
The charging case of the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is bulkier than average, about 1,5 times as thick as that of Apple's AirPods. It's best to get that out of the way first, as this text may otherwise read as an advertisement. Truth is: these are outstanding wireless earbuds, and not just for their reasonable price.
The Liberty 4 NC has oval earpieces that provide a snug fit and are comfortable to wear for hours in a row - and you can do so too: the battery lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge! If you somehow need even more battery quickly, a quick 10 minute recharge from the case will give you another 4 hours of playtime.
Those are remarkable numbers, especially since this Soundcore boasts the strongest Active Noise Cancelling on earbuds under $100 to date. The ANC removes or at least reduces all frequencies well. Constant buzzing and humming disappear entirely, and traffic, chatter and even sudden sounds like door slams and accelerating vehicles are heavily softened as well. Lower mid-sounds like a radio playing in the background remain somewhat audible, but you really need to up your budget to get a more convenient ANC performance.
What's more, is that the Liberty 4 NC leaves out wind noise well when you use the ANC, making it possible to run or cycle without problems - further helped by the IPX4 splashproof rating. When you do need to hear your surroundings, the Transparency mode pushes conversations and traffic noise in a natural manner - the function is usable up to moderate volume playback.
The Liberty 4 NC is highly versatile for everyday use. It lets you customise all touch controls with the brilliant free Soundcore app, and it supports multipoint connection. That means you can connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time - like your phone and a laptop. It switches as soon as you pause on one device and play on the other, or simply when you get a call.
Speaking of which: phone calls and Zoom meetings are handled well by these earbuds. Your voice sounds loud and clear, and many surrounding noises are suppressed well. Wind noise is treated less successfully - it's audible and can come at the cost of your voices clarity.
Last but not least: the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC sounds good. The bass delivers strong and heavy thumps, and provides depth with strong sub-bass rumblings. Lower mid-tones are heavily boosted as well, giving music a full vibe. In the treble, female and higher male vocals are put moderately forward, and brighter instruments have enough presence, but vocal outhauls can appear a bit metallic sometimes. You can tweak the sound with a custom equalizer or more than 20 EQ presets from the app, but you may not need to, as music is vivid and engaging out of the box.
With its strong Active Noise Cancelling, exceptional battery life, great comfort, multipoint connection, and engaging sound, the Liberty 4 NC is Soundcore's best pair of wireless earbuds under $100.
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2. Runner-up for best Soundcore earbuds under $100: Soundcore Space A40
Good ANC, long battery and comfortable for side-sleeping
If you're after the most comfortable Active Noise Cancelling earbuds under $100, the Soundcore Space A40 is where it's at. It's compact enough and has plenty of battery life to get you through entire nights!
The Soundcore Space A40 doesn't have stems, and its compact and oval earpieces are comfortable to wear for hours. As the earbuds don't stick out of your ears too much, these are even suitable for side-sleeping, which is a great combination with two other strengths of the A40: its ANC and battery life.
The Active Noise Cancelling strength of the A40 is not up to the level of the Liberty 4 NC, but it brings rest to your head when you put these earbuds in, silencing much background noise and cutting off the higher sounds nearby. The Transparency mode is also effective - it makes you localize traffic around you when you need it, even when you're listening to your music loudly.
Like the Liberty 4 NC, the Space A40 also has multipoint connection. You can connect it to two devices, and it will automatically switch to your other device when you receive or enter a call. Along with the 8 hours battery life on a single charge, these are wonderful workday companions - connect them to your laptop and phone and you're good to go an entire day!
When the comfortable and compact earbuds are out of battery, a 10-minute quick charge in the case grants you another 4 hours of listening time. The Space A40 also has terrific app support, with a hearing test that can boost frequencies you can't hear yourself so well, plenty of options to change the earbuds controls to your liking, and 22 sound equalizers.
These features build on top of a pleasant, balanced and warm sound - less energetic than the typical Soundcore sound, but more balanced. It combines a steady bass, boosted (lower) mid-tones and non-fatiguing treble, although vocals could be a little more pronounced. It doesn't articulate individual instruments and details as well as the Liberty 4 NC, but its smoothness makes it a pleasant listen for practically every music genre.
You can take a call with the Soundcore Space A40, but only in quiet areas. When there's continuous noise around you, like traffic or office chatter, the microphones don't just soften these sound effects, but also your voice.
Except for the call quality outdoors, the Soundcore Space A40 is a fantastic pair of earbuds. The combination of its long battery life, good ANC, and comfortable fit can save you many sleepless nights - and it sounds great too.
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3. Best Soundcore earbuds under $50: Soundcore Life A3i
Little rockers with actual buttons and Noise Cancelling
One of Soundcore's least popular offerings around the 50 dollars mark, is actually one of their best. The Soundcore Life A3i provides a very engaging sound, actual buttons, and has usable Active Noise Cancelling.
Anker's wireless earbuds without stems are less popular on Amazon than its models with stems, and the Soundcore Life A3i shows this like no other: these uniquely shaped earbuds only have around 2.000 user reviews, compared to 3x or 5x the number of reviews for more traditional looking earphones.
These compact earbuds have a round part that goes in your ears. If you then slide the upper part to the back of your ears a bit, you get a secure fit that's comfortable to wear for hours - and you'll get usable Active Noise Cancelling that reduces the volume of darker sounds nearby and in the background. Lighter sounds are also reduced in volume, although chatter and traffic still come through when you're not playing music.
The Life A3i has around 5 hours of playtime with ANC on, and longer with the function turned off. It also comes with convenient actual buttons instead of touch panels, meaning you can change tracks, volume, and switch between ANC modes easily with cold or sweaty fingers.
The IPX5 rain and sweat-proof rating further helps for sports and runs. Meanwhile, the microphones put your voice through full and clear in both phone and video calls - although the combination of wind and noise can drag your voice away. The A3i doesn't support multipoint connection, but the brilliant free Soundcore app is a great addition with its 21 sound equalizers.
What sets the Life A3i apart from many other budget Soundcores, is its sound quality. On soft to moderate volume, it brings a relaxed, warm background sound with reduced higher tones. Turn the volume up to active listening levels, and the treble unlocks. The sound then becomes surprisingly engaging, with powerful vocals and an enticing airiness. The bass strikes quickly, strongly, and deep enough - it almost demands you to nod your head.
Treble isn't always a strong suit on Soundcore earbuds, but the Life A3i nails it: it pushes upper mid-tones and highs far enough to immerse you, but back out before things start to sound harsh or peaky.
The Soundcore Life A3i is a stellar combination of features and an uplifting sound at a reasonable price.
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4. Best Soundcore earbuds for bass and workouts: Soundcore Life A1
Two settings with Guilty-pleasure levels of bass
How BIG do you like your bass? Three years after its initial release, the insanely popular Soundcore Life A1 still manages to bring a smile to your face.
Over 36.000 user reviews - it's an incredible number you rarely see on Amazon, but the Soundcore Life A1 has them. That's more than most earbuds from Sony and Samsung - and it's for good reason. The Life A1 is one of the best choices for bass lovers.
The Life A1 comes with the interesting feature that you can switch between three sound modes straight from the earbuds. Press one of the buds three times, and you switch from the Standard mode to Bass mode to Classic mode. You can pretty much forget about the last one - it's seems to be there to take take a break from the bass if you need it, but it doesn't sound very balanced. The Standard and Bass mode however…
There's a ton of bass on the A1, with heavy-hitting mid-bass that keeps on pumping and sub-bass that rumbles strongly - even in genres where you don't expect it. Drums can thump in your ears and even darker male singer-songwriters can vibrate a little. And that's with the standard-setting!
Activate the Bass mode, and each mid-bass slam and sub-bass tone just rumbles on. The bass isn't tighter in this setting, nor does it become quicker, but it's punchier, and there's just so much more aftermath after each bass tone. The Bass mode setting grants a heavy, boomy bass.
On top of it, there's plenty of treble, with elevated female and higher-pitched male vocals. Brighter instruments also sound loud and clear. There can be sudden peaks in the highs, but they feel comfortably flattened most of the time. The overall sound in both the Standard or Bass mode is incredibly uplifting.
That makes the Life A1 a great choice for workouts and runs where you want to push yourself harder, and this Soundcore has more features that accompany it. There are actual buttons instead of touch panels, so you can operate them with sweaty fingers, they come with three sizes of sport wings so they stay tightly in your ears, and you can even take them under in the shower after your workout thanks to the IPX7 waterproof rating. Battery life is never a problem, easily lasting 8 hours on a single charge. Phone calls are doable only in quieter areas.
If you want an energetic sound during your runs or workouts, or just love lots of bass, the Anker Soundcore Life A1 is still a terrific choice.
5. Best Soundcore earbuds under $30: Soundcore A20i
Comfortable earphones with a fluid sound
The Soundcore A20i is one of Anker's three earphone offerings under just 30 dollars - and boy, does it deliver.
The Soundcore A20i is the counterpart to the Soundcore P20i that has stems, and also competes with the stem-design Soundcore P2 Mini in the same price range. Both P-models have higher user review numbers on Amazon, and that makes the A20i feel like some sort of hidden gem.
That's because there's plenty - plenty! - to love about the A20i. The A20i earbuds play up to 10 hours on a single charge, and thanks to the compact and round shape, they're very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Don't be afraid to take them out in the rain, too - they've got it covered with an IPX5 waterproof rating.
Even this entry-level budget earphone enjoys support from the free Soundcore app with 22 different equalizer presets, while you can't change the controls here completely. Don't expect Active Noise Cancelling or multipoint connection either, or clear calls in anything other than quiet indoor areas: all Anker's sub-$30 offerings understandably lack these fancy features.
It's the sound quality that separates the A20i from its P-model siblings. Music is presented with a full and deep bass, and thick lower mids that give the music warmth. Higher up, female and higher male vocals are forward and appear full and nuanced, while the rest of the treble is rolled-off early to prevent harsh or peaky higher notes. It makes for a smooth ride in which the frequencies work together fluently and in harmony, while leaving enough separation for instruments, and not just that - the sound can be big as well, giving a sensation that music is around you.
The Soundcore A20i is the pair of wireless earbuds to go for if you're looking for a fun warm and energetic sound on a budget.
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Bonus: How good are Soundcore's other most popular earbuds under $100?
Soundcore C30i: Hands down their worst buds
Soundcore's dip into the new market of open-ear clip-on earbuds is all but a success. While the Soundcore C30i looks slicker and more stylized than many of its competitors, this model has a much too stiff bridge in between the two parts you cleap on your ears. It makes for an incredible clamping force - these earbuds can be very painful to put on and wear.
The 10 hours battery life, responsive touch controls, and multipoint connection are better than average in its class, but the same can't be said of the sound that consists of an overly boosted treble and a slightly kicking but very thin mid-bass. These are the brands worst sounding earphones.
It's convenient to look at competitors for this type of earphones.
Soundcore P30i and A30i: Brilliant cases, mediocre sound
The Soundcore P30i and the Soundcore A30i have both been released in the middle of 2024, and are similarly priced $30 to $50 earphones with a comparable feature set.
Soundcore A30i
The A30i has a slick lipstick-like case and bean-shaped earbuds that sit snugly and very comfortable in your ears, and are great for side-sleeping as well, although their battery life is just too short to last an entire life.
The P30i has more traditional stem-shaped earbuds, and throws in a brilliant charging case that also acts as a phone stand - an incredibly convenient feature.
Soundcore P30i
The P30i has half an hour longer playtime (7 vs 6,5 hours) on single charge, and offers more responsive controls. They're both IP54 water and sweat proof, both have multipoint connection and ANC that's only decent and fails to really dampen mid-tones. They also aren’t great in handling outdoor phone calls.
Sound-wise, both aren't Soundcore's best models, as both tend towards the lows very much and forget to refine the treble on top. The P30i has a punchier bass and feels more uplifting. Still, with the 3D Sound setting in the app, the A30i manages to sound clearer and more open, while the P30i is darker, muted and more closed-in whichever sound setting you throw at it.
$50 - Buy on Amazon US or your Amazon country
$50 - Buy on Amazon US or your Amazon country
Soundcore P40i: Hit-and-miss sound
The Soundcore P40i, released in March 2024, has a ton of features for its $70 price tag. The most notable is that the charging case also acts as a phone stand, which is great for watching movies - although the later released P30i executes it better. The earbuds are comfortable, last around 9 hours on a single charge, can connect to two devices at the same time, and also have usable (if not very strong) Active Noise Cancelling.
The sound is a bit of a hit-and-miss. It’s rounded and good on background and moderate volumes, but not very suitable for active listening. The P40i has an insanely strong, rumbly and deep bass, and tries to compensate for it with heavily boosted treble as well - which can sound severely oversteered. You can tone it down with one of the equalizers, but you'll lose too much vocal clarity as a result. A likeable pair of earbuds that just misses the mark.
Soundcore Life P3i: Shows its age
The Soundcore Life P3i is one of Anker's many earbuds that looks and feels more expensive than its $50 price tag suggests, thanks to the metallic finish on the stems. It starts to show its age in 2024. Active Noise Cancelling falls a bit behind and fails to reduce volume in all frequencies, it doesn’t support multipoint connection, and your voice sounds distant and tinny in calls. Sadly, those words also apply to the sound. Upper mid-tones and highs feel a bit distant on the P3i, and the sound isn't as dynamic - as lively - as models in the top 5 because of it. The maximum volume on Android phones could be higher as well.
Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, or other Amazon countries
Soundcore P2 Mini: Nothing wrong, but…
There's nothing wrong with the Soundcore P2 Mini for its 30 dollars price. These earbuds are compact and comfortable, are IPX5 waterproof, last around 8 hours on a single charge, let you take a call in quiet areas, and have this nifty trick that lets you switch between three sound modes straight from the earbuds - just like the Life A1. Like on that model, the sound has a steady and strong bass in two modes. Sadly, treble isn't handled very well, and vocals can sound somewhat artificial. The aforementioned A20i sounds more fluent and more balanced.
Soundcore P20i: Like the A20i with stems
The Soundcore P20i (or the Soundcore R50i in India) was released at the same time as the A20i, and it's another good pair of wireless earphones for their low price - meaning that it doesn't have very clear calls, ANC or multipoint connection, but does have very long battery life of around 9 hours, an IPX5 waterproof rating, and a comfortable fit. The mid-bass is powerful and punchy, and treble is lifted just a bit to give higher notes enough presence. That said, the A20i provides more detail in the center mid-tones - beneficial for acoustic instruments - and sounds a tad more balanced.
Other Soundcore reviews:
Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro - Still available every now and then, you can skip this model from 2020 in 2024. Artificial treble, heavy earpieces and less features than the successor and Liberty 4 NC.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro - This $120 model packs an insanely detailed and shockingly deep bass, but its treble is harsh and a bit artificial. The earpieces are rather heavy, but it looks and feels very premium.
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro - Outdated next to the Liberty 4 NC, with harsher treble.
Soundcore Life P3 - Outdated ANC and calls performance; still sounds good. Also has a great mix-and-match soundboard for nature and zen-like sounds in the app.
You can find even more Soundcore model reviews on my Leaderboard.
Disclaimer
On Scarbir.com, I'm devoted to find the best affordable wireless earphones. I buy 90% of the earphones myself; sometimes, a manufacturer sends them to me. I review all audio products 100% honest, always stating their strengths and their downsides. Visit the leaderboard of true wireless earphones for all my reviews and ratings.
Consider buying a pair of earphones in this list? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my independent quest to test great affordable audio.
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Also check out my other articles:
Guide: the best TWS under $100
Guide: the best TWS under $50
Guide: the best TWS under $25
Leaderboard: all earphones from 10-300 dollar tested
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- Scarbir
