The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are decent truly wireless in-ear headphones that offer great a price-to-performance ratio. They have an almost identical design, fit, and sound reproduction as the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2, but are a more budget version that lose some of the more premium features, like a dedicated app and wireless charging. Their sound profile is versatile enough for most genres of music, but have a nice small amount of extra thump and punch in the bass range. Their in-ear design may not be comfortable for everyone, but they feel quite stable and are even rated IPX7 (though we don't currently test this), making them a good choice for wearing to the gym.
Our Verdict
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are decent for neutral sound. While their sound profile is surprisingly well-balanced and accurate, unfortunately their soundstage is practically non-existent, though this is standard for closed-back in-ear headphones. On the upside, their frequency response consistency is great, so you'll get the same listening experience every time you wear them.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Decently premium look and feel.
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Superb overall battery life.
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Sub-par microphone performance.
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No dedicated app for customization options.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are good headphones for commuting and travel. While their in-ear fit may get fatiguing during long listening sessions for some people, they isolate a decent amount of sound to help block out ambient noise. Their overall battery life of almost 35 hours is also long enough for an entire work week, though you'll have to take a few breaks to charge them in between. Due to their truly wireless design, they're extremely portable, and feel durable enough that they shouldn't get damaged in your bag or pocket.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Decently premium look and feel.
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Superb overall battery life.
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Sub-par microphone performance.
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No dedicated app for customization options.
These headphones are great for sports. They come with five different sizes of tips to help ensure you get a comfortable and stable enough fit in your ear. Once you do, they don't feel like they'll fall out even during slightly strenuous exercises. They're also rated IPX7 for waterproofing, meaning you should be able to sweat on them without causing any problems, though this isn't something we currently test.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Decently premium look and feel.
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Superb overall battery life.
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Sub-par microphone performance.
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No dedicated app for customization options.
These headphones are decent for office use. While not everyone will find their in-ear fit comfortable enough to wear all day, they do a fairly good job at blocking out the sound of AC units and chatty coworkers, helping keep you focused at work. They also leak almost no audio so you won't bother the person next to you with your dubstep. Unfortunately, while their charging case will likely last a full work week, the headphones themselves will need a recharge after about 6 hours.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Decently premium look and feel.
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Superb overall battery life.
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Sub-par microphone performance.
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No dedicated app for customization options.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 aren't recommended for wireless gaming. They're Bluetooth-only which means they aren't compatible with PS4 or Xbox One. While they'll connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their high latency may not be suitable for gaming.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are Bluetooth-only headphones that can't be used wired.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are sub-par for phone calls. Like most Bluetooth headphones, their microphone will make your voice sound muffled and lacking in detail. While their mic's noise handling is okay, in moderately noisy environments such as a busy street, the volume of your voice is lowered along with the background noise, which can make it more difficult for the person on the other end of the line to hear you clearly.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Decently premium look and feel.
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Superb overall battery life.
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Sub-par microphone performance.
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No dedicated app for customization options.
- 7.1 Neutral Sound
- 7.6 Commute/Travel
- 8.1 Sports/Fitness
- 6.9 Office
- 5.3 Wireless Gaming
- 5.2 Wired Gaming
- 6.2 Phone Calls
- Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless in Bluetooth.
- Updated Nov 10, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Dec 10, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Dec 03, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Dec 03, 2019: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 27, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Nov 26, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are similar to Anker's more premium truly wireless in-ears, the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2. While their design, fit, and sound reproduction are almost identical, they earn their lower price tag by having fewer features. They have a shorter single-charge battery life, a less durable-feeling case, no app support, physical buttons, and no wireless charging.
We suggest looking at our recommendations for the best truly wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds, and the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless, and they offer better overall performance. The P3 are more comfortable, and they come with an ANC feature that offers better noise isolation. Unlike their predecessor, they also support the Anker Soundcore app, so you can customize their sound using the graphic EQ and presets as well as adjust their ANC. Also, they have a better microphone performance.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless are better truly wireless headphones than the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. The Anker have a much better-balanced sound profile, better controls, significantly better noise isolation, and a longer single-charge battery life. On the other hand, the Apple have a more comfortable fit as they don't go into the ear canal, feel much more premium, and utilize the H1 chip for seamless pairing to your Apple devices.
The Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless and the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless are similarly performing wireless earbuds, but the Skullcandy offer better features. The Skullcandy have a more neutral sound profile overall and a longer continuous battery life, making them a great choice for commutes. They also feature Bluetooth multi-point, allowing you to connect to multiple devices while working in the office. The Skullcandy also have better controls. The Anker have a longer total battery life, making them a solid choice for long journeys.
On first glance, the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless and the Mpow X3 Truly Wireless look very similar. However, the Anker are better for commuting and travel than the Mpow. The Anker deliver a bass-heavy sound that some users may prefer. Even without an ANC feature, they're able to block out more ambient noise than the Mpow's ANC, and they leak less sound. Their total battery life is longer too. However, the Mpow are more comfortable as well as stable, they offer volume controls, and their carrying case is better too. They also have a more neutral sound profile. Their integrated mic also has a better recording quality.
If you can afford them, the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless are better truly wireless headphones than the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless. The Apple are more comfortable, feel much more premium, and have ANC to help block ambient noises. On the other hand, the Anker have a similarly well-balanced sound profile and offer good overall value if you don't want to pay the premium price for the Apple.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless are similar to the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless. The Life feel slightly better-built with a more premium matte finish and have a longer battery life. On the other hand, the Liberty have better noise isolation and a slightly more neutral sound profile.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless. The Air 2 sound reproduction, design, and fit are almost identical, but the Life have wireless charging, a dedicated app, a more durable-feeling case, and touch-sensitive controls. On the other hand, the Life have a longer overall battery life.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless and the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 Truly Wireless are both decent truly wireless in-ears. The TaoTronics have better controls, a better-balanced sound profile, and a better microphone. On the other hand, the Anker have a longer overall battery life, leak less audio, isolate more background noise, and come with more sizes of optional tips.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless are better truly wireless headphones than the TOZO T10 Truly Wireless. The Anker are more comfortable, have better controls, a much better-balanced sound profile, and a better overall battery life. On the other hand, the TOZO isolate sound better, support wireless charging, and are IPX8 rated for waterproofing, though we don't currently test for this.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless are very similar truly wireless headphones. The Life Dot 2 block out more ambient noise, feature a better integrated mic, and have a much longer total runtime of close to 100 hours. Conversely, the Life P2 support the aptX Bluetooth codec and have much lower latency on mobile Android and iOS devices.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless are better for mixed usage than the Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless. The Anker have a better-balanced sound profile, a much longer continuous battery life, and a case that holds five additional charges. They’re also aptX-compatible. Conversely, the Skullcandy have a far more comprehensive control scheme, not to mention a substantially shorter charging time, which is useful when you need to get out the door in a hurry.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless have a similar overall performance to the Boltune BT-BH024 Truly Wireless, and depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. Both pairs of in-ears have a slightly bass-heavy sound profile, but the Anker have a more neutral treble performance that gives them a more neutral overall audio reproduction. However, the Boltune have a better recording quality and longer continuous battery life.
Test Results
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 have a very similar style to the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 but with a bronze colored logo instead of silver, and without the flash of red. Both the headphones and the case have a matte black finish that gives them a slightly more premium look than other options in the same price point.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are decently comfortable, but their in-ear design creates a bit of a plunger feeling in the ear. Like the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2, they come with five different sizes of silicone tips, which is great.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2's controls are disappointing. Unfortunately, there's no volume control, and since there's no companion app, the controls can't be customized. On the upside, they're fairly easy to use and their physical, clicky buttons help them provide better feedback than earbuds with touch controls, like the JLab Audio JBuds Air Executive Truly Wireless.
Like most in-ear headphones, the Anker SoundCore Life P2 don’t trap any heat inside your ear, so you shouldn’t notice a difference in temperature when wearing them. This makes them a good option for sports as you shouldn’t sweat more than usual.
These truly wireless headphones are extremely portable thanks to their small and lightweight design. Their charging case is smaller than some other options and should easily fit into most pockets or bags.
The charging case for the Anker SoundCore Life P2 is decent. It feels a bit cheaper than the case of the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2, and the earbuds rest horizontally instead of vertically, making them a little bit more difficult to put in the case.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2's build quality is good. The earbuds themselves feel just as well-built as the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2, but with physical buttons instead of a touch-sensitive surface. The case feels a bit cheaper made, with a slightly wobbly hinge and thin lid. On the upside, the headphones are also rated IPX7 for waterproofing, though we don't currently test this.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 feel quite stable in the ear once you've achieved a proper fit with the included tips. While they don't have stability fins, they should still be able to stay in your ear even during runs or light workouts. If you're looking for an even more stable pair of in-ears, check out the Mpow X3 Truly Wireless.
- Anker SoundCore Life P2 headphones
- 5x tip options
- Charging case
- USB-C charging cable
- Manuals
These headphones have a fairly well-balanced sound profile with bass that provides a bit of extra thump, without being overpowering. While their treble range is decently well-balanced, unfortunately they have a recess in the mid-range which will push leads and vocals to the back of the mix, though this may not be noticeable. Overall, the sound profile of these headphones should be suitable for most genres of music.
The frequency response consistency of the Life P2 is outstanding. Once you achieve a proper fit and seal with the included tips, you should get consistent sound reproduction every time you use the headphones.
The bass accuracy of these headphones is great. They're slightly overemphasized throughout the entire range which gives them a bit of extra thump and punch without sounding muddy or boomy.
The mid accuracy of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 is very good. While this range is fairly well-balanced, unfortunately it's a bit recessed and lead instruments and vocals may sound slightly weak and pushed back in the mix.
The treble accuracy of these headphones is excellent. They're quite well-balanced with only a few minor peaks and dips in the treble range. Overall, all higher frequencies are within a good range and shouldn't sound harsh or piercing.
The peaks and dips performance of these headphones is impressive. Their underemphasized mid-range may push vocals and leads to the back of the mix, though this shouldn't be too noticeable. There are also a few peaks in the higher frequencies, though these are in high enough ranges that they shouldn't be audible to most people. Overall, you should be able to hear all frequency ranges well, with none too overemphasized.
The stereo imaging of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 is superb. The group delay is below the audibility threshold for the entire range, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. The L/R drivers of our unit were also very well-matched, though these results are only valid for the unit we tested, and yours may perform differently.
Like most in-ear headphones, the soundstage of these headphones is practically non-existent. This is because creating an out-of-head and speaker-like soundstage is largely dependent on activating the resonances of the pinna (outer ear). The design of in-ears and earbuds is in such a way that fully bypasses the pinna and doesn't interact with it.
The weighted harmonic distortion of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 is great. All frequencies fall within very good limits, which should result in a clear and pure audio reproduction.
The noise isolation of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 is decent. Since they don't have active noise cancellation (ANC), these headphones only block ambient noises passively. While they do a good job of this in the mid-range, where speech sits, unfortunately, they don't block the low rumble of engines well. Luckily, they block the high frequencies of A/C units well, making these a decent option to keep you concentrated in the office. If you're looking for a similar pair of truly wireless headphones that have an ANC feature, consider the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 leak almost no audio, so you likely won't bother those around you with your music.
The recording quality of the microphone on the Anker SoundCore Life P2 is bad. Speech recorded or transmitted with this microphone sounds muffled, empty, and lacking in detail. If you're looking for similar headphones with better recording quality, see the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless or the Boltune BT-BH024 Truly Wireless.
Update 11/15/2021: These headphones have been updated to test bench 1.5. In this update, we made changes to the way we test noise handling. We now use a subjective evaluation of our audio clips. This new method has resulted in different results than what we had reported in our previous test bench. As a result, the scoring of this box has changed, and we have updated our results.
The noise handling of the microphone of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 is okay. In a moderately noisy environment like a busy street, the mic can reduce background noise. However, at the same time, it severely reduces your own voice, which can make it more difficult for the other person to hear you clearly.
Update 01/17/2020: We previously incorrectly stated that the case provided an additional three charges, when it provides five, resulting in longer total battery life. The review has been updated to reflect these changes.
The battery life of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 isn't bad overall but is quite good for truly wireless headphones. While their 6-hour battery won't get you through a full day of work, their case provides an additional five charges, so you can charge them up on your break, wherever you are. Their total battery life of nearly 35 hours is among the highest of any truly wireless headphones we've tested. If you're looking for longer continuous battery life, you may prefer the Sony WF-C500 Truly Wireless. Their case only holds one extra charge, though.
Unfortunately, unlike the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 or the Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless, the Life P2 don't have a dedicated companion app. This means you can't customize the control scheme or sound profile of these headphones in any way. If you want earbuds that have an app with sound customization features, take a look at the Wyze Buds Truly Wireless.
The Anker SoundCore Life P2 are Bluetooth-only, truly wireless headphones. While they support aptX, they don't support aptX(LL), and they aren't recommended for watching videos or gaming, as their latency is very high. They also don't support Bluetooth multi-device pairing, a feature that's finding its way into other budget in-ears like the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless.
These headphones are Bluetooth-only.
These truly wireless headphones are Bluetooth-only. Their charging case charges via USB-C, and a 1.9ft charging cable is included.