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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.7
Reviewed Dec 19, 2023 at 11:28 am
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 18, 2024 at 10:24 am
Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless Picture
7.0
Neutral Sound
7.2
Commute/Travel
8.1
Sports/Fitness
6.8
Office
5.8
Wireless Gaming
5.6
Wired Gaming
6.7
Phone Calls

The Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless are budget-friendly wireless buds. At this price point, it's surprising to see headphones with companion app support; their app offers a lot of EQ presets so that you can find the right sound for your tastes. They also have a Game Mode, which helps lower latency for streaming video and gaming. While you won't find extras like multi-device or quick pairing, these buds have a solid price-to-performance ratio worth considering if you're keeping your expenses low. Keep in mind that their name alternates between P20i and P25i, depending on the retailer, though. Both models are otherwise the same.

Our Verdict

7.0 Neutral Sound

The Anker P20i are satisfactory for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a bassy sound that delivers intense thump, punch, and warmth. While it doesn't drown out vocals and instruments, a dip in the low-treble hurts their clarity. On the upside, even though they lack a graphic EQ like other Anker headphones, their companion app offers a lot of EQ presets to help you finetune their sound. Still, they're in-ear headphones, so their passive soundstage isn't very spacious or immersive.

Pros
  • EQ presets available in companion app.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage.
7.2 Commute/Travel

The Anker P20i are decent for commute and travel. These comfortable buds are small and lightweight, so you can easily pocket them in your coat or bag when you're on the move. While they don't have noise cancelling, and struggle to block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines, they're still able to passively isolate you from passenger chit-chat. They also last nine hours continuously, and their carrying case holds an extra two charges if you need it.

Pros
  • Comfortable and stable fit.
Cons
  • Struggles to block out bass range noise.
8.1 Sports/Fitness

The Anker P20i are great for sports and fitness. These buds have a comfortable as well as stable in-ear fit. They're also rated IPX5 for resistance against direct water contact, so you can wear them during runs in the rain. Their lightweight, portable design makes it easy to take them with you on the go.

Pros
  • Comfortable and stable fit.
  • Certified IPX5 for water resistance.
Cons
  • No volume controls by default.
6.8 Office

The Anker P20i are fair for office use. These buds have nine hours of continuous battery life, so they're able to last through long days at your desk. If you need to top them up, their carrying case holds an additional two charges. They also have a comfortable fit and are able to passively block out chatty coworkers and the hum of computer fans well. That said, they don't support multi-device pairing, so you can only stay connected to one device at a time.

Pros
  • Comfortable and stable fit.
  • Reduce out mid to treble range noise well.
Cons
  • No multi-device pairing.
  • Poor passive soundstage.
5.8 Wireless Gaming

The Anker P20i are Bluetooth earbuds. They rely on their Game Mode to help lower their latency on PCs. While their latency isn't quite as good as dedicated gaming headphones, using this mode will ensure that your audio and visuals stay in sync during casual gaming.

5.6 Wired Gaming

The Anker P25i are wireless earbuds and can't be used wired.

6.7 Phone Calls

The Anker P20i are okay for phone calls. Their integrated mic offers a decent recording quality, ensuring that your voice sounds clear. However, the mic has trouble separating speech from loud, irregular sounds, so if you have an important call, it's better to do so from an office or at home rather than on a busy street. These buds lack noise cancelling too, but even though they won't block out bass-range noise like bus and car engines, they do a better job of tackling ambient chatter.

Pros
  • Comfortable and stable fit.
  • Reduce out mid to treble range noise well.
Cons
  • Struggles to block out bass range noise.
  • No multi-device pairing.
  • 7.0 Neutral Sound
  • 7.2 Commute/Travel
  • 8.1 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.8 Office
  • 5.8 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.6 Wired Gaming
  • 6.7 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Oct 18, 2024:

    The Stability section was updated to mention the Anker Soundcore C30i True Wireless.

  2. Updated Jul 12, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
  3. Updated Jun 14, 2024: The Case and Bluetooth Connection sections have comparisons to the Anker Soundcore P40i True Wireless.
  4. Updated Dec 19, 2023: Review published.
  5. Updated Dec 11, 2023: Early access published.
  6. Updated Dec 06, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Nov 20, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  8. Updated Nov 13, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Anker P25i come in one color variant: 'Black', and you can see our model's label here. It's worth noting that these buds have a different name, depending on the retailer. Through Anker directly, these buds are called the P20i, but if you're shopping via Best Buy, for example, these buds are called the P25i. According to Soundcore, there isn't a difference between these two models other than their names. 

If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review. 

Compared To Other Headphones

The Anker P20i are wallet-friendly buds with a couple of surprising features that you don't often find at this price point. Compared to the similar JLab GO Air POP True Wireless, they have a companion app that offers a lot of EQ presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. They also have a Game Mode to help lower latency within good levels. That said, they struggle to block out background noise and lack a power-saving feature to help conserve battery life when not in use. 

 Check out our picks for the best budget and cheap wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds under $50, and the best earbuds under $50.

JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless

The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless have the edge over the Anker Soundcore P25i True Wireless. While both buds are well-built, the JBL have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have a better overall battery performance. Their companion app also offers a parametric EQ, so you can really finetune their sound to your liking. That said, the Anker are more comfortable.

JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless and the Anker Soundcore P25i True Wireless are similar budget-friendly earbuds with slight differences. Although both buds are well-built and have similarly fair battery performances, the JLab are able to block out more ambient sound. Conversely, the Anker are more comfortable and have companion app support, which offers a lot more EQ presets than what the JLab have built-in.

Anker Soundcore P40i True Wireless

The Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless are slightly more stripped down than the Anker Soundcore P40i True Wireless. The P25i/P20i lack active noise cancelling and only utilize the passive isolation provided by their ear tips and fit. They both use the same app with an equalizer and low latency 'Game Mode.' They also share the same IPX5 rating against water splashes with similar continuous-use battery performance. However, the P40i have ANC, and while it's somewhat disappointing, it can make a difference. The P40i also support multi-device pairing, and their case stores four charges versus the P25i/P20i's two charges. Still, it likely depends on whether you want noise cancelling and your budget.

Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless

The Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless have the edge over the Anker Soundcore P25i True Wireless. While both buds have a comfortable and well-built fit, the Life P3 have an ANC system and are able to block out an excellent amount of ambient noise, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ for more robust sound customization. However, the P25i have a longer-lasting continuous battery life.

Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless

The Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless are better budget-friendly buds than the Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless. While both buds are well-built, the Skullcandy have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer; they can block out more background noise and support multi-device pairing. However, the Anker are more comfortable and have many more EQ presets to help you adjust their sound. Their integrated mic offers a significantly better overall performance, too.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic

The Anker Soundcore P20i look a lot like the Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless, with a sleek and glossy plastic design. You can find the manufacturer's logo on the top of the stem. They only come in this black colorway though.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.02 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

The Anker Souncore P25i have a comfortable fit. They're quite lightweight and fit nicely into your concha. That said, the stem sticks out a bit and can be uncomfortable if you're lying on your side or if you're wearing a hat since it can rub up against your head.

6.5
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Okay
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

These buds have okay controls. The commands available are quite simple out of the box, and if you want volume control, you'll need to add it via the companion app. They also lack a warning for reaching minimum or maximum volume, and there aren't any voice confirmations beyond the voice assistant prompt. On the upside, the controls are responsive when touched, and the small touch surface helps prevent accidentally registering a command.

On the left earbud:

  • Double press: Activates voice assistant.
  • Press and hold: Skips to the previous track.

On the right earbud:

  • Double press: Plays and pauses audio.
  • Press and hold: Skips to the next track.

On either earbud:

  • Double press: Answers a call. This command will also disconnect the call you're on.
  • Press and hold: Rejects a call.

9.5
Design
Portability
L 1.3" (3.4 cm)
W 1.0" (2.6 cm)
H 0.9" (2.2 cm)
Volume 1.19 in³ (19.50 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

These buds are very portable, which is to be expected by their design. They're lightweight and can easily fit into most pockets or bags without an issue.

7.5
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 2.1" (5.4 cm)
W 2.3" (5.9 cm)
H 1.1" (2.8 cm)
Volume 5.44 in³ (89.21 cm³)

The carrying case is good. It's made of lightweight plastic and has a detachable braided cable loop, so you can attach it to your bag. There's a single LED to let you know the case's battery level and charge status. The lid hinge also feels snappy and will keep the buds safe when you're on the go. Unlike the Anker Soundcore P40i True Wireless, the case doesn't charge with a wireless Qi pad and lacks the built-in phone stand.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

These buds have a good build quality. They're mostly plastic and certified IPX5 for resistance against direct water contact like rain. The ear tips are made from silicone but can rip if you're not careful.

7.5
Design
Stability

These buds have a stable in-ear fit. If you're wearing them during a jog in the park, they won't fall out of your ears, but their fit can loosen if you're moving your head a lot. With that said, if you want stability for exercising (and prefer environmental awareness), consider clip-on earbuds like the Anker Soundcore C30i True Wireless.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Anker P25i
  • Case
  • 3x ear tip sizes
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
4.35 dB
Treble Amount
-2.58 dB

The Anker P20i have a bassy sound out of the box. They deliver a lot of thump, rumble, and punch, which is great for heavy basslines in EDM and hip-hop songs. Though still, vocals and instruments continue to sound present in mixes. However, they're a bit dull due to a dip in the low-treble. Luckily, if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers 22 EQ presets to help you find the best settings.

9.1
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.18 dB

The frequency response consistency of these buds is outstanding. Once you get a good fit, you'll achieve consistent audio delivery each time you use them.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
6.7
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
5.3 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
6.85 dB
Mid-Bass
7.02 dB
High-Bass
2.12 dB

The bass accuracy of these buds is okay. The response is overemphasized, meaning the buds deliver intense thump, rumble, and punch.

9.2
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.03 dB
Low-Mid
0.42 dB
Mid-Mid
0.57 dB
High-Mid
0.95 dB

These buds have outstanding mid accuracy. The response in this range is very flat and neutral, ensuring the accurate reproduction of vocals and instruments.

7.6
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.67 dB
Low-Treble
-1.82 dB
Mid-Treble
-1.86 dB
High-Treble
-5.75 dB

The treble accuracy is good. The response here is a bit uneven but, as a whole, underemphasized. Vocals and instruments sound a bit thin while sibilants like the hi-hats in songs like Roxanne by The Police, sound veiled and lacking their edge.

7.5
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.55 dB
Dips
1.27 dB

The peaks and dips performance of the Anker P25i is good. There aren't many significant peaks and dips, which means the headphones are able to control their sound profile well. A peak in the low to mid-bass adds extra thump and punch to audio, while a shallow dip in the high-bass to mid-mid thins out the mix a bit. Another peak affects the right driver in between the mid to high-mid, making vocals and instruments forward and a little harsh. That said, both drivers have a similarly uneven low-treble, which makes vocals and instruments in this range sound either harsh or veiled, depending on their frequency. A large peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants piercing.

8.8
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.24
Weighted Phase Mismatch
2.12
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.61
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.67

The imaging performance of these buds is excellent. Anker generally has good quality control and ergonomics, which helps ensure a solid imaging performance. Keep in mind that imaging varies across units. Our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched in group delay, which ensures tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. Our unit's drivers are also well-matched in amplitude, frequency, and phase response, which helps ensure that sound objects like voices are accurately placed in the stereo image.

1.3
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
4.5
Acoustic Space Excitation
1.4

These buds have a bad passive soundstage performance. However, that's to be expected by their design. They bypass your outer ear, which needs to interact with sound in order to create a more immersive sound. As a result, their soundstage feels like it's coming from inside your head and is closed off.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No
7.7
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.285
WHD @ 100
0.128

The weighted harmonic distortion performance of the Anker P25i is good. While there's a peak in the low to mid-treble at moderate volumes, it's difficult to spot with real-life content unless you're a discerning listener. Most frequencies otherwise fall within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
03.30
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.2
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 44.1kHz
EQ
Soundcore Signature
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

Isolation
5.5
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Full Range
Noise Cancelling No
Overall Attenuation
-13.54 dB
Bass
-0.31 dB
Mid
-17.47 dB
Treble
-25.21 dB

The noise isolation performance of these buds is sub-par. They lack noise cancelling (ANC) and rely on these passive capabilities to reduce ambient sound around you. That said, they really struggle to cut down the low rumble of bus engines, which can be annoying if you want to use them during your commute. On the upside, the buds are able to block out ambient chatter and the high-pitched hum of AC units much better.

5.1
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
Airplane Noise Attenuation
-12.03 dB
Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
Office Noise Attenuation
-12.49 dB
Office Noise Isolation Audio
Street Noise Attenuation
-13.10 dB
Street Noise Isolation Audio
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
Female Voice 1
Male Voice 1
Female Voice 2
Male Voice 2
Isolation
ANC Wind Handling
ANC Wind Noise
N/A
8.8
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
28.4 dB

The leakage performance is excellent. Leakage is mostly concentrated in the treble range and sounds thin. That said, the overall leakage is low, so even if you crank up your tunes, others around you won't hear it.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
7.3
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
281 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
3.11 dB
HFE
4,832.64 Hz
Weighted THD
0.31
Gain
6.19 dB

The integrated mic's recording quality is decent. Your voice is easy to understand, but lacks depth.

6.8
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
9.65 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
7.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
6.5
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The noise handling performance is fair. If you're talking in an area with consistent noise, like a busy office, your voice will sound clear alongside static. However, if you're calling from a train station, irregular and loud noises, such as a train pulling into the station, can completely drown out your voice, and the overall volume becomes slightly elevated.

Active Features
6.8
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
9 hrs
Additional Charges
2.0
Total Battery Life
27 hrs
Charge Time
0.75 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port USB-C

The Anker P20i have a fair battery performance. The manufacturer advertises them to last 10 hours continuously, and we measured just under that. Battery life can vary depending on factors like volume and use. Luckily, their carrying case holds an extra two charges if you need it. You can also charge the buds for 10 minutes and gain up to two hours of playtime.

8.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Anker Soundcore
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
Presets
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping Yes
Surround Support
No

The Anker Soundcore app is great and you can see a video of how it works here. It offers a slew of EQ presets to help you customize their sound as well as 'BassUp', a feature to add even more bass to your music. You can also adjust the controls and audio feedback, as well as access features like Find Device, Gaming Mode, and firmware updates.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Wired Connection
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable
No
Length
N/A
Connector
No Wired Option
Latency - Analog
N/A
Latency - USB
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Recorded Latency Connection No Wired Audio

These buds can't be used wired. They come with a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging their carrying case.

7.3
Connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth Version
5.3
Multi-Device Pairing
No
Quick Pair (Android)
No
Quick Pair (iOS)
No
Line Of Sight Range
173.88 ft (53.00 m)
Latency - SBC
85 ms
Latency - aptX
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
N/A
Latency - LDAC
N/A
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Codec SBC
AAC Support
Yes

These buds are pretty simple in terms of Bluetooth connectivity. They don't support multi-device pairing or quick pairing, which is to be expected for their price point. That said, they support a 'Game Mode' feature to help lower latency. Using this mode, you can expect low audio lag. While it may not be low enough for competitive gaming, it'll ensure that your audio and visuals are better in sync for streaming video, and it's low enough for watching videos. If you turn this feature off, however, you can expect very high latency and experience lip sync mismatch. That said, some devices compensate for latency. If you want similar earbuds with the added benefit of multi-device pairing, you can consider the Anker Soundcore P40i True Wireless, which also feature 'Game Mode' for lower latency.

0
Connectivity
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Latency - Dongle
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones can only connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but they'll have full audio and mic compatibility via this connection.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
2.2
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Charging Case
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
Yes
Power Supply
USB-C

These buds come with a carrying case that holds two additional charges and has a USB-C port for recharging it. It doesn't support wireless charging though.