We've tested over 32 pairs of headphones from Anker. Anker are notable for their chargers, power banks, and cables, and they also produce audio products like headphones and speakers under the 'Soundcore' label. While they only offer truly wireless and over-ear headphones, their products are available at several price points. They're usually packed with extra perks like active noise cancelling (ANC) and sound customization features in their companion app.
Updates
- 04/01/2026Anker Soundcore P31i reviewed
- 01/30/2026Anker Soundcore Space One Pro reviewed
- 09/18/2025Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 reviewed
- 10/18/2024Anker Soundcore C30i reviewed
- 06/14/2024Anker Soundcore P40i reviewed
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
-
Best Anker Earbuds
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessNoise IsolationAudio Reproduction AccuracyMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsSound Signature:WarmThe best Soundcore earbuds we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. They're a great example of what Anker does best: undercutting the competition by providing premium features for less cash. Their outstanding adaptive ANC system automatically adjusts to the noise level around you and can easily reduce sounds like the rumble of bus engines and ambient chatter. With their ANC on, they last over eight hours continuously, and their carrying case supplies an extra four charges.
These comfortable, well-built buds have a warm sound profile out of the box, but you can fine-tune their sound using the companion app's graphic EQ and extensive preset selection. You can also use the app to switch to the LDAC codec to stream Hi-Res content. They have multi-device pairing, which is handy if you want to connect to your smartphone and PC simultaneously. That said, their mic has poor recording quality. The mic captures speech that sounds distant and sibilant, which can be a deal-breaker if you take a lot of calls. However, if you're just looking to listen to music, these wallet-friendly earbuds are worth a look.
If you also want access to surround sound, go with the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Truly Wireless. These have comparable performance with a bassier sound when compared to our top earbuds pick. However, the A40's ANC is still more powerful.
-
Best Budget Anker Earbuds
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessNoise IsolationAudio Reproduction AccuracyMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsSound Signature:WarmLooking for more affordable Anker earbuds? Consider the Anker Soundcore P31i. Don't let their low price fool you: these budget-friendly in-ears still include features often found on more expensive models, including ANC, LDAC support, and Bluetooth multi-device pairing. Out of the box, their warm sound profile works well for bass-heavy music, though their subdued treble can make mixes sound a little dark. If you prefer a different sound, you can adjust it via the EQ in the Anker Soundcore app. Their built-in mic performs well for the price, and keeps your voice understandable in noisy environments. These earbuds also have a comfortable, lightweight fit and an IP55 rating for resistance against dust and water.
Their ANC does a decent job reducing external noise like passing cars and plane engine rumble, and you can manually adjust the strength or use Real-Time Adaptive ANC to adapt the performance to your fit and surroundings. It's not as strong as the ANC that comes with the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, but for the price, it's more than satisfactory. With ANC on, they last a little over seven hours continuously, and the case holds four extra charges. If you don't need ANC, the Anker Soundcore P25i can usually be found for less. But for most people, the slight increase in price for the P31i's added performance makes them the better option in this price range.
-
Best Anker Headphones
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessNoise IsolationAudio Reproduction AccuracyMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsSound Signature:WarmIf you prefer over-ears to avoid the invasive, plunger-like feel of in-ear fits, you'll want to check out the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. They're the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless and have an improved noise isolation performance thanks to their adaptive ANC. They can block out sounds like the rumble from car engines and coworker chit-chat so you can focus on your audio. That said, they have a high noise floor when you set their ANC to 'Adaptive' or 'Max' mode, which can be annoying since it doesn't truly go away with time.
On the upside, their continuous battery life of just under 28 hours is enough to get you through long days on the go, and you can use them passively in a pinch. They're well-built and have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions. Their default sound profile also delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom while vocals and instruments are crisp. You can customize their sound using the companion app's graphic EQ and presets. Like their more compact true wireless counterpart, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, they even support the LDAC codec, making them a solid choice for Hi-Res audio content.
If you can't quite afford the cost of admission, though, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are a solid alternative for noise cancelling headphones. Compared to the Q45, they have a few pared-back features, such as no LDAC.
-
Best Budget Anker Headphones
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessNoise IsolationAudio Reproduction AccuracyMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsSound Signature:V-ShapedThe Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 are a great value pair of headphones. While they can't quite match the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless's noise isolation performance, they still punch well above their weight in that department. Their ANC does an especially impressive job of blocking out mid-range sounds like chatty coworkers, although it doesn't isolate you from bass-range sounds like bus engines as well as the more expensive Q45. With ANC, the Q20 2024 last almost 50 hours. That's noticeably more than their predecessors, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20, and should see you through a whole work week without needing to recharge.
Out of the box, the Q20 2024 have a V-shaped sound signature that adds thump to 808 kick drums and sizzle to hi-hats. But if you prefer a different sound, you can use the graphic EQ in the Anker Soundcore companion app to dial in the sound to your taste. While these are comfortable headphones, their long-term durability isn't the most impressive, especially around the headband, so keep that in mind. The included USB cable is also quite short, so you may find it easier to use your own. That said, for the price, these are hard to beat.
-
Best Open-Fit Anker Earbuds
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessNoise IsolationAudio Reproduction AccuracyMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsSound Signature:BrightThe Anker Soundcore C30i are the best earbuds for retaining environmental awareness while still listening to music or podcasts. Unlike most conventional in-ear fitting true wireless designs, these clip onto your ears just above the lobe and leave your ear canals open, allowing you to hear what's going on around you. This niche design is very good for staying safe and motivated while exercising outdoors or if you work in a collaborative space and don't want to isolate yourself from colleagues.
The flip side of an open-fit design is that these buds can't provide the same amount of bassy low-end that most of us like to hear for rock, hip-hop, and EDM, though if you're more into voice-centric media, like podcasts and audiobooks, their mid-range and treble sound very clear. If you're looking for open earbuds with a fantastic battery life, they're worth a look, but you have to accept that they don't offer noise isolation of any kind, and their bass is lacking.
Compared To Other Brands
-
Robust companion app.Most Anker headphones are compatible with the Anker Soundcore app, which offers a graphic EQ and presets for customizing the headphones' sound. You can also remap controls and adjust the ANC level to suit your needs.
-
Powerful noise cancelling.
Recent Anker headphones have adjustable noise cancelling systems that offer excellent overall performance. Their noise isolation performance nearly rivals high-end brands like Bose and Sony.
-
LDAC support.
Although not all of their headphones support this codec, a couple of their latest headphones, like the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, support the LDAC codec, which is designed for Hi-Res audio. Support for this codec is also uncommon in truly wireless headphones.
-
Disappointing overall microphone performance.Most Anker headphones have an integrated mic, which sits far away from your mouth. As a result, their mics tend to have poor recording quality and mediocre noise-handling performance.
-
High Bluetooth latency.Anker headphones generally have high latency on PC. You may notice your audio and visuals fall out of sync, which can be frustrating if you like to stream video on your laptop. Some models have a Game Mode to reduce latency.
-
Many similar products. Some of the headphones in the truly wireless lineup have very similar overall performances with slight differences, making it hard to decide which pair is right for you.
Anker vs JBL
Anker and JBL offer a wide variety of headphones to target different price ranges, styles, and features. Many of their products have companion app support and multi-device pairing. JBL's lineup is larger than Anker's, and they have something for everyone, including gaming and club/DJ-inspired headphones. Conversely, Anker focuses on casual-use headphones, and many of their products have powerful ANC systems. Some even support the LDAC codec, which is good if you like to listen to Hi-Res audio. Check out our article on the best JBL earbuds and headphones for more info.
Anker vs Skullcandy
Anker and Skullcandy both occupy the budget and mid-range price brackets. Skullcandy tends to make flashier, more colorful products, and even though some of them are simple in design, others have unique features like haptic bass. Conversely, Anker is a powerhouse with ANC, and their noise cancelling headphones easily outperform similar products from Skullcandy. Check out our picks for the best Skullcandy headphones and earbuds to see what this brand offers.
Anker's Soundcore division produces truly wireless earbuds and over-ear headphones designed for casual use. They stand out from the pack, as many of their products are available at several price points, though they tend to focus on more affordable options. Their products are packed with features like ANC, companion app support, and game modes for lower latency. Some of their in-ears also support the LDAC codec for Hi-Res audio, which is uncommon. Unfortunately, their lineup is quite large, making it hard to distinguish between similarly designed products.
Lineup
Anker has a somewhat simple lineup, though you can find a variety of product types, from budget-friendly to mid-range, in each section. Some discontinued products are still available, and they sometimes appear similar to new products, which can get confusing. For clarity, here are the current lines:
- AeroFit = Open-fit true wireless with over-ear hooks, meant for greater environmental awareness.
- Life = Noise cancelling headphones. Includes over-ears (distinguished by 'Q') and in-ears (distinguished by 'P').
- Liberty = In-ears designed with audio quality in mind. Higher-end models support LDAC for Hi-Res Audio.
- Space = Adaptive noise cancelling headphones based on the Life lineup. This lineup includes an over-ear and an in-ear.
- Sport = In-ear true wireless earbuds with additional features aimed at stability and durability.
Recent Updates
Apr 30, 2026:
The Anker Soundcore P31i replace the Anker Soundcore P25i as our budget pick. The P25i remain as an alternative to the P31i for anyone happy to sacrifice ANC for an even cheaper pair of earbuds.
Feb 04, 2026:
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 replace the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless as our budget pick for their much longer battery life and support for a companion app.
May 02, 2025:
We haven't reviewed any new Anker headphones since the last update, so we've just edited this text for clarity.
Feb 04, 2025:
The Anker Soundcore Q30 has been added as an alternative to the Anker Soundcore Space Q45, and minor text changes were made for clarity.
Nov 05, 2024:
The Anker Soundcore C30i Truly Wireless have been added as the 'Best Open-Fit' pick.
Conclusion
Anker produces various budget-friendly and mid-range headphones, often under their 'Soundcore' brand. Although their lineup is quite expansive, and some models deliver similar performances, their products usually have extra features like adjustable ANC systems and companion app functionality for customization.