Our Verdict
The Anker SoundBuds Sport are decent everyday headphones. They're compact, wireless, and have good passive noise isolation. However, their sound quality is a bit uneven and maybe a deal breaker for some. They also have a short battery life and their in-ear fit is not as comfortable as that of the SoundBuds Curve.
- Good passive noise isolation.
- Stable fit.
- Minimal leakage.
- Poor, uneven audio reproduction.
- In-ear fit is uncomfortable for some.
Mediocre-at-best for neutral listening. They have a poorly balanced sound quality and an overpowering bass that drowns most of the instruments and vocal, making them sound muddy and boomy. They also have a closed back design that limits their soundstage so they won't be a great choice for more neutral listeners. On the upside, the overemphasized bass could be ok when working out.
Above-average for commuting. They're compact, comfortable easy-to-carry around on your person. They also have great passive isolation which should be good enough to block the noise of most commutes especially if you're playing a little music.
The Anker SoundSport are good headphones for sports use. They have a stable in-ear fit, and their passive isolation will block the ambient noise of a gym. They're wireless and small enough to carry around on your person wherever you go.
Average for office use. The Anker SoundBuds Sport block a lot of noise and barely leak. However, they're not the most comfortable headphones to wear for long periods of time, they have a poor sound quality, and they're Bluetooth-only which may be a bit limiting for some.
Below-average for gaming. They have a mediocre-at-best microphone, and a bit too much latency to be suitable for gaming. They also have no companion app so they won't be as customizable as most gaming headsets and their Bluetooth connection is not compatible with consoles.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
Check Price
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Anker SoundBuds Sport are average in-ear headphones that deliver a stable wireless fit that's great for sports. They don't easily fall out of the ears and maintain their position during physical activities. Their in-ear fit also blocks a surprising level of ambient noise, which makes them well-suited for the noise of an office, a gym or a regular commute. Unfortunately, the in-ear fit can get uncomfortable, their control scheme is cramped, and their sound quality is poor and uneven, which may be a dealbreaker for some listeners, especially when compared to similarly priced models below. See also our recommendations for the best cheap earbuds, the best budget wireless headphones, and the best wireless earbuds under $50.
The Samsung Level U Pro Wireless are better in-ear headphones than the Anker SoundBuds Sport. The Samsung sound better, have a more comfortable in-ear fit and have a lot more customizable features. The Samsung also have a better wireless range and battery life. On the other hand, the Anker have better isolation and will be more suitable to use in noisy environments. The Anker also have a slightly lower default latency performance, although the Samsung do have aptX-LL, which will be better for watching movies if you have the right dongle.
The Anker SoundBuds Curve 2017 are a much better headset than the Anker SoundBuds Sport. The Curve have an ear-hook design that's a bit more stable for the gym and working out. The Curve also have a much better sound quality, a longer battery life, and a more comfortable fit that does not enter the ear canal as deeply as the Sport. On the other hand, the more in-ear fit of the Sport makes them a bit more suitable for noisy environments. The Sport are also a bit more compact than the Curve since they do not have ear hooks.
The Anker SoundBuds Sport are much better headphones than the SENSO ActivBuds S-250. The SENSO have a more stable ear-hook design and much longer battery life than the Anker. The SENSO are also a bit more comfortable than the Ankers, but not by much. On the other hand, the Ankers have a better sound quality, even if they sound dark and poorly balanced. The Anker also isolate much better in noisy conditions, which makes them a bit more suitable for commute and travel, and are a bit more portable, although they come with a pouch instead of a case like the SENSO.
The Anker SoundCore Spirit X Wireless are better in-ear headphones overall when compared to the Anker SoundBuds Sport. The Spirit X have better sound quality, a more stable and durable design for sports, and they're a lot more sweatproof than the Sports. The Spirit X also have a better control scheme and a much longer battery life that lasts more than twice as long as the Sport. On the other hand, the Sport are a bit more portable and have a better noise-isolating in-ear fit, so they're more suitable for noisy environments and commuting.
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.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
