The Anker Soundcore C30i are the brand's first entry into open-fit earbuds that are more like ear cuffs than conventional earbuds. Landing staunchly in the realm of affordability, these are an appealing proposition if you've considered open-fitting buds previously but couldn't make the leap into the niche. Complete with app support and a long battery life, are these your gateway into clip-ons?
Our Verdict
The Anker C30i are very good for sports and fitness. Their stable fit keeps up while you do box jumps and burpees without needing to readjust the clip-on buds. Their open-fitting design allows you to keep track of your environment safely and even have music during team practices. Kitted with water resistance, they can handle a couple of raindrops, too. You can also easily pocket them when not in use. That said, they're not very comfortable to wear for extended sessions. Plus, the trade-off of situational awareness means your favorite motivating EDM playlist will sound anemic due to the buds' almost complete absence of bass. If podcasts are more your speed, these playback mids and treble with much greater accuracy.
Very stable fit.
Allows you to hear your environment perfectly.
IPX4 rating for water resistance.
Lacks bass.
Open-fit leaks audio and doesn't isolate you from noise.
The Anker C30i are poor for travel. Their open fit doesn't isolate you at all from the noise of your environment, which can make travel unpleasant. Also, your audio escapes into the space loudly enough to bother fellow passengers beside you. Depending on how far you're traveling, they're only decently comfortable and can cause discomfort during longer trips. That said, their battery life is very long for a portable true wireless design, so they'll outlast nearly any trip.
Long battery life.
IPX4 rating for water resistance.
Lacks bass.
Open-fit leaks audio and doesn't isolate you from noise.
Can get uncomfortable over prolonged use.
The Anker C30i are poor for office use. Unless you work in a collaborative space where you need to hear your colleagues, the clip-on design's complete absence of isolation won't help you focus on your work. They also leak enough of your audio to distract those around you. Plus, their mic system has a noticeable amount of distortion, which doesn't sound great during calls. Wearing them for long stretches can eventually lead to discomfort, so your ears might tap out before the long battery life does. On the upside, they support multi-device pairing for easily switching between your smartphone and work PC.
Long battery life.
Multi-device pairing.
Mic introduces distortion and doesn't reject noise well.
Open-fit leaks audio and doesn't isolate you from noise.
Can get uncomfortable over prolonged use.
The Soundcore C30i are Bluetooth-only with no low-latency modes, so your games won't stay in sync with your audio. They also can't connect to consoles without Bluetooth compatibility.
The Soundcore C30i are wireless only, so you can't use them for wired gaming.
The Anker C30i have disappointing audio reproduction accuracy. Since they sit outside your ear canal, they're unable to reproduce much bass, lending them to a bright tonality. On the plus side, they don't deviate much from their bright sound profile, apart from a few peaks and dips in the treble, which can render voices a touch shrill or dull depending on their pitch. Since the buds clip onto your ears, it's also hard to position them so that the stereo image is perfectly central, but if you manage to, objects will feel correctly placed in the stereo field. In general, these aren't earbuds you choose for accurate audio reproduction, but because they help you stay aware of your environment.
The Anker C30i have awful noise isolation results, but that's by design. Since these earbuds sit outside your ear canal, they let the sounds of the world around you mingle alongside your audio. As a result, you'll hear everything from bus engines to chatty coworkers. Similarly, the buds also leak a lot of audio, so even at quiet listening levels, people nearby will hear a thin version of your audio.
The Anker C30i have a middling microphone. While the mic captures your voice reasonably accurately, it also distorts easily, which can harm intelligibility. The mic also struggles to separate your voice from any noise around you. Sounds like passing buses completely overwhelm the mic system, rendering your voice impossible to understand.
The Anker C30i have disappointing frequency response consistency. Since they sit outside your ear canal, it can be difficult to get a consistent fit and sound across different wears.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Jan 09, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
- Updated Dec 23, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0, which updates our sound tests and adds performance usages. You can read more about this in our changelog.
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Updated Jun 10, 2025:
We mentioned the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro in the Build Quality section of this review.
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Updated Mar 26, 2025:
The Compared To Other Headphones box was updated to mention the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker C30i come in two colors: 'White' and 'Black.' Our model is 'Black' (this is their label), and we expect both color variants to perform similarly.
If you encounter another variant of these, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
Hot on the trail of the innovative Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, the Anker C30i are a budget-conscious alternative with a similar, but more rigid, cuff shape that sits alongside the bottom of your ear, leaving the canal open so you can hear your environment. Still, there are other methods for obtaining a fit that allows you to stay aware during outdoor exercise, like the Shokz OpenFit True Wireless or one of the models from the Anker Soundcore AeroFit line, which use over-ear hooks and drivers that sit outside of your ear canal. The dynamic driver-equipped design of the Anker C30i is much smaller and visually discreet, but the buds leak more than the Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction. Unlike the Anker, the Shokz can be used by people with hearing aids (depending on the type of hearing impairment). If you want app support that the standard OpenRun lacks, you could also look at the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction, which uses a hybrid of dynamic drivers and bone conduction with a higher IP55 rating, but it's less affordable than the Anker.
For your fitness or open-concept office needs, check out the best wireless earbuds for running and working out, the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.
The Anker Soundcore C30i are slightly better open-fit earbuds than the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro. While both pairs lack bass by design, the Anker have flatter mid and treble-ranges, while the SoundPeats can sound a little harsh. The Anker also last longer off a single charge and have a more stable companion app. That said, the SoundPeats have a slightly higher IPX5 rating when compared to the Anker's IPX4, so if you like jogging in the rain a lot, the SoundPeats could be the better pick. They also have a slightly better microphone system.
The Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction and Anker Soundcore C30i take different approaches to allow you to retain situational awareness with long-lasting batteries, and it'll depend on whether you prefer one style over the other. The Shokz's wraparound headband design is a bit more fiddly depending on your head size and uses bone conduction, while the Anker is smaller with clip-on cuffs that have tiny dynamic drivers. The Shokz's IP67 rating is a bit more reassuring against the elements, while the Anker's IPX4 rating is less durable. The Anker's smaller size is more portable and slightly more stable fitting, if not quite as comfortable over prolonged sessions as the Shokz. That said, the Shokz have a better-sounding mic, and can be worn by people with hearing aids or hearing loss, depending on the type of hearing impairment.
Depending on your needs, you may prefer either the Shokz OpenFit True Wireless or the Anker Soundcore C30i. Both are open-fitting, but the Shokz use an over-ear hook, while the Anker utilize a design that clips onto the bottom of your ear. Both support similar amounts of situational awareness and lack of isolation. The Anker offer more control via the app and feel lighter with a better battery life. However, their mic is worse, and the sound quality is more distorted. On the other hand, the Shokz have a bit more bass, though both are still pretty bright-sounding overall. The Shokz also have dust resistance and a better mic. However, their controls are more sparse.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a bit better cuff-like buds than the Anker Soundcore C30i, but the tier difference is enough to reasonably steer many people toward the latter. These niche designs prioritize awareness above sound quality, so they both sound bright without isolation. The Bose are more comfortable because their flexible hinge adjusts to your ear's shape better, which allows for longer listening sessions. They leak less audio, so you don't annoy people nearby, and their mic sounds a bit better. They're less prone to command misfires, too. On the other hand, the Anker's battery is longer, and they fulfill the necessities like stability and build quality nearly as well as the Bose. Their mic sounds more distorted, though.
Test Results
The sound profile of these earbuds is bright with a strong roll-off in the bass range through to the low-mids. By design, they can't convey much low-end at all because the driver sits outside of your ear canal. If you're listening to podcasts and audiobooks, the mid and treble frequencies where human speech resides are pronounced and forward. Their tuning works okay for classical and vocal-centric music, but they really lack the boom and rumble needed for hip-hop, EDM, and rock.
How they sound is also affected more than conventionally isolating earbuds by the ambient noise in your environment, simply because whatever sound is the loudest is always the most noticeable; that's the trade-off with buds that prioritize awareness over sound. With open fits, sometimes, the person next to you on the bus, talking to their friend, is loud enough to mask your favorite podcast host's voice. It's tempting to crank the volume to hear your audio better in hectic spaces, but this can be unhealthy for your hearing if the volume is set too high. Before you touch the volume, consider using the app's EQ to compensate. If you want more bass, the 'Bass' EQ preset actually reduces the amount of treble in the default 'Signature' EQ so that you hear the lower frequencies better.
If you plan on using the clip-on buds for calls, they sound a little different when the mic is active. They're less shrill in the high treble and quieter overall.
Their frequency response consistency is poor. Due to their design that sits outside of your ear canals, it can be challenging to get consistent audio between wears. That said, because they truly don't output much bass whatsoever, you needn't concern yourself with that range, which is where most deviations in frequency response consistency typically lie.
These open-fitting clip-on buds do a bad job of matching our target for bass, which is expected. Lack of bass is an inherent limitation of buds that sit outside of your ear canals. As a result, songs like Hot Stuff by Donna Summer are going to lack the weighty thump of the four on the floor kick drum and disco-infused bassline.
The Anker C30i have amazing mid-range target compliance. Keys and speech sound fairly natural, if thin. While the low-mids taper off relative to the rest of the range, without any competing bass frequencies, you'll still hear chunky rhythm guitars and vocals fine.
These buds have very good treble target compliance. Most of the low- and mid-treble are present, so voices sound clear and articulate. But a roll-off in the highest frequencies means your audio lacks air and detail.
They have alright peaks and dips performance. While the mid-range and low-treble have a very flat response and convey an even sound, the buds struggle more to control the high registers of their sound profile. Because you can't really hear the bass range, the peaks and dips aren't impactful. The flat mids are noteworthy for their even delivery, but the peaks and dips in the treble lead to an alternating piercing, veiled, shrill, and closed-off sound on vocal and cymbal harmonics, depending on the frequency.
These earbuds have decently well-matched left and right drivers. There are some measurable differences in amplitude and phase response between the two drivers, but these occur in the highest frequency range and aren't audible with most audio, especially since these earbuds roll off the highest treble frequencies.
In our tests, we measured very loose group delay. However, since these buds don't produce much audible bass at all, you won't hear any issues. Higher-pitched sounds like voices and handclaps are reproduced accurately.
While we measured high levels of harmonic distortion in our testing, since these earbuds don't reproduce bass frequencies, you won't hear any distortion artifacts in real-world use. Voices will sound clean and clear.
The '3D Surround Sound' digital sound processor (DSP) can be applied to any audio source. It doesn't include advanced and immersive features like head tracking or require specifically mixed audio formats. It's essentially a DSP effect rather than a true virtual surround sound, which can be novel for some music. You can't use it at the same time as any other EQ because your app gives you the choice of '3D Surround Sound' or other EQ settings.
These are the settings used to test these buds. Our results are only valid when using them in this configuration.
The Anker C30i are clip-on earbuds with an open-fit design. Rather than placing a nozzle with an ear tip inside of your ear canal, their cuff-like design wraps around your ear lobe and bottom of your pinna near the helix and antihelix and projects your audio towards your ear canal, leaving it open. Their shape seems clearly inspired by the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, while the Anker have exchanged a button control for a touchpad and added silicone sleeves that fit over the 'cuff.' They come in an opaque 'White' color or 'Black,' which includes an opaque case with an almost smokey quartz translucent look for the earbuds.
The Anker C30i are decently comfortable. The unusual, rigid, all-plastic C-shaped cuffs are a bit one-size-fits-most, meaning depending on your anatomy, they'll fit you better or worse. They include two sets of silicone sleeves that can help adjust their fit and add grip. They're easy to place but lack the same degree of fit adjustment you get with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which have a flexible silicone 'hinge' to clasp with more or less tension. As a result of the rigid design, the Anker cuffs can apply too much pressure over time and cause discomfort to the back of your ear, but your mileage may vary. Plus, if you have multiple piercings along your ear, they might not fit you.
The controls are adequate. A touchpad is located on the back of each cuff in an intuitive, and you can reassign the default controls in the app. They emit tones for each registered command, chime when you hit max volume, and chime to signal pairing mode. Although, by default, there's no single tap command that helps mitigate misfires, you can dedicate a function to a single tap in the app. Sometimes hair can get in the way, and every so often, the touchpad registers a double tap as a triple tap, which is annoying when you want to pause your audio, and it skips to the next track instead. To adjust the volume the command is press-and-hold, which allows for precise adjustment, though, if you want to make drastic volume alterations it's a bit laborious. Of course, you can swap around the controls.
The Anker C30i are superbly portable. You can pop them in virtually any pocket, but you'll want to store them in the case.
The clamshell-style charging case is good. It's made of nice quality matte plastic and has a USB-C port on the back. Its lid's plastic is a bit thinner than the rest of the case, though. The Bluetooth pairing button for the buds is located on the bottom of the case.
The Anker C30i have great build quality. The buds are water resistant with an IPX4 rating, which is good enough for you to take them for a jog in the rain. Consider the IPX5-rated SoundPeats PearlClip Pro if you need an open-fit pair with slightly more water resistance. The Anker's case lacks any IP rating, but that's not unusual. All the plastic is solid quality, and the silicone sleeves that fit over the clip-on earbuds are also good quality. Their case feels well-made, but the lid is made of a thinner plastic.
The Anker C30i are amazingly stable. You can perform dynamic workout movements, including calisthenics and runs, and expect they'll stay put. Like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, the cuff design sidesteps the stability issues that different people's ear shapes can encounter, even with a large selection of ear tips. To add to their stability, you can try using one of the two sets of silicone sleeves if you need a tighter grip. The downside is that if you have earrings along your ears, and not just on your ear lobe, these might not be able to fit on you, let alone concern yourself with their stability.
- Anker Soundcore C30i earbuds
- Charging case
- 2x sets of silicone sleeves (M, L)
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable (12-inches / 30cm)
The full-range noise isolation of these clip-on buds is terrible, which is expected. Since they sit outside of your ear canal so you can monitor your environment, they block virtually nothing. The upside of this is you can soundtrack your late-night jogs without compromising situational awareness or work in open-concept offices without alienating colleagues. On the other hand, this open-fit niche is limiting because a lack of isolation impacts how well your attention can parse your audio from what's going on around you.
Unlike the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, the Anker doesn't have an automatic volume adjustment to offset fluctuations in environmental noise.
As open-fitting ear cuffs, these allow you to fully hear your environment without the artificiality of a transparency mode. Of course, this comes as the cost of the flexibility of turning on a noise cancelling mode.
The Anker C30i have poor leakage performance. Because their design consists of basically two tiny speakers placed outside of your ears, folks nearby will hear a thin approximation of what you hear when you wear them. This can get distracting in offices, and in quiet spaces, like libraries, nearby patrons will know the words to your favorite song. If you're on a walk or run, the leaking audio poses less of an issue as you won't be lingering by people for long enough to become a nuisance.
Their microphone system's recording is poor. Unfortunately, captured audio is impacted by high total harmonic distortion, which introduces noisy artifacts. That said, besides the audible buzzing, the frequency response of the mic retains an alright amount of body and doesn't sound overly thin.
The microphone system's noise handling is unremarkable. It struggles to separate your speech effectively from background noise, and this isn't helped by the fact the mic itself introduces distortion, so you sound like you're blowing out the mic. That said, you're still understandable if a bit hard to listen to. Sudden loud noises like passing subway trains completely overwhelm the mic's noise handling, though, leaving you inaudible.
These have decent battery performance. Advertised to reach 10 hours of continuous playback, in testing, they reached an impressive 14.2 hours with an extra two charges in the case. How long they'll last in the real world depends on factors like how loud you listen to your audio, but it's safe to say they'll last longer than your workday. Ten minutes of charging yields an extra three hours, according to the manufacturer. Unfortunately, they lack any battery conservation features, so if you leave them idle, they'll continue to drain the battery.
The Anker Soundcore app companion app is good. Its main features include remapping controls and the tones emitted for the various commands, enabling multi-device pairing, custom EQ, and a couple of presets. You can also access the surround sound DSP in the app. Essentials like firmware updates and monitoring battery life are also covered.
As you can see in this video tour of the app, the EQ goes as low as 100Hz, which could be worth exploring if you want to test the limits of how much bass you can squeeze out of the drivers (even if it introduces harmonic distortion). You can save the EQ presets, which is handy if you change your device at some point, but increasing updates to the Anker Soundcore app have forcefully encouraged people to create an account and log in to the app in order to access the full feature set.
These include a USB-A to USB-C cable that's meant for charging only.
The Anker C30i have good Bluetooth connectivity. They support multi-device pairing with a second device, so you can easily switch devices when you switch from your computer to your smartphone. Their range isn't as far as other Bluetooth 5.3 earbuds we've tested, though, but if the device is reasonably nearby, your connection should remain stable. Latency is high enough that audio and video don't sync up, and the app lacks a low latency mode. For podcasts and music, latency doesn't pose a problem, but if you watch a lot of videos, it can get distracting. That said, latency varies between devices, and some apps have built-in compensation, so your experience may differ.
These earbuds can only connect to Bluetooth-capable PCs for audio and mic system.