The Anker Soundcore P31i are budget, ANC-equipped earbuds that offer pared-down versions of features often seen in premium, flagship wireless in-ears. Few buds at this price point are equipped with an ANC system, let alone one that lets you enable real-time adaptive or scene-based algorithms. Anker have even included quality-of-life features like AI translation, hearID, and LDAC support to sweeten the deal.
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore P31i are great for sports and fitness. While they're not specifically marketed towards runners and gymgoers, they make a compelling case for this usage through their comfortable, stable fit and IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. Their lightweight design won't feel heavy in your ears after a long run, and over seven hours of battery life means you can take them out for a cycling day trip without needing to recharge.
Adaptive ANC system.
Comfortable and lightweight fit.
Somewhat cheap construction.
The Anker Soundcore P31i are good for travel use. They're very comfortable buds, with a stable and lightweight fit that won't cause ear fatigue over long journeys. While their ANC system doesn't quite compete with flagship, premium in-ears, it still does a decent job of cutting out external noise in environments like aircraft cabins and busy intersections. With over seven hours of battery life, they'll also last you through a medium-haul flight or a full-day road trip without needing a recharge, though there are four extra charges available in the case.
Adaptive ANC system.
Seven hours of continuous battery life.
Comfortable and lightweight fit.
Somewhat cheap construction.
The Anker P31i are a good choice for office work. Their comfortable and lightweight fit won't apply much pressure to your ears over the course of a workday, so long as you pick the right ear tips. While their ANC system helps cut down the clack of keystrokes and background meeting chatter, it doesn't completely block it out. That said, the built-in microphone is more than capable of rendering your voice in an understandable, even detailed way that's suitable for online meetings. It'll separate your voice from its background well, too, regardless of how noisy your environment is.
Adaptive ANC system.
Good built-in mic.
Multi-device pairing and LDAC support.
Case lacks wireless charging.
The Anker P31i aren't a good choice for wireless gaming as there's too much latency using a Bluetooth connection, and they lack wireless dongle support.
The Anker P31i can't be used wired, so they're not suitable for this usage.
The Anker Soundcore P31i are good for audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response doesn't deviate much from their warm sound profile, which features a lot of extra bass-range boom and some upper mid-range emphasis. The L/R drivers are well-matched in terms of amplitude, frequency, and phase, too, with no significant mismatches or major holes in the stereo image. There's very little harmonic distortion either, so even if you prefer to crank your tunes, there'll be no audible coloration of your audio due to this.
Adaptive ANC system.
The Anker Soundcore P31i are decent for noise isolation. They come equipped with an adaptive ANC system that combines with the passive isolation provided by their in-ear fit. While the silicone ear tips don't attenuate as much as foam tips from other manufacturers, the ANC system does a solid job of tamping down on passing cars, plane engine rumble, and background chit-chat. It's not up there with marquee ANC headphones, but it's very respectable for budget cans. There's even a wind noise feature that can help mitigate the annoying noise ANC systems often make in the face of windy conditions. They also don't leak much audio, even if you crank up the volume.
Adaptive ANC system.
The Anker Soundcore P31i have a good microphone performance. The built-in mic renders your voice in a clearly understandable way, without rolling off too much of the highs or lows. It also does a great job of separating your voice from its background, regardless of whether this is a busy schoolyard or a metro station with trains pulling in.
Adaptive ANC system.
The Anker Soundcore P31i have a great frequency response consistency. As long as you take the time to pick out the right size ear tips and adjust the fit in your ears, you'll be rewarded with consistent audio delivery between different listening sessions.
Adaptive ANC system.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore P31i (also sold as the R60i NC in some markets) are available in four color variants: 'Black,' 'White, 'Pink,' and 'Blue.' We tested the 'Blue' variant (and took a picture of its label), but we expect other variants to perform similarly.
If you encounter another variant of these earbuds, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Anker Soundcore P31i are budget noise cancelling in-ear buds. They offer one of the most comprehensive feature sets for this price range, with adaptive ANC, LDAC support, and multi-device pairing. You'll have to look to the tier-above Anker Soundcore P40i for comparable features, which offer a better noise isolation performance and longer battery life against a bad microphone performance and less comfortable fit. If you're fine with hearing the world around you but want a more balanced default sound, the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless might be a better fit. While they lack an ANC system and aren't as comfortable, they offer a more balanced, less bass-heavy sound.
For more options, check out our best budget and cheap wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds under $50, and the best earbuds under $50.
The Anker Soundcore P40i are a tier above the Anker Soundcore P31i in the Anker earbud lineup. As a result, they do have a better noise isolation performance and a better battery life, which makes them more suited to frequent long-haul travelers. That said, the P31i punch above their weight in some regards, with a more comfortable fit and a much better mic recording quality, with better noise handling. Both buds have a bass-heavy default sound, but the P40i are especially heavy-handed with the low-end, so unless you're a bass lover, you'll likely prefer the P31i's slightly more balanced sound.
The Anker Soundcore P31i and the CMF Buds Pro 2 are similarly spec'd budget earbuds that offer a comparable performance. Both come equipped with adaptive ANC systems and LDAC support, which are nice to have at a lower price point. The CMF buds have a much better noise isolation performance that attenuates a lot more mid- and treble-range noise. That said, the Anker come out on top in many other regards. They're more comfortable for most people, have a longer battery life, and their mic's recording quality is a bit better. Their default sound is also more balanced, whereas the CMF opt for a highly boosted bass response.
The Anker Soundcore P31i are better for most use cases than the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. The Anker have a much more comprehensive feature set, with an adaptive ANC system, multi-device pairing (with LDAC support), a more comfortable fit, and better mic noise handling. The Vibe Buds do have the edge when it comes to battery life and mic quality, though the differences aren't too significant. Those who want a more balanced sound will appreciate the JBL's tuning, though, which is well aligned with our target. By contrast, the Anker boost the bass and roll of some treble range for a warmer sound that'll please bass lovers.
The Anker Soundcore P25i are a tier down from the Anker Soundcore P31i, and their lower price point comes with some significant trade-offs. The cheaper model lacks an ANC system, multi-device pairing, and aren't as comfortable as the lightweight P31i. While the P25i have a longer continuous battery life, the case can only store an extra two charges, as opposed to four with the P31i. The P25i also have a much more bass-heavy sound, and it can be harder to achieve consistent audio delivery with them. All in all, most people will be happier with the P31i's more complete feature set.
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Test Results
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