Soundcore has become one of my favorite brands to work with over the last few years. When Anker created the audio moniker, I had no idea how much I would enjoy using these devices in my daily life. I genuinely use them several times per week. Soundcore allowed me some time with three of its latest devices, and you can easily Level Up your wireless audio with either of these.
Level Up is where we explore the gear that actually makes a difference, whether that’s in how you live, work, or unwind. Each edition brings together standout products, whether tied by brand or by theme, that turn the everyday into something a little more exceptional.
Soundcore A20 Sleep Earbuds
The Soundcore A20 Sleep Buds are obviously the most daring of the three audio units I received. I also think these will be the most polarizing to users. You will either immediately love these or will most likely dismiss them altogether. I don’t think there’s an in-between consumer for the Sleep A20s.
So why would I say that? Well, I think the camps of opinions lies with those that already find a white noise machine improves their sleeping habits. That’s essentially what the Soundcore A20 Sleep Buds are replacing. These small, comfortable earbuds feel like a high-end earplug that happens to play audio.
I don’t mean that in a passing way. I think Soundcore nailed the design. The soft, silicone tips fit snugly into your ears and have a “wing” that, when you give the A20 a slight twist, secures then even further into the inner earlobe. The result is a fit that most people will find comfortable enough to sleep, even on their sides. You will notice the first night, but I found I adjusted very quickly to the foreign feeling.
While in your ears, the A20 Sleep Buds have two options: true Bluetooth or sleep modes. Basically, these are both Bluetooth profiles, but one is using a standard relay of external audio apps like YouTube Music or Spotify for playback. The other, are finely tuned nature sounds found in the sleep section of the Soundcore app under the A20.
In my earlier years, I often fell asleep to music or the TV, but as I’ve grown older, I need something more tranquil. I found the sounds from the Sleep Sounds in the Soundcore app to be great. The nature scenes include rain, running water, and serene nature noises. You can set these to play until you turn them off, set a time, or have them stop when your alarm sounds.
It’s also worth noting of a few other things. These are sleep blocking but don’t have active noise cancellation. The other is the unique ability to also track your sleep from the A20 Sleep Buds. This is a great addition that other wearables are using that I think simply makes sense for this market.
The Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds are available now in a single white colorway at full retail of $150 USD. Hit our links for both Soundcore directly and Amazon to catch some Zs with these new earbuds.
- Purchase the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds from Soundcore
- Purchase the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds from Amazon
Soundcore Sport X20 Earbuds
The next addition to the Soundcore family are the Sport X20 earbuds. These fitness-oriented audio devices offer another great option for users who want a mix of casual usage with a gym focus. The ear loop design makes this a secure way to enjoy audio while working out with the Sport X20 buds.
The earbuds are inserted into your ear canal and the rotating loops twist around the top of your earlobes to make a snug, secure fit. This allows you to be fully active while wearing the Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds. I’ve worn these during several workouts now, and I’ve yet to have them feel like they would slip out of my ears.
Atop the outside rim of each X20 is a physical button. This allows you to have a few interactions like play/pause or skip of your audio. Having it be an actual tactile button is well-chosen as while working out or taking a run, you may have on gloves or sweat that would interfere with traditional capacitive areas found on most earbuds.
You won’t be disappointed in real-world audio and battery life, either. With adaptive active noise cancellation, the Sport X20s will keep up the quality of playback in any environment. From outdoors at soccer games, to inside my office, the performance was top-notch.
Soundcore rates the Sport X20 earbuds at around 12 hours per charge of the buds themselves, with up to 48 hours before you also have to charge the case via USB-C. As with most Soundcore units, I’ve found this to be pretty accurate.
You can purchase the new Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds from both Amazon and Soundcore below. You have three colors to choose from with black, white, and green. At just $80, these are still for the active audio listener.
- Purchase the Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds from Soundcore
- Purchase the Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds from Amazon
Soundcore Space Q45 Headphones
The final entry on this great Soundcore test run are the Space Q45 Headphones. These premium, over-the-ear headphones have surpassed my expectations. Granted, I tend to lean towards the more lightweight earbud alternatives, the Space Q45s scream high-end wireless audio from the moment you take them out of the box.
There’s definitely a mix of plastics, metal, and soft materials, but the build quality is superb. All the pivot points and contact areas have a level of consideration. The folding mechanism has a good hinge with great feedback without feeling flimsy. The same is true for the cushioning both on the headphone cans and the headbands. Soundcore nailed this. Period.
The same can be said for both the audio and call quality. With the Hi-Res double layered drives, you get a rich sound from all levels of the equalizer. Highs and mids come through crisp and clear, and bass punches you when you need it. Add in the serious active noise cancellation, and you can get a pretty immersive experience while listening.
Call quality is great, and my conversations have been notably good. Callers actually mentioned how well I sounded on two different calls I’ve taken. This is due to a dual mic system that Soundcore has included here. An AI-level sorts through these two inputs and filters out background noise accordingly.
You’d expect good battery life with a headphone the size of the Soundcore Q45, but these border on great, with up to 50 hours of usage. I’ve found killing these in a single week is difficult. You get USB-C fast charging when you do need to top them off, so in under two hours you can be enjoying your favorite playlists again.
The Soundcore Space Q45s retail for $150 USD, but both Soundcore and Amazon have them discounted by $20 at the moment. You can choose from three colors at the links below: black, white, and blue.
- Purchase the Soundcore Space Q45 headphones from Soundcore
- Purchase the Soundcore Space Q45 headphones from Amazon
