Anker is well-known for its power banks and charging stations, but alongside these, it also develops the soundcore brand, which is responsible for wireless headphones and speakers: from small portable speakers to party boxes and soundbars. Today, we’ll discuss one of the brand’s latest releases—the soundcore P40i headphones.
To jump ahead, I can confidently say that at their price point, these are among the best TWS headphones with noise cancellation on the market that I’ve tested. But let’s go through everything step by step.
Technical specifications
- type: TWS, in-ear, 11 mm, dynamic, frequency range 20-20000 Hz
- ENC environmental noise control, ANC adaptive noise control
- soundcore application, headphone range 10 m
- protection against moisture according to the IPX5 standard
- operating time: up to 12 hours, up to 60 hours with a charging case, wireless charging is available
- Bluetooth 5.3, AAC codec
- touch control, Multipoint, Bass Boost, phone stand.
Read alsо: Huawei FreeBuds 6i TWS Headphones Review
Positioning and price
If I had to choose TWS headphones in the $50-75 range, or even among slightly more expensive options, I’d be at a loss. The Anker soundcore P40i, priced around $73 / €67, easily meet most of the requirements for headphones. Their direct competitors include the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro, JBL Tune Beam, Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, Nothing Ear (1), and Huawei FreeBuds 5i. The brand certainly holds its own, doesn’t it?
Package contents
The packaging won’t surprise you, but it won’t disappoint either. Yes, the box might not be of “premium quality,” but it serves its purpose.
Inside, you’ll find the documentation, the charging case with the earbuds, a USB-C charging cable, and a set of silicone ear tips in various sizes. The default size on the earbuds is M.
The charging cable is short but does the job. The documentation is nothing special; it’s a Quick Start Guide with key points and instructions for initial setup.
The interchangeable ear tips are of good quality and fit onto the earbuds quickly and comfortably, although they do attract all sorts of lint and dirt.
Read also: Honor Earbuds X6 TWS Headphones Review: Good Sound for $35
Design, materials, build quality
The build quality of the Anker soundcore P40i is very good. They have an IPX5 rating, which means they are protected against water splashes, so you can comfortably wear them outside in the rain (just wipe them off before putting them back in the case).
The case is made of matte plastic and doesn’t look cheap, although I should note that small scratches start to appear quite quickly. The case features a sturdy lid and hinge and is heavy enough to stay in place.
Yes, you read that correctly—the headphone case has a built-in stand to hold your phone! Thanks to the balance of the case’s weight and its non-slip matte rubber bottom, it creates a nice synergy that lets you watch videos on your phone without holding it in your hands.
I tried different sizes of ear tips with the headphones and eventually went back to the default size M. They provide a good seal, although it’s still worth running a fit test in the app to optimize the listening experience.
On the case itself, there is a large white LED that blinks during connection and lights up warmly for a few seconds when you open it. At night, it can be quite bright, so be prepared for that.
On the back of the case, there is a reset button and a charging port. Inside the lid, you’ll find device information, manufacturer details, and the serial number. And, of course, between the earbuds, there is a slot for the phone stand with the label “Phone Stand.” That’s about it.
The touch-sensitive area on the earbuds is marked with a small brand logo and a tiny bump, making it easy to locate with your finger for controlling sound. The earbuds have clearly marked L and R labels and noticeable microphone holes—there are six in total on the Anker soundcore P40i!
The magnets that attract and hold the earbuds in place deserve a mention. Just bring the earbud close to the slot, and the case seems to draw it in with a satisfying snap and a soft LED glow.
The soundcore P40i earbuds fit quite snugly, but if you prefer over-ear headphones, check out the review of the Anker SoundCore H30i. Here’s how the earbuds look in a man’s ear.
You’ll need some time to adjust because the size M (and smaller) ear tips are actually smaller than the earbud’s main body. On the other hand, the earbud’s stem is perfectly sized to avoid any obstruction. I wouldn’t even mention trying to sleep with them in; that’s not going to be possible.
Battery life
As for battery life, the manufacturer states: “Long-lasting, powerful battery life: enjoy 12 hours of playback on a single charge, with the case extending it to 60 hours. That’s enough to last a few weeks, even a month.” So, the case provides 5 full charges for the earbuds, which, you must admit, sounds pretty good.
In practice, we get truly impressive battery life. Over the course of 2 weeks of review—during which I turned on the earbuds several times a day, made phone calls, and watched videos on YouTube—I didn’t need to recharge the case even once. The initial 100% charge from the box lasted a full 2 weeks. I consider this a significant plus.
It takes about 45 minutes to fully charge the case. The earbuds also feature an automatic power-off timer to conserve battery life, which you can set in the app.
Read alsо: Huawei FreeClip “Open Ear” Headphones Review
Control, application
The Anker Soundcore app is impressive. It’s a universal app used by most of the brand’s products, featuring a large equalizer, controls for listening modes, and functions like Game Mode to reduce latency.
Other features include an automatic shutdown timer, control reassignment, virtual surround sound modes, a decibel limiter, a device search function, and the ability to manage switching between two paired devices.
The soundcore app offers multiple active noise cancellation (ANC) options for the P40i model. There are four ways to use the ANC mode. By default, the P40i is set to adaptive noise cancellation, which listens to the surrounding environment and adjusts the noise cancellation level accordingly. You can also choose the Multi-Scene ANC mode to tailor the ANC for different environments such as transportation, outdoor settings, or indoors. Additionally, there is a manual mode that allows you to select the noise cancellation level from 1 to 5. It also includes an extra option called HearID Sound, which personalizes the feature to your ears.
Despite all these options, I can’t say that the active noise cancellation is exceptionally perfect—even at the highest settings. The feature does a good job of reducing low-frequency sounds and dulling background music and conversations. However, some mid-range sounds are still audible, such as a baby crying, birds chirping, door slamming, and screeching brakes, especially when playing music at a low volume. On the other hand, the Transparency mode addresses most of these issues by naturally emphasizing mid-range sounds when needed. Additionally, the Wind Noise Reduction slider helps reduce wind noise, making it less distracting while cycling or running.
Rumors are circulating online about a trick that actually helps improve ANC: manually switch to Transparency mode and then return to noise cancellation. This way, the headphones will better adapt to the surrounding noise, and mid-range sounds will be significantly better muffled afterward.The Anker P40i app also includes a virtual surround sound feature. You can choose between two preset modes: Movie Mode and Game Mode, which simulate a 3D audio effect by applying a digital signal processor (DSP) to any playing track. Since this is DSP-based, its effectiveness will depend on the source material. It is incompatible with tracks already processed for 3D or spatial audio (by the way, I’ve written about what spatial audio is, how it works, and how to use it). Note that this feature also does not offer head tracking or room modeling, as seen in AirPods Pro.
Regarding touch controls, the right and left earbuds can be customized differently, but both have the same functions for calls: double-tap to answer and long press to decline. Otherwise, you can freely assign each earbud to single, double, triple taps, and long presses. This includes changing volume, play/pause, skipping tracks, toggling ANC modes, and more. The touch response works perfectly; I haven’t experienced any accidental triggers, finger slippage, or any unusual behavior during my use. Each touch is confirmed with a quiet sound cue.
I connected my iPhone and e-reader to the Anker P40i, and the sound played from the device that was currently active. If I started audio playback on another device, the earbuds automatically switched and paused playback on the other device.
Among other interesting and useful features, there is the Find Device function, which loudly “searches” for each earbud separately within a 10-meter range. You can also create a separate widget on your phone with the most frequently used app functions. Additionally, you can set a maximum safe volume level.
Read alsо: Defunc True ANC TWS in-ear headphones review
Sound
Finally, we get to the most important part. The Anker soundcore P40i, without exaggeration, have excellent sound quality, offering powerful bass and clear highs. The sound is rich and can also be adjusted using the app’s equalizer.
Anker hasn’t skimped and has equipped these new earbuds with 11mm composite drivers, delivering truly intense sound. Combined with the BassUp technology, which enhances the bass in real time, it creates a somewhat overwhelming experience. Even with my experience listening to a wide range of headphones, I couldn’t listen to the P40i at more than about 65% volume. They are like tiny loudspeakers, creating a small orchestra in your head. But is this excess justified?
Initially, I was impressed by their sound and the sheer volume they produced, but doubts soon began to arise. The soundcore P40i significantly boosts the bass, which is expected— the manufacturer claims advanced algorithms and AI support for music playback. However, in practice, the bass often thunders rather than resonates. Heavy bass that hits hard can be appealing, but it can also feel overly saturated in tracks that require a bit more finesse or have multiple bass lines. After two weeks of listening, I found myself longing for more texture in both acoustic and electronic bass lines.
The P40i enhance the midrange frequencies, making the music sound fuller and more substantial. However, the high frequencies are almost absent. Female and high male vocals are prominent, as are brighter instruments, which are noticeably elevated. While this approach can be considered lively at moderate volumes, the high frequencies completely vanish at higher volumes or in recordings with a lot of treble.
At high volumes, the upper midrange and high frequencies can become hissy and harsh, prompting you to quickly lower the volume. This brings us back to the starting point—keeping the sound below 65%.
The app allows you to create a custom equalizer or choose from 20 presets. Despite this, the soundcore P40i delivers energetic, full, and pleasing audio at light to moderate volumes. For those seeking a loud and active listening experience, other models might be more suitable.
Read also: Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2: which headphones to choose?
Sound quality in a call
Despite all the adaptive noise cancellation, artificial intelligence, drivers, codecs, and technologies, phone calls through these headphones still remain a major challenge for most manufacturers. This issue also affects our guest model today. If phone call quality is a priority for you when choosing headphones, you might want to consider other options. Although the soundcore P40i excels in many other areas, its call quality is still not perfect.
Thus, call quality indoors is very good, provided you’re not in overly crowded places. Sounds like door slams, keyboard clicks, and chatter will be audible, although your voice will come through clearer and louder than most of these noises.
Read alsо: Redmi Buds 5 Headphones Review: Very inexpensive for such quality
Conclusions
Anker soundcore P40i headphones have a full set of functions, impeccable battery life and, despite all my nitpicking, exceptional sound. Plus, the super-practical stand function. They’re just perfect for noisy environments and traveling, because you won’t get this kind of volume from any other TWS headphones.
They can last 12 hours on a single charge and have an additional 5 full charges from the case, making them an ideal choice for those who need long battery life—whether on the go or on vacation. So, with full confidence, I can recommend the Anker soundcore P40i for purchase.
Read also:
- Defunk MONDO Freestyle Headphones Review: New Experience and 80s Charm
- Sennheiser Accentum Wireless Headphones Review: “Budget” Classic