Soundcore C50i

A tough, bassy open-ear companion for fitness that's let down by muddy call quality. If you need to hear the world while you run, these are a great buy, just don't try to take a call mid-sprint.

The Soundcore C50i is the open-ear clip-on earbud you grab for runs, rides, or any time you need to hear the world around you. It's shockingly well-built for the price, packs surprisingly punchy bass thanks to 12mm drivers and Anker's BassUp tech, and lasts a full day with the case. The weak spot? Calls. Those same mics that promise AI noise reduction don't deliver, so if you plan to chat on the move, keep reading. At the low end of its massive $40–$685 price spread, this thing is a bargain. At the high end, you'd be paying luxury prices for budget call performance.

We were genuinely surprised by how solid these feel. The titanium-wrapped FlexiClip design and IP55 rating put build quality in the top tier of open-ear buds we've tested. Sound is a step above typical open-ear fare, with enough low end to keep you motivated during a workout without blocking traffic noise. Bluetooth 6.0 connection is rock-solid, and battery life clocks in at a healthy 8 hours per bud, 32 total. The letdown is call quality. Even with AI noise reduction, our test calls came through muddied, and in noisy environments your voice gets lost. For a bud marketed with 'clear calls,' it's a miss.

The C50i is a strange case. At $40 or $50 from the right seller, it's a steal for an open-air workout bud. But you'll see it listed for hundreds more from third parties, and at that point you're competing with flagship Samsung or JBL stuff that will smoke it in every category except being open-ear. Our advice: find it at a sane price (under $60) and you're getting excellent value. Over $80, walk away.

The most direct competition comes from bone-conduction headsets like the Shokz OpenRun, but the C50i offers fuller bass and a more traditional earbud fit. Against in-ear workout champs like the JBL Endurance Peak 4, you lose noise isolation and that tight, sealed-in sound, but you gain ambient awareness that's critical for outdoor safety. If your priority is hearing the world while you train, the C50i is a strong pick. For better call quality in a similar open-fit, you'd need to look at the JBL Endurance Peak 4, which trades the open-ear clip for a more reliable mic setup.

If you take a lot of calls on the go, keep moving. These aren't for you. Grab the JBL Endurance Peak 4 instead, which nails workout durability and has a markedly better microphone for the same kind of price range (when not inflated).

Buy the Soundcore C50i if you want an open-ear workout bud with fantastic build and battery life, and you don't plan on making many phone calls. The sound is genuinely enjoyable for podcasts and bass-driven playlists, and the FlexiClip design stays put better than most clip-ons. Just don't expect clear conversations, and make sure you're paying a budget price, not the inflated ones floating around. It's a focused tool that nails the workout brief and stumbles everywhere else.