Soundcore P40i

The Soundcore P40i delivers top-shelf noise cancellation and massive battery life at a budget price, but its music playback is strictly average. If calls and commutes are your priority, these are a smart buy. If sound quality matters most, look elsewhere.

If you're looking for true wireless earbuds with solid noise cancellation that don't cost a small fortune, the Soundcore P40i is going to be on your radar. Priced around $50 from most sellers (though we've seen it listed anywhere from $42 to an inexplicable $832), these buds pack in adaptive ANC, a huge 60-hour total battery life, and surprisingly good call quality thanks to a six-mic setup. They're clearly aimed at commuters, travelers, and anyone stuck in a noisy office who wants to zone out without emptying their wallet. But as you'll see in our benchmarks, that budget focus comes with a trade-off, and it's a pretty big one if you care about music. The 11mm driver with BassUp tech promises punchy low end, and for bass-heavy genres it delivers. The overall sound signature, though, is where the P40i stumbles. Vocals can feel distant, and there's a lack of detail that makes intricate tracks sound a bit muddy. It's the kind of earbud that's absolutely fine for podcasts and YouTube, but if you've got a playlist full of lossless files, you might find yourself squinting at the mix.

Our database puts the P40i's ANC in the 97th percentile, which means it's hanging with earbuds that cost two or three times as much. The adaptive noise canceling adjusts on the fly and does a genuinely good job cutting down subway hum and office chatter. The six-mic array is also a standout, landing in the 97th percentile for call quality. On a busy street corner, callers said we sounded clear and present, which is rare in this price bracket. Battery life is another high point: the buds themselves last up to 12 hours with ANC off, and the case adds another 48 hours. A 10-minute quick charge gives you 5 hours of playback, so you're never really stranded. But where things get shaky is sound quality. Our music score came in at just 59.6 out of 100, which is decidedly average. The BassUp tech pushes the low end hard, which is fun for EDM or hip-hop, but it overshadows the mids and leaves treble details feeling flat. It's not unlistenable by any stretch, but it's nowhere near what you'd get from a dedicated music-focused pair.

Pricing for the Soundcore P40i is all over the map. A quick scan shows vendors asking anywhere from $42 to $832, which is frankly ridiculous. At the low end, around $50, these earbuds are an incredible deal for the ANC and battery life alone. Even if you push toward $70, they still hold up well against direct rivals like the EarFun Air Pro 4+. Just be smart about where you buy: stick to major retailers with reasonable prices, because there's no reason to pay more than about $60 for these. If you spot them closer to $42, that's a genuine steal for a commuter-focused pair with this level of noise canceling.

Stacked against the EarFun Air Pro 4+, the Soundcore P40i edges ahead in ANC effectiveness and mic clarity, but the EarFun delivers a more balanced, less boomy sound signature that critical listeners might prefer. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are in a different league for audio quality and extra features like 360 Audio, but they'll cost you three to four times as much. If sound is your top priority, the JBL Live Beam 3 or Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 are strong alternatives, though again, the price jumps significantly. For pure spec-to-dollar value in the budget ANC space, the P40i is tough to beat, but the SoundPEATS H3 is another option worth checking if you want a slightly flatter sound profile and don't need the very best call quality.

If you're serious about music quality, these aren't for you. The 59.6 music score tells a clear story—the P40i was built for calls and commutes, not critical listening. Look at something like the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE or the Sennheiser CX Plus if you want genuinely good sound in a similar price bracket. Also, if you have smaller ears or need a super secure fit for running, the comfort score is just average, so you might find them slipping during a workout despite the IPX5 rating. In that case, earbuds with wing tips or a more ergonomic shape would be a better bet.

If you spend most of your day on calls, commuting, or just need to block out the world without blowing your budget, the Soundcore P40i is a no-brainer. The noise cancellation punches way above its price, the battery seems endless, and the microphones make you sound like you're in a quiet room even when you're not. But be honest with yourself about how much you care about music fidelity. The 59.6 music score isn't a fluke—this is not an earbud for detail-hungry listeners. If your playlists are mostly background noise while you work, you'll be perfectly happy. If you sit down and truly listen, you'll notice what's missing. In short: a remarkable commuter tool, a forgettable music player.