Soundcore by Anker V30i Open-Ear Headphones, Ultra-Comfort, Lightweight Design, Snug Fit, Ergonomic Ear Hooks, Robust Bass, 36H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3, App Control, Clear Calls, Wireless Earbuds

The short version is that these deliver on their promise and they do so very well. I use these for running and commuting to work on foot in downtown Chicago, as well as for phone calls/video calls. I wanted to be able to hear my surroundings during those activities and to limit how much time I spend with something plugging my ear canal. For years I've used the kind of earbud that has a silicon tip and plugs your ear canal to block outside noise (which they do well) but I'm worried it could be impacting my hearing and/or ear canal, especially since I wear them so much. The PRIMARY reason I bought the Soundcore V30is (I think the V20is are their more recent model) AND the Soundcore Aerofit 2s (twice as expensive with some upgrades) was for marathon training and running long races. Below I've provided a comparison of each (they both receive 5* from me).DELIVERING ON THEIR OVERALL PROMISE: both do this very well!COMFORT: they're both very comfortable under any circumstances except when you have a beanie over them or anything that'll apply pressured to your ears - they're still comfortable enough to wear in those circumstances but not as comfortable. I think the Aerofit 2s are a smidge more comfortable and that's partially because they're a little smaller, thinner and more flexible/pliable/customizable in their fit.FIT: they both fit surprisingly well and securely - I've run marathons in both with sunglasses and a baseball cap/running hat on during the marathons and these fit and stayed comfortably. The Aerofit2s also fit better and more securely than the V30is for the same reasons as mentioned above. The ability to customize the fit of the Aerofit2s is one of the areas in which they separate themselves from the V30is in a meaningful way - if you have unique ears/non typical ears this is something you may want to consider.SWEAT RESISTANCE: both have done a really good job of managing sweat over prolonged periods of time (hours). The V30is took an inadvertent direct hit from a cup of water during a race - I thought they were going to fry and I'd be stuck with one earbud for 20 miles but they handled it like a champ! So far they've both been great on this front.BATTERY LIFE: as promised for both (very good).APP FEATURES: both have a robust app that helps with customizing their sound and touch controls which is handy.SOUND: I'm not an audiophile but for what these are I find them impressive in this department. The Aerofit2s have noticeably better sound but not meaningfully better (if that makes sense). Neither are going to be the best sounding earbuds out there because of their style so be mindful of that pending your use case for these.VOLUME: One issue some seem to have with this style of earbud is volume not being loud enough, these get plenty loud enough!MICs for Calls: I hate that most reviews don't address this. These both work well in most situations but - like every single pair of wireless earbuds I've ever owned at every price point - in a really noisy environment the clarity of them breaks down. BOTH work well in quiet environments and also relatively noisy ones (I tested both on my balcony with traffic below and a decent amount of wind - their clarity deteriorated slightly but both still worked really well. The Aerofit2s are superior in this area and this is likely the other area where they separate themselves in a noticeable way from the V30is (customizable fit being the first area).Other mentionable differences: the Aerofit2s case is more premium feeling and slightly smaller (both are bulkier than average for earbuds but not problematically so). The Aerofit2's case has wireless charging if that matters to you. The Aerofit2's bluetooth capabilities are better and allow you to be connected to multiple devices at once.CONCLUSION: if you are thinking of getting a set of over-ear earbuds primarily for working out, casual use, commuting, etc. then either are excellent choices and I'd probably save the $ and go with the V30is or V20is if premium sound isn't a priority for you. If you want something with better sound, a more customizable fit, some additional features and a better aesthetic when on then the Aerofit2s are IMO worth the extra $ (if those things matter to you).

Absolutely love these. I love how my ear canals arent getting sore from a rubber butt jammed in, which doesnt take long for me having small ears, nor does the outside of my ears hurt after long periods of time wearing them. Theyre so lightweight, i actually forget i am wearing them a lot of the time.Theyre also easier to clean because of this all, and the audio quality of the speakers is superb; Soundcore has yet to disappoint with their audio products, though i highly recommend downloading the app and customizing the equalizer or using a preset (bass boost is much needed and well balanced). I have since given two pairs away as gifts and thus have heard the mic quality from others as being pretty good, and there are mics on both pieces (though only one is used at a time and do have the option to determine which one, not that i remember how but i have done it before).The charging case is simple and they snap in and out easily, with a quick charging speed (though i use a 45w charger cable bought seperately for my phone to achieve super speed), and overall connectivity is fast and flawless. Battery life is solid as i use them for long periods of time, phone calls and music, as theyre perfect for low- and high-intensity exercise, busy work (computer-use, dishes, paperwork).Most of all, I can still hesr things around me, making activities safer, more enjoyable, and less isolating, as i can hear cars approaching, wind blowing and birds singing, or someone calling out to me to get my attention. Granted, for some that may be a negative as you wont have the excuse or ability of intentionally blocking everything out.End of the day, they work great, effective design for sound quality use, comfort, and portability, and at a decent price for what it provides, especially when on sale!

While I do like these headphones, I have a few minor complaints. They produce good quality sound for what they are. One thing to keep in mind with open ear headphones is that they do not block the external noise, so if you want to feel like you’re listening to loud music, you might need to crank these bad boys all the way up. Weird catch 22, you end up increasing the risk of damage due to the high volume as opposed to a relatively lower volume and noise cancellation. Either way, they are comfortable. As a design, they do kind of feel like they are going to fall off my head, but the ear pieces fit well and keep them in place. Seems to keep the charge well.One thing I particularly don’t like about them is the case design. It’s such a minor thing, but it just bothers me a little bit. The front and the back of the case look the same so I often pull it out of my pocket and try to open the hinge side. Also, there is no magnet or locking / latching device of any kind on the case. I’ve dropped them twice and the case just pops open and the headphones go flying. Also, I know they’re no airpods, but the case feels huge. It’s essentially twice the size of an airpods case. In my left pocket, it takes up a lot of room.Overall, they aren’t bad. Especially for the price. I would probably recommend to a friend if they were looking for a set of open ear headphones.