🎧 Soundcore P20i Wireless Earbuds, Best Budget Earbuds Under $20
In-Depth Review
Twenty dollars buys you a lot more earbud than it did three years ago, and the Soundcore P20i is the clearest proof of that. Anker has been quietly undercutting the big audio brands for a while now and this pair is where the gap gets embarrassing for everyone else.
Anyone who loses earbuds, breaks them, or leaves them in a coat pocket through a wash cycle. At this price replacing them stings a lot less than replacing a pair of AirPods, and the gap in daily listening quality is far smaller than the gap in price.
What We Like
- Why It’s a Cool Find:
What Could Be Better
- Bass is weak even for the price range, everything sounds a bit thin
- Ear tip fit is hit or miss, the included sizes dont work for everyone
- Case feels cheap and the lid doesnt snap shut firmly
What Twenty Dollars Gets You Now
Ten hours in the buds and around 30 more in the case. Thats a working week of commutes before you think about charging, and its better than plenty of pairs at four times the price.
Sound leans bass heavy out of the box, which for this market is the right choice even if audio people will grumble. You can flatten it in the Soundcore app if the low end is too much. Mids sit slightly back, so podcasts and vocals are a touch recessed until you adjust the EQ, and once you do its a genuinely pleasant listen.
IPX5 means rain and sweat are fine. Dropping them in a sink is not.
Where The Corners Got Cut
No active noise cancelling. The seal blocks a reasonable amount passively but a train or a plane will come through. If ANC is the feature you want, spend more.
No wireless charging on the case, and the case itself is plasticky with a lid that feels like it will be the first thing to go. Mine still shuts properly, though I would not be shocked if the hinge loosened over a year.
Call quality is the real weak spot. Fine in a quiet room, patchy outdoors with any wind. People will hear you, they will also hear everything around you.
Also worth a look if you want ANC on a budget, the Baseus Bowie 30 covers that end for not much more.
Final Verdict
At under $20 these are hard to beat for basic wireless earbuds. They connect fast, battery lasts all day, and they sound decent for podcasts and casual music. Dont compare them to AirPods because thats not the point. The point is wireless audio that works without spending real money, and they deliver that.
You might also like:
- Herschel Retreat Backpack Review: The Everyday Carry That Never Goes Out of Style
- Baseus Bowie 30 ANC Earbuds, Noise Cancelling Sound for Under $30
- Kasa Smart Plug Mini, Voice-Control Any Outlet for Under $10
