Anker Soundcore A30i review – Big highs, big lows

Anker’s budget earbud releases have a solid record of reliable build quality and battery without sacrificing too much on sound quality. The Soundcore A30i, offering an interesting mix of unmistakable bass and aesthetics, reside in the competitive corner of the budget wireless earphone space. ‘Budget’ is doing most of the work here – Anker’s Soundcore A30i earbuds are great value for money, but they do come with tradeoffs. The question is, are those tradeoffs worth it for you?

Lipstick Locking

The A30i buds buy your affection before they touch your ears. The lipstick-inspired case design, with its slightly rounded planes, is comfortable to handle. Pull one end and it slides out to reveal a pair of bean-shaped earbuds.  The bridge onto which the earbuds sit and charge is probably the most at-risk-of-injury bit of the case, so exercise careful handling whenever it’s opened.

That aside, the case lives up to Anker’s build quality standard and is sturdy enough to protect its innards. The lipstick design is undoubtedly a different approach to conventional earbud cases and we can see the appeal with these. The shape makes it easier to keep track of, especially differentiating it from everything else in your pockets or bag (unless you carry large lipsticks).

The buds have a similar feeling to the case and the smooth rounded design makes them more damage-resistant. Luckily, their parkour skills roll away most of the momentum whenever they take a tumble. The fit is passable, they initially sit well but loosen over long periods of time. But they are comfortable, and unlike most earbuds, you can lie on your side with these in and they won’t feel like they’re trying to gain access to your brain.

The bean design does come with a few drawbacks though. The touch control sensor is awkwardly placed further behind rather than dead centre, and on such a small device it can be quite difficult to locate with your finger. You might also struggle to find purchase if your fingers are a little moist.

Rolling subs

The Soundcore A30i’s sound profile is defined by warm bass with a powerful sub-bass. At their loudest and bassiest, these are akin to a VW Polo that’s had some work done and rolls past with shaking windows. Hip-hop songs with well-mixed 808s are a dream to listen to on these. The A30i, with its ability to emphasise subtle bass frequencies, should also be great for any EMD fans.

Paired with active noise cancellation (ANC), and with the right song selected, you might find yourself immersed in the music. If you’re wearing them during your commute or anywhere else in public don’t forget to keep track of your surroundings. That isn’t to say the ANC is on par with the best but rather that it works well with the emphasised low-end that makes paying attention to anything else difficult.

You can also customise the level of ANC in the companion Soundcore app. You can pick the intensity of noise cancelling with ‘indoors’ or ‘outdoors’ presets. Unfortunately, we found the indoor setting seemed like it was straining itself which made it feel like we were underwater due to a perceived increase in pressure. You’ll want to play around with the presets in different environments to find the one that suits you best.

Anker’d by capacity

Amidst all its features, we were reminded of these ‘buds place in the market when it came to battery life. The ‘buds last around seven hours on a single charge, and while you do get two extra charges from the case, it might not feel like it with ANC enabled as seven hours becomes four. Without ANC, the case will add another 17 hours for a total of 24. Charging them takes 45 minutes to full but a 10-minute charge will net you two extra hours when you’re in a hurry.

For all its bass and noise cancelling, we didn’t get to spend as much time in a day with the Soundcore A30i as we would have liked. You should also be extra deliberate with the fit of the earbuds in the case. We found, on more than one occasion, that the ‘buds weren’t sitting in their cradles properly which prevented them from charging. If you want to avoid such disappointment, you’ll want to be sure they’re in place before you set them aside to charge.

Anker Soundcore A30i verdict

Anker’s Soundcore A30i earbuds offer a sleek design with respectable audio performance at a budget-friendly price. The lipstick-inspired case is not just stylish, but practical, making the earbuds easy to locate and adding a touch of flair to the items in your everyday carry. While they do deliver expansive bass and ANC in a compact frame, the battery life can be a serious buzzkill.

The Anker Soundcore A30i retails for between R750 and R800, depending on where you shop.