Soundcore P40i Review with Pros and Cons: Is it Any Good?

The Soundcore P40i has become a popular choice among TWS earbuds, praised for its high-quality sound and feature set—all at a budget-friendly price.

But does it truly deserve this acclaim, or are there potential issues that you should be aware of?

In this Soundcore P40i review, we cover all the key details to help you decide if these earbuds are the right choice for you.

Quick Summary: The Soundcore P40i is a great choice for those who enjoy heavy bass. Although the sound quality is not perfectly balanced, you can easily adjust it using the EQ settings. Additionally, these earbuds offer a wide range of features, making them a versatile option.

Overall Rating: 3.93★

Key Features of the Soundcore P40i

Best Alternatives to Soundcore P40i

The Soundcore P40i is a solid choice for TWS earbuds, offering good value for its sound quality and features. However, if you’re looking for additional features and enhanced sound quality, there are other alternatives worth considering.

Each of these earbuds offers a unique set of features, making them strong alternatives to the Soundcore P40i.

Now, let’s begin with the Soundcore P40i review.

Box Content

• Soundcore P40i earbuds (inside the charging case)
• USB-C charging cable
• Ear tips in sizes XS, S, L, and XL
• Quick Start Guide

Design and Build Quality

From the moment you hold the Soundcore P40i box, you’ll notice that the charging case is compact, though slightly thicker than expected. This design means it may protrude slightly when placed in a pocket, but it’s by no means bulky.

The earbuds feature a stem-style design, which provides a secure grip without sacrificing comfort. The earbuds’ curved edges add a trendy, modern touch, enhancing their overall aesthetic.

One unique feature is a hook inside the case, located between the earbuds, that can function as a phone holder. While not something you’ll use daily, it’s a handy feature when needed. Additionally, a strip-style LED light on the front of the case indicates the battery level and blinks when the earbuds are attempting to connect to your device.

The build quality of both the earbuds and the charging case is sturdy, delivering a solid feel in hand.

Unlike its predecessor, the Soundcore P20i, which had a somewhat hollow, less premium feel, the Soundcore P40i offers a satisfying sense of durability and quality.

Design and Build Quality: 4.0★

You might also like the RingConn Gen 1 review.

Comfort and Fit

With a 45-degree tilt, the Soundcore P40i earbuds fit comfortably and securely in the ears. Their medium size means they sit close to the ear without protruding much, offering a streamlined look.

The lightweight design makes these earbuds ideal for extended listening sessions, as they fit snugly without causing discomfort, even after hours of use.

Finding earbuds that fit well on small ears can be challenging, but the Soundcore P40i offers a reasonably good fit for smaller ears. While the comfort level might not match that of larger ears, it is suitable for most users.

Comfort and Fit: 4.0★

Sound Quality

Soundcore earbuds are known for their bass-heavy profile, and the Soundcore P40i is no exception. Out of the box, with its default EQ, it delivers a powerful bass with solid punch and depth.

For those who enjoy a bass-centric sound, the default mode will be a highlight. However, the heavy bass does slightly compress the vocals and treble—noticeable, though not overwhelming.

The P40i follows a V-shaped sound profile, with emphasis on bass, resulting in a less balanced sound. Fortunately, with support from the Soundcore app, you can adjust the EQ to personalize the sound or select from various sound modes.

For a more balanced audio experience, we recommend slightly reducing the bass and treble, which enhances the overall sound, making it ideal for movies, shows, and genres like Hip Hop, Jazz, and Country.

The overall sound quality is good for its price, though it doesn’t match the clarity and crispness of higher-end earbuds. Initially, the sound may feel a bit bloated and bass-heavy, but with a few adjustments to the EQ, you can enhance the audio for a more enjoyable listening experience.

Still, the P40i offers a good audio experience for its cost, and the customization options significantly enhance its versatility, even if the default sound profile isn’t to everyone’s taste.

Sound Quality: 3.9★

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

The Soundcore P40i features Adaptive Noise Cancellation, which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation based on your environment—a standout feature for budget earbuds.

While this sounds promising, it doesn’t perform as effectively as expected. We recommend disabling the adaptive mode and manually adjusting noise cancellation settings through the app for more consistent results.

Even at full noise cancellation, the earbuds offer only a moderate effect, blocking around 75% of external noise. Although background sounds are softened, they are still noticeable.

The earbuds also include Normal and Transparency modes, allowing better awareness of your surroundings when needed.

Overall, the ANC performance on the Soundcore P40i is satisfactory but remains average compared to more advanced models.

Active Noise Cancellation: 3.7★

Also Read: Soundcore V20i review.

Battery Life

The battery life on the Soundcore P40i is impressive. While the earbuds are rated for up to 12 hours on a single charge, real-world use at 75% volume delivers around 8 hours, which is still excellent.

With the case, you can recharge the earbuds up to 4 times, providing a total of 40 hours of playback, though the company claims up to 60 hours. Charging the earbuds takes about 1.5 hours, and the case fully charges in approximately two hours.

The case supports wireless charging, adding convenience, and also features a USB Type-C port for faster charging.

Overall, with a fully charged case and earbuds, you can go up to five days without needing to recharge if you use the earbuds for 8 hours daily.

Battery Life: 4.2★

Microphone and Call Quality

The call quality on the Soundcore P40i is good in quiet or moderately noisy environments, thanks to three microphones per earbud (six in total) and AI-enhanced call technology.

In these settings, your voice comes through clearly to the person on the other end without issues.

However, in busier environments—like crowded streets with traffic noise—the call quality declines, as background sounds make it harder for the other person to hear you clearly.

This is common among earbuds in this price range, as most struggle to deliver optimal call quality in noisy surroundings.

Overall, the Soundcore P40i provides a decent calling experience under most conditions.

Microphone and Call Quality: 3.8★

You might also like the OneOdio headphones review.

Connectivity and Features

• The Soundcore P40i is equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring stable connectivity without disconnection issues.

• With an IPX5 rating, these earbuds offer some protection against splashes and light rain, adding durability for daily use.

• The gaming mode slightly reduces latency, though it doesn’t provide the low latency typically found in dedicated gaming earbuds.

• The Soundcore app offers extensive customization options, allowing you to adjust sound profiles, ANC settings, and touch controls.

Overall, while the features of the Soundcore P40i may not be groundbreaking, they offer enough convenience to enhance the user experience.

You might also like the Tagry X08 earbuds review.

Customer Reviews and Feedback

We thoroughly analyzed user reviews and found that most customers are satisfied with their purchase, particularly those who enjoy bass-heavy sound.

However, some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the sound quality, citing that the heavy bass compresses other frequencies, leading to an unbalanced experience.

Aside from this, there are no major complaints about the earbuds, especially considering their price point.

With an average rating of 4.3 stars, the Soundcore P40i shows high customer satisfaction, reflecting its overall positive reception.

You might find the DBSOARS Bluetooth speaker review interesting.

Final Verdict and Pros & Cons

The Soundcore P40i offers great value for its price, providing solid sound quality, a comfortable fit, and impressive battery life.

While its bass-heavy sound may not appeal to everyone, the ability to customize the audio ensures these earbuds remain a strong option, even for those who prefer a more balanced sound profile.

Overall, the P40i is a good choice for bass enthusiasts seeking affordable, feature-rich earbuds, though its sound quality should not be compared to higher-end models.

Overall Rating: 3.93★

FAQs

Also Read: SoundPeats Air4 Lite review.

That concludes the Soundcore P40i review. If you still have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

Also, share your thoughts if you agree or disagree with this review.