Not everyone prefers traditional in-ear earbuds that sit deep in the ear canal, often isolating you from your surroundings. While some earbuds offer a transparency mode to keep you aware of the world around you, the experience can sometimes feel unnatural.
That’s where open-ear earbuds come in, offering the ability to enjoy your music while staying connected to your environment in the most natural way possible.
The Soundcore V20i is one such option, but how well does it perform? Let’s find out in this Soundcore V20i review.
Quick Summary: The Soundcore V20i is an excellent option for those seeking open-ear earbuds that combine situational awareness with good audio performance. Packed with features, these earbuds deliver great value for their price.
Pros
- Comfortable for medium to large ears
- Clear vocals and trebles
- Decent bass performance
- Good call quality
- Solid battery life
- Customizable features via the app
- IP55 water and dust resistance
- Multipoint connection for two devices
Cons
- Average bass
- Comfort issues for small ears
- Sound leakage at high volumes
- Key Features of the Soundcore V20i
- Box Content
- Design and Build Quality
- Comfort and Fit
- Sound Quality
- Battery Life
- Microphone and Call Quality
- Connectivity and Features
- Customer Reviews and Feedback
- Pricing and Value for Money
- Pros and Cons of the Soundcore V20i
- Is the Soundcore V20i Worth $50?
- Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Soundcore V20i?
- FAQs
Key Features of the Soundcore V20i
• Open-ear design with adjustable ear hooks |
• 16mm drivers with titanium-coated domes |
• 11 Ohms impedance, 20 kHz frequency response |
• Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint connection |
• 8 hours battery life, 36 hours total with charging case |
• 4 mics with AI enhancement for calls |
• IP55 rating for water and dust resistance |
• Customizable LED lights |
• Check Best Price |
Box Content
- Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones
- Charging case
- USB-C cable
- Quick start guide (QSG) and safety information card
Design and Build Quality
The case of the Soundcore V20i is slim and compact, making it easy to fit in your pocket. Unlike traditional earbud cases, it features a flat, oval-shaped design.
The build quality of the case is decent and doesn’t feel overly cheap. However, it’s worth noting that the V20i lacks both a pairing button and an LED indicator light.
As for the earbuds’ design, they feature a hook-style design, which is typical for open-ear headphones. The earbud hooks have a click mechanism with four adjustable levels, allowing for a more secure fit.
One important thing to keep in mind is that when placing the earbuds back in the case, you need to reset the hooks to their original position; otherwise, they won’t fit properly in the case.
The earbuds have a smooth, pebble-like appearance, which is visually appealing for open-ear headphones. Additionally, there is an LED light at the bottom of each earbud that glows in multiple colors.
In terms of build quality, the earbuds feel solid and sturdy for their price. While they’re not premium, they certainly offer good value for the cost.
Comfort and Fit
Fit and comfort are crucial for open-ear earbuds, as they are often used outdoors by many people.
Fortunately, the Soundcore V20i offers an excellent fit. Thanks to the adjustable hook with its click mechanism, you can fine-tune the earbuds for a more comfortable experience, and it works exceptionally well.
Even during outdoor activities, the earbuds stay securely in place, with no concern about them falling out.
When it comes to comfort, this can be quite subjective. To be honest, these earbuds may not suit everyone, particularly those with smaller ears.
For people with smaller ears, the earbuds might feel too large and could become uncomfortable during extended use.
The earbuds rest on the incisura part of the ear and extend to sit on the concha. For smaller ears, the earbuds can press against the antihelix and antitragus, causing discomfort or even pain after prolonged use due to the pressure on these regions.
However, for medium to larger ears, there is usually enough space between the concha and antihelix, allowing the earbuds to sit comfortably without putting pressure on any sensitive areas.
So, comfort varies from person to person. If you have medium to large ears, you likely won’t face any issues. However, those with smaller ears may find the experience less comfortable.
Sound Quality
If you’re considering buying open-ear true wireless earbuds (TWS), you likely already know what to expect and where you might need to compromise.
For an open-ear TWS, the sound quality of the Soundcore V20i is quite good. It delivers clear vocals and decently crisp trebles. The sound clarity is sufficient to let you enjoy music and movies in most environments.
However, as with most open-ear designs, you won’t get the punchy, deep bass that regular in-ear earbuds provide. While the bass is present, it feels lighter and less rich. Additionally, some finer sound details are less prominent, which is to be expected with this type of design.
These earbuds aren’t intended for audiophiles, but the overall sound quality is still good for an open-ear design. Think of it as wearing a neckband speaker—this is what using the Soundcore V20i feels like.
As reviewers who evaluate multiple audio products, we can easily spot more flaws in the sound quality. But that’s not the point of these TWS. For the best audio performance, traditional in-ear earbuds would have been necessary, but that’s not the purpose of these earbuds.
The primary goal is to let you enjoy music while staying aware of your surroundings and avoiding potential ear damage, and the Soundcore V20i succeeds in that regard.
Overall, for an open-ear TWS, they sound good, and you’ll likely be satisfied with the overall sound quality.
Also, check out our DBSOARS Bluetooth speaker review.
Battery Life
The battery life is great, offering long-lasting performance.
While the company claims 8 hours of music playback on the earbuds and 36 hours with the charging case, here’s what you can realistically expect:
- 7 hours of music playback at 75% volume
- 5 hours of calling
- 30 hours with the charging case
The case takes around 2.5 hours to fully charge, while the earbuds require 1.5 hours for a full charge.
Keep in mind that because these are open-ear earbuds, you’ll need to keep the volume at least at 25% for a decent listening experience. At very low volumes, the sound may not be audible, which can slightly impact battery consumption.
Nevertheless, the overall battery life remains more than satisfactory.
Also check the Tozo A1 Mini review.
Microphone and Call Quality
Thanks to the four-microphone setup—two on each earbud—the call quality is generally good. While it’s not crystal clear, it is still serviceable.
However, in very noisy environments, the person on the other end may struggle to hear you clearly.
Additionally, if there’s significant background noise and you’re on a call, you might find it difficult to hear the other person, especially if they are speaking softly, as the open-ear design allows external sounds to enter.
For indoor use or in quieter environments, the call quality is sufficient for taking calls and having conversations.
Overall, while the call quality isn’t top-tier, it’s certainly not subpar and adequate for most situations.
Connectivity and Features
With Bluetooth 5.4, the connectivity is excellent, ensuring a stable connection without any disconnection issues.
In terms of features, the Soundcore V20i offers plenty, including:
- A dedicated app that allows you to customize the EQ settings, as well as assign functions to single, double, and triple taps. You can also configure actions for tap and hold.
- Through the app, you can personalize the LED lights on the earbuds, with a variety of lighting modes to choose from. These are not only fun to use but can also be practical at night.
- The earbuds have an IP55 rating, meaning they are resistant to water splashes and can handle everyday exposure to moisture.
- They support multipoint connection, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously and switch between them automatically. This feature can be enabled via the app.
Overall, the Soundcore V20i is packed with features, making it a versatile choice.
You might also like the Aiper Scuba S1 review.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
We have carefully analyzed user reviews and found that most customers are satisfied with their purchases.
With an average rating of 4.3 stars, these earbuds demonstrate high user satisfaction.
However, some users have reported comfort issues, which is understandable since open-ear earbuds may not fit everyone well, particularly those with smaller ears.
Only a few users have raised concerns about the sound quality, but this is expected, as most people who choose this type of earbud are already aware of the sound experience they can anticipate.
Overall, the user ratings and feedback for the Soundcore V20i are largely positive.
Also Read: Kvidio headphones review.
Pricing and Value for Money
The Soundcore V20i is typically priced at $50, which is a good deal for what it offers. However, at the time of writing this review, the price has dropped to $38, with an additional 10% coupon, effectively bringing the cost down to under $35. At that price, it becomes an excellent value for money.
Even at the regular price, the V20i offers good value, but with the current discounts, it becomes an even better deal.
Overall, the pricing and current offers make the Soundcore V20i a great value-for-money option for open-ear TWS earbuds.
Pros and Cons of the Soundcore V20i
Pros
- Comfortable for medium to large ears
- Clear vocals and trebles
- Decent bass performance
- Good call quality
- Solid battery life
- Customizable features via the app
- IP55 water and dust resistance
- Multipoint connection for two devices
Cons
- Average bass
- Comfort issues for small ears
- Sound leakage at high volumes
Is the Soundcore V20i Worth $50?
Honestly, at $50, the Soundcore V20i is a good product, but not the best in terms of value for money. However, with the discounted price, it becomes an excellentl deal.
While $50 isn’t too steep for earbuds of this kind, getting them at a lower price makes the value even more appealing.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Soundcore V20i?
The Soundcore V20i is an excellent choice for users seeking open-ear earbuds that balance situational awareness with solid audio performance.
These earbuds prioritize sound clarity over bass, offering a clean listening experience. The customizable features available through the companion app allow for tailored usage, enhancing the overall experience.
While the bass isn’t as pronounced as traditional in-ear options, the sound quality remains good for its design.
For those in search of affordable, feature-rich open-ear earbuds, the Soundcore V20i is a strong contender.
FAQs
1. How is the sound quality of the Soundcore V20i?
The sound quality is clear, focusing on vocals and treble, though the bass is less pronounced compared to in-ear models.
2. Is the Soundcore V20i water-resistant?
Yes, it has an IP55 rating, making it resistant to water splashes and dust.
3. Can I connect the Soundcore V20i to multiple devices?
Yes, it supports multipoint connection, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously.
4. Does the Soundcore V20i have noise cancellation?
No, the Soundcore V20i does not come with Active Noise Cancellation. Since it uses an open-ear design, it focuses more on surrounding awareness while delivering clear audio.
5. Is the Soundcore V20i comfortable for all ear sizes?
It’s more comfortable for medium to large ears, but users with smaller ears may experience some discomfort during longer sessions.
You might also like the Tagry X08 earbuds review.
That concludes our Soundcore V20i review. If you still have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section below.
Also, we’d love to hear your thoughts—whether you agree or disagree with the points mentioned.
The soundcore app shows the battery for L and R earbuds but does not show the battery for the charging case. The app also shows the history of any devices the earbuds connect to. The earbuds fit fine in the case after changing the position of the earhooks.