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MenaI’m an electrician who also geeks out on gadgets, and after covering Sony’s ANC lineup, I wanted to do the same deep dive on Anker Soundcore — lining up all 5 current ANC models side by side.
Soundcore’s current ANC earbuds span from the budget-friendly P31i up through the flagship Liberty 5 Pro, and it’s not always obvious what you actually get as the price climbs. Short version: as price goes up, you get a newer ANC generation plus extra features like wireless charging and a display-equipped case — details below.
This roundup compares the P31i, P40i, Sport X20, Liberty 5, and Liberty 5 Pro across ANC performance, fit, battery life, and codec support, so you can see exactly where your money goes at each tier.
Note that this article covers Anker Soundcore’s lineup on its own. If you want a cross-brand comparison against Sony, Apple, JBL, and Bose, check out our broader ANC earbuds roundup linked below.
At a Glance: All 5 Models
Want cheap ANC? Start with the P31i. Want auto-adjusting ANC and huge battery life? P40i. Working out? Sport X20. Want real sound quality without flagship pricing? Liberty 5. Want the best Anker makes? Liberty 5 Pro.
| Model | Positioning | Battery (ANC on) | Codec | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P31i | Entry-level | Up to 8h (40h total) | LDAC | Trying ANC for the first time on a budget |
| P40i | Mid-range | Up to 10h (50h total) | SBC/AAC | Adaptive ANC and long battery life |
| Sport X20 | Sport / ear-hook | Up to 7h (28h total) | SBC/AAC | Workouts — won’t fall out, sweat-proof |
| Liberty 5 | Flagship value | Up to 8h (32h total) | LDAC | Real audio quality without flagship pricing |
| Liberty 5 Pro | Flagship | Up to 6.5h (28h total) | LDAC | Anker’s best ANC and call quality, no compromises |
All 5 Current Anker Soundcore ANC Earbuds
Anker Soundcore P31i — The budget entry point into real ANC
| Positioning | Entry-level |
| Battery (ANC on) | Up to 8h (40h total) |
| Codec | LDAC |
MenaHow much real ANC you get for this little money is the standout here — a solid pick if you just want to try ANC once.
The Soundcore P31i is Anker’s most affordable current earbud, and it still packs active noise cancelling strong enough to take the edge off train and subway noise on a commute.
It runs Bluetooth 6.1 for a stable connection, and the Soundcore app lets you tweak the EQ. It also supports LDAC, so even at this price you get hi-res-equivalent audio on a compatible Android phone — a rare feature at this tier. Think of this as the “just let me try ANC” entry point that doesn’t skimp on codec support.
It’s also IP55-rated, so light rain or sweat on a commute isn’t a concern. If price is your top priority, this is an easy one to recommend.
Anker Soundcore P40i — The balanced mid-ranger with auto-adjusting ANC
| Positioning | Mid-range / balanced |
| Battery (ANC on) | Up to 10h (50h total) |
| Codec | SBC/AAC |
MenaEven next to pricier models, the P40i’s Adaptive ANC holds its own on a daily commute — that’s the strongest argument for this tier.
The Soundcore P40i runs Anker’s Adaptive ANC, which automatically adjusts cancelling strength to the noise level around you — no need to manually switch modes between a train car, a cafe, and the office.
Battery life is a highlight: up to 10 hours per charge with ANC on, 50 hours total with the case. Codec support is still SBC/AAC only, no LDAC, so it’s not aimed at hi-res audio purists. Think of it as the “I want adaptive ANC and long battery life without overpaying” balanced pick.
With IPX5 water resistance, it’s a reasonable everyday carry, and one of the easier recommendations in this lineup for price-to-feature balance.
Anker Soundcore Sport X20 — The ear-hook design built for the gym
| Positioning | Sport / ear-hook |
| Battery (ANC on) | Up to 7h (28h total) |
| Codec | SBC/AAC |
MenaThe ear hooks are built to stay in place through a full workout — that’s the main reason to pick this model over the in-ear options above.
The Soundcore Sport X20 uses rotatable, extendable ear hooks built for workouts, and carries an IP68 rating so sweat or rain during a run isn’t a concern. ANC is still on board here to cut gym-machine drone while you train.
Battery is the tradeoff versus the rest of this lineup: about 7 hours on the earbuds alone with ANC on, 28 hours total with the case — shorter than the others here. Codec tops out at SBC/AAC. This is a sport-first model, not an all-day battery champion.
It’s built for one job: staying put and staying sealed against sweat and water. If your earbuds keep falling out mid-workout, this is the fix.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 — LDAC sound quality without flagship pricing
| Positioning | Flagship value |
| Battery (ANC on) | Up to 8h (32h total) |
| Codec | LDAC |
MenaThe jump to LDAC and adaptive ANC here is the clearest upgrade over the entry-level models in this lineup.
The Soundcore Liberty 5 pairs adaptive ANC with LDAC support for hi-res-equivalent audio — a real step up in sound quality from the P-series.
It also supports wireless charging and multipoint pairing, so you can stay connected to a laptop and phone at once. It skips the smart display and AI call-enhancement chip found on the Pro model, so if you want the newest features, the Pro is worth the extra cost — but as a sound-quality-plus-ANC value pick, the Liberty 5 is hard to beat.
With IP55 protection, this is the one to reach for if you want real audio quality without paying flagship prices.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro — The current flagship, with a display on the case
| Positioning | Flagship |
| Battery (ANC on) | Up to 6.5h (28h total) |
| Codec | LDAC |
MenaChecking track info and ANC mode right on the case screen without opening it is a small convenience, but it’s the kind of feature that’s hard to go back from once you’ve had it.
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro is Anker’s current flagship, built around the Anker Thus™ AI chip for clearer calls in noisy environments — Guinness World Records-certified for TWS call quality.
The charging case has its own display, so you can check track info or switch ANC modes without opening the lid. Battery lands at up to 6.5 hours per charge with ANC on, 28 hours total with the case — shorter than the standard Liberty 5, since the display and extra processing draw more power. It’s also slightly heavier at about 5.5g (0.19 oz) per earbud as a result.
With LDAC support and this lineup’s strongest ANC, it’s the pick if you want Anker’s best without worrying about the price.
Accessories Worth Pairing With Any of These
A couple of low-cost extras go a long way toward better fit and easier charging, no matter which model above you land on.
Replacement ear tips (silicone or foam)
If the stock tips don’t seal well in your ears, ANC performance drops along with the seal. Silicone tips come in more size options, while foam tips mold to your ear canal for a tighter seal. Worth trying if fit feels off out of the box.
A fast-charging USB-C cable or power bank
Every case in this lineup charges over USB-C. Keeping a fast-charging cable or power bank on hand means a few minutes of charging buys you real listening time when you’re heading out the door low on battery.
How to Choose
ANC generation: All five models include active noise cancelling, but the generation differs across the lineup — the flagship Liberty 5 Pro runs Anker’s newest Adaptive ANC 4.0. Exactly how much that generational gap matters day to day depends on the kind of noise you’re blocking, so check the per-model specs above rather than assuming the newest number is always the biggest real-world win.
Fit style: The P31i, P40i, Liberty 5, and Liberty 5 Pro use a standard in-ear tip, while the Sport X20 adds rotatable, extendable ear hooks built for workouts. Choose the ear-hook design if your earbuds tend to fall out during exercise; otherwise the standard in-ear fit is more comfortable for everyday, all-day wear.
Codec and battery: LDAC support (for hi-res-equivalent audio on a compatible Android phone) is available on the P31i, Liberty 5, and Liberty 5 Pro; the P40i and Sport X20 top out at SBC/AAC. Battery life depends more on ANC settings than on price tier, so check the spec table under each model above instead of assuming the priciest model lasts longest.
This article sticks to one brand — every current ANC earbud Anker Soundcore sells, lined up side by side. If you want to weigh Soundcore against Sony, Apple, JBL, and Bose in one place, our cross-brand comparison covers that instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which model should a first-time ANC buyer get?
The P31i. It’s the cheapest way to find out whether ANC even fits how you commute or work before spending more.
Is the Liberty 5 Pro worth it over the standard Liberty 5?
If you want the display-equipped case and the strongest call quality, yes. If you mainly care about sound quality and ANC and don’t need those extras, the standard Liberty 5 gets you most of the way there for less.
MenaLining up all 5 side by side, the pattern is clear: pay more, get a newer ANC generation plus extra features. Pick based on how much silence and how many extras you actually need.
Bottom Line
We compared all 5 current Anker Soundcore ANC earbuds — P31i, P40i, Sport X20, Liberty 5, and Liberty 5 Pro — on ANC performance, fit, battery life, and codec support.
Just want to try ANC cheap? P31i. Want balance? P40i. Working out? Sport X20. Want real sound without flagship pricing? Liberty 5. Want Anker’s best, no compromises? Liberty 5 Pro.