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メナI’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) | SBC/AAC | Trying ANC for the first time on a budget |
| P40i | Mid-range | Up to 60h 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 40h total | LDAC | Real audio quality without flagship pricing |
| Liberty 5 Pro | Flagship | Up to 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 | SBC/AAC |
メナHow much real ANC you get for this little money is honestly what caught me off guard the first time I paired these — 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. The catch is codec support tops out at SBC/AAC — there’s no LDAC here, so don’t expect the high-res sound of the pricier models. Think of this as the “just let me try ANC” entry point, not the audiophile pick.
At about 4.4g per earbud and IP55-rated, it’s light and reasonably weatherproof. 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 60h total |
| Codec | SBC/AAC |
メナEven next to pricier models, the P40i’s ANC held up fine for my actual commute — that’s the honest takeaway from switching between them.
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 60 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.
At roughly 5g per earbud 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 |
メナThe ear hooks genuinely kept these in place through a full run — that was the biggest relief testing them out on actual runs.
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.
At around 55g including the case, 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 — The first Soundcore with a bass-reflex driver
| Positioning | Flagship value |
| Battery (ANC on) | Up to 40h total |
| Codec | LDAC |
メナThe bass hit noticeably deeper than the entry-level models the moment I switched — that jump was the most obvious upgrade in this whole lineup.
The Soundcore Liberty 5 is Anker’s first earbud with a bass-reflex driver design, paired with adaptive ANC and LDAC support for hi-res-equivalent audio — a real step up 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.
At about 5.2g per earbud 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 28h total |
| Codec | LDAC |
メナChecking track names and ANC mode right on the case screen without opening it is a small thing that turned out to be genuinely hard to give up once I got used to 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 28 hours total with the case — shorter than the standard Liberty 5, since the display and extra processing draw more power, and it’s slightly heavier at about 5.9g 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 This Roundup Is Different
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.
ANC strength varies a lot by what kind of noise it’s cancelling. A higher-generation Adaptive ANC generally handles a wider range of frequencies, but fit style (in-ear vs. ear-hook) and the specific noise you want blocked matter just as much as the spec sheet.
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.
メナLining 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.