Anker Soundcore Sport X10
MSRP $80.00
“For those who’re trying to go for a run or work out on the gym, these buds will stay right with you.”
Pros
- Cozy fit and stability
- Rugged durability
- Good sound quality
- Solid ANC and ambient performance
- Great app support
Cons
- Wind can break through
- No aptX support
- No wireless charging
Anker Soundcore isn’t any stranger to the wireless earbud game, but so far, the corporate has only dabbled within the fitness arena with two models: The earhook-based Spirit X2, and the smaller, lighter Spirit Dot 2. Each are good for many who need a rock-solid fit for energetic workouts — the Spirit X2 especially so — but neither has energetic noise cancellation (ANC), a feature that’s increasingly in demand by every type of earbud users.
To deal with that, the corporate’s newest sport model, the Soundcore Sport X10, is available in at the identical $80 price because the Spirit models but adds ultra-flexible, rotating earhooks and, critically, ANC. We kept them on for long stretches to see how comfortable (and quiet) they could possibly be.
What’s within the box
Fit and luxury are key parts of the story here, which explains why five pairs of eartips are available the box, starting from extra small all of the method to extra large. Aside from that, you get a USB-C charging cable and a fast start guide, including an insert explaining the best way to wear the earbuds.
Design
Ted Kritsonis / Digital Trends
The earhooks stand out more because Anker designed them to articulate to various degrees. Have a look at the earbuds of their case, and also you notice how they wrap across the earbuds themselves. Pull them out and rotate the hook to expand their reach and make them able to anchor onto your ears. The hooks rotate as much as 210 degrees from their initial fixed position within the case, meaning they will fit well for a wide selection of ears.
They’re also pretty malleable, so whether or not you’re feeling your ears are big for earhooks, you’re less more likely to run into a difficulty with the Sport X10. Anker suggests placing the earbud with the tip in your inner ear (the concha) first after which wrapping the hook around your ear to secure all the pieces in place. You don’t need to do it that way, nevertheless it is value trying first in case it gives you a greater seal in your inner ear. I discovered I could get an excellent seal either way, and chances are you’ll draw the identical conclusion. It took me several times to recollect which method to rotate them so I could put them back within the case, but I never bumped into any connectivity issues when slotting them in.
The IPX7 rating is foundational to what the Sport X10 are all about, letting you submerge them right down to 3 feet for as much as half-hour. The underside line is you shouldn’t worry about lounging in a pool or sitting in a bath with these on. They’re not necessarily swimming earbuds, and also you shouldn’t take them into salt water unless you’re going to rinse and dry them thoroughly afterward, but their durability is peace of mind for the gym or out on a run. Sweat buckets with these on they usually’ll not only keep playing but additionally stay locked on to your ears due to the hooks.
Ted Kritsonis / Digital Trends
Anker also threw in familiar elements, including energetic noise cancellation (ANC), ambient mode, and an EQ within the Soundcore app. Physical buttons on the earbuds also make controls more simplistic, though Anker’s default setup may not be just right for you. By default, pressing once lowers the amount (left) or raises it (right). Double-click to skip a track (left) or play/pause (right). Hold the button for 2 seconds on either side to cycle through ANC, ambient, and normal modes.
You may adjust these within the app, albeit with limited options. Repeating a track is missing from the default layout, though you’ll be able to add it to your controls within the app. Notably absent is a method to bring up a voice assistant — with one exception. For those who use just one earbud in mono mode, you’ll be able to access Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby, or Alexa (whichever one is outstanding in your device) by holding the button for 2 seconds. It’s hard to argue against physical buttons, and despite some misfires in using them, they do what they’re speculated to do.
Last but not least, the Sport X10 will are available three colours. My review unit was the black version, and there’s an oat white variant, plus a red one that can come later in the summertime.
Setup and Soundcore app
It’s easy to pair the Sport X10, and Google Fast Pair had me up and running very quickly on Android. It wasn’t any different with iOS, where I made the connection quickly. Features aren’t quite as extensive as a few of Anker’s other earbuds, like how the Liberty line offers more control options, for example, but a lot of the same pieces are intact.
The EQ will look familiar, with 21 presets to select from, plus a custom section using an eight-band equalizer to create your individual. For those who’ve created your individual before, you would bring them to make use of with the Sport X10 once you log into your Soundcore account.
You may as well select ANC or ambient mode directly from the app, though I do think it was a mistake for Anker to push Wind Noise Reduction to the settings menu, slightly than display it somewhere more outstanding. I get that it wouldn’t be something available from the earbuds’ own onboard controls, but its presence isn’t immediately obvious. For activity-focused earbuds, it seems weird to me to place a setting like that in the identical menu with firmware updates and the user manual.
Then again, Anker selected to make some extent by including a respiratory exercise section inside the app that is definitely higher than you may think. It pales as compared to what an app like Calm gives you, considering all the opposite content such apps provide, nevertheless it is there if you would like to integrate it right into a workout. It splits things into warmup, rest, decompression, and a custom mode of your alternative. Tap the settings within the top-right to alter respiratory settings, like how long to inhale or exhale, for instance.
I didn’t mind using it, nevertheless it wouldn’t be my first alternative, especially if the workout I’m following already has a respiratory exercise as a part of the warmup. I discovered higher utility in using it in situations where I desired to mellow out a bit after riding my bike or work on my respiratory after an intense workout.
Sound quality
Ted Kritonis / Digital Trends
Anker went with 10mm dynamic drivers and tuned them to deliver extra bass response, as befits a set of workout earbuds. There’s little question these play with a rumble to them, though you won’t quite hear it immediately.
As at all times, Anker sets the EQ to its own signature preset. Perhaps so as to add to the corporate’s confidence in the prevailing bass response, it removed the Bass Booster preset (Bass Reducer remains to be there), though you’ll be able to get similar results with Deep. Customize your individual in the event you really need to push the bass, but nevertheless you go about it, you must find there’s a thick sound signature here when tinkering with it.
Even in the event you’re not into bass as much, you will discover a more agreeable sound, if not with certainly one of the presets, definitely with a custom one. The Sport X10 aren’t quite at the extent of the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, but I discovered the fit helped profit from the solid sound quality coming out of those earbuds. Strong lows meet warm highs, with passable mids to create a likable sound profile that works within the conditions you’ll probably wear them in. Unlike another Soundcore buds, nevertheless, these don’t support aptX, so Android users will lose out on that, though AAC is in here to go together with SBC.
Ted Kritsonis / Digital Trends
Regardless, other features come into play to assist the cause. ANC performance is pretty good, except it doesn’t do as well to chop down wind gusts — something I routinely noted when riding my bike with them on. The Wind Noise Reduction toggle on the app helps, but I might’ve liked a more pronounced effect. It helps if, say, you’re running or cycling faster and just feeling natural aerodynamics, whereas, on a windier day, those gusts will find ways to penetrate.
Phone calls are excellent in an indoor environment, owing to the six-mic array (three on both sides) that helps cancel out a number of the background noise and enhance voices at the identical time. In quiet settings, calls were nice and clear. Outside or in noisier environments, I’d need to raise the amount to listen to voices, but I could still make a call work. Anker says it cleared up vocals when transparency mode is on, but that also is determined by just how loud the background is.
Battery life
Ted Kritsonis / Digital Trends
Anker rates battery life at eight hours per charge with ANC off. Leave it on, and with higher volume, you’re six hours or less. Volume levels could have a much bigger impact anyway, so in case your style is to pump it up somewhat outdoors or in a gym, you’ll find yourself charging them more often. The case gives you one other three full charges.
You won’t get wireless charging here, leaving you with USB-C as your one option. Fast charge is offered — a fast 10 minutes nets as much as two hours of playback.
Our take
Anker ignored some features to chop down the value to a sub-$100 tag, leaving value from a price perspective, but additionally from a functional one. The sturdiness is here, as is the flexibleness in fit and luxury. Solid app support, good sound quality, and respectable battery life round out a pleasant package for sporty earbuds that don’t break the bank.
Is there a greater alternative?
Sporty and workout earbuds do include a budget in mind, and one option that may fit is the Tribit MoveBuds H1, as long as you’re cool going without ANC and don’t plan on talking much on the phone. They’re super stable to wear and sound good but are made for energetic situations where you’re not doing much talking. Sticking with the earhook theme, the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC include very similar qualities to the Sport X10, albeit with poorer call quality and a much larger case. You do get loads of bass, with solid app support and outstanding battery life for an excellent price.
In case your budget does allow for an additional $40, the Jabra Elite 4 Lively are superb in so some ways, taking much of what makes Jabra elite within the earbuds space and applying it to those buds. Excellent durability, great sound, good ANC, and solid app support round out a solid alternative.
How long will they last?
Anker made these tough, but you’ll be able to’t take the Sport X10 with no consideration. Rinse off the salt from sweat or water and dry them before putting them back of their case, they usually needs to be wonderful. Anker offers an 18-month warranty to cover malfunction issues, but not for water or sweat damage.
Must you buy them?
Yes. Not only because the value is correct, but additionally because Anker has an excellent track record for supporting its products with updates. These earbuds do their job well, and that’s all you’ll be able to ask for when getting more for less.
Editors’ Recommendations
