TWS true wireless earphones - $50 - $100
FOUR STARS - Between the wildly populair Life P3 and sports-oriented Life A2 NC, Soundcore releases yet another pair of active noise cancelling wireless earbuds between 50 and 100 dollars. How good is the Soundcore Life P3i?
Soundcore Life P3i specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
IPX5 waterproof rating
6 - 9 hours listening on a single charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$60 - Check latest price on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this Soundcore Life P3i review, you will find comparisons of the Soundcore Life P3i vs Soundcore Life P3, Soundcore Life A2 NC, Earfun Air Pro 2 and 1more ComfoBuds Pro.
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Design, comfort and battery life
After the earlier released and Scarbir.com-recommended Soundcore Life P2i, it's now clear where the 'i' stands for in Soundcore's wireless earbuds lineup: actual, clicky buttons. The Life P3i carries them on top of the stem. They may look like touch panels, but you press them like actual buttons. Nicely hidden and convenient for sweaty fingers. While the brand doesn't really advertise it, the Soundcore Life P3i is said to be IPX5 waterproof, meaning it survives a bit of rain and sweat.
As for the build quality, the P3i ticks all the boxes. Both the case and the earbuds feel sturdy and have a high-quality finish. The normal-sized case has a hefty lid, a LED-light on the front that indicates the remaining battery life, and a USB-C charging port below. Wireless charging isn't supported.
The stems are a bit thicker than the rest of the brands' lineup, but they're also shorter than the regular Soundcore Life P3's, and look neat thanks to the shining metallic line in the middle of the stem. That said, the black version probably looks better than this creme-white color scheme, which reminds a bit of a once white wallpaper turned yellow after a lot of smoking in the room. The oval part that goes into your ears is comfortable to wear for hours.
Battery life is solid. The earbuds deliver up to 6 hours of playtime with ANC on, and up to 9 hours with the function turned off. The case can recharge them four times fully before needing new power itself.
Controls and connectivity
While the Soundcore Life P3i controls aren't very logical out of the box - one click to skip or return a song, two to play/pause - oof - you can easily change them with the free Soundcore app on Android and iPhone. You finally get more options than on previous Soundcore models, as you can change the single-press, double-press and hold-press controls for the left and right earbuds independently.
The top of the stems give a neat little click when you push them, and the bedding is good too: you won't feel your buds pushes in your ears.
Like the controls, connection strength on the P3i is great. The earbuds pair and connect quickly when you take them out of the case, and the Bluetooth connection stays stable up to 9-10 meters away from your device. Sadly, multipoint connection is not available, so you can't connect the P3i to more devices at the same time and automatically switch between them. Lots of earbuds don't have this, but it's still unfortunate.
Calls, movies and Games
When it comes to phone and video calls, the Soundcore Life P3i puts your voice through clearly, but a bit distant and tinny. You sound metallic. Noise around you, like door slams and chatter, are neatly reduced, but do battle your voice clarity somewhat. Wind noise is the usual enemy as well.
The Life P3i has no dedicated gaming mode, and there indeed is a bit of delay in sound effects when you're playing games - although it's more noticeable in menu's than in the middle of action in something like Call of Duty mobile. Video playback is good, with flawless synchronization between audio and video in YouTube and other video apps.
App Support of Soundcore Life P3i
Soundcore has a reputation of delivering great app support for its earbuds, and the Life P3i is no exception. The free Soundcore app for iPhone and Android connects to the earbuds quickly and is easy to use, although the functions are a lot less comprehensive than the regular Soundcore Life P3. You'll lose the sleep sounds and detailed noise cancelling settings this time around.
The included functions are neat though:
See an (imprecise) battery indicator for both of the earbuds
Update the firmware
Change controls for the single, double and long press
Change which ANC functions you want to activate from the earbuds (ANC/ Transparency mode/ ANC off)
Select one of the 22 sound equalizer presets
Create, save and activate your own equalizers
Activate voice prompt instead of beeps (although this doesn't work as of now)
Read the manual or contact Soundcore help
The app responds quickly and changes you make are immediately put through to the earbuds. Typical Soundcore - top class.
ANC Noise cancelling of Soundcore Life P3i
Having active noise cancelling on a $55 earphone is no specialty anymore these days, but the ANC on the Mini Pro is a strong offering in its segment.
ANC quality: The biggest difference between the cheaper Soundcore Life P2i and Life P3i, is that the latter has Active Noise Cancelling. Unfortunately, it's not as effective as the best models in the 50-100 dollars price range as of mid-2022 - including the Soundcore Life P3.
The ANC is most effective in reducing constant darker and medium-low sounds, like static or electronic humming. Lighter background noise, including distant traffic, is reduced in volume, but you'll often hear some noise slipping through. Irregular and nearby sounds like chatter still come through clearly, including when you're listening to music on low volume levels.
Transparency mode quality: The Transparency mode is mediocre. It puts through traffic noise and chatter when you need it, but only when you're not playing music, or playing music up to moderate volume. Cross that level, and the effect is gone.
Wind noise reduction: The Soundcore Life P3i leaves out wind noise pretty well when using the ANC or Transparency mode, and if you wan't to rule it out entirely, you can always switch to Normal mode.
Unfortunately, as the beep sounds that indicate the functions all sound alike, it's hard to know in which setting you are. One more note: the Life P3i can show a crackle when you switch from Transparency mode to ANC off. Not a very nice sound.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of Soundcore Life P3i
Like other models from the same brand, the Soundcore Life P3i aims to please many with its vast bass and full sound.
You can't miss the bass on the Life P3i. The mid-bass delivers big, boomy, almost explosive thumps, providing genres like hip-hop with long-lasting slams. Underneath, the sub-bass (deepest bass tones you can feel as much as hear) can give a deep and controlled shaking, but still in a friendly way. It's not the tightest performer. As the mid-bass dissolves into the lower-mids a little, acoustic drums can sound a little dull and lack impact. If you love a big bass though, there's plenty to feast on - perhaps even a little too much once you activate the BassUp slider from the app.
Lower mid-tones, such as darker electronic tones and the lowest male vocals, are heavily boosted and add up to the warmth and fullness of the sound.
Luckily, the sound isn't too dark. Compared to other Soundcore models like the Life P2i, Liberty Air 2 Pro and Liberty 3 Pro, highs on the Life P3i aren't as extended and opened-up with the standard equalizer. This diminishes the sense of space in the sound a bit, even though you can still hear effects and instruments coming from your left and right. It does make the Life P3i an easier listen than its brand companions. Besides, vocals are still very forward - prominent and clearly protruded from other highers tones, but they don't have the metallic side-effect from earlier Soundcore models. A good tradeoff - but one you can turn back by selecting the Acoustic equalizer from the app, which immediately emphasizes upper mid-tones and highs again.
When it comes to volume, the P3i can use a firmware upgrade on Android - as the maximum volume on Android devices may be a too soft for active listening. There's (already) plenty of volume on iPhone.
As the lows are more full than accurate, center mid-tones like guitars and piano play sound warmer than usual, and higher vocals are set a bit loose from other parts of the treble, the Soundcore Life P3i isn't the most natural sounding pair of wireless earphones. When you're a fan of a full sound and strong bass, however, there's a lot to enjoy here.
Soundcore Life P3i comparisons
Soundcore Life P3 vs Soundcore Life P3i
In a direct comparison, the Soundcore Life P3 wins from the Soundcore Life P3i on multiple aspects. Most importantly, the original P3 has an IPX5 waterproof rating, making the earbuds suitable for sports and use in heavy rain. It has more support from the app as well, with different noise cancelling settings and well-executed sleep mode sounds. ANC on the regular P3 is slightly more effective in filtering out higher background sounds, and its Transparency mode lets you locate traffic a bit better when you're listening to music. Music is brighter and tighter on the Life P3, with a more precise mid-bass, deeper-diving sub-bass, and more open upper-mids and highs.
The newer P3i is better on two points: it has around 6 hours instead of 4,5 hours of battery life with ANC on (9 vs 7 hours with ANC off), and its controls are (even) easier to use and change.
Soundcore Life P3 review ($60-80)
Soundcore Life P3i vs 1more ComfoBuds Pro
The 1more ComfoBuds Pro almost sounds flat next to the fullness of the Soundcore Life P3i. The Soundcore has stronger bass, way more elevated lower-mids and gives vocals a warmer and thicker character. It cuts off highs before they can sound sharp, while the brighter 1more has a more open sound that accentuates mid-tones, higher vocals, and brighter instruments more - which can however result in a bit of thinness on the loudest volume. The Soundcore app is a bit more polished and its controls are easier to activate and change. Battery life is slightly better on the Soundcore, but the ComfoBuds Pro takes a lead on practical aspects: it's IPX4 splashproof, 1more's ANC rules out more noise around you, and it puts your voice through clearer and louder and phone and video calls.
1more ComfoBuds Pro review ($60-80)
Soundcore Life P3i vs Earfun Air Pro 2
The comparably priced Earfun Air Pro 2 is a more versatile pair of earbuds than the Soundcore Life P3i. The Air Pro 2 active noise cancelling mode reduces slightly more noise from the lows to the highs, and the Transparency mode lets you locate traffic easier when listening to music on moderate volume. Earfun's microphone output is clearer and louder in phone and video calls, while battery life is comparable. The Earfun Air Pro 2 doesn't have app support to let you change the controls or sound, but does boast an IPX5 sweat- and rainproof rating. The Earfun has a more vivid and balanced sound than the Soundcore, with less focus on the bass, more natural center-mids presentation, and airier upper-mids that give more room to vocalists' higher notes. The Soundcore strikes back with a fullness that is more comfortable on lower listening volumes.
Earfun Air Pro 2 review ($60-80)
Soundcore Life P3i vs SoundPEATS Mini Pro
The popular SoundPEATS brand also has a noise cancelling competitor for around the same price as the Soundcore Life P3i. The SoundPEATS Mini Pro battery lasts 5 instead of 6 hours of playtime on a single charge, but that's with ANC activated and playing music on moderate volume. If you just want to use the ANC, the Mini Pro can get you through the night and that's this SoundPEATS’ superpower: it's so compact and comfortable to wear, you can wear it to bed and give you a good nights rest in noisy areas. The SoundPEATS has IPX5 waterproof-rating and a great gaming mode, while your voice is fuller in phone and video calls. The Mini Pro's ANC is slightly stronger as well. In the sound department, the Life P3i has a stronger and deeper bass and thicker lower-mids. The SoundPEATS has a less powerful, but more behaved and well-balanced sound, which presents vocals more natural.
SoundPEATS Mini Pro review ($50-60)
Soundcore Life P3i vs Soundcore Life A2 NC
Unreviewed on Scarbir.com, Soundcore has another TWS with active noise cancelling for around the same price. The Soundcore Life A2 NC is a model geared towards sports, and comes with big rubber ear rings to act as a backup plan when you're not getting a tight fit. It also has a useful IPX5 waterproof rating to withstand rain and sweat. Thanks to its actual buttons, the P3i is easier to control with sweaty fingers, but that's where the wins end. Both models have great app support with tons of equalizers, yet the Life A2 NC has a more uplifting sound out of the box, with a more upfront bass thump, and more generally elevated upper-mids and highs - not just the vocals. Claps and cymbals can be a bit splashy, and bass can be a bit muddier when boosted by a song itself, but as noise cancelling is slightly more effective on the A2 NC - the sound can be more immersive than on the Life P3i.
No Soundcore Life A2 NC review ($60-80) - Check price on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, or other Amazon countries
Verdict
To answer the question above this review: no, the Soundcore Life P3i is not better than the wildly popular, original Soundcore Life P3. While these are good earbuds at a reasonable price, they lack the ANC strength, extensive app support and most of all, an IPX waterproof rating to recommend it over its more expensive sibling or other competitors.
Four stars - Good
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