Soundcore Life P2i headphones without sense presented for $34.99/£29.99/35,99€
Yet another new budget model. With the Soundcore Life P2i wireless in-ear headphones, Soundcore adds a new model to the Life P2 series (yes, it’s come to that), without any sense or technical innovation, but with a new design.
- Soundcore Life P2i
After Soundcore with the Life P3 a successor to the popular Life P2 thought on the market, I thought it would now slowly quieter around the older budget model and the production gradually run out.
However, I have made the bill without Soundcore! The manufacturer has already announced shortly after the release of the Life P3 a Life P2 mini version, which we could also already test, now follows the next throw.
Design and data
While the Life P2 Mini still made a bit of sense somewhere – more compact design, once again cheaper than the normal P2, a true basic in-ear – the sense of the Soundcore Life P2i completely eludes me. The biggest difference to the Life P2 Mini is sadly the design, which is not bad, but nothing really new either.
Compared to the Life P2 Mini, a dynamic driver with a diameter of 10 mm is also used here. I would wish for a slightly better midrange performance from this driver. The Life P2 Mini is already very limited in its frequency range.
There are two EQ modes that can be switched via touch gestures. A total of four touch gestures are installed, which offer practically all common functions apart from volume adjustment.
According to the manufacturer, the battery should last for up to 8 hours of music listening at a stretch. As always due to expertise from ANKER, this is the big plus point of Soundcore, just like the fast charging function (10 minutes of charging = up to one hour of listening to music). With a charging cradle, this should allow up to 28 hours of music enjoyment without a power outlet, four hours less than the P2 Mini.
The connection is based on the latest Bluetooth 5.2, but a high-resolution audio codec is missing. Soundcore advertises the headset with AI support, but I am very skeptical. Only two built-in microphones, where top models have up to three (per earpiece), does not sound like a headset that is seriously suitable for phone calls.
Assessment
You don’t really have to understand Soundcore here. The Soundcore Life P2i and Life P2 Mini are actually much too similar. Perhaps a design study? Or maybe they’re simply trying Xiaomi’s strategy to attract maximum attention with as many products as possible on the market.
In any case, it is the right moment. After all, a large number of competitors in the budget segment were banned from Amazon last year. Like TaoTronics, for example, which had placed a real bestseller on Amazon with the TT-BH053 of its time.
Only a test will show whether the headphones might even be the better alternative to the Soundcore Life P2 Mini. Until then, I still recommend the Earfun Free 2 with aptX in this price range.
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