AirPods are reliable earbuds as much as they are a status symbol, and like all sought-after tech products, they come with a clout tax. Luckily, we found a suitable stand-in at a fraction of the cost that one reviewer says is “a steal for quality” and that they “run CIRCLES around AirPod Pros.”
Meet the active noise-canceling A40 earbuds by Soundcore, which last up to 10 hours after a single charge and up to 50 hours with their powerhouse charging case. Typically $59.99, these ultra-comfy in-ear buds are currently 23% off in select colors — a deal many agree is more than worth it. They are, after all, a “pound-for-pound champion set of headphones.”
“On a budget? You’ll feel like you spent $250 on [these],” one user writes, before celebrating that these buds also carry “double the battery life” of their expensive Apple counterpart.
These ultra-light earbuds have a case that supports wireless charging, but, according to some reviews, you won’t be doing much as they support up to 10 hours of battery life on a single playback.
They have an excellent range for listening to podcasts, music and voice calls, plus, when paired with the Anker app, you can toggle its equalizer for a full custom sound. They also have a transparency mode, letting you hear your surroundings when they’re in-ear, so you won’t miss anyone calling your name or a passerby on your next run.
“These headphones sound very good,” raves one user. “In fact, I would say the audio quality is just as impressive as the AirPods Pro 2. The clarity and balance are excellent for this price point.”
Using them on calls is easy, too, and many say they’re very comfy to use. “These little earbuds surprised me with their high quality sound and how insanely comfortable they were in my ears,” says Dean G. “I don’t need a high level of sound dampening but they work great in the train tunnel during my commute, and I can still hear well enough when they’re in Transparency mode. Using the app is easy and personalizes the buds to my preferences. The buds also have a fantastic range which can handle the bass in dance, rock, and whatever else I’m listening to, even at higher volumes. Plus, when I receive calls, the other person can hear me clearly!”
Read on for more promising reviews of the Soundcore A40 wireless earbuds, and get a pair on sale before they go back up in price!
“[…] Enter these Anker Space A40′s... The very good to excellent: These don’t break the bank at $60ish dollars. I’ve seen them on sale for ~$50 so watch for that. Deep base, very clear treble, the ability to customize the sound... the list goes on and on. These things run CIRCLES around my Airpod Pro’s -even when they worked. How do I know that? Because my wife also has “working” Airpod Pro’s and I used my right ear to play several songs using the A40′s while at the same time I used my wifes phone to play the exact same song (yes it was hard to synchronize that) using her left Airpod Pro. Sorry Apple, your product doesn’t sound as rich at 4-5 times the cost. Yes, they noise cancel better; other than that, you are miles ahead buying these Anker Space A40′s - even if they only last a year or 2. I’m highly impressed. On a budget? You’ll feel like you spent $250 on the Ankers but actually a fraction of that. Buy them. Edit: Oh, forgot to add this: average battery life is 6-7 hours before I get a “battery low” message 10 minutes before they die. Airpod Pro’s? 3.5 hours… yeah, double the battery life of Apple.” — J. Hart [This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.]
“These headphones are great. These are part of my every day items. I don’t like to leave the house without these. (I proof read, and I’m re typing this after, sorry for sounding like an NPC haha). I have asked for a lot of feedback when I’m talking to others, because I want to make sure they aren’t getting crazy feedback from my end and wind noise etc. They say I sound very clear, and they do mention some wind noise but I also have the Soundcore P40i. I just got them, and on the app for those, they have a wind reduction option. So honestly, if you want a great LOUD headphone with the Transparent mode also, go with the P40i. If you ride motorcycles especially, I would recommend these, or the soundcore buds that have transparent mode. If you ride with a helmet, these are great to be able to hear horns and ambulances without the price tag of beats, or pods. These headphones are priced so fair. The first pair I bought was the P20i. Over a year ago and still have them and they are working so well still. I just got the P40i the other day and those are the most insane sounding ear buds I’ve ever used. They have the most bass and clear sounding vocals I’ve ever heard on a headphone. Go Soundcore, go with the in the ear, ear buds though. Don’t get the old school apple white corded ear phones, get the in the ear with the replaceable tips. I am in welding school and it gets loud. These help get rid of most of the noise, and have protected my ears from Sparks as well as slag(hardened flux that protects the weld, but is still soooo hot). :) if you’re a reader, I hope we had some fun till now, and if not, sorry lol. Take care friends and please, give soundcore a try, their quality isn’t defined by their cost. In this case, a fair cost for a GREAT product.” — SeekYahusha
“I am very impressed with their performance. Here is my breakdown:\
Sound Quality: These headphones sound very good. In fact, I would say the audio quality is just as impressive as the AirPods Pro 2. The clarity and balance are excellent for this price point.
Battery Life: The battery life is solid and definitely meets my expectations for daily use.
The “Artifact” Issue: I did discover one minor problem. When I switch between different ANC profiles (moving from Transparency mode to Noise Cancelling or other modes), the headphones produce some strange “artifact” noises. It’s a bit distracting when it happens.
Conclusion: Since I don’t switch between ANC profiles very often, this isn’t a dealbreaker for me. If you stay in one mode most of the time, they are a fantastic pair of earbuds.
Pros: Excellent sound, comparable to high-end brands, good battery. Cons: Distorted noise/artifacts when toggling through ANC modes.” — Marius Gutu
Want more more tech upgrades under $30? Check out some gadgets HuffPost Shopping writer Griff Wynne recommends for folks who can’t leave their phones alone.
A bendy gooseneck phone holder that clips onto anything (20% off)
Clip it to a table, bookshelf, headboard or anything else to have your phone near you without needing to physically hold it. This adjustable, bending phone holder stretches to fit many different types of smartphones and measures 85 centimeters long.
An adjustable cell phone stand for hands-free viewing or video chatting
Keep your phone propped up on your desk or table with this totally adjustable cell phone stand. It rotates to hold your phone vertically or horizontally, comes in seven colors and is compatible with even thick cell phone cases.
Promising review: "Frankly I was skeptical that any phone stand could be well-built and sturdy for a bargain price. I was pleasantly surprised at my purchase. It has pads on the underside that hold it firmly on the desk. It also has pads on the cradle and back to keep the phone in place when on it. Best of all it allows the phone to be charged while in landscape or portrait. I plan to buy a second one for my workshop." — Lou Aymard
An upright Apple charging station for newer and older iPhones alike
If you're constantly using all your devices, you may need to charge them all at once. With ports for your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, this charging station also works for older models of iPhones that don't have wireless charging. It comes in black, white and rose gold and uses an included USB-C cord to bring power to the entire station.
Promising review: "I really like this charger. I can recharge all 3 apple products at once. No extra cords to worry about. It acts like a stand keeping the phone upright. I can look at the phone screen without taking it off the charger. The best part for me is, I never forget putting on my apple watch since it sits right next to the phone. Totally convenient. The charger works very quickly. Takes no time to get my phone back up to 100%. IT is light weight to bring along on trips. I am very happy and recommend this product." — Janet Kennedy
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)