Soundcore V30i and AeroFit Pro Review: Anker’s open-ear headphones excel at both ends of the price scale
You’ve reached your late 20s and you finally have an inexplicable urge to run. Not leisure jogs around the park, but full-on, lung-gasping, leg-trembling kinds of runs.
You’ve got the compression shorts, the runner’s watch, and feather-like shoes all accounted for, but alas, your in-ear buds keep popping off, and you’ve already had a few close encounters with onrushing vehicles just ’cause the noise cancellation…well, cancels the noise.
It’s at this juncture that you’ll probably realize that open-ear headphones are the way to go and understand why they are becoming increasingly popular among the fitness cohort.
Now that you’ve deemed open-ear headphones necessary in your running journey, the headache of deciding which pair to get arises. We can’t say we’ve tested them all, because that would be impossible.
But we can vouch for a few under the Anker Soundcore line, namely the Soundcore V30i and Soundcore AeroFit Pro. Both are on opposite ends of the price spectrum, but equal enough to be on your radar.
Here are our thoughts on both open-ear offerings.
Soundcore V30i
Soundcore V30i price in Malaysia: RM299
Firstly, how sleek is the case of the V30i? We’ve seen open-ear headphones with some seriously heavyset cases that can be quite a put-off. The Soundcore V30i looks much friendlier and is compact enough to slip into a mini sling bag or pouch. Is it pocketable? Maybe, if you’re wearing baggy cargoes; if you’re a jeans guy like me, expect an unpleasant awkward bulge. Then again, open-ears are primarily meant for sports, so pocketability might not be a major factor for you.
We have similar sentiments about the buds themselves too. The earpiece is not as lengthy or conspicuous as others, and the strip of subtle red lining contrasted against the black body goes a long way. As for fitting, personally, the flexible hook loops around my ear nicely, with enough rigidity to keep it snug. You could go for runs with full assurance that it won’t fall off. In fact, the only time I ever experienced even a slight shimmy was when I snuck in a few jumping jacks.
Not to mention, it’s very light too, with Anker claiming the buds weigh 9.3g each.
The Soundcore V30i is compatible with the Soundcore app. Everything is pretty standard here. You’ll have access to configure controls (e.g., single press, double press, etc.), your battery indicators, and a total of 22 preset sound effects. You can also customize your own sound profile via the Custom EQ option.
Some options which you might be looking for simply aren’t present on the Soundcore V30i, such as in-ear detection, Find My Device, or deeper bass settings. It does feel a little underwhelming, especially on the back of the AeroFit Pro that offers far greater control with the Soundcore app.
Nevertheless, given that the V30i is on the lower end of the price scale, this is forgivable.
Sound quality is excellent on the Soundcore V30i. You might have impressions that open-ear headphones will lose that immersive bubble feel that in-ear buds provide, but my listening experience proved otherwise. Music felt spatial, and the audio was crisp and clear, just enough to block out the world while maintaining a decent level of awareness.
The only gripe I have with it is that there’s plenty of sound leakage, especially at full volume. It isn’t necessarily an issue if you’re out running solo or doing some gym work. However, if you’re using it as your main driver and you’re frequently in tightly packed public spaces, say, in the LRT or in the office, just be aware others might be listening in too.
We’ll end on a positive note and say that the batteries are great. Expect at least 12 hours of listening time on a single charge. The case will last you about three charges, bringing the total to 36 hours.
Soundcore AeroFit Pro
Soundcore AeroFit Pro price in Malaysia: RM799
Now on to the premium offering, the Soundcore AeroFit Pro.
You don’t need 20/20 vision to notice how different this option looks from the V30i. For starters, the AeroFit Pro’s case takes on a rounded, squarish form factor – almost like a portable makeup powder set, if you’ve ever seen one. The case is surprisingly thinner than the V30i’s, but it still isn’t something that will make itself comfy in your pockets.
As for the earpieces themselves, the hooks are not as thin as the V30i’s, and at first glance, might look uncomfortable because of the thicker ends. In truth, I found these provide a better fit because the robust ends act as an anchor point to keep the hooks firmly in place around your ears. In any case, if you still feel they are loose, you can clip on the adjustable neckband that comes in the box.
Pair the AeroFit Pro with the Soundcore app, and you’ll get a more holistic experience. In addition to what you have with the V30i, the AeroFit Pro offers Dual Connections, which allows you to connect the buds to more than one device; as well as Find Device, Volume Balance, and LDAC mode for richer audio quality.
There’s also a head-tracking spatial audio mode that configures the buds to correlate with the position of the audio source.
The Soundcore AeroFit Pro provided a well-rounded music listening experience that’s audibly on the premium side. It’s more bassy, which makes it great for thumping music genres like Rock and EDM. However, just as it was with the V30i, leakage is still a problem here.
Batteries, on the other hand, are longer-lasting with 14 hours on a single charge, reaching up to 46 hours with the case included.
Soundcore V30i vs AeroFit Pro: Which suits you best?
Unsurprisingly, the AeroFit Pro does seem better on all fronts. It fits better, sounds great, and has a longer-lasting battery. Plus, there’s just so much more you can do with the Soundcore app, which in turn provides a better listening experience, especially if your device supports LDAC codec.
But is it worth that additional RM500 investment?
The V30i, for just RM299, provides a decent fit along with excellent sound quality. Sure, batteries are not as long-lasting, but is 12 hours on a single charge not enough? The biggest drawback is perhaps that it lacks features like Dual Connection and Find Device with the Soundcore app, but if you can live without them in the first place, it doesn’t seem rational to fork out that extra RM500 just to attain them.
Both are excellent choices of open-ear headphones, but in my view, the Soundcore V30i provides far better value given the affordable price point.
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