Soundcore P42i Review: Almost Everything You Need

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I’ve been an Anker Soundcore fan for years. Back in the day I used to review basically everything the brand put out, and then for a stretch I fell out of the loop with them.

So when a pair of their newest earbuds landed on my desk, I’ll admit I got a little excited.

These are the Soundcore P42i, and after living with them for a few weeks, I think they’re exactly the kind of product that made me like this brand in the first place.

Let’s get the verdict out of the way early, because I know some of you just want the bottom line: these are genuinely good earbuds for around $80, but they’re not the best thing in their price bracket either. There’s a “but” coming later. Stick with me.

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Soundcore P42i – Specs

Specification	Soundcore P42i
Driver	11mm Dynamic Driver
Noise Cancellation	Adaptive ANC, up to 55dB
Audio	Hi-Res Audio, LDAC
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 6.1
Battery Life	Up to 12 hours / 56 hours with case
Battery with ANC	Up to 8.5 hours / 40 hours with case
Charging	USB-C & Wireless Charging
Fast Charging	10 minutes = up to 3.5 hours
Microphones	6 AI-enhanced microphones
Water Resistance	IP55
Multipoint	Yes, up to 2 devices
Weight	4.4g per earbud

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Design and Comfort

The first thing you’ll probably notice about the P42i is that they’re not exactly small.

Both the earbuds and their charging case are quite a bit bulkier compared to some of the newer, more compact wireless earbuds on the market.

If you’ve used Soundcore products before, the design will feel pretty familiar, featuring a longer stem and the Soundcore logo on the outside.

My review unit came in black, which is a classic choice and looks quite sleek. However, if you’re after something that pops a bit more, I’d recommend checking out some of the more vibrant color options available.

The charging case is made of plastic, but it doesn’t come off as cheap at all. I’ve been toting it around for weeks, and it still looks impressively clean, with no noticeable scratches or signs of wear and tear.

The rounded edges are a nice little detail. I’ve been carrying the case in my pocket regularly, and I’ve never found it uncomfortable to have on me.

The case features a USB-C port, a pairing button, and a status LED, which is pretty handy. Plus, there’s a little opening for attaching a wrist strap.

Honestly, I didn’t expect that at this price point. While the strap doesn’t come in the box, if you have one that fits, you can easily use it with the case.

Now, let’s talk about the earbuds. They’re definitely on the larger side, but that doesn’t mean they’re uncomfortable.

Soundcore has played around with finishes on these earbuds, giving them a matte look on the outside and a glossy surface on the part that rests against your ear. That glossy bit really helps them stay put, and I could feel the difference during longer listening sessions.

The silicone tips included make it pretty straightforward to get a snug fit.

I wore the P42i for long stretches without feeling the need to constantly readjust them. They might not be the tiniest earbuds out there, but comfort is definitely one of their strong suits.

Plus, with an IP55 rating, these earbuds are ready for workouts, sweat, and a bit of light rain. Just to be clear, that doesn’t mean you should take them swimming, but they’ll handle your everyday exercise just fine.

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Connectivity

The P42i earbuds come equipped with Bluetooth 6.1, along with LDAC and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification. For a budget-friendly option, that’s quite an impressive combo.

In my day-to-day experience, the connection held up nicely, and I didn’t encounter any significant dropouts.

Thanks to Google Fast Pair, connecting to compatible Android devices is a breeze. Just pop open the case, bring it close to your phone, and the pairing process practically takes care of itself.

The P42i also features multipoint connectivity, which is one of those perks you don’t fully appreciate until you’ve had the chance to use it regularly.

Switching between two devices without having to dive into Bluetooth settings is super handy, especially if you’re using the same earbuds for both your phone and laptop.

Plus, you can use either earbud on its own, so you’re not stuck with both connected when you only want to use one.

When it comes to gaming, I found the performance to be solid. The low-latency mode minimizes the delay between what you see on screen and what you hear, making the P42i a great choice for casual mobile gaming.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that using LDAC can limit the effective connection range. It’s not uncommon, but it’s worth noting if you’re aiming for maximum range.

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The Soundcore App

The Soundcore app is definitely one of the standout features of the entire experience.

Sure, there are plenty of budget earbuds out there with decent hardware, but often the software feels like an afterthought. That’s not the case with this app.

It puts you in the driver’s seat with controls for ANC and transparency modes, battery stats, equalizer settings, touch controls, gaming mode, and a bunch of other handy features.

What’s really cool is that you can tweak the strength of the noise cancellation instead of just flipping it on or off.

The transparency mode also has its own settings, letting you adjust for wind noise and enhance voices.

But if there’s one feature I’d suggest you try first, it’s HearID.

HearID crafts a personalized sound profile based on how you perceive different frequencies. You take a quick test in the app, and then the earbuds create a profile tailored to your hearing.

I found it to be a worthwhile experience.

The default sound is already pretty enjoyable, but the P42i tends to lean a bit towards the bass-heavy side right out of the box. HearID helped balance things out for my ears.

If you’re the type who likes to fine-tune everything, there’s a fully customizable equalizer.

You can start with Soundcore’s presets or create your own profile from scratch.

There’s also spatial audio, though I didn’t find it particularly convincing. It’s a nice addition, but I wouldn’t choose the P42i just for that feature.

The app even has a hearing-health section that tracks your listening levels and gives you a clearer picture of your exposure.

And let’s not forget about the touch controls—they’re fully customizable too! You can assign different actions to single, double, and triple taps, and if you find yourself accidentally triggering them, you can even turn them off.

That’s a level of control you don’t always see in pricier earbuds.

One thing I couldn’t find while testing was the real-time translation feature that Soundcore mentioned. If it’s supposed to be available for the P42i, it wasn’t showing up in the app during my testing, so I wouldn’t base my purchase on that.

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Microphones

The microphones are a delightful surprise!

Soundcore really focused on voice clarity and cutting out background noise, and it definitely shows during calls.

I gave the P42i a spin indoors, even in a room with noticeable echo and a fan whirring above me. The voice quality stayed clear enough for regular calls and voice memos.

When I took them outside, they performed just as well.

Even with the wind blowing around me, the microphones did a great job of keeping my voice clear. Sure, they won’t replace a high-end dedicated mic, but for phone calls and quick voice messages, I really can’t complain.

The person on the other end should have no trouble hearing you in most everyday situations.

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Noise Cancellation

One of the P42i’s standout features is its active noise cancellation.

Soundcore boasts that it can achieve up to 55dB of noise cancellation. While those figures are impressive, the real test is how it performs in everyday life.

In practice, the P42i excels at minimizing constant background noise.

Once you turn on the ANC, sounds like fans, air conditioning, and traffic noise become much less intrusive.

I did find that the strongest ANC setting can create a slight pressure in your ears during extended use. This is pretty typical with strong noise cancellation, but some people might prefer a gentler setting.

The transparency mode is also a handy feature when you want to stay aware of your surroundings without taking the earbuds out.

Overall, I wouldn’t say the P42i has the best ANC I’ve ever tried. But for the price, it’s definitely a strong contender.

These earbuds are firmly in the budget category, where the ANC is effective enough to make a real impact.

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Sound Quality

The P42i features an 11mm dynamic driver with a titanium coating, and it’s clear that the tuning is all about enjoyment rather than sticking to a strictly neutral sound.

Right off the bat, I was struck by the powerful low end.

The bass really stands out, making it perfect for pop, electronic music, hip-hop, and anything that thrives on a bit of extra weight.

The midrange is decent, but it does take a slight backseat to the bass-heavy vibe.

Fortunately, vocals come through loud and clear.

Both male and female voices are well-defined, and that titanium-coated driver seems to enhance clarity.

However, if you’re after a completely neutral or studio-like sound, the default tuning might not hit the mark for you.

That’s where HearID and the customizable EQ come into play.

After making some adjustments, I found I preferred a more balanced sound with a bit less focus on the lowest frequencies.

Once I tweaked it, the P42i sounded much more refined than I expected for their price.

They won’t rival $250 or $300 flagship earbuds in terms of detail, separation, and overall polish—that would be asking too much.

But that’s not really the goal here.

At around $80, the P42i offers a fun, clear, and surprisingly capable sound that exceeds what I’d typically expect from a budget option.

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Battery Life

The P42i has plenty of space for a sizable battery, and Soundcore takes full advantage of that.

They claim you can get up to 8.5 hours of playback with noise cancellation on, and the charging case can stretch the total battery life to about 40 hours. If you turn off the extra processing, Soundcore mentions you can enjoy up to 12 hours from the earbuds.

But let’s be honest—real-world results are often more telling than what the manufacturers say.

In my tests, I found I was getting around 7 to 7.5 hours of listening time with ANC activated and the volume at about 50%. It might not hit the headline figure, but it’s still pretty great.

Coming close to eight hours on a single charge while using active noise cancellation is genuinely impressive for earbuds in this price range.

And the case supports both USB-C wired charging and wireless charging.

Honestly, I wouldn’t expect wireless charging from a pair of earbuds that cost around $80, and it really makes the P42i feel much more high-end than they actually are.

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Final Thoughts

The Soundcore P42i aren’t without their flaws. They’re a bit on the chunky side, the default sound leans a little too much towards bass, and some of the advanced features could use a bit of polish.

However, what really stands out is what Soundcore has managed to pack into these earbuds for the price.

For the price, you’re getting fantastic battery life, impressive active noise cancellation, solid sound quality, wireless charging, multipoint connectivity, LDAC support, dependable microphones, IP55 protection, and one of the best companion apps I’ve encountered in this price range.

The real-world battery life, which hovers around seven to seven and a half hours with ANC on, is particularly noteworthy.

After using them for several weeks, I was genuinely impressed. The P42i don’t feel like budget earbuds that constantly remind you of their price tag.

Instead, they feel like a product where Soundcore made smart choices about where to save costs.

If you’re after the tiniest earbuds or the absolute best sound quality, there are certainly better options out there. But if you want to get the most bang for your buck, the Soundcore P42i should definitely be at the top of your list.

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