Anker Soundcore wireless earbuds

What it is good at

• Blocking noise passively because the tip seals the ear canal
• Being small enough to carry in a pocket with the case
• Charging from the case without a wall socket

Check before you buy

• Whether spare ear tips in several sizes are included, which matters more than any spec
• The microphone layout for calls, and whether the buds work independently
• Whether the case charges over USB-C and its capacity in extra charges

Who it is not for

Anyone who finds in-ear tips uncomfortable, or who wants to hear the room around them without taking a bud out.

In-ear buds get most of their isolation from the tip, not from software: a good seal keeps the outside sound out and the bass in. That is why fit is the first thing to sort, and why a pair with four tip sizes often beats a more expensive pair with one.

The case is the real battery. Each bud holds a few hours, and the case carries several more charges, so case capacity and a USB-C socket decide how the pair behaves on a trip. Replaceable tips are the part that keeps them usable after a year.