With the Soundcore V20i, you gain earbuds you can wear for hours while still hearing traffic and the people around you. You give up isolation, because open-ear earbuds rest outside the ear canal rather than plugging it. That makes them wrong for a loud flight and right for a run or a busy office. If the trade sounds like a win, open-ear earbuds are worth it, and the Soundcore V20i Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds are a sensible way to try them.
What the V20i is
It’s a pair of open-ear true wireless earbuds from Soundcore, Anker’s audio brand. Nothing goes into your ear canal. Instead, each bud hangs from an ear hook and sits just outside your ear.
How open-ear earbuds sound and fit
Bass is the first trade. In Soundcore’s own guide to earbud types, an in-ear seal “blocks external noise and enhances bass response.” The V20i has no seal, so you keep your awareness and lose that boost, though it still gets Soundcore’s BassUp tuning and titanium-coated domes on its 16 mm drivers.
Comfort runs the other way. The same Soundcore guide calls in-ears snug but sometimes tight, while open-ear designs can be worn “for hours without fatigue.” With no tip holding it in, each bud stays on with its hook, which has four positions. Set the left and right hooks separately. Your two ears may not want the same one.
On a run or a ride
Runners and cyclists get the most from open-ear earbuds like the V20i. Soundcore calls open-ear earbuds “your best ally” for jogging, cycling and outdoor workouts, because they keep you aware of what’s around you. For this use, open-ear earbuds are most clearly worth it. Wipe the buds down after a sweaty session. Soundcore’s care guide says cleaning after exercise stops bacteria growing.
Keep them out of the pool, though. The Soundcore FAQ answers a flat “No” on swimming and diving and says the charging case isn’t waterproof. Dry the buds before they go back in to charge.
At a desk in a shared office
The office is the V20i’s other good fit. You can play music or sit on a call and still hear a coworker say your name. Dual Connections is on out of the box. That means the buds can stay linked to your laptop and your phone at once. For the call itself, Soundcore promises “crisp and clear calls” from four microphones paired with an AI algorithm. But fit counts for calls as well. Make sure the buds sit in the correct position, and set the hooks before you blame the mics.
Planes, trains and big bass: when to skip them
Skip the V20i if you want silence. It has no noise cancelling and nothing seals your ear, so it won’t block a plane cabin or a loud train. For quiet, look at an in-ear pair with noise cancelling instead, such as the Soundcore P31i Earbuds with Adaptive ANC. Skip it, too, if deep bass is the whole point, because the seal that boosts bass is exactly what the V20i leaves out.
A day on one charge
The buds run about 8 hours a charge at 50% volume, and the case stretches that to about 36 hours in total. Here’s what that means in days.
- One charge covers an 8-hour workday.
- The case holds the other 28 hours, which is 36 minus 8. That’s 3.5 refills of 8 hours, which matches the case’s rated 3.5 full recharges.
- Charged buds and a full case last four and a half 8-hour days, because 36 divided by 8 is 4.5.
- Forgot to charge? Ten minutes gives you about an hour.
- From empty, the buds take about 1.5 hours to charge, and the case about 2.5.
A USB-C cable comes in the box, and Soundcore’s battery guide asks for a 5V/1A or higher charger and cable. If the case won’t charge, Soundcore’s charging troubleshooter says to “Avoid using high-powered fast chargers.” Our guide to what wattage charger you need explains those numbers.
Paying more: what the AeroFit 2 adds
At Soundcore’s own US store, its AeroFit 2 open-ear model costs more than the V20i. The extra buys a case that charges on a wireless pad, plus LDAC streaming on Android phones. Both have four call mics and connect to two devices. If you’re still finding out whether open-ear earbuds are worth it for you, start with the cheaper V20i.
Soundcore V20i specs
| Spec | Soundcore V20i |
|---|---|
| Design | Open-ear, ear hook with four positions |
| Drivers | 16 mm, titanium-coated domes, BassUp |
| Battery | About 8 hours at 50% volume, about 36 hours with the case |
| Water | IP55 in the user guide, IPX5 in the FAQ, case not waterproof |
| Noise cancelling | None |
| Bluetooth | 5.4, 10 m range, two devices at once |
| Calls | Four mics with AI |
| Weight | 9.3 g per earbud |
| App | EQ, Gaming Mode, touch controls, light effects, firmware updates |
| Lights | Four effects, one that follows your music |
| Colors | Black, White, Blue |
| In the box | Earbuds, charging case, USB-C cable |
What to check before buying
- Volume. Open-ear wireless earbuds like these can’t shut out a noisy street, so it’s easy to turn them up. The World Health Organization puts a safe level at “80dB for up to 40 hours a week” and says to “Keep the volume below 60% of maximum on your device.” Soundcore’s FAQ lists the V20i’s maximum as 90 dB. At 90 dB, the WHO’s safe time drops to four hours a week.
- Glasses. Soundcore’s V20i guides don’t mention glasses, and the buds stay on with ear hooks. If you wear glasses all day, try the two together while you can still return the buds.
- The app. Touch volume control stays off until you switch it on in the soundcore app, and the lights need the app too, so install it on day one.
Open-ear earbuds questions
Can you use just one Soundcore V20i earbud?
Yes. A single Soundcore V20i earbud works on its own, so you can keep one ear completely free. Pairing, resetting and changing EQ or light settings don’t work with one bud, though, so set those up with both buds before taking one out.
Is there audio lag on the Soundcore V20i?
A little. The Soundcore V20i’s maximum latency is around 200 ms, a fifth of a second. The soundcore app adds a Gaming Mode, but Soundcore doesn’t publish a latency figure for it. If sound drifts from video, start by forgetting the buds in your device’s Bluetooth list and restarting the device.
Do open-ear earbuds leak sound?
Some, yes. Soundcore says both air- and bone-conduction headphones “can exhibit some degree of sound leakage, especially at higher volumes.” That means people near you might hear your music. In a library or a quiet office, turn the V20i down low.