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The Soundcore Life A2 NC true wireless earbuds aren’t perfect, but they’re your best option for under $100. Besides the long battery life and premium sound quality, they have some luxury features that usually come with a much higher price tag. Check out the things we liked and didn’t like, and see why you shouldn’t pay more for some earbuds if you don’t have to:
Anker Soundcore Life A2 NC
True Wireless Earbuds
Specs
- Battery Life – 7 hrs (35 hrs total with charging case)
- Dust/Water Resistance – IPX5
- Fast Charging – 10 min for 1.5 hrs of listening
- Charge Type – USB-C & Qi-certified wireless charging
- Driver Size – 11mm (triple-layer composite diaphragms)
- Bluetooth Version – 5.0
- Noise Cancellation – Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation
- Accessory Kit – 3 sets of ear wings & 5 sets of ear tips
Pros
- Excellent battery life on a single-charge and total charging case (7hrs/35hrs)
- 10-min quick-charge (via USB-C) for 1.5 hours of listening
- Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation is on par with
- Transparency mode for extra safety when walking, running, biking or other roadside activities
- Bluetooth version 5.0 provides extended battery life and wireless range
- Comfortable and fully customizable fit with plenty of combinations of ear tips and ear wings
- Premium 11mm drivers provide impressive clarity and above-average bass
- Siri, Google Assistant, and other voice-assistant compatible
- On-ear controls include music, calls, voice assistant, noise-cancellation, and more
- Soundcore app lets you adjust the EQ, customize onboard controls, and more
- Single-ear audio on either left or right earbud
Cons
- Only available in black
- Bulky charging case
- No wireless charging case
- On-ear controls are limited to double-click and click/hold only (*fixable with firmware update)
Ear Size
Earbud size is a major factor, for those of us with smaller ears. Besides the Soundcore Liberty 2 and Liberty 2 Pro’s, Soundcore usually uses a larger ear-wing style that doesn’t fit in most small and extra-small ears. Luckily, with the Soundcore Life A2 NC’s they went with the smaller ear-wing style similar to the Bose Sport and QuietComfort earbuds.
Don’t worry if you have larger ears because they come with plenty of ear tip and ear wing sizes to customize the fit to any size ears. The ear wings are a little difficult to figure out at first, but once you find your right fit, they’re extremely comfortable.
Luxury Features
The 11mm drivers produce impressive bass and clarity. The Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation is almost as good as advertised and the Ambient mode is perfect for running, walking, and other roadside workouts or commuting. The icing on the cake is the Soundcore app.
Only flagship Soundcore headphones are compatible with the app, but the extra functionality is worth every penny. Using the Soundcore app, you can choose from 3 different noise cancellation modes: Transport, Indoor, or Outdoor. You can even choose between ‘Full’ and ‘Vocal’ Ambient modes based on your surroundings and needs.
My favorite in-app feature is the custom EQ. You get over 20 presets you can choose from, so it’s simple to find your own personal preference. Plus, you can customize and save your own EQ presets.
On-Ear Controls
It was frustrating to find out that the only four on-ear controls are:
- Click x2 (L or R)
- Click/Hold 2 sec (L or R)
It would be nice if they also included singe-clicks and triple-clicks, giving you a total of 8 on-ear controls. For now, 4 on-ear controls will do. You have the option to program them for:
- Play/Pause
- Next
- Previous
- Volume ▲
- Volume ▼
- Voice Assistant (from phone)
- Ambient Sound Mode toggle
Conclusion
Besides the charging case that’s too big for no apparent reason, all of the ‘Cons’ we listed are pretty petty. Especially since the on-ear control limitations can be fixed with a firmware update, which is a nice additional feature of the Soundcore app.
With an IPX5 waterproof rating, these are also tough enough for workouts. Their secure fit holds in most wet and sweaty conditions and is comfortable enough for all-day use. At well under $100, Soundcore by Anker, keeps with their tradition of putting out premium audio products at bargain prices.
