Soundcore c40i Review – Open Ear clip-on earbuds

Open-ear earbuds have increased in popularity over the past few years, offering an alternative to the more traditional in-ear or over-ear designs. These types of earbuds are appreciated for allowing users to be aware of their surroundings, making them ideal for outdoor activities or work environments where situational awareness is crucial. Among the growing options in the market, the Soundcore C40i, developed by Anker, brings an interesting set of features with a unique open-ear clip-on design.

I am not a big fan of open-ear earbuds, but I much prefer this design to the Apple Airpod design, which has become very popular.

Popularity With Women

This style of earbuds works well with anyone, but they have proven to be very popular with women.

For obvious reasons, the unfortunate reality is that many women don’t feel safe walking on the streets without some environmental awareness. This is especially true for runners/dog walkers, who may be outdoors early or late at night when it is dark and less busy.

However, there are other factors; I have seen women ask for recommendations for small earbuds because their ear anatomy struggles with the size of many earbuds that fit inside the concha and ear canal.

Additionally, my partner struggles with traditional earbuds as she has her tragus pierced, and it gets in the way. While plenty of men have this piercing, it tends to be more common in women.

Specification / Features

• Design and Fit:
  • Open-Ear Clip-On Design: These earbuds clip onto the ear rather than being fully inserted, which enhances awareness of surroundings.
  • Flexible Joints: The earbuds have flexible joints that adjust for a comfortable fit.
  • Physical Buttons: Physical controls are available on the earbuds for easy interaction.
  • Choose Your Own Fit: Different ear grip sizes (Medium and Large) allow users to customise the fit.
• Clear Audio: Equipped with 12mm x 17mm racetrack dynamic drivers and titanium-coated diaphragms, these earbuds deliver clear and impactful sound suitable for music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
• Minimal Sound Leakage: The earbuds have a 20-degree angled sound outlet that aligns with the ear canal, ensuring focused sound delivery with minimal leakage.
• 3D Surround Sound: The earbuds support 3D Surround Sound, which can be activated through the Soundcore app for an immersive audio experience.
• Multipoint Connection: The earbuds support multipoint connections, allowing pairing with multiple devices simultaneously.
• Battery Life: Each earbud offers up to 7 hours of playback on a single charge, with a total of 21 hours available when using the charging case.
• Lightweight Comfort: Each earbud weighs only 5.8 grams, making them comfortable and barely noticeable when worn.
• Maximum Stability: The large contact area ensures the earbuds stay securely in place, making them suitable for active use like running or working out.
• Flexible Joint Design: Constructed with 0.5mm memory titanium wire and soft TPU, the earbuds’ flexible joints are durable, capable of enduring up to 10,000 bends without losing shape.
• Stay Connected: The open-ear design ensures that users remain aware of their surroundings, making it ideal for outdoor activities like walking or running.
• AI-Enhanced Call Clarity: Be heard even in noisy environments with Soundcore C40i clip-on headphones. Utilising an advanced AI algorithm and strategically positioned microphones, your phone conversations will come through with precision and sharpness.

Design and Fit

The Soundcore c40i earbuds have an open-ear clip-on design, setting them apart from conventional in-ear models. This approach allows users to maintain awareness of their surroundings while enjoying audio content, making them particularly suitable for outdoor activities such as running or walking.

There are many designs of open-ear earbuds, and these clip around the helix part of the cartilage of your ear, which is less common than the older-fashioned hooks that go around the top of your ear or the popular Apple AirPod design.

The earbuds feature flexible joints constructed with 0.5mm memory titanium wire and soft TPU, capable of withstanding up to 10,000 bends without losing shape. This design element contributes to both durability and comfort, allowing users to adjust the fit to their individual ear shapes.

Each earbud weighs a mere 5.8 grams, which is remarkably light. This minimal weight contributes to the overall comfort, making the c40i barely noticeable during extended wear. The lightweight nature of these earbuds is a significant advantage for those who find traditional earbuds cumbersome or uncomfortable over long periods.

To enhance customisation, Soundcore provides different ear grip sizes (Medium and Large) with the c40i. This allows users to select the most comfortable and secure fit for their ear shape.

The c40i’s design incorporates physical buttons for controls rather than touch-sensitive surfaces. This choice may appeal to users who prefer tactile feedback when adjusting volume or switching tracks. Physical buttons can be easier to operate accurately, especially during activities like exercise, where touch controls might be less reliable.

The earbuds then have a 20-degree angled sound outlet. This design aligns the audio output with the ear canal, focusing the sound delivery and minimising leakage. This approach helps to maintain audio quality while reducing the potential for disturbing others nearby.

The large contact area of the earbuds ensures they stay securely in place during various activities. This stability is crucial for users who plan to wear the c40i during workouts or other high-movement scenarios. However, it’s worth noting that while the clip-on design is generally secure, it may not provide the same level of stability as ear-hook designs for intense physical activities.

The Soundcore C40i earbuds come with an IPX4 water resistance rating, which means they can handle light rain and sweat, making them a good choice for casual workouts or outdoor activities.

When putting the earbuds on, the recommendation is to slip them on towards the thinner top part of your ear and slide them down so the speaker part rests in your concha and the speaker is directed into your ear canal. Even though I have pretty big ears, I found that I needed the larger silicon grips for the most secure fit. I found the best audio and comfort was when I slid them down far enough that they rest just on the top of my earlobe.

I used them for fitness, and they worked OK, but you can feel them moving around during vigorous exercise, and I am not sure I would trust them to stay attached when running.

Soudcore App Settings

The Soundcore app has fewer settings than some of the more expensive options, like the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro, but the EQ options are helpful.

Sound Quality

The Soundcore C40i earbuds are equipped with 12mm x 17mm racetrack dynamic drivers, with a titanium-coated diaphragm designed to deliver clear and impactful sound. The overall sound profile of these earbuds is relatively balanced, with a strong emphasis on midrange and high-frequency clarity. This makes them suitable for vocals, podcasts, and audiobooks, but their bass response might leave some listeners wanting more, particularly if they are used to the deeper, resonant lows provided by in-ear models.

With the Soundcore app, you have access to an EQ. I found that the bass option really brought out the bass, and they sound quite good in a quiet room. They are still not as good as normal in-ear earbuds, but they are better than most open-ear earbuds I have used. That being said, the uplift in bass makes them less balanced.

The 3D Surround Sound feature is an intriguing addition, accessible via the Soundcore app, and aims to create a more immersive experience. While this works reasonably well, users should temper expectations, as the open-ear design inherently limits the level of immersion compared to noise-isolating models. Bass-heavy tracks, for example, may lack the punch that some listeners desire. During testing, we found that while bass was present, it was not particularly powerful, which is not surprising for an open-ear design. These earbuds are clearly not meant to compete with in-ear options that create a sealed chamber for the bass to resonate.

Unfortunately, with all open-ear earbuds, when you go outdoors, they are prone to be drowned out by wind noise or loud traffic. They are better than some options, but if it is very windy (which is always on the coast in the north of the UK), then they start to struggle. This is also true for running, and this is why bone conduction is the most popular option for runners, even though the sound quality is not as good on that style of headphones.

Battery Life

The Soundcore C40i offers up to 7 hours of playback on a single charge, with an additional 14 hours available through the charging case, giving a total of 21 hours. This should be sufficient for most users, including those who wear them during work hours or on long outdoor activities.

I didn’t test the time of these extensively, but due to the design, I found I would stop/start them and not place them back in the case. But I have used them for a few hours at a time, and Soundcore earbuds generally get close to the claimed battery life.

However, the case lacks wireless charging capability, which, while not essential, is a feature that some may miss given the convenience it offers.

Usability and Features

The Soundcore C40i earbuds come with physical buttons for media and call controls, positioned on the back of each bud. These buttons can be configured via the Soundcore app, allowing users to customize actions such as skipping tracks, adjusting volume, and activating voice assistants. Unlike touch controls seen in many modern earbuds, the physical buttons here might be preferable for users who often find touch-sensitive controls unreliable, particularly in wet or humid conditions.

While the buttons are easy to press, their position on the back makes them slightly less intuitive compared to other options. During testing, I found that using the controls took a bit of practice, and there was sometimes a noticeable lag between pressing the button and the corresponding action on the connected device. The lack of proximity sensors also means that the earbuds do not automatically pause when removed from the ear, which might be a minor inconvenience for some users.

Ironically, I would prefer a physical button on most earbuds like the Liberty 4 Pro, as I find I always trigger the touch-sensitive controls when working out, but the open-ear design means I don’t often wear these for vigorous workouts.

Multipoint connectivity is another notable feature, allowing the Soundcore C40i to connect to two devices simultaneously. This is particularly useful for users who frequently switch between a laptop and a phone. The multipoint connection performed well during our testing, and switching between devices was generally seamless.

The AI-enhanced call clarity is helpful, with two microphones and an advanced AI algorithm designed to filter out background noise during phone calls. In practice, this worked reasonably well—call quality was clear even in moderately noisy environments. However, in particularly loud surroundings, some background noise did still make it through, although the caller’s voice remained comprehensible.

Price and Alternative Options

The Soundcore c40i have launched for $100, and at the time of writing, they are not available on the UK website.

Amazon US has them at $99.99 with $7.81 shipping to the United Kingdom and no import fees, so this would work out at £83.17

To provide context for the c40i’s value proposition, it’s useful to consider some alternative options:

Soundcore 30i

• Price: £48
• These are an older model from Soundcore, offering a similar concept at a lower price point
• The significant price difference suggests potential improvements in the c40i, but also presents a more budget-friendly option for those interested in the open-ear design

Soundcore AeroFit

• Pro model: £110
• Standard model: £100
• These feature an earhook design, potentially offering more stability for sports use
• The similar price point to the c40i suggests a choice between design preferences rather than feature sets

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

• Price: £300
• These high-end open earbuds from a well-known audio brand offer a similar concept
• The significantly higher price point positions them as a premium alternative
• Well-reviewed, but the price may be prohibitive for many users

Oladance Open Ear Headphones

• Price: £150
• Features a design that loops over the ear
• Equipped with dual 16.5mm drivers, potentially offering improved audio quality
• The higher price and chunkier design present trade-offs in cost and aesthetics

JLab Flex Open Ear Headphones

• Price: £50
• A budget-friendly option with a similar concept to the c40i
• Mixed reviews on Amazon suggest potential quality or performance issues
• Presents a lower-cost entry point for those curious about open-ear designs

Overall

When indoors, I found the sound quality better than expected and grew to enjoy them. While there is sound leakage, it is not excessive, and you could easily wear these in the office, allowing you to hear people around you. Due to the design, there is absolutely no ear fatigue, so I could wear these all day without any issues, which is impossible for me with in-ear options.

A bit of a niche scenario: my car is so old I don’t have a CD player or Bluetooth. I have resorted to using the Soundcore Boom 2 for audio, but it is less than idea in a car. On a few occasions, I used these, and they were great; I could play my music at a moderate volume, and hear sat nav directions while also being able to hear the environment around me.

Overall, the Soundcore C40i clip-on earbuds cater to a specific audience—those looking for lightweight, comfortable earbuds that allow them to stay aware of their surroundings. The open-ear design, along with the flexible clip-on mechanism, makes these earbuds ideal for activities like walking or working in an environment where awareness is essential.

For those in search of an earbud solution that combines open-ear awareness with reasonable audio quality and comfortable fit, the Soundcore C40i delivers and is an easy recommendation.

I haven’t used the older Soundcore 30i, and the C40i is not in the UK yet, but it looks like there will be a big price difference. I can’t comment on how much better the C40i are, but I’d also recommend looking at the price difference at the time of buying and consider what is the best option for your needs.