soundcore, the audio brand from Anker, presents the soundcore Sport X20, new in-ear headphones and the successor to the Sport X10 (test). The Sport X20 look very similar to the Sport X10, still have earbuds for a comfortable and secure fit and are waterproof and sweatproof. The ear hooks can now be extended, but are less rotatable, and there are also said to be improvements to the sound and battery life. The in-ear headphones are available in black, white and green. Find out how the new soundcore Sport X20 perform in everyday life and during sport in our test.
Technical data of the soundcore Sport X20
| Headphone type | True Wireless in-ear headphones | |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC | |
| Driver | 11 mm | |
| Special features | ANC, multipoint, adjustable ear hooks, IP68 protection, SweatGuard technology | |
| Battery life |
without ANC | 12 hours, 48 hours with charging case |
| with ANC | 7 hours, 28 hours with charging case | |
| Charging time | 1.5 hours, 5 minutes fast charging for 2 hours of playback | |
| Connection of the charging case | USB-C | |
| Case size | Charging case | 61 x 65 x 29 mm (L x W x H) |
| Weight |
Headphones | 7 g each |
| Charging case | 41 g | |
| Colors | Black, white, green | |
| Scope of delivery | True Wireless in-ear headphones, ear tips in 5 sizes, USB-C to USB-A cable, quick start guide | |
| Price | € 99.99 * | |
Scope of delivery
- includes the charging case with the in-ear headphones and ear tips in five sizes
- a USB-C to USB-A charging cable and a quick start guide are also included
The soundcore Sport X20 come in a compact white box with light blue accents. On the front, a picture of the in-ear headphones and some features such as adaptive ANC are listed. On the back, a picture of the charging case and other features and the scope of delivery are listed.
The box contains the charging case, ear tips in four sizes from XS to XL, a short USB-C to USB-A charging cable for charging the charging case and a quick start guide. The charging case contains the in-ear headphones with ear tips in size M (i.e. five sizes in total). The scope of delivery therefore includes everything that is needed and expected.
Design and workmanship
- True wireless in-ear headphones with silicone earpieces
- impressive material and workmanship quality
The soundcore Sport X20 are true wireless in-ear headphones with silicone ear hooks. The ear hooks can be extended by up to 4 mm and rotated by up to 30°, allowing flexible adjustment to the ears. The visible part of the housing is oval and features a metallic blue soundcore logo on the matt black color variant. The transition between the housing and earhook is also metallic blue. The housing of the Sport X20 is now slightly smaller than that of the Sport X10, the weight is unchanged. Control is via two buttons, one button is located on the top of each in-ear headphone. In addition, the in-ear headphones each have three microphones for voice recording and adaptive ANC.
The charging case of the Sport X20 is now more rectangular with dimensions of 61 x 65 x 29 mm. In the black color variant, the charging case, like the in-ear headphones, is matt black and features a metallic blue soundcore logo. Magnets in the charging case position the in-ear headphones on the charging contacts when they are inserted. There is a button with an LED strip on the front to open the charging case, among other things, and the USB-C charging port on the back.
The material and workmanship quality of the soundcore Sport X20 was impressive in the test. The plastic and silicone of the in-ear headphones have a high-quality and pleasant feel. The material of the charging case is slightly less high-quality, but still good. The workmanship is very good throughout and there is nothing to criticize.
Soundcore app and setting options
- 3 ANC modes (normal, noise reduction and transparency)
- 22 EQ modes and other sound effects such as HearID sound
- various breathing exercises
To pair the soundcore Sport X20 with a device, the in-ear headphones are inserted into the charging case, the charging case is closed and opened again. The LED strip of the charging case now flashes white, the in-ear headphones are in pairing mode and can be connected to the desired device. The Sport X20 can be connected to another device using Multipoint. If the in-ear headphones are paired with several devices, they will always connect to the last connected device.
The soundcore app is available for smartphones. This shows all paired soundcore devices and enables extensive settings. Within the app, you can adjust the ANC mode (normal, noise reduction and transparency), the sound effects and the controls. The sound effects include a total of 22 different EQ modes, which can also be customized, as well as the 3D surround sound and HearID sound effects.
The app also includes breathing exercises. The exercises comprise four different modes and specify when and for how long to inhale and exhale. The duration of the breathing movements and the background music can be customized.
Practical test and sound quality of the soundcore Sport X20
- simple operation with two haptic buttons
- secure hold and high wearing comfort at all times
The operation of the soundcore Sport X20 was found to be good in the test. Connecting and disconnecting with our devices works quickly and reliably at all times, and the in-ear headphones are charged reliably thanks to the magnets in the charging case. The two buttons can be used to perform the most important actions, with sufficient options available by pressing and holding them once and twice. In our opinion, the use of haptic buttons makes sense, as they are easier to operate when moving or doing sports. However, the position of the buttons takes some getting used to as they are very close to the earpiece.
The wearing comfort of the soundcore Sport X20 was impressive in the test. The in-ear headphones are hooked into the ear with the silicone ear hook and then pressed lightly into the ear canal. With the matching ear tips, the Sport X20s stay in place and fit securely at all times, even during fast movements and sports. Unlike other in-ear headphones, we never have the feeling that we could lose our headphones, whether we’re jogging or working out. At 7 g, the in-ear headphones are very light, the wearing comfort is very high even over longer periods of time and the Sport X20 are very comfortable. Thanks to IP68 protection and SweatGuard technology, you don’t have to worry about rain showers or sweat while jogging.
The battery life was also found to be good in the test. Without ANC, the in-ear headphones achieve a battery life of 12 hours, with recharging via the charging case 48 hours are achieved. With ANC, the battery life is reduced to 7 and 28 hours respectively. We can confirm the values at a volume of ~50%.
Recording and playback quality
- detailed and balanced sound with powerful bass
- good ANC, but with slight background noise in transparency mode
- good recording quality
The playback quality of the soundcore Sport X20 was also impressive in the test. The overall sound is detailed and balanced, the bass is powerful, but does not push itself too much into the foreground. The sound can be adjusted to your own preferences using the various EQ modes. HearID also makes it easier to further adjust the equalizer to your own preferences. HearID is used to create an individual sound profile based on your own specifications and a selection of preferred playbacks.
The ANC of the Sport X20 was found to be good in the test. Compared to the Sport X10, background noise is filtered out much better and suppressed to a much greater extent. In transparency mode, for example, voices are clearly audible, so that even short conversations with in-ear headphones are possible, although there is a slight background noise. The ANC is adaptively adjusted to the background noise and its volume, although it is also possible to select the volume manually. The adaptive adjustment works quickly and reliably, but the adjustment is noticeable when noise levels fluctuate greatly.
The recording quality of the soundcore Sport X20 is good; in a quiet environment, voices are easy to understand during conversations. In louder environments, background noise is also filtered out somewhat.
soundcore Sport X20 test: Conclusion
The soundcore Sport X20 proved to be a successful successor to the Sport X10 in the test. The in-ear headphones offer a good and balanced sound and the ANC has been further improved. Compared to the Sport X10, background noise is now suppressed much more effectively. In addition to the playback quality, the Sport X20 also impress with their secure fit, even during fast movements and sports, high wearing comfort and IP68 protection. The lengthening by up to 4 mm has further improved adaptability to the ears. In our opinion, the battery life is sufficiently long.
The soundcore Sport X20 are currently available with coupons for ~80 € (as of 23.07.2024) and the surcharge of approx. 20 € compared to the Sport X10 is justified. In our opinion, the Sport X20 are a clear buy recommendation for anyone looking for new in-ear headphones for sports.
soundcore Sport X20
Workmanship
Comfort
Sound quality
Recording quality
Features
Value for money
88/100
In addition to the good sound and good ANC, the soundcore Sport X20 are particularly impressive due to their secure fit and high wearing comfort.
