In this article, we introduce the Anker true wireless earbuds, “Soundcore Life Note 3S.”
These earbuds are characterized by their powerful bass and lightweight, open-ear design. While there are few open-ear style earbuds on the market, I felt that the fact that these are reasonably priced and made by Anker is a point worth noting.
It is a pity that they do not support features like active noise cancellation or multipoint connection, but these are recommended for those who dislike canal-type earbuds or those who want to wear earbuds for long periods of time.
Pochipp
- Those who want a reasonably priced and reliable open-ear true wireless earbud.
- Those who want open-ear true wireless earbuds known for powerful bass.
- Those who prefer the open-ear style.
- Those who want to use earbuds for long periods.
- This article was written based on information from the official website and other sources.
- Powerful sound with large 13mm drivers and Anker’s proprietary BassUp technology
- Lightweight and open-ear design that prevents fatigue
- Supports wireless charging
- Customizable equalizer
- Supports gaming mode
- Clear voice calls
- The peace of mind that comes with an Anker product
- 18-month warranty + 6-month extension for members
- Does not support active noise cancellation
- Does not support ambient sound mode
- Does not support multipoint connection
Basic Information on the Anker Soundcore Life Note 3S
Specs
| Codec | SBC/AAC | Colors | Off-white/Black |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | Waterproof Rating | IPX5 |
| Weight | Earbud (per side): approx. 4.3g Including charging case: approx. 59g | Dimensions | approx. 56.7×52×31.6mm |
| Max Playtime | Up to 5 hours (earbuds only) / Up to 35 hours (with charging case) | Charging Time | Approx. 1.5 hours (earbuds) / Approx. 3 hours (charging case) |
Ms.GadgetsThe charging port is Type-C, of course!
It also supports wireless charging!
| Noise Cancellation | |
|---|---|
| Ambient Sound | |
| Multipoint | |
| Automatic Wear Detection | |
| Gaming Mode (Low Latency) | |
| Dedicated App |
While they support noise reduction (noise cancellation for phone calls), they do not support what is typically known as active noise cancellation.
Mr.GadgetsThe “Soundcore Life Note 3S” is an open-ear type, which is somewhat niche rather than the mainstream canal-type.
In this article, we explain in detail how to choose earbuds, what IPX means, and Bluetooth versions.
Included Items
- Earbuds
- Charging case (supports wireless charging)
- USB-C & USB-A cable
- Quick start guide
- Safety manual
Pochipp
Evaluation of the Anker Soundcore Life A3i
Sound Quality…Achieves powerful bass
Equipped with large 13mm drivers and Anker’s proprietary BassUp technology.
You can enjoy powerful, punchy bass.
The supported codecs are a bit lackluster
The supported codecs are SBC and AAC.
Mr.GadgetsSound quality isn’t necessarily determined solely by codecs, but it’s always better to have more support…
At this price point, there are products with broader support.
Please refer to the table below for the characteristics of each codec.
| Codec | Features |
|---|---|
| SBC | The most standard codec. Basically all devices support it. Sound quality and latency are standard, neither particularly good nor bad. |
| AAC | Commonly used in Apple products like the iPhone. Generally supported on Android 8.0 or higher. Less latency and higher sound quality than SBC. |
| aptX | Mainly adopted by Android. Lower latency and higher sound quality than SBC/AAC. |
| aptX LL | LL stands for Low Latency. Even lower latency than aptX. Sound quality is equivalent to aptX, but it achieves ultra-low latency of less than 0.04 seconds. |
| aptX HD | Capable of high-resolution quality sound. Slightly more latency than aptX. |
| aptX Adaptive | A codec that stabilizes aptX HD and lowers latency. By switching from fixed to variable bitrates, processing is more stable and low latency is achieved. |
| LDAC | An ultra-high-quality codec developed by Sony. The highest sound quality among those introduced here. Generally supported on Android 8.0 or higher. Higher latency than SBC. |
We explain codecs and other wireless earbud-related topics in this article.
Supports the Soundcore app
The “Soundcore Life Note 3S” supports the Soundcore app.
Mr.GadgetsPersonally, I like the Soundcore app because it’s easier to use than apps from other manufacturers.
Pochipp
Gaming mode, sleep mode settings, and customizable equalizer
The app allows you to configure various settings such as gaming mode, sleep mode, and equalizer customization.
Gaming mode is a setting to reduce audio latency.
You can expect a certain amount of latency reduction, but since the supported codecs for the “Soundcore Life Note 3S” are SBC and AAC, you shouldn’t expect too much.
It also emphasizes action sounds and footsteps during games to create a more immersive sound.
Mr.GadgetsIf you are really particular about low latency, you should buy earbuds that are marketed for low latency, such as those equipped with aptX LL.
In sleep mode, you can play healing sounds with a relaxing effect.
Noise Cancellation…Not supported
Active noise cancellation is not supported.
Mr.GadgetsAt this price point, there are plenty of true wireless earbuds that support noise cancellation, so if you want that feature, you should buy different earbuds.
Ambient Sound…Not supported
Like noise cancellation, this is not supported.
Playback Time…No issues for commuting
The “Soundcore Life Note 3S” can play music for up to 5 hours on a full charge of the earbuds alone, and up to 35 hours when used with the included charging case. Also, a 10-minute charge provides about 1 hour of music playback.
Mr.GadgetsSince the maximum continuous playback time is 5 hours with the earbuds alone, you likely won’t have any issues commuting.
However, since that is “up to” 5 hours, using modes like gaming mode will shorten that time.
You might run into issues if you play games for a very long time.
Supports wireless charging!
The “Soundcore Life Note 3S” supports wireless charging.
Mr.GadgetsMany smartphones these days can share power.
While it depends on the supported standards and device compatibility, the ability to charge your earbuds wirelessly if your smartphone has enough battery left while you’re on the go is a major benefit!
Lightweight and open-ear design makes them comfortable to wear
The “Soundcore Life Note 3S” earbuds weigh approx. 4.3g per earbud, which is quite light among true wireless earbuds.
The big advantage of the open-ear design is that it’s less fatiguing. Also, if you dislike the pressure of canal-type earbuds, the open-ear style is recommended.
Mr.GadgetsBecause they are lightweight and open-ear, they are recommended if you want to wear them for long periods! However, as mentioned earlier, they only last a maximum of 5 hours on a full charge, so please be aware of that.
Pochipp
The peace of mind that comes with an Anker product
In recent years, true wireless earbuds have become mainstream. Various manufacturers are competing to release many different products. As the market for true wireless earbuds grows, the situation has become chaotic, with obscure Chinese manufacturers releasing products or items being sold without the PSE mark.
In such a situation, the fact that these are made by the well-known manufacturer Anker is a major source of reassurance.
Mr.GadgetsTrue wireless earbuds contain batteries, after all. I don’t really recommend using products from obscure, strange manufacturers.
As I will explain in detail later, the 18-month warranty + 6-month extension for members is another point that makes them reliable.
Peace of mind with an 18-month warranty + 6-month member extension
The “Soundcore Life Note 3S” comes with an 18-month warranty + a 6-month extension for members.
Also, Anker’s customer support is solid, which adds to the peace of mind.
Mr.GadgetsBeing a well-known manufacturer, Anker has solid support. In the past, when an Anker product of mine broke while still under warranty, they replaced it immediately!
Summary
Recommended for those who want a reasonably priced open-ear type
Overall, I felt that the “Soundcore Life Note 3S” is notable because, while there are few open-ear earbuds available, these are reasonably priced and made by Anker. Another major feature is that they are equipped with large 13mm drivers and Anker’s proprietary BassUp technology to achieve powerful bass.
Honestly, if you are fine with canal-type earbuds, there are products with even better cost-performance available—even within Anker’s own lineup—so you might want to consider those. However, if you are particular about an open-ear design, the fact that you can get an Anker product at this price is a major merit.
It is unfortunate that they do not support noise cancellation or multipoint connection, but these are recommended for those who want a reasonably priced and reliable open-ear true wireless earbud.
Pochipp
- Powerful sound with large 13mm drivers and Anker’s proprietary BassUp technology
- Lightweight and open-ear design that prevents fatigue
- Supports wireless charging
- Customizable equalizer
- Supports gaming mode
- Clear voice calls
- The peace of mind that comes with an Anker product
- 18-month warranty + 6-month extension for members
- Does not support active noise cancellation
- Does not support ambient sound mode
- Does not support multipoint connection
Recommended for:
- Those who want a reasonably priced and reliable open-ear true wireless earbud.
- Those who want open-ear true wireless earbuds known for powerful bass.
- Those who want to use earbuds for long periods.
- Those who prefer the open-ear style.
Thank you for reading until the end!
- Source: Anker Japan Official Website
- Product prices and information are current as of the time this article was written.
- Please note that this site cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in this information.
- Product and service names mentioned on this site are trademarks of their respective companies.
This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated.
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