Anker Soundcore R50i specs, features and buying guide
The soundcore R50i is Anker’s entry-level true-wireless pair: 10 mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.3, IPX5 water resistance and 10 hours of playback per charge that the case extends to 30. It suits anyone who wants a light everyday pair, a spare for a bag, or a first set of wireless earbuds without paying for noise cancellation.
Each earbud carries a 10 mm driver, and Anker describes the tuning as boosted bass. The soundcore app adds 22 preset equalisers, including the BassUp preset, along with tap-control remapping and a Find My Earbuds feature that makes a lost earbud emit a sound.
Battery figures are 10 hours on a single charge and 30 hours with the case. Anker also lists a fast-charge figure: 10 minutes in the case gives 2 hours of playback. The earbuds support single-earbud mode, so one can be used while the other charges, and a gaming mode in the app lowers the in-game audio delay.
The model is worth pinning down, because the name is shared. Anker’s own support documentation covers the P20i, R50i and P25i under one A3949 user guide, and the P20i product page carries the same 10 mm driver, 30-hour and IPX5 figures. The R50i NC is a different product with active noise cancellation, sold as the P30i in the US.
What to check before you buy the soundcore R50i
First, be sure which model you are buying. The R50i and the R50i NC have almost the same name and different hardware: the NC adds active noise cancellation, four microphones and a longer total playtime. Anker’s own comparison table lists no noise cancellation for the R50i, so if ANC is the reason you are shopping, check the model number on the listing before ordering.
Second, look at what the listing bundles. The earbuds come with a charging case that has a lanyard attached, and the case is part of the 30-hour figure — a single charge is rated at 10 hours, not 30. Everything else, including the equalisers and the gaming mode, runs through the soundcore app, so the phone you pair with matters more than the box contents.
- Drivers
- 10 mm dynamic, one per earbud
- Playtime
- 10 hours per charge, 30 hours with the charging case
- Fast charge
- 10 minutes for 2 hours of playback
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Water resistance
- IPX5
- Microphones
- Two, with an AI algorithm for calls
- App
- 22 EQ presets, tap-control remapping, Find My Earbuds
- Noise cancellation
- None listed for this model
Key features explained
10 mm drivers and 22 equaliser presets
A 10 mm driver is large for budget earbuds, and Anker leans on it: the tuning is described as big bass. The app is where that becomes personal, with 22 presets including BassUp and full control remapping. If you dislike the default sound, the presets are the first thing to try before deciding the earbuds are wrong for you.
Ten hours, thirty with the case
Anker rates 10 hours per charge and 30 hours total with the case, plus 2 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. That fast-charge figure is the practical one: it covers a commute or a workout from a case that was nearly empty. The case carries a lanyard, which is unusual at this price and genuinely useful for clipping to a bag.
Two microphones and an AI algorithm for calls
Call audio runs through two microphones with an AI algorithm that Anker says picks up your voice without you having to shout. There is no noise cancellation here, so this is voice pickup rather than noise removal — expect calls to be clear in a quiet room and workable, not silent, on a busy street.
IPX5, and what it does not cover
IPX5 means the earbuds resist water jets. The X is the part people skip: it means dust protection was not tested or not rated, so these are earbuds for rain and sweat rather than for a dusty workshop. They are not rated for swimming, and the case should stay dry.
R50i or R50i NC: the same name, different product
Anker sells two earbuds whose names differ by two letters. The R50i is the model on this page: 10 mm drivers, two microphones, 10/30 hours and IPX5, with no noise cancellation. The R50i NC adds active noise cancellation, a 10/45-hour rating and IP54, and is sold in the US as the P30i.
If a listing promises noise cancellation and a 45-hour total, it is the NC model and this specification sheet does not describe it. That is worth checking carefully, because the two are often sold side by side and the difference in use is significant: ANC changes commuting and open-plan offices, and it is the feature you would miss most if you bought the wrong one.
Single-earbud mode, tap controls and the app
Single-earbud mode is the small feature that makes these practical. Take one earbud out and it keeps playing on its own, which is what you want for a call in the car, a bike ride on a quiet road, or a long day where one earbud is charging while the other works.
Tap controls can be remapped in the soundcore app, so the gestures you actually use can be assigned to play, skip or your voice assistant. The app also holds the 22 equaliser presets and the gaming mode. None of it is required to listen, but all of it is why the earbuds cost what they do rather than less.
What soundcore does not publish
The product page reviewed does not list driver impedance, frequency response, codec support or the charging connector. Those are the specifications an enthusiast would ask for first, and their absence is worth knowing about rather than filling in from another source.
What Anker does publish is the practical set: 10 mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.3, 10/30 hours, 10 minutes for 2 hours, IPX5, two microphones and the app features. For a pair at this level that is the information a buyer actually uses, and it is enough to compare against the R50i NC and the P30i on Anker’s own comparison table.
Who should buy the soundcore R50i, and who should skip it
Who should buy the soundcore R50i
- You want a light everyday pair with long battery life and a case that clips to a bag.
- You want 10 hours per charge, with 2 hours from a 10-minute top-up.
- You want to tune the sound with 22 presets instead of accepting the default.
- You want a spare pair for a gym bag, a desk or a car.
Who should skip it
- You want active noise cancellation: that is the R50i NC, a different product.
- You need dust protection: IPX5 covers water jets and does not rate dust.
- You need published codec support or a specific hi-res codec — Anker does not list one here.
- You want a case that charges wirelessly; no wireless charging is documented for this model.
Where the soundcore R50i fits
Commuting and calls
Two microphones with an AI algorithm for voice pickup, and 10 hours per charge with 2 hours from a 10-minute top-up.
Gym and running
IPX5 water-jet resistance for sweat and rain, in-ear tips for a firmer fit, and single-earbud mode when you want one ear free.
A spare pair
A charging case with a lanyard that clips to a bag, and 22 equaliser presets so it can be tuned to taste.
Anker Soundcore R50i pros and cons
Pros
- 10 mm drivers in a budget pair
- 10 hours per charge and 30 hours with the case
- A 10-minute charge gives 2 hours of playback
- 22 EQ presets and tap-control remapping in the app
- IPX5 water resistance
- Bluetooth 5.3 and single-earbud mode
Cons
- No active noise cancellation
- No dust rating is published
- Impedance, frequency response and codec support are not published
- The 30-hour figure includes the case; a single charge is 10 hours
- No wireless charging is documented
Buying the soundcore R50i in the US
Confirm the model before you compare prices. The R50i and the R50i NC are routinely sold alongside each other, and only one of them has noise cancellation. Anker’s support documentation covers the P20i, R50i and P25i under the same A3949 guide, so the P20i page is the right place to check the R50i’s hardware figures if the listing is thin.
Then plan around the battery figure honestly: 10 hours per charge, 30 with the case. If you fly long-haul or work a full day on calls, that is enough for the flight and the day but not for a week unplugged, and the 10-minute fast charge is the feature that covers the gap. Install the app on day one so the presets and controls are set up before you need them.
Frequently asked questions: soundcore R50i
Does the soundcore R50i have noise cancellation?
No. Anker’s comparison table lists no noise cancellation for the R50i. The R50i NC is a separate product with active noise cancellation, sold in the US as the P30i.
How long does the soundcore R50i battery last?
Anker rates 10 hours of playback on a single charge and 30 hours in total with the charging case. A 10-minute charge in the case gives 2 hours of playback.
Are the soundcore R50i earbuds waterproof?
They carry an IPX5 rating, which covers water jets. That suits sweat and rain, but the X means dust protection is not rated, and the earbuds are not rated for swimming.
Which Bluetooth version do the soundcore R50i use?
Bluetooth 5.3, according to Anker. The earbuds also support single-earbud mode, so one can play while the other charges.
Can you change the sound on the soundcore R50i?
Yes. The soundcore app offers 22 preset equalisers, including BassUp, and lets you remap the tap controls. The app also includes a gaming mode and Find My Earbuds.
What is the difference between the R50i and the P20i?
Anker’s own support documentation covers the P20i, R50i and P25i under one A3949 user guide, and the P20i product page lists the same 10 mm drivers, 10/30-hour battery and IPX5 rating as the R50i. The names differ by market.
Do the soundcore R50i come with a charging case?
Yes. The earbuds ship with a charging case that carries a lanyard, and the case is where the 30-hour total figure comes from. A single charge of the earbuds is rated at 10 hours.
What codecs do the soundcore R50i support?
Anker does not publish codec support on the product page reviewed, so this sheet does not state one. Bluetooth 5.3 is the version Anker lists.