These were everything I wanted in new, EXPENSIVE (>$30) headphones.
TL;DR: Great sound range (incl. prominent bass), satisfactory battery life (3-4 hours per charge; case gives ~2-3 recharges), and easy accessibility (two-step connection to device; the SoundCore app has a good widget).
ONLY COMPLAINTS: very rarely but consistently, the sound will cut out for ~2 seconds before coming back - I believe this occurs when too many other wireless devices are nearby, as it has not happened at all the past 2 hours I've sat here at my work desk after-hours, but it happens every 1-2 minutes in the gym around many people wearing wireless headphones - CONSULT OTHER REVIEWS to see what the consensus is; I'm used to it by now - it's not a surprise and I miss very little in that small 1-2 sec window.
NOTE that in-ear headphones naturally block out a lot of sound; 'Transparency Mode' helps to artificially add back in some environmental noise, but it is difficult to reliably hear people talk nearby.
OVERALL: I'm very satisfied with the Anker Life P3. The sound quality is very nice (for a normie lol), the battery stays alive for several hours and charges quickly when returned to the case, and it easily pairs with Bluetooth devices.
The origin story:
I was reluctant to switch to wireless headphones due to the high prices and ease of losing track of them. I had to switch due to upgrading phones (iPhone SE to iPhone SE 2020, can't you tell I'm a cheapskate lol), and exhaustively researched wireless headphones to find a budget-end pair that still boasted good quality.
My priorities were something reliable that would survive through long days in the (chemistry) lab, and during workouts (generic 30-45 min weightlifting or cardio). Many reviews recommended the Anker Life P3 as a solid entry on the lower-mid price range, although AirPods tended to remain the gold standard albeit at a notably higher price. Due to the consistent recommendation between reviewers (website and YouTube), I decided to go for it.
The Anker Life P3 met my purchasing goals to a T (and I ride Boston's T system now, so I would know!).
FIT: The fit feels nice, and the multiple pairs of rubber ear adapters give a chance for all ear sizes to feel comfortable. They don't fall out easily even when I run (both on the treadmill and *real* running), and they feel secure as I walk around. Minor irritation when my ears decide the 'foreign objects' need to leave, although this is rare.
SOUND: I've listened to songs I've played for most of my life, and these earphones have brought out parts of the arrangement I have NEVER heard before. The bass is strong, so the full range of sound is there (no 'weak' or 'high' headphone sound here). In my opinion, the sound is powerful but balanced. Equalizers can probably tweak the sound if you prefer a different mix, but these bad boys can sure thump if you want them to!
BATTERY: I usually give up before these headphones do. My typically listening sessions go between 30 min to 3 h and I've never had the batteries die on me. They *feel* like they quickly recharge when returned to the case, which provides another 2-3 full charges. The case can be separately recharged using the USB-C to USB-A cable provided; this takes longer, so charge the case overnight and it will keep the headphones charged for the entirety of the next day. Hardcore music marathoners may be less enthused by the battery life, but the Anker Life P3 has a longer lifespan than me!
ACCESSIBILITY: I find the Life P3 to be easy to handle, although the initial linking was a bit confusing (and I already forgot how I did it!). When the headphone case is open, the three front lights turn/stay on for a few seconds. Then, the lights ignite in an alternating pattern, which is when the headphones are seeking a Bluetooth partner. On a device that knows the headphones, clicking on 'Soundcore Life P3' on the Bluetooth list will initiate the pairing, and then you're ready to go! To disconnect, you can remove it from the device, turn off the device Bluetooth, or return the headphones to the case and close the case. Unpaired headphones can be immediately paired with another device without having to be returned to the case. Re-cased headphones will immediately pause music/video streaming on the paired device (on Apple products, in my experience). The 'Soundcore' app for phones (haven't seen it for Mac) is very useful, as it provides some EQ's and the Noise Cancellation or Transparency modes. It also provides a widget for quick access to the Cancellation/Transparency/Normal modes for convenient toggling without having to open the app.
Note: The headphone stems have two or three swipe features. I use these sparingly and have not investigated them further. One gesture skips to the next audio (song skip or 'next YouTube video in queue') which is convenient when desired; sometimes it takes me several attempts to gesture in a way the headphones will recognize, but more practice will l...
