Soundcore Life A1 USB-C
Score: 81/100
Apple AirPods 4 with USB-C
Score: 75/100Rankings
The Soundcore Life A1 offers a rugged IPX7 rating, wireless charging and a long 35-hour total battery life, making it a solid budget choice for active users. Its lack of ANC and bass-heavy tuning may disappoint listeners seeking balanced sound. Best suited for gym-goers and budget-conscious users who value durability and endurance.
Apple AirPods 4 are open-ear earbuds that deliver personalized Spatial Audio and ultra-fast quick charging. The trade-off is the lack of built-in ANC and a shorter per-earbud battery life. Best for Apple users who prioritize lightweight design and spatial sound over noise cancellation.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
9 hoursbest | 5 hours | |
35 hoursbest | 30 hours | |
| ↓ lower better | 120 minutesbest | — |
| ↓ lower better | 59 gbest | 118 g |
8 mmbest | — | |
4best | 3 | |
1.5 yearsbest | 1 years |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Battery & Power(2) | ||
Battery Life (Earbuds) (hours) | 9 hours | 5 hours |
Battery Life (With Case) (hours) | 35 hours | 30 hours |
Build & Design(2) | ||
IP Rating | IPX7 | IP54 |
Total Weight (including case) (g) | 59 g | 118 g |
Audio(1) | ||
Microphone Count | 4 | 3 |
General(1) | ||
Warranty Period (years) | 1.5 years | 1 years |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Life A1 for its value-driven feature set, especially the IPX7 rating, secure fit, strong bass and the rare inclusion of wireless charging at this price tier. They note the stable Bluetooth 5.0 connection and long battery life as strong points, while calling out the absence of active noise cancellation and the average call performance as drawbacks.
Everyday users repeatedly praise the earbuds' long battery life, secure fit during workouts, and the punchy bass in the Booster mode, while common complaints focus on muddy mids in the default setting, mediocre microphone quality in noisy environments, occasional Bluetooth drop-outs, and the need to experiment with ear-wing sizes for comfort.
“comfortable and secure fit, inexpensive, stable connection”
“massive improvement”
