Soundcore's brand-new headphones are so good at noise cancelling, I don't
want to stop using them

Date:
Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Description:
The Anker Soundcore Space 2 have a fantastic feature set and comfy design, even if the sound quality isn't the absolute best.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Anker Soundcore Space 2: Two-minute review Everyone Ive spoken to whos used them
has spoken glowingly about Soundcores over-ear headphones, and the latest
cans from the Anker sub-brand hark very closely to their predecessors. So,
are the Anker Soundcore Space 2 contenders for the best budget headphone market?

Well, not much has changed compared to the Soundcore Space One pedants may
be wringing their hands at the jump from integer to lexical name, and I
concur and these headphones will look and feel very familiar to owners of
the Space One Pro too. Meet the new boss, very similar to the old boss. Thats no shame, though, because it means the previous cans strongest point is back in force. The active noise cancellation (ANC) here is absolutely fantastic I dont think Ive used a pair of headphones at this price point that comes
close. Its zealous in wiping out any noise, near or far, around you.

Though barely changed from previous generations, the distinct look and comfortable fit of the Space 2 help them stand out from other alike headphones. These might be the first pair of cans Ive tested that my girlfriend actually recognized with any kind of familiarity.

What has changed, though, is the price: theres been a significant step up in cost from the Space One. I know, I know, its 2026 and every review talks
about price hikes. But its big enough to lift the Soundcore out of the aforementioned best-in-class competition, and higher expectations arent matched by a greatly improved package.

Take, for example, the sound. Treble is fantastic and sparkly, but theres a distinct drop-off when you get towards the mids, and bass is indistinct and unbalanced. Theyre far from the worst over-ears Ive tested, even at this price, with the high quality going some way to retaining the excitement at listening to music. But audiophiles wont be impressed. Anker Soundcore Space
2 (White) at Amazon for 129.99 Anker Soundcore Space 2 review: Price and release date (Image credit: Future) Released in April 2026 Debuted for $130 / 130 (about AU$250) Price hike over predecessors After being unveiled at MWC 2026 in early March, the Anker Soundcore Space 2 were put on sale nearly two months later on April 21. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You can pick up these headphones for the retail price of $130 / 130 / about AU$250. That price pushes them into mid-range waters, meaning that, unlike their predecessors, theyre not quite budget cans any more.

For some context, the Soundcore Space One cost $99 / 99 / about AU$200, while the Space One Pro went for $199 / 149 (about AU$300). So the new headphones offer a fairly significant price increase. Anker Soundcore Space 2 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Drivers

40mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life (ANC off)

50 hours

Weight

264g

Connectivity

Not specified

Frequency response

Not specified

Waterproofing

Not specified Anker Soundcore Space 2 review: Features (Image credit: Future) Fantastic ANC 50-hour battery life with ANC off Decent range of features including listening test Im not sure if the Space in the Anker Soundcore
Space 2 name refers to the silent vacuum of the cosmos, but it certainly
could do, because the noise cancellation on these things is incredible for
the price. I was constantly surprised by how adept the Space 2 were at
cutting away noisy background sounds: the overground train running behind my house was impossible to hear, even when I was on it, and busy roads became quiet country lanes.

The quoted battery life is 50 hours with ANC on, or 70 hours with it turned off. Neither of those are lengths to write home about hundred-hour-plus headphones come out pretty frequently now, usually at this price point but theyre still solid listening times.

The Space 2 offer a selection of extra tools via the Soundcore app. Theres toggle-able wear detection, multipoint pairing, the ability to change what
the noise cancellation and play/pause buttons on the ear cups do, and volume limits to stop you harming your hearing. Of the bunch, that latter stands out as one you dont often see, so props to Anker for including it.

A listening test called HearID combines a hearing check, to pick out which tones you can hear, with a preference barrage to cater for your chosen type
of music. Ive not seen this latter factor considered before, and it solves a big problem with these listening tests even if repeating the same song six times to check out different sound mixes is a gruelling experience.

Theres enough to recommend downloading the Soundcore app, even if I didnt use it too much outside of testing.

Ive previously heard complaints about the wear detection on Soundcores headphones. Here it reliably paused a song if I removed the cans, but wasnt too hot on resuming it when I put the Space 2 back on my head. Features
score: 4/5 Anker Soundcore Space 2 review: Design (Image credit: Future)
Funky blue color and distinctive look Light, comfortable to wear No IP rating I test plenty of cheap and mid-range headphones that are personality-less black semicircles, so have to give praise to Soundcore. The Space 2 look unique among peers with a funky color, curvy edges, abundance of soft padding and tapered connectors between the headband and cups. Sure, they look basically the same as their predecessors, but if it aint broke dont fix it.

Theyre nice and light, at 264g, and felt supremely comfortable to wear. Thats partly the weight but also the aforementioned padding overload on your ears and head. They fit securely, not wobbling when I was walking or turning my head quickly.

On the right cup theres a play/pause button and volume rocker, while the left one has a noise cancelling toggle, power button, USB-C port and 3.5mm audio jack. That latters a nice addition you dont always see at this price point.

You can fold the Space 2 down to make them more portable, with a cloth bag coming in the box, but I couldnt find any information about an IP rating. So you may want to be careful when wearing them in the rain. Design score: 4.5/5 Anker Soundcore Space 2 review: Sound quality (Image credit: Future) Uses
40mm driver Bright treble, bass and mids suffer Supports hi-res standards, LDAC and SBC The Soundcore Space 2 have a 40mm driver, the same size as in
the vast majority of over-ear headphones, enhanced with a double diaphragm
for clearer audio. Ill admit, this end goal has been achieved; you can appreciate the lilt of a vocalists voice, the squeal of a guitar solo or the timbre and tremolo of a violin.

Youll notice that these examples are all ones which sit right in the treble and high-mid space, and thats because this is where the Space 2 shine.
They're energetic, bright and fun; I was initially won over by the cans
sharp, clear higher-pitched sounds, but the more I listened, the more I realized something was missing.

That something missing is well, anything lower. Distorted guitar riffs,
punchy bass licks and acoustic instruments all lack sparkle, prominence and clarity it really feels like theres a hole in some songs where a kick should be. The acoustic guitar of Niko Moons King of the Island felt far too far
back in the medley, and the hook of My Number by Foals or Save a Horse (Ride
a Cowboy) by Big & Rich sounded akin to a moving company removing furniture from your upstairs neighbors.

The audio graph suddenly resurges towards the bass and sub-bass side of things, giving some oomph to songs, but its often ill-defined or muddy, and sometimes overblown. In Tame Impalas The Less I Know the Better it sounds insecure, popping up now and then without distinction, while in Troye Sivans Rush its not well-defined enough to stop it overpowering everything else.

Many music fans forget that theres more than treble and sub-bass, and the sparkling former might distract many listeners from the Space 2s
shortcomings. I was in that camp for a while, and I still have a good time when I listen to the cans. But if you want a nuanced or natural sound, youll find this V-shaped audio pretty severe.

Back to some technicals: the high-quality sound the Space 2 provide is helped by support for LDAC and SBC, as well as Hi-Res Audio and its Wireless counterpart. Sound quality: 3.5/5 Anker Soundcore Space 2 review: Value
(Image credit: Future) Decent value for money Matches price hike The price hike of the Soundcore Space 2 is a shame, because at the Space Ones MSRP, theyd be fantastic value.

Theyd be best-in-class budget cans if they came out below $100 / 100 /
AU$200, but for a little more, theres a lot more competition, and much higher expectations. Theyre still good, but not instant-must-buy value for money
like they would be. Value: 3.5/5 Should I buy the Anker Soundcore Space 2? Swipe to scroll horizontally Soundcore Space 2 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The ANC here is fantastic, while the battery life is fine and the feature set has some stand-outs.

4/5

Design

The Space 2 are comfortable to wear, and look distinct in the busy ocean of over-ears.

4.5/5

Sound quality

The energetic treble goes some way to papering over the lacking mids.

3.5/5

Value

These are decent-value headphones, even if the price hike means they're no longer must-buys.

3.5/5 Buy them if You need fantastic ANC For this price, youd be hard-pressed to find headphones that cancel sound better than the Space 2. You want a good listening test If you like letting apps offer you EQ mixes, the Space 2 is
one of the best you can get, combining a standard listening test with a preference poll that gives you something really useful. You like comfortable cans Often, wear comfort is an overlooked aspect of headphones, but I found the Space 2s lovely to wear for long periods of time. Dont buy them if You cant charge often The Soundcore Space 2 battery life is decent, but it doesnt take much searching to find options thatll last for over twice as long. You want a natural sound profile Im not opposed to the way the Space 2 sound, but Id understand people who ask for more (or any really meaningful) mids, and some more controlled bass. Anker Soundcore Space 2 review: Also consider
Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Anker Soundcore Space 2

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro

Nothing Headphone (a)

Drivers

40mm

40mm

40mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life (ANC on)

50 hours

40 hours

75 hours

Weight

264g

286.2g

310g

Connectivity

TBC

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.4

Waterproofing

NA

NA

IP52 Soundcore Space One Pro While this premium predecessor debuted for a higher price, its now available for just a hair more than the Space 2. The battery lifes not as good but it has a huge number of handy features which
may win you over even if its generally a pretty similar headphone. Read our full Soundcore Space One Pro review Nothing Headphone (a) For only a small amount more, you can pick up these great-sounding and long-lasting
headphones, with the only downside being the absolutely ridiculous look that you might be embarrassed to be seen donning. Read our full Nothing Headphone (a) review How I tested the Anker Soundcore Space 2 (Image credit: Future) Tested for 3 weeks Tested at home, on walks and on public transport I used
the Soundcore Space 2 for roughly three weeks ahead of their release date, in which time they were paired with my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. I listened on a range of music and video streaming services, as well as in calls and playing games.

Testing was done in a pretty wide range of environments including on public transport, on walks around various neighborhoods, and at home.

Ive been testing audio products for TechRadar for years, including some past Anker devices like the Aerofit Pro 2 . First reviewed in April 2026 Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee Anker Soundcore Space 2: Price Comparison
129.99 119.99 View 129.99 119.99 View 129.99 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-headphones/anker-soundcore-space-2-re view


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)