Soundcore Space A40 Review 2026 - Best Budget ANC Earbuds

Soundcore by Anker Space A40 wireless earbuds in black with compact charging case Save
TL;DR: The Soundcore Space A40 is a compact true wireless earbud from Anker: adaptive ANC rated up to 98% noise reduction, 10 hours in Normal Mode and 8 with ANC on, 10 minutes for 4 hours of charge, LDAC, and wireless charging. LDAC and multipoint cannot run together.

At a Glance#

Product : Soundcore Space A40

Brand : Soundcore (by Anker)

Best For : Budget-conscious commuters and remote workers who want premium ANC on a budget

Form Factor : True wireless in-ear with compact charging case

Buy Now : View on Amazon

Key Highlights:

  • Adaptive ANC reduces noise by up to 98% and auto-adjusts to your environment
  • Soundcore's published playtime is "10H/50H" — ten hours per charge, fifty with the case
  • Hi-Res Wireless audio via LDAC codec for near-lossless streaming
  • Wireless and USB-C charging with 10-minute fast charge for 4 hours of playback
  • Multipoint Bluetooth 5.2 connects to two devices, with "6 Mics with AI" for calls

Who Should Buy This#

The Soundcore Space A40 hits a sweet spot for listeners who want flagship features from a budget pair. It delivers adaptive ANC, Hi-Res audio, and wireless charging that competing brands reserve for their flagship models.

Perfect for:

  • Daily commuters who need reliable noise cancelling on trains and buses without stepping up to AirPods Pro
  • Remote workers who want to block out household noise during video calls
  • Android users who want LDAC Hi-Res audio that Apple earbuds simply cannot provide
  • Frequent travelers who need all-day battery life and fast charging between flights

Design & Build Quality#

The Space A40 earbuds are remarkably compact — smaller than all other Soundcore ANC earbuds. Soundcore's own claim is that they are "smaller than all other soundcore" ANC earbuds, and its product photography is captioned around a "lightweight 4.9g design" per earbud. The rounded ear tip design provides a secure seal that stays put during movement.

The charging case is pocket-friendly and noticeably smaller than cases from Sony or Jabra. It supports both USB-C and Qi wireless charging, a feature rarely found on budget earbuds. The matte black finish resists fingerprints well, and the lid snaps shut with a satisfying magnetic click.


Key Features#

Adaptive Noise Cancelling That Thinks for You#

The Space A40 uses an upgraded noise cancelling system that blocks up to 98% of distracting sounds. What sets it apart is the adaptive mode — it detects your environment and automatically selects the right level of ANC. Walking on a busy street? Full cancellation kicks in. Sitting at a quiet desk? It dials back to save battery. You can also switch to Transparency Mode to hear announcements without removing the earbuds.

Hi-Res Wireless Audio with LDAC#

Soundcore's own line is that "using double-layer diaphragm drivers, Space A40 noise cancelling earbuds produce sound with strong bass, clear mids, and bright treble". On Android devices, you can enable LDAC — a Bluetooth codec that transmits audio at up to 990 kbps, roughly three times the bitrate of standard SBC. The difference is audible: instruments have more separation, vocals feel more present, and the overall soundstage opens up considerably.

50 Hours of Uninterrupted Listening#

Soundcore's headline "10H/50H" is the Normal Mode figure, and its own FAQ publishes the rest: "Normal Mode: Up to 10 hours on a single charge of the earbuds. 50 hours with the charging case. Noise Cancelling Mode: Up to 8 hours on a single charge of the earbuds. 40 hours with the charging case. Transparency Mode: Up to 8 hours on a single charge of the earbuds. 40 hours with the charging case. Call: Up to 6 hours in Normal mode. 5 hours in ANC mode." Turn on LDAC as well and it drops again — Soundcore gives "LDAC On (ANC On): 5H (Earbuds)/25H (Charging case)". When you do need a top-up, Soundcore's spec is "10 Mins = 4Hrs". That is enough to get through an unexpected meeting or a late-night study session.

Fully Customizable via the Soundcore App#

The companion app is one of the most feature-rich in the budget category. Soundcore lists the EQ feature as "Customized EQ: HearID" — a personalised hearing test that adjusts output to your ear's frequency response — alongside custom EQ profiles, touch-control customisation and a fit test that uses the microphones to verify your ear tip seal.

Multipoint Connection for Seamless Switching#

With Bluetooth 5.2 and multipoint support, the Space A40 connects to two devices simultaneously. Switch instantly between your laptop and phone without the tedious disconnect-and-reconnect dance.

But you cannot have multipoint and LDAC at the same time. Soundcore's own FAQ is blunt about it: "Check if you have enabled LDAC as it cannot be used at the same time as multipoint connection. If you have enabled LDAC, please disable it." So the Hi-Res codec and the two-device convenience are an either/or, and the article's two headline features do not stack.


Technical Specifications#

Drivers : Double-layer diaphragm; Soundcore does not give a driver size in its own spec block

Impedance : 16 Ohms

Bluetooth Version : 5.2 with multipoint connection

Supported Codecs : SBC, AAC, LDAC (Hi-Res Wireless)

Active Noise Cancelling : Adaptive ANC, up to 98% noise reduction

Playtime : "Normal Mode: Up to 10 hours ... 50 hours with the charging case. Noise Cancelling Mode: Up to 8 hours ... 40 hours with the charging case. Transparency Mode: Up to 8 hours ... 40 hours." Calls: "Up to 6 hours in Normal mode. 5 hours in ANC mode"

Fast Charging : "10 Mins = 4Hrs"

Charging : USB-C and Qi wireless charging

Water Resistance : IPX4 (sweat and splash resistant)

Calls : "6 Mics with AI"

Weight : Soundcore's product photography is captioned "lightweight 4.9g design" per earbud

Playtime with LDAC : "LDAC On (ANC Off): 6H (Earbuds)/30H (Charging case) LDAC On (ANC On): 5H (Earbuds)/25H (Charging case)"

Codec vs multipoint : Mutually exclusive - "LDAC ... cannot be used at the same time as multipoint connection"

Ear Tip Sizes : soundcore.com says "Choose from 4 different ear tip sizes"; the Amazon listing's setup text says five (XS, S, M, L, XL) and lists dimensions for each


Pros & Cons#

Pros:

  • Adaptive ANC that Soundcore rates at "Reduce Noise By Up to 98%", with a transparency mode
  • Soundcore's published playtime is 10 hours in Normal Mode and 8 with noise cancelling, or 50 and 40 with the charging case
  • "10 Mins = 4Hrs" fast charging
  • LDAC support for Hi-Res Audio Wireless on Android, alongside SBC and AAC
  • Wireless charging as well as USB-C, which budget rivals usually omit
  • "6 Mics with AI" for calls, rated at up to 6 hours in Normal mode and 5 in ANC mode
  • HearID hearing test and custom EQ in the Soundcore app, with a fit test that checks the seal

Cons:

  • LDAC and multipoint are mutually exclusive - Soundcore says LDAC "cannot be used at the same time as multipoint connection"
  • IPX4 is splash and sweat resistance only - not swimming, not heavy rain
  • LDAC is Android-only; iOS falls back to AAC
  • Running LDAC and ANC together drops Soundcore's own figure to 5 hours from the buds, half the Normal Mode ten
  • Bluetooth 5.2 rather than 5.3

Final Verdict#

Buy it. The Space A40 is the rare budget earbud that genuinely competes upward: Soundcore's "Reduce Noise By Up to 98%" adaptive ANC, a published 10 hours in Normal Mode and 8 with ANC on (50 and 40 with the case), "10 Mins = 4Hrs" fast charging, LDAC for Hi-Res on Android, and wireless charging most budget rivals skip. Two caveats: IPX4 covers sweat and splashes only, and Soundcore says LDAC and multipoint cannot run at the same time.

Our recommendation: Grab a pair now — it is worth buying a second set as a backup or gift. View on Amazon

Category: Tech & Gadgets

Tags: soundcore space a40 review, anker space a40, budget anc earbuds, wireless earbuds noise cancelling, space a40 vs airpods, best earbuds under 50