Anker Soundcore Spirit X2, A Deep Dive into True Wireless Earbuds for Active Lifestyles

Anker Soundcore has been one of the pioneers of what are called true wireless earphones, devices that connect without wires to anything: not each other or themselves or any device. Its first audio products were widely adopted, particularly at its price point, and have gathered a dedicated following. The Soundcore Spirit X2 is the follow-up to the popular Spirit X – you can check out our review of the original here.

Claiming big improvements in features, sound quality and durability, the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 is a follow-up product that was always going to attract attention – the question is, does it live up to it? In this review, we’ll be going over the features, performance and value of the Soundcore Spirit X2 to help you decide if this set of true wireless earphones is worth your hard-earned cash.

A Symphony of Sound: The Audio Experience

Credit: Jimmy Westenberg/Android AuthoritySound quality-wise, the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 earbuds exceed expectations for the asking price. A balanced sound signature thanks to 10mm dynamic drivers empowers the earbuds to deliver an audio experience that appeals to a wide selection of listeners. Bass frequencies are boosted slightly with the cracking artificial height given thanks to the BassUp technology; the majority of music tracks are made to sound punchier and deeper, especially those that have strong bass lines.

The BassUp technology works effectively but it’s not so much to make the bass overshadow the mid and high frequencies. Thus, the sound comes off balanced with a well-defined essence. The mids and highs stay just as crisp, so no detail is lost from anything in front of or behind the bass rumble. High notes resonate and pop, vocals sound astonishingly natural, and the intricacies of, as well as the subtle interactions between every instrument that make a song or album feel like more than just a collection of notes.

Every note, strum, drum hit or pluck of a string can be heard with exacting clarity and accuracy – every last drip of faucet water – and this detail provides the musical experience that makes the Spirit X2 so breathtakingly compelling. I’m not nor have I ever been an audiophile, but I’ve always noticed “good sound” from a headset when I heard it. A great-sounding signature that works for a large spectrum of genres, from pumped-out four-to-the-floor electronica to the minutiae of classical playing, where you can hear the subtle nuances of the performers at play.

I’m listening to everything from classical to tangos to a cheesy 1980s Euro pop collection on Spotify and transported inside the music. No matter what you play, the Spirit X2 takes you on a deep dive into whatever it is that you’re listening to. Moving on to different musical genres with the Spirit X2, I didn’t experience any diminishing returns. They were consistent and versatile. They provide a reasonable noise isolation, but it is also her due to that they fit snuggly inside the ear, and immersing us even more into our music, particularly when we are surrounded by other sonic inputs.

In other words, with such noise isolation, your commuting or working environment can become your reserved oasis where only your music matters, finally allowing you to listen more focused and relaxed, for longer stretches of time. No active noise cancellation (ANC) is here, but passive noise isolation (from a snug seal in your ear canal) is decent for most everyuse scenarios – cardio workouts, travel, working from home and such.

The lack of ANC isn’t much of a disadvantage here, and the spirit X2’s build and solid fit more than make up for it. Even with quite a bit of ambient noise, like a busy freeway or humid and stuffy metro ride, the feel is still comfortable. Distractions like traffic noise or people yelling on a crowded subway are reduced when using spirit X2 in-ear headphones.

Comfort and Fit: A Perfect Marriage of Design and Functionality

The exact contours of your ear can impact the fit, but the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 earbuds are lightweight and shaped in a way that will fit the contours of your ears and remain comfortable during extended use. They come with different sized ear tips to help you choose the best size and fit for your ears. The secure fit also means they stay on, even when you are active. along with the secure compression adjustments also come with ear hooks which hold the earbuds in place If you lead an active lifestyle and want earbuds that would match the intensity of your pursuits, the Spirit X2 is right up your alley.

They will unlikely fall out when you run, jump or do your 14th jump squat. Whether you hit the gym to lift or undertake intense cardio, you can count on these earbuds to stay in place and let you enjoy your activities rather than moisturing about the in-ear headphones that may fall out anytime.

Connectivity and Call Quality: Staying Connected Seamlessly

The Spirit X2 utilise the latest Bluetooth 5.2 technology for a rock-solid and reliable connection. It has a wider range and stronger signal strength so that it can connect fine even in a crowded area where other traditional wireless headsets suffer a lot of interference and discontinuity. I don’t have any issue with dropping connectivity at all. It is so stable. Listening to music or movies is not interrupted. No matter in a bustling airport crowded with people or in a city crowd in a street, you will notice the earbuds can grab and hold on to a superb stable connection and play the music steadily.

The inline microphone conducting calls is good as well, capturing audio transmission clearly and muting ambient noise. Background noise is well filtered out for both ends of the call to hear each other well, whether it is a work call or a call from friends. This allows the Spirit X2 to be used for both music and calls seamlessly, switching from taking tunes to handling a call without any compromises in quality or sound.

Powering Your Music: Battery Life and Charging

With Anker, they promise up to 9 hours of wireless playtime on a single charge, along with an extra 27 hours with the charging case. In the real world, the Spirits seem to hold up to this. I have read that people are getting about 8-9 hours of playback on a single charge, and the charging case will get you another 25-27 hours of playback time. You can go on many days listening to music without running out of charge. These are great for road trips and multi-day excursions.

But the fast charging is an added bonus here – with just 10 minutes you get a full 2 hours of playtime. So, if you ever find yourself in one of those ‘I need some audio sharpish’ situations, whether you’re hopping on a plane or rushing across town with no laptop charged to hand, or even starting a walking tour with a fully charged phone but a dying set of buds, you can charge for just 10 minutes and get back to listening without a hole in your playlist.

Final Verdict: A Worthy Contender in the True Wireless Arena

The Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 earbuds are an excellent combination of features, performance, and value, delivering robust audio, a comfortable fit, long battery life, and reliable connectivity. They’re also rugged, with IP68 water and dust resistance, offering potentially better protection than the KZ ZS5. They’re comfortable to wear for a long time, whether working out or on an adventure outdoors. They’re even sweatproof enough for swimming.

You can’t go wrong with the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 when looking for an affordable, reliable, and durable true wireless pair for occasional use or for workouts. It’s also great for those with active lifestyles, as a versatile set of earbuds to keep in their gym bag for running, at the beach for a lovely walk on the sand, or whenever a solid, affordable set is a must.