soundcore P20i: Make the Controls Fit Your Listening Routine

A pair of earbuds can have enough battery for the day and still annoy you every time you try to pause a podcast. The soundcore P20i's more useful buying argument is that you can change its touch controls and choose from 22 EQ presets in the phone app. Spend a few minutes setting it up, and the controls can match what you actually do.

This is the black A3949 P20i, a pair of Bluetooth 5.3 in-ear earbuds with a small charging case and attached lanyard. It favors configurable everyday listening over active noise cancellation. Start with that distinction before deciding whether it belongs in your pocket.

Find the fit before choosing the sound

The manual begins with choosing the ear tips that fit your ears best. That is a useful first task before experimenting with sound settings: a secure, comfortable fit is part of using an in-ear design, not something an EQ preset can supply for you.

Try the included tips and adjust the position before settling on a listening routine. If the shape remains uncomfortable, a longer feature list will not solve that mismatch. Buying earbuds around fit makes more sense than assuming every compact pair will feel the same.

Soundcore describes 10mm drivers and a bass-oriented presentation. Its 22 presets offer a way to change the balance to your preference. They are options to explore, not evidence that this inexpensive pair will sound identical to a different headphone or suit every recording equally.

Put the useful actions under your fingers

The P20i uses touchpads on the stems rather than a row of physical buttons. The supplied control guide distinguishes the left and right earbuds, and the soundcore app lets you customize the controls. Decide which actions matter before memorizing a layout.

For a podcast listener, pausing and resuming may matter more than frequent track changes. For someone moving through playlists, skipping a track may deserve an easier gesture. Check the available assignments in the app, choose a layout, then practice it while the phone is still within reach.

The app is also where soundcore places EQ, firmware updates and its device-finding feature. Its connection instructions describe pairing the earbuds with a phone before adding them in the app; the app is not a computer utility. Ordinary Bluetooth playback and access to all app settings are separate considerations.

Let one earbud handle a smaller listening job

Soundcore documents single-earbud use: take one earbud from the case to use that mode. That gives you a practical option when you only want one earpiece in use, rather than carrying a separate mono headset for a short listening session.

The manual has a separate mono control column, so check the actions again if you move between one earbud and two. Do not assume every gesture behaves exactly as it did with both earbuds active.

The case is part of the routine, too. Returning the earbuds and closing it powers them off. The lanyard makes the case easier to keep with other small items, but it does not locate a missing case electronically or replace the need to put the earbuds away.

Buy around the charging limits

Soundcore rates playback at up to ten hours, or up to thirty with charging-case replenishment. Those are manufacturer figures; the manual says volume and content affect playtime. Thirty hours is not one uninterrupted listening session from the earbuds alone.

The case charges over USB-C. Before charging, fully dry both the earbuds and the charging port, as the manual instructs. IPX5 applies to the earbuds; it is not permission to immerse them or treat the case as water-resistant.

Choose P20i when you want simple Bluetooth listening with some control over how it feels to use. Choose a different model if active noise cancellation is central to the purchase. The strongest reason to buy this pair is a workable everyday setup: tips that fit, gestures you remember and a case that stays with you.