Let’s face it - we live in the hype era these days. More specifically? We live in times where hype isn’t always real and the smoke and mirrors dominate more than anything else. Whether it’s the false belief of being able to secure a next generation console after waiting in a 3-hour online queue just to have the ‘Something Went Wrong’ message after you enter the purchase screen or believing Eternals would be a true game-changing Marvel film - but rest assured the buzz surrounding the newly released Soundcore Frames are well worth it.

I seriously contemplated what approach to go about for this review. Would a ‘5 things you’ll love about the Soundcore Frames’ be more appealing than an unboxing or how about doing a holiday gift buying guide with a rundown of each frame? With this review being beyond the deadline, the one positive I can take pride in this ‘just now’ going live is the fact I have had the luxury of wearing these frames for a month - or maybe 27 days, whichever sounds better for SEO reasons.

They’re insanely dope.

Awesome.

Fresh.

Fire.

Tech savvy and cool to say the least? All of the above and what precedes this sentence are all true. So in being able to truly experience these in my everyday life and real-life interactions, I am able to provide an unbiased and super real rundown on why these are worth busting your Apple Pay double click goals going both for the holidays and for your own personal treat. But instead of giving you all of the gushy things I love about the shades, why don’t we get your ‘only’ fear or concern addressed first.

The price.

Yes - it’s true these are clocking in at half the price of a PlayStation 5. Yes - it’s true you’re still tormented about next generation eyewear dating back to the super cringe Google Glass which set folks back $999. Yes - it’s true the pandemic is still happening in some sort of fashion and every purchase - minus the senseless Starbucks drinks we all buy all day or 57 premium streaming services we’re paying $9.99/monthly for - should be well calculated.

Now, with those concerns out of the way, can we make you feel good-good all over? Perfect.

These are WORTH every bit of the half price of a PlayStation 5. For one - the quality and brand Soundcore has continuously served up over the years is groundbreaking. As someone who has had the luxury of testing out Soundcore products and all things Anker I can personally state I have never been disappointed in what Soundcore/Anker have done in recent years or at least since I started having the opportunity to test out their new rollouts.

But more important is setting down your overpriced - eek, did I just say that - Beats By Dre (and sold by Apple) and embrace receiving your audio eyewear to give you the luxury of listening to tunes in a variety of frame styles. This really is shown best with the OpenSurround system - it’s essentially two drivers in each arm of the glasses. Don’t get confused - it’s pretty simple.

The main speaker is in front of your ear with another tucked behind the ear to actually amplify the stereo sound. Yes - freaking stereo sound from a pair of frames. Insane.

Taking a page from what Apple AirPod Pro folks are used to, whatever you’re listening to immediately stops the second you take off the shades. So no worries about missing a moment of what Howard Stern is saying or the legendary Alpha Male Strategies - yes, I really am living the Soundcore Anker frames life.

Probably one of the most intriguing features of any audio frames or even just headsets is being able to do phone calls. Want to channel your inner Demolition Man? How about Total Recall? Bladerunner 2042? Futuristic enough for you yet? Have an actual video call with these on and get blown away by how simple it is to pair with your computer or phone. I honestly haven’t cracked too deep into this feature but knowing there’s a private listening mode to actually help reduce sound leakage? Oh yes - I’m there.

The biggest shocker is the quick charge rate. I never found myself being away for the 5.5 hours of playback available on these frames but I have been at points where I either forgot to charge or needed a major boost and with just 10 minutes of charging, I received the quick 30-45 minutes needed. Fortunately, if you ever find yourself in the same crunch, those 10 minutes will get you 90 minutes of playback.

One of the best features not highlighted enough is simple how fresh they look. Granted, I jokingly used some words up top to dish on how I feel about these overall shades but truthfully speaking? They’re freaking fire and actually have way more styles than you realize. Whether you’re loud and proud or prefer the low-key style of not making big statements, there is a set of frames for you.

If you really want to personalize your shades, Soundcore does give you the opportunity to buy additional frames in an assortment of sizes, shapes and styles including tinted sunglasses, prescription and blue-light filtering options. As someone who spends countless hours in front of a computer screen, iPhone 13 Pro Max plus next generation gaming and 4K TV viewing - the blue-light frames are vital for me.

Won over. Blown away. Convinced Soundcore keeps setting the standard? You better believe it. For more on the epic brand, keep scrolling and to grab your set, they’re going for $199.99 on the Soundcore website.

About Soundcore
Soundcore creates audio products that help spark emotions through music. This includes true wireless earbuds endorsed by Grammy-winning audio engineers and musicians, as well as over-ear headphones and indoor and outdoor Bluetooth speakers designed to amplify the party. Soundcore is part of the Anker Innovations’ family of consumer brands. For more information, please visit soundcore.com.
About Anker Innovations
Anker Innovations is a global leader in charging technology and a developer of unique, consumer electronic products that support premium audio, mobile entertainment and the emerging smart home space. This innovation is being led by its four key brands: Anker, Eufy, Nebula and Soundcore.
More information about Anker Innovations, its brands and products can be found at anker.com.