Anker Soundcore VR P10 headphones review: virtually flawless

True wireless headphones great for VR, decent for everything else.

Anker says their Soundcore VR P10 headphones are the first to be designed with Meta’s standalone VR headsets. But do they really improve your VR experience, or are they just an attempt to capitalize on the success of the Quest 2?

I recently purchased a Meta Quest Pro, and despite the overwhelming disappointment that came with it, I haven’t returned the headset. So over the past few weeks, I’ve been taking a look at Anker’s new headphones and evaluating whether they could improve on what was already touted as the most advanced VR experience on the market.

Setting up the P10 headphones is simple

There are several ways to connect the Soundcore VR P10 headphones to another device. A dongle is included, which plugs into an available USB Type-C port and automatically connects whatever device it’s plugged into with your headphones, then there’s Bluetooth. The Bluetooth connection is also easy to set up. Simply press the button on the front of the headphones case until it starts flashing, then select the headphones from the device you want to connect to from the Bluetooth menu.

The dongle is recommended for applications such as VR games, as it is what allows the headphones to establish the low latency connection that Anker promises. But I found that playing via Bluetooth didn’t really present any major issues. However, using the dongle for VR and keeping your Bluetooth channel free has other benefits.

Soundcore app adds options

The Soundcore app (iOS, Android) is not essential. It is possible to configure and use your headphones without downloading them. However, it offers plenty of customization options and is definitely worth it if you want to get the most out of your P10 headphones. You can adjust the equalizer to your liking, activate a mode that improves things like footsteps and gunshots during FPS games, and change the color of the LED lights on the headphones themselves.

You can also purchase additional dongles and switch between them using the Soundcore app. This is great if you want to quickly and easily connect to consoles and PCs as well as your VR headset. The app also allows users to update the firmware of the headphones.

The dongle has its drawbacks

The Soundcore earbuds come with a dongle that enables near-latency-free audio while gaming, and it’s ideal for the Quest 2 and Quest Pro. It snaps into place with no problem and contains a USB Type-C port that allows you to connect a charging cable through the dongle. I double-checked, and it doesn’t affect charging speeds, or cause issues with audio quality; that works.

The dongle doesn’t work everywhere else, though. Its shape means you’ll need a fairly flat surface around your USB Type-C port to plug it in. This rules out my Alienware M15 gaming laptop, as the trim gets in the way, and even if it fits, it would obscure one of the USB A ports anyway. This is not the end of the world; Bluetooth works perfectly fine. Just test your devices with the dongle you have before buying more.

These help bridge the gap between virtual reality and real life

What really appealed to me about the P10 VR headphones was the ability to take a phone call without interrupting your VR session. Without any headphones, I would find myself reaching for my phone and tossing it on the speakerphone if I wanted to avoid taking the headphones off completely. With headphones or wired headphones, I might miss the call completely.

With the VR P10, a quick double tap on either earbud answers the call and switches the audio input to my phone. I haven’t interrupted my game, I’m not trying to talk over gunshots or music, and I can either tell the person on the other end to call me back in a few minutes or just have the full conversation right away. From what people I’ve had calls with have told me, I’ve been crystal clear on their end.

It’s important to note that this feature only works if the dongle is plugged into your headset and your phone is connected via Bluetooth. The headphones do not use multipoint Bluetooth.

They are comfortable, but can come off

The headphones come with three sizes of gel tips, so they should fit the vast majority of ears. They’re comfortable enough to wear for long sessions, and the discomfort from the headset itself will get to you before the buds themselves.

Overall they are pretty safe if you fit them correctly and use the correct gel fitting. But virtual reality is not a sedentary activity, and I imagine that an earphone can only be so safe. During some games, these will fly away. I experienced this myself during a game of Hornand a session of drunken bar fight where I landed a particularly soft headbutt. They also argued during a game of pavlov, but I felt the right earbud loosen, hang loose, and eventually fall off, which made me think it was my fault. There are clear instructions on how to attach the headphones securely, and I may have just stuck them at that point.

Battery life is impressive

According to Anker, the fully charged earbuds will last about six hours, while the case itself contains an additional 18 hours of charge, meaning you’ll have 24 hours before you need to search for a charging port. In terms of raw listening time, that puts the VR P10s on par with the upcoming AirPods Pro, although the AirPods have a bit more charge in their case. In practical terms, that’s probably more than you need.

In practical terms, at no time in the past few weeks have I had to leave the headphones on because they weren’t charged. I’m a heavy VR user, I’ve used the P10 VRs in every session since they arrived, and they’ve outlasted me every time. The case gives plenty of notice when it’s time to plug in a charger, and I only had to do this about once a week.

Audio quality is good, but some features are missing

When it comes to headphones, the audio quality offered by the P10 VRs is pretty good. VR games sound great, and the 360 ​​element of audio seems to be fine when playing a game that supports it. If something happens to my left or behind me, I immediately know where to turn.

With music, the bass is very decent, and if you want to damage your hearing, it will go loud enough to hurt you. Anker’s headphones don’t come with ANC, which can be a deal breaker if you plan to take them on your morning commute. When it comes to listening to music at home, however, I’ve used them a few times and happily disconnected.

A solid choice, especially for VR enthusiasts

Don’t let the lack of ANC bother you; these are solid if you’re looking for a pair of dedicated gaming headphones, especially at the price. For less than $100, which is less than the official Quest Pro Carrying Case costs, you can greatly enhance your VR experience. As someone who loves VR, I can honestly say that I would buy a pair of these and be very happy with what I received.

Dedicated audiophiles may be able to spot more holes in audio quality than I did. But for someone who doesn’t bother fiddling with EQ settings, I’d say these can be a solid pair of all-rounders as well. If I judge them solely on what Anker says they are intended for, I have a hard time finding fault. When it comes to VR audio, the P10 VR headphones are virtually flawless.