Locked-In Running Earbuds: Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Headphones Review

We’ve all been there — you’ve just finished your warmup laps, you’re done stretching, and it’s time to check your laces, turn up the volume on your headphones, and pick up your tempo. Then, 2 minutes into your first lap, tragedy strikes. An earbud has slipped out and gone rolling, and you were so in the zone that you couldn’t see where it landed. 

For me, nothing puts the kibosh on a good run like losing an earbud and spending the next 10 minutes searching for it. And, of course, it’s now covered in dust and grime from the trail or track. Fortunately, the Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Headphones sport an innovative and comfortable ear-hook system designed specifically with security in mind. Runners rejoice — dropped buds are a thing of the past.

The Sport X10 headphones are an attractive option for gym-goers and runners looking for an affordable and fully featured headphone to help get them through their workouts. These headphones offer an innovative rotating ear hook that loops over the back of the ear to keep the buds from falling out. I was impressed by just how secure these buds were while simultaneously offering a top-tier listening experience.

In short: The Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Headphones up the security of traditional earbuds with an added ear-hook, greatly increasing their hold while on fast-paced workouts. Sound quality is above average and adjustable through the associated Soundcore app. If constantly lost earbuds plague you, these headphones might be your one-and-done.

These are our favorite headphones to run in, but to check out the rest of the workout audio on the market today, drop into GearJunkie’s Best Workout Headphones Buyer’s Guide.

Anker Soundcore Sport X10

$70 at AmazonCheck Price at Soundcore

Specifications

• Type: In-ear style
• Battery: 8 hours; up to 32 hours with case
• Weight: 7 g each
• Bluetooth Version: 5.2
• Charging: 1 hour
• Rating: IPX7
• Microphones: 6

Pros

• Super secure design
• Deep bass
• Good battery life
• Innovative app support
• Easy-to-use touch controls

Cons

• Sound quality is not as good as others
• Less refined than other headphones

Paul Mandell

Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Headphones: Review

First Impressions

I wrote in a different review that my previous favorite headphones were the Google Pixel Buds Pro, which I like because they work seamlessly with my Android phone, offer excellent fit and finish, top-tier sound quality, and an excellent suite of features. But the Achilles heel of the Pixel Buds is striking when it comes to running — they just aren’t secure in my ear when I’m bouncing down the trail.

When I received the Anker Sport X10, I was immediately struck by the ear hook. I thought for sure that it would be more of an annoyance than anything, but boy, was I wrong. After my first jog with them, I was sold. Later in my testing notes, I scribbled down “Secure. Comfy. Good sound quality.” Read on for more thoughts on the Anker Sport X10.

Fit, Finish, and Performance

The hooks on the Sport X10 are surprisingly comfortable and rotate 200+ degrees to find the perfect fit for your ears. The in-ear buds are also comfortable and offer a selection of silicone tips to further refine the fit.

At 7 g per bud, they are lightweight but not so lightweight that they feel cheaply made. During testing, I wasn’t able to discern a tangible difference in weight from other buds. I took these buds through a variety of high-output workouts, from CrossFit WODs, interval training, mountain bike rides, and full-on weightlifting workouts, and they stayed secure and performed flawlessly throughout. 

The Sport X10 is fully IPX7 waterproof and offers additional protection against sweat. While I probably wouldn’t venture into the pool for a lap swim, I was pleasantly surprised by these buds during high-output aerobic workouts.

The ear hooks kept the buds right where I wanted them, and even though they were covered in sweat, I didn’t experience any slippage or issues with sweat getting trapped behind the buds. Heavy sweaters rejoice — these buds are an excellent option if you frequently find yourself running, rowing, or cycling.

Similar to other award-winning buds, like the Jabra Elite 8, the Sport X10 buds feature a simple button on the bud to pause, skip, and take calls — a feature I didn’t know I wanted until encountering difficulties with touch-to-skip features on other earbuds. This made skipping and pausing songs mid-interval a cinch, and I was grateful for the minimal fuss. 

Sound Quality, Customization, and User Experience

The sound quality here is good, though not quite on par with buds like the Jabra Elite 8 Active or Beats Fit Pro. The bass driver in these buds packs a significant punch for when you need to psych yourself up, and the call quality is clear and offers good sound as well.

The Bluetooth 5.2 makes connecting and syncing the buds straightforward. Much like other headphones on this list, the Sport X10 has a range that allows you free movement throughout the gym without the worry of disconnecting. I was impressed with the range of these buds — they were somewhere in the neighborhood of 60-70 feet before things started breaking up. 

The active noise canceling works well on the Anker Sport X10, canceling out almost all background noise in the gym. Some sound did manage to get through, but dropped barbells and missed lifts aside, I was happily in my own little bubble in the gym.

We awarded the Sport X10 best running buds of 2024, and I still think that’s where they shine the brightest — running laps after work or rocking out intervals at the local track, but these buds are still great for the gym crowd, too.

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Standout Features

Besides the unrivaled security offered by the ear hooks, the big feature here is the Anker Soundcore app. It is far and away one of the best headphone apps I’ve used and offers users the ability to fine-tune their listening experience to exact preferences.

Users can customize the EQ or choose from a whopping 22 EQ presets for both music and white noise, update their firmware in-app, and even do a guided in-app breathing exercise before or after heading to the gym.

It’s clear that these headphones are aimed directly at the gym crowd, but they make great everyday earbuds, too. I took them to work, wore them at the gym, and took them along on a few after-work mountain bike rides. Throughout my testing, I was consistently impressed with the security, sound quality, and ease of use.

Room for Improvement

It’s difficult to criticize these buds too much. Indeed, the sound quality may not be as good as that of other buds like the Jabra Elite 8 Active or the Beats Fit Pro, but it’s good enough — especially if the trade-off is unparalleled security during a run or workout without sacrificing comfort.

Would I choose these buds as an everyday user? Probably not — the sound quality and user experience are just a hair less awesome than the Jabra Elite 8 Active. But if I was looking for a dedicated running or workout bud, and I didn’t want to shell out two bills for headphones, you can bet the Sport X10 would be at the top of the list.

Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Headphones: Conclusion

The Sport X10’s overarching feeling is one of convenience, and that’s a good thing. They just work; they are super secure, the sound is good, the bass is impressive, the battery life is excellent, and the controls are easy and work well. It’s tough to want more in a pair of workout headphones.

While less refined than more expensive options like the Beats or Jabra Buds, the Anker Soundcore Sport X10 is still an excellent headphone, and a great buy if you are in the market for a new set of headphones for the gym. Certainly so if you’ve ever felt the despair of fumbling around under the weight rack for a lost earbud.

It’s running, though, where the X10s shine, and while it may seem silly to have a few sets of earbuds in rotation, these are the buds I’ll be jogging in from now on. When put to the test, there’s no shaking these headphones loose.

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