Soundcore, Anker Innovations’ audio brand, quietly built a reputation as the go-to name for people who want serious headphone performance without the flagship price tag. Its Space One headphones earned a following as one of the best budget ANC options on the market, and that set the bar for their successor quite high. The new Soundcore Space 2, which launched at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona before going on sale Tuesday, clears that bar with room to spare.
Soundcore Space 2 headphones review: Great sound, supreme comfort and robust features
Soundcore’s new Space 2 headphones, announced in early March and released Tuesday, are flat-out great. I loved one of their predecessors, Space One Pro, and Space 2 improves nicely on those and the base Space One.
At $129.99 — a $30 step up from the Space One — Space 2 delivers a feature set that would be remarkable at twice the price. Its got 4-stage adaptive noise cancellation, up to 70 hours of battery life, LDAC high-resolution audio support, personalized hearing profiles, smart wear detection and a level of comfort that makes long listening sessions genuinely effortless. I’ve been testing them in seafoam green, a cool, muted pastel that looks nicer than the price suggests. Here’s the full verdict.
With Space 2, Anker subsidiary Soundcore brings a comfortable fit, 50-70-hour playtime, LDAC Hi-Res Wireless Audio (for Android), dual connection, clear calls, Bluetooth 6.1, Nap Mode and wearing detection at an affordable price.
- Extremely comfortable
- Great sound quality
- Epic battery life
- Strong noise cancellation
- LDAC codec is for Android only
Table of contents: Soundcore Space 2 headphones review
- Design and build quality
- Notes for iPhone users
- Sound quality
- Active noise cancellation
- Battery life
- Call quality and smart features
- Pros and cons for Apple users
- Space 2 headphones review: Verdict
Design and build quality
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Space 2 will look familiar to anyone who has used Space One or Space One Pro — they share the same broad design language, which is absolutely no criticism. The silhouette is clean and unfussy, with soft-touch plastic making up most of the external construction and a generously cushioned headband covered in pleather. The seafoam green color is an attractive option. The light, soft, natural hue is one of three choices alongside linen white and jet black.
At just 9.35 ounces (265 grams), Space 2 is impressively lightweight. The memory foam earpads create a deep, plush seal around the ear, and the headband distributes that weight evenly. There’s no hot spot or pressure buildup even after extended wear. I wore them for several hours at a stretch and experienced no clamping sensation or fatigue whatsoever.
Controls are sensibly divided between the two earcups. The right earcup handles play/pause and volume, while the left takes care of power and pairing, a noise-cancellation toggle, USB-C charging and a 3.5mm wired audio jack. That wired option is a welcome inclusion, making the Space 2 practical even when the battery is completely flat. The left earcup also houses a proximity sensor for smart wearing detection, which pauses playback the moment the headphones leave your head and resumes when you put them back on — one of those small quality-of-life features that you’ll quickly take for granted. The headphones fold for storage, though not as compactly as some rivals.
Build quality for this price range is impressive. Nothing feels flimsy, and the hinges and cups have a satisfying, solid feel when folded.
Notes for iPhone users
One important caveat deserves early mention: the LDAC codec that unlocks the highest-resolution wireless audio on Space 2 is exclusive to Android devices via the Soundcore app. Apple does not support LDAC, meaning iPhone users are limited to SBC or AAC codecs. In practice, AAC is perfectly serviceable on iOS, and most listeners will find the sound quality more than satisfying. But it’s worth knowing that you’re leaving the full LDAC experience on the table if you’re in the Apple ecosystem.
The HearID 3.0 hearing personalization feature and access to the full four-stage ANC configuration are managed through the Soundcore app. It’s available for both iOS and Android. iPhone users can still access and benefit from these features. But it’s specifically the LDAC high-res audio codec that remains Android-only. If you’re an iPhone user, Space 2 is still an excellent choice, however.
Sound quality
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Space 2 use 40mm double-layer diaphragm drivers, combining a silk diaphragm with metal ceramic material to handle different parts of the frequency spectrum. On paper, it’s an ambitious engineering choice for this price point. In practice, it pays off.
The default Soundcore Signature EQ leans into the V-shaped tuning that has become something of a house style for the brand: elevated bass, slightly recessed mids and crisp highs. On bass-forward music — hip-hop, electronic, R&B — the low end is full and satisfying without becoming boomy or one-note. The drivers handle fast, complex rhythms with composure, and there’s a good sense of stereo placement that gives well-recorded tracks genuine width and depth.
The one area where the tuning requires a small concession is in the mid-range. Vocals can sit a touch behind the mix in the default configuration, which may bother those who prioritize vocal clarity above everything else. The good news is that the Soundcore app’s equalizer and HearID 3.0 hearing test give you meaningful tools to address this. HearID tests your individual hearing profile and builds a personalized EQ curve to compensate for any frequency sensitivities — a feature that was previously the preserve of much more expensive headphones.
Across a range of test material — layered classic rock recordings, quick-fire breakbeats, richly produced R&B — Space 2 consistently punch above their weight. The stereo imaging is particularly impressive for closed-back headphones at this price, making it easy to place individual instruments within a mix. For $130, there is genuinely nothing to complain about here.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The headline upgrade over Space One is what Soundcore calls its 4-Stage Low-Frequency Noise Cancelling System. The company has re-engineered the microphone placement and internal structure — rather than simply adding more mics — to improve both the range and effectiveness of its ANC, with a specific focus on the low-frequency rumble that makes long-haul flights and bus journeys so draining.
The results are genuinely impressive. In real-world testing, the ANC creates a substantial quiet bubble that handles crowd noise, office hum and ambient environmental sound with confidence. The four adaptive modes adjust automatically depending on your environment — whether that’s a jet engine, a bus or an open-plan office — without requiring you to manually switch between them.
It bears noting that Space 2 ANC won’t dethrone the Sony WH-1000XM series or Bose QuietComfort Ultra at the absolute top of the ladder. Those flagships cost two to three times as much, and their ANC performance still holds a measurable edge. But in the context of what the Space 2 actually cost, the noise cancellation here is remarkable. For under $130, it outperforms many headphones in the $150–$200 range, and for frequent travelers or daily commuters, that’s a compelling proposition.
There’s also a white noise mode built in, cycling through ambient soundscapes including Rainstorm, Blizzard, Rainy Park and Babbling Brook — a thoughtful addition for focus sessions or sleep.
Battery life
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Battery life is where Space 2 stake a legitimate claim to being category-defining. Soundcore promises up to 50 hours of playback with ANC active, and up to 70 hours with it switched off. To put that in context, most competing headphones in the $100–$150 range typically offer 30–40 hours with ANC engaged. The Space 2 figures aren’t just better — they’re in a completely different tier.
Testing methodology uses continuous playback at 50% volume with wearing detection disabled, a standard industry approach. In real-world use at higher volumes, you’ll naturally see shorter runtimes, but even discounting that, Space 2 comfortably lasts multiple days of regular use before needing a charge.
Perhaps more practically useful is the rapid charging capability: Just five minutes on a USB-C cable returns up to four hours of listening time. For anyone who has ever arrived at an airport with a pair of dead headphones, that’s a meaningful safety net. Full charging from flat is straightforward via the USB-C port on the left earcup.
Call quality and smart features
Space 2 uses a three-microphone array combined with AI-driven noise reduction for calls. Voice clarity is solid in typical environments, with the AI processing doing a good job of separating your voice from background noise. In louder settings — a busy coffee shop, say, or a street — the microphones cope reasonably well, though outright quiet is still the optimal calling environment.
Smart wearing detection, as noted above, is reliable and quick to respond. The headphones pause and resume seamlessly, which reduces the friction of interrupted listening considerably.
The Soundcore app brings the full feature set to life, including the four-stage ANC customization, the HearID 3.0 hearing profile, a multiband EQ and firmware updates. It’s a polished and well-organized companion app that gives you genuine control without overwhelming complexity.
Bluetooth 6.1 handles connectivity, and pairing is quick and stable. A 3.5mm jack provides a wired fallback with lossless audio. Notably, Space 2 does not support Auracast multi-device broadcasting, which will matter to a small subset of users but is unlikely to be a dealbreaker for most.
Pros and cons for Apple users
Photo: Soundcore
Pros:
- Supreme comfort for all-day wear, regardless of platform
- Excellent ANC that performs well in real-world environments.
- Good sound quality accessible via AAC on iOS.
- 50–70 hours battery life — outstanding at this price
- HearID 3.0 and full EQ accessible via the Soundcore iOS app
- Smart wearing detection works with any connected device.
- 3.5mm wired option as fallback
Cons:
- LDAC high-res codec is Android-only; iPhone users are limited to AAC.
- No Apple-specific features such as Siri hands-free, automatic device switching between Apple devices or Find My integration
- No Auracast support
- Mids can feel slightly recessed in the default EQ (addressable in-app).
Soundcore Space 2 headphones review: Verdict
★★★★★
Put simply, Soundcore Space 2 are one of the best value propositions in the headphone market right now. At $129.99, they deliver comfort that rivals headphones costing twice as much, a battery life that reshapes expectations for the budget category, genuinely effective ANC and audio quality that will satisfy the vast majority of listeners. The price increase over the Space One is justified by meaningful real-world improvements across every key metric.
iPhone users should note the LDAC limitation, but will still find an excellent pair of headphones here. The AAC experience is entirely satisfying, and the full Soundcore app feature set remains accessible on iOS. Android users get the complete package, including LDAC streaming at up to 990kbps.
If you’re in the market for a daily driver or travel companion that won’t strain your budget, Soundcore Space 2 deserves a strong look. This is a rare product that over-delivers on almost every front, and easily earns a place on the shortlist of the best ANC headphones of 2026.
With Space 2, Anker subsidiary Soundcore brings a comfortable fit, 50-70-hour playtime, LDAC Hi-Res Wireless Audio (for Android), dual connection, clear calls, Bluetooth 6.1, Nap Mode and wearing detection at an affordable price.
- Extremely comfortable
- Great sound quality
- Epic battery life
- Strong noise cancellation
- LDAC codec is for Android only
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
