Soundcore by Anker, Soundcore Frames Wander Bluetooth Audio Smart Glasses, Interchangeable Frames, Open Ear Surround Sound with 4 Speakers, Polarized Lenses, 2 Mics, Clear Calls, Voice Control, App
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Pure Comfort and Versatile FitSoundcore Frames audio smart glasses fit faces of virtually all shapes and sizes. The quick release hinges flex by up to 8° and their precisely balanced build minimizes pressure and weight on your ears and nose for long-lasting comfort. | Durable BuildSoundcore Frames audio smart glasses are made from TR90, a durable and skin-friendly material. And when the weather takes a turn for the worse, their IPX4 water-resistant casing provides added protection. | Extended PlaytimeEnjoy up to 5.5 hours of listening from a single charge, and if you’re short of time, charge for 10 minutes and enjoy up to 1.5 hours of playtime. |
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Open Ear ListeningInstead of blocking out the world, the open ear design allows you to immerse in your music while still being able to hear other sounds around you. | Tailored Listening ExperienceChoose from 7 levels of surround sound via the Soundcore app, customize the touch controls, and use the virtual try-on feature to discover more frame styles that suit you. | AccessoriesUse the case to keep Soundcore Frames audio smart glasses protected when you’re not wearing them. And the microfiber cloth cleans the lenses in an instant. |
About Size
About Prescription Lenses
– Currently, Soundcore doesn’t offer prescription lenses as an option for Soundcore Frames.
– The lenses in our frames are detachable and replaceable.*
– If you need prescription lenses for your Soundcore Frames, please take the front frame to your optometrist to replace the standard lenses with prescription ones.
*Excluding the Festival style.
Key Features
Switch Up Your Style: Make Soundcore Frames audio smart glasses part of your outfit by mixing and matching styles from the wide range of interchangeable frames. Note: Other frame styles are sold separately.
OpenSurround System: 4 speakers positioned in front of and behind your ears are paired with a custom audio processor to produce immersive and spatial sound.
Polarized Lenses: Soundcore Frames audio smart glasses have scratch- and shatter-resistant polarized lenses that block out up to 99% of UVA/B rays.
Clear Calls: 2 microphones and a noise reduction algorithm pick up your voice clearly, while privacy mode is automatically activated when a call begins for added peace of mind.
Ideal for Outdoors: Soundcore Frames have IPX4-rated water-resistant protection and are made from durable, skin-friendly materials.
Ergonomic Design: The frames and audio temples have hinges that flex by up to 8° and are carefully balanced to reduce pressure on your ears and nose for superior comfort.
Convenient Control: Use voice commands to control Soundcore Frames audio smart glasses without having to first access other voice assistants. Or use the touchpads on the audio temples to control music and phone calls.
Up to 5.5 Hours of Playtime: If you’re short of time, charge for 10 minutes for 1.5 hours of playtime.
Customize Your Listening Experience: Use the Soundcore app to choose from 7 surround sound levels, customize the EQ, tailor the touch controls, and use the virtual try-on feature to test out different styles before you buy.
Frame Style: Wander
Dimensions: Frame Width: 5.67in/144mm, Lens Width: 2.13in/54mm, Bridge Width: 0.71in/18mm, Temple Length: 5.51in/140mm.
Specifications
Input: 5V 400mA
Bluetooth: 5.2 (AVRCP, A2DP, HFP, SBC, AAC)
Speakers (Each Side): 25 x 8mm Speaker + φ8mm Speaker
Amplifier Range: 20-20kHz
What’s In The Box
Soundcore Frames
Frame Style: Wander
Audio Temples
Carrying Case
Magnetic Charging Cable
Cleaning Cloth
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| Style | Classic rectangular | Square | Slim rectangular | Square | Classic rectangular |
| Frame Material | Acetate | Acetate | TR90 | Acetate | Acetate |
| Frame Color | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black |
| Lenses | Polarized | Polarized | Blue-light filtering | Polarized | Polarized |
| Size (mm) | 54 – 18 – 140 | 48 – 20 – 140 | 56 – 18 | 48 – 20 | 54 – 18 |
| Sound | OpenSurround system with 4 speakers | OpenSurround system with 4 speakers | – | – | – |
| Calls | Clear calls via 2 mics | Clear calls via 2 mics | – | – | – |
| Battery | 5.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | – | – | – |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 | – | – | – |
| Dimensions: | 17 x 14.4 x 4.4 cm; 45 Grams |
| Model: | A3600013 |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. |
| Manufacture: | Anker |
| Origin: | China |
These are very cool and work well. My only observation is that I don’t love the size of the glass frames but I’m going to change the frames and hopefully that will do the trick. Sound is good, yes it’s weird to talk on the phone or listen to music without any device around and I’ve gotten a few looks but now that I’ve gotten used to using them, I’m pretty sure they are MINE and I won’t give them up. I like not having to poke buds into my ears and these are easy on easy off. Charge could last a bit long which would make me happier but it’s not awful, just part of the package. Changing the frame option is a big plus.
The Soundcore by Anker, Soundcore Frames Wander Bluetooth Audio Smart Glasses have interchangeable frames available for purchase to change your look up. The frames give you an open ear surround sound effect with the 4 speakers located on the arms and have an astounding sound quality while still being able to hear your surroundings. The polarized lenses are perfect for outdoor use and work well to shield your eyes from sunbrays. The arms charge in 4 hours and connect to your phone via Bluetooth and work with your favorite music app. The arms are a bit chunky but still look fashionable and they are comfortable for long use. I got almost 6 hours of continuous use off one full battery with about a 4 hour charge time. I love them and would highly recommend them!
I got these for use on family road trips, so I have an alternative to listening to the kids watch Thor Ragnarok in the back seat for the 1000th time. I was under no illusion that the sound from these glasses was going to be great. In fact the sound is worse than I thought it was going to be. The sound is more “am” compared to the “fm” you get from earbuds. However, the sound quality and loudness is fine for audiobooks while in the car at highway speeds. There is sound bleed from the speakers, but my wife can barely hear it while speeding along.
The build quality seems fine, even when compared to regular sunglasses at a similar price point. I think they look pretty good too. The lenses are polarized, and graduated from top to bottom. They do a decent job as sunglasses.
I have not tried any other audio-glasses, so have nothing to compare them to. I’m decently happy with my purchase.
I love you doing tech reviews. I’ve had these Anker soundcore open ear sunglass Bluetooth headphones for about 2 months. I wanted to really test them before giving a transparent review. I will always give the real pros and cons based on “my experience” when I test out a product, so here they are.
Pros:
1. They’re super stylish and you can also get different frames so you can switch to another look or style. I’ve had compliments on them and some people who have never heard of this style of Bluetooth headphone go crazy about them. I’ve let countless people try them on. lol
2. The frames are built very solidly, and they are polarized which is an added bonus.
3. I absolutely love that when you take them off, the music pauses. That’s definitely an awesome feature!
4. Calls are clear, especially indoors. I did catch myself talking extra loudly when using these glasses outside, so that’s something you really have to get used to.
5. They have noise-canceling but again, these are open ear headphones so noise-canceling is not the same as an over-the-ear headphone or earbud.
6. Battery life is okay with maybe around 3-4 hours of use. **Just know that the louder you turn up the volume, the faster your battery will drain as well, so the battery life does vary.
7. The sound when playing music is good and if you have on a headband or mask (example: a snow mask in the winter) the bass is deep because they are compressed against your ears.
Cons:
1. They are light in weight, but I’m not a big fan of the bulkiness of the frames sitting on my ears.
2. If you have a small face, the frames that these come with are a little big so they might not look right on every one. My wife put them on, and they are really big on her face.
3. The sound quality was okay but to get a good sound you have to turn them up and when you are around other people, say maybe 1-3ft maybe even 4ft, they can hear what you’re listening to. I guess that’s why I’ve always been a fan of earbuds or over-the-ear headphones because no one else can hear the music or the calls that I’m on.
4. Connecting these to my phone initially was easy, but sometimes it can be very hit or miss. I was thinking maybe just being around other people in crowded areas the Bluetooth connection was an issue because of other people’s Bluetooth, but whatever it is, in crowded places, the Bluetooth connection was spotty.
5. I would not suggest using these for jogs or runs because they bounce around making them very uncomfortable. These are more for very casual use.
Overall, ANKER makes great products and I have a bunch of their products. These are definitely something to get used to. I love the innovation, and these are also super cool if you’re just hanging out, but again, this style of headphone is going to appeal to everyone differently. I would recommend them and I am giving them a 4**** star rating.
I’ve owned a variety of shades with built-in audio. They’re generally hit or miss, when it comes to the sound quality. The two biggest problems I run into is when the speakers in the frames are barely audible at max volume, or the sound is too tinny. These were a pleasant surprise. Loud enough that I could hear over ambient noise, and clear enough that I don’t have trouble making out what someone’s saying on a phone call. Obviously you won’t get all of the same nuances in the sound that you would with a traditional Bluetooth speaker. But that’s the tradeoff, the point of getting audio built right into your frames. I thought these were easy to use, stylish, and super convenient when I want to listen to things while I tinker around in my shop.
With a lot of these sunglasses with speakers, you’re getting really cheaply made sunglasses with speakers shoved into the arms of the glasses. However with these, you’re getting glasses that are built really well and seem like they will last a long time. The audio quality isn’t going to blow your mind, but its equivalent to most mid-tier speakers.
If you want to listen to music hands free without using your speaker phone or wireless headphones this is can be great. Great Bluetooth distance, calls are clear but do keep in mind that your voice is amplified a bit, music is clear enough to enjoy as you cook or work without disturbing anyone and the base actually gets more punchy if you have a helmet or hood on, battery life is alright, and it definitely won’t fall off your face. The only downside is that it’s a bit tricky to actually turn on because it uses motion sense to detect when it’s being worn so you have to use a little bit of dramatic movement to do so. Overall Ive had a great experience with it that I would recommend it to someone who needs “open ended headphones” while working in a warehouse and wants to geek out on wearable tech
A lovely helper for long walks on the beach and drives to the Yukon. The sound quality is superb, though the volume is low.
The sunglasses are oversized and not a fashion statement. Check out the Bose Frames for ones with a Tom Cruise/Blues Brothers look.
These are great for conversation and less so for music. Still very good.
–Brockeim
I absolutely love the packaging. It’s very satisfying and wrapped up so it’s super user friendly. It comes with a charger and charged quickly out of box. I would recommend these to anyone working outdoors. Great for listening to music or handling Bluetooth calls. I would invest in this because it had crystal clear sound, no one ever knew I was using them. It’s a subtle way to be on Bluetooth without having pods in ears or falling into a watch. I would recommend !
Bought these to help prevent the ear pain I experience when wearing headphones on video calls for work. I suffer eye strain from looking at screens all day and sometimes experience migraines, so I choose to wear blue light blocking glasses and while wearing headphones my ears sometimes get sore. The Cafe frames (bought separately), allow me to wear the glasses and do my work. Now these glasses may not be perfect bluelight glasses, but the relief from my ear pain has been amazing. The sound is great, microphone works well and everyone can hear me. Again another soundcore product has been amazing!
First of all, anker never let me down on their product. All is well built and comes with excellent warranty and customer service. Now, due to my job which prevents me from wearing bluetooth earpiece or headsets, sometimes it was so boring I wish I was able to listen to something to pass time. Soundcore frame caught my attention, it looks almost like a regular glasses, so unconspicuous. Co-worker has bose frame but looks too bulky and obvious. I was skeptical at first because I wasn’t sure if soundcore frame is able to do the same job bose does. To hide the sound from public. I was afraid people around me was able to hear music playing. I bite the bullet and went for it and boy was I surprised. With privacy mode on, out in the street, no one can hear anything unless they are standing directly behind me, like really close. This is due to the street noise cancelling any sound emits from the soundcore. Hence you don’t have to worry about people hearing you playing music out in public. Indoor, however, can be tricky, if you are in absolute quiet place such as library, playing the frame at high volume can easily be heard by others, so you need to adjust the volume a bit so others won’t hear. But say if you are in the lobby of a building, set the volume to 85% only people 3 feet in front or 2 feet behind me will hear a little bit music.
Now when you are at places you don’t care if others will hear you or not, by turning off the privacy mode and turn on the surround mode, it’s like you are listening to music in your own room with all the surround sound equipment. It’s that good. Battery at 100% lasts about 3 hours and 85% about 3 and half hours. 50% can get you 5 hours. You might say 3 hours is too short, well, it takes 20-25 min to charge full from 0% using a portable battery. If you use wall charger it’ll be even faster. I believe the battery capacity is about 500 mAh hence the fast charging rate. If you carry yourself a small 4000-5000mAh portable battery it’ll last you for the whole day
I am really liking these glasses. I also own Bose Tempo for biking and running. These are are the perfect complement for casual use. I read some negative reviews saying that this product is not ready for prime time, but as soon as I connected it to the app I got a firmware update. This might have taken care of the problems, because I have no complaints so far…
This is a review of Soundcore by Anker, Soundcore Frames Wander Bluetooth Audio Smart Glasses.
Pros:
+Convenient design with detachable frame
+Incredible sound for sunglasses
+Can put RX lenses in if you desire
+Mic is clear audibly
+Lenses are clear visually
Cons:
-Material feels cheap
-No wireless charging case
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This is my first pair of speaker/sunglasses and I bought them with the intention of using them to ride my bicycle outside and have something to listen to without drowning out the outside environment and in that regard they work really well. The lenses themselves are clear, but the overall feel of the glasses themselves feels plasticy and cheap. I understand if you bought a nice pair of sunglasses it would cost around $150-200 and these include speakers so there have to be some give and take. I like that the frames detach so you can put the speakers onto another set, in case you wanted to switch form being sunglasses to reading glasses for example. I do wish it came with a wireless charging case as that would make it really convenient so I hope the next version includes this. Otherwise, there isn’t a lot to complain about. The sound quality is really good, they’re comfortable to wear, and it has touch sensitive areas where you can control things like answering a call or powering it off. If you’re in the market for a pair of bluetooth glasses, this should be one to consider.
The sound that comes out of these is astounding. I love the fact that you can still hear your surroundings even when playing music. I actually find them to be very useful when talking on the phone because you are hands free. They are so great for outdoor walks. I just wish the battery lasted a little longer even though it lasts very long as it is.
This is my first foray into the smart glasses sphere. First, when putting on the actual sunglasses, they feel a bit bit sheep and not contour to my eyes. It’s OK in the polarization does the job, but obviously that I’ve had better sunglasses.
I am willing to sacrifice a little sunglass experience if the quantity of the sound is on point. For the most part I found the sound quality to be OK. Not great, not good, but fairly good if you don’t want to have earbuds and still want to listen to your music or make calls. Making calls was where this product shined. Clarity and connection was good.
Overall, I still prefer earbuds, and will probably stick to those, but these were an interesting experience that will only get better with time and potentially future firmware updates. Stay tuned.
Fresh out of the box I was tempted to ding these sunglasses with a nasty one star. I tested three different pairs over the course of a week, but the first took an hour for me to get them working. When they didn’t turn on when I put them on I assumed they had no charge, so I tried several times to make them work while giving them some juice. Eventually I removed and reinserted the temples, and that did the trick.
I’ll start by saying that I’m in two minds about the interchangeable frames. I can definitely see the advantage of spending $50 for a new pair of frames and being able to mix and match depending on my mood, but the connection does introduce a weak spot. Anker almost won three one stars from me because I thought the first pair were broken.
Now, this is why they’ve instead earned 5 stars. I love my Bose audio sunglasses. I loooooove them. I have three pairs: Tempo, Soprano and Tenor. My only problem with them, and with my other audio glasses from the likes of Fauna, is that the temples are obviously big, chunky speakers. Seriously, go and take a look at a pair of Bose Tenor frames right now. They look like a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers on steroids. Ugly as hell.
Anker’s Soundcore frames are the first audio sunglasses I’ve tested that actually *look* like sunglasses. The temples are a little thicker than you’ll see on a regular pair of glasses, but it looks like it’s a design decision rather than because it’s packed full of tech. These are attractive. They’re cool.
What’s more, they sound really good. Sound quality in audio glasses will never reach the heights of regular headphones without a big technological leap, but the sounds quality here is as good as you can expect from this kind of thing. I’d even say they’re a close competitor to my Bose frames. The only respect in which they fall down slightly is in sound bleed, with the sound clearly audible to those nearby. The thick frames of Bose have the shielding and directional sound to ameliorate that issue a little.
Long story short, this is the first pair of audio sunglasses I’ve tested that I could wear day to day as regular sunglasses, and that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. Five stars.
These glasses are great. The sound quality is fabulous and subtle at the same time. They come to a full charge quickly and the lenses are about the same quality as higher end glasses. Overall a great value.
Clear good quality sound without much spillage, the audio glasses are fantastic for the price point.
Great value if you limit your expectations! If you’re expecting these to be a Bose quality you will be disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, they have a clean clear crisp sound, although the base doesn’t cut it for me. The base just isn’t significant enough and I’m a bit of a bass freak. But the glasses are well constructed, they look sharp on and the sunglasses themselves are good quality. They are perfect for someone who loves to wear sunglasses and loves their music. As far as sound quality they are extremely decent but they’re not great. But for the price point most people will be thrilled with them.
I really like the fact that you can swap the lenses to create different styles for different situations. I have a roundhead and my skin is soft and sensitive but these glasses do not irritate my skin even though they look very bulky. I”m used to wearing thin frames but these feel just as light. Also these are very easy to clean with water but don’t submerge them too much.
Good:
-Comfortable for extended use.
-Good quality.
-Adjustable listening modes in the app are great.
Bad:
-No true privacy when you’re listening including private mode.
-We would prefer a clear lens for indoor use.
-The carrying case folds for compact storage, but the closing flap does not stay closed.
-Sensor that detects if you’re wearing them is inconsistent.
-No button to power them off.
I ordered the Soundcore by Anker, Soundcore Frames Wander Bluetooth Audio Smart Glasses. We like the sound quality without having anything in our ears. The frames are easily interchangeable giving us different options. We like the technology and the firmware updates keep the glasses upgraded with more operational features. The glasses turn off automatically when you take them off, but we would prefer a manual option. We didn’t like that the glasses have proprietary charging connections which require the product specific charging cable. We would prefer an area within the case for the charging cable. Overall, the glasses could be better, but we really like them.
These glasses from Anker have competition from a wide variety of “smart” glasses with differing features. Anker has chosen to focus on what they do best: audio. There’s no camera or heads-up-display screen, so look elsewhere if you want more features.
I was skeptical of the sound quality when I looked at the design with two speakers against the top of my ear. However, any concerns were dispelled when they arrived. The audio sounds like it’s present everywhere in the room or outdoors. The best explanation I have is that the sound appears to be part of the air around you. Meanwhile, friends around me note that they can only hear my music in a quiet room with no AC or fans running. I typically listen to music on the slightly quiet side, though, so there is a small amount of sound leakage at moderate levels. The app does include a “Privacy Mode”; however, this feels like more of a gimmick as I only notice a decrease in volume when enabled. Turning down the volume appears to do the same thing.
These couldn’t be much easier to use; just like any good set of earbuds, the glasses connect immediately after pairing whenever worn. The charger works great; strong magnets hold it in the proper place on the glasses. However, the cable is thin, and I have some concerns about how long it will last.
Overall, these are excellent “smart” (I would call them audio) glasses, with a few minor flaws/concerns that I don’t think warrant removing a star for. If you want earbud quality audio without the earbuds, I highly recommend considering these.
But that’s JustMe. (I received this product in exchange for an honest review, and that is what I have offered here.)
The glasses themselves were easy to get up and running. The App walks you through the setup process.
Great 1-800 number for customer service. I had some problems getting them to recognize voice commands. The nice lady on the phone was patient and helpful trying different things within the App until we got the glasses working perfectly.
I ordered them to listen to audio books while I am driving. I can hear the book, but I can also pause if I need to in order to hear GPS directions or emergency road noises. They also work for music.
Because they respond to voice commands, it is easy to turn them up, down, or set on pause while driving.
I can listen to an audio book or music while working in my garden. Added perk.
There is a privacy setting where you can hear but those around you are not disturbed. Love it!
The polarization and ability to cut down on glare are better than my prescription sunglasses.
They work for hours on a single charge. They recharge quickly.
I am quite happy with these sunglasses. I am very glad I ordered them.
I was excited to try the Soundcore by Anker Open Ear Surround Sound Polarized sunglasses to be able to listen to my music while walking around town and riding my bicycle and this product exceeded my expectations. The sunglasses are very comfortable and fit my face well without being too tight, and they stayed secure even while bike riding up and down hills. The polarized lens tint is fairly light but still provides glare reduction and makes them practical to wear on both sunny and cloudy days.
These glasses perform very well for both listening to my music and making phone calls when paired to my phone. The sound quality of my music was terrific- much better than the bone conducting headphones I have been using while riding my bike. The open ear design makes them perfect for use while walking, jogging, cycling, etc, when you still want to be able to hear ambient sounds like traffic, people talking, and dogs barking. Taking phone calls works great as well, with the microphone being able to amplify your voice while tuning out background noises.
The battery lasted as advertised. I was able to use them for 5 hours of activity and didn’t need to recharge during this period. The volume and playback controls are well-designed with just a single/double tap or swipe on the sides of the frames to change modes, volume, or even skip/repeat songs. The glasses cleverly turn on and pair automatically when you put them on your head. I highly recommend this product for anyone who likes to listen to music or take phone calls while doing outdoor activities. These glasses seem very durable and are packed full of features.
The Anker Soundcore Frames offer a unique listening experience. They are remarkably lightweight sunglasses considering the technology that is packed inside. They fit my face well and stayed in place. The tint of the sunglass lenses is somewhat light – suitable for indoor and outdoor use, but some may like darker lenses. The manufacturer has stated that alternative lenses can be put in the glasses. The front part of the frames can be easily swapped out for other designs made by Anker. I found the Wanderer frame style to be fine for my tastes. I’ve been wearing them off and on for a few days now, and the weight and size haven’t been a problem. They are quite remarkable in this regard.
I took into account the limitations of technology when trying out the frames. What I heard was decent mids and highs – clear and articulate, but bass is minimal – it’s there but not nearly in the same league as a more conventional pair of headphones or ear buds. There is sound leakage – people around me can hear what I am listening to – there is a “privacy mode” that helps somewhat. The companion app allows for reshaping the sound via EQ, but in the end I decided the default “Signature” EQ settings gave the best sound. The app also handles firmware updates for the glasses, which I had to do the very first time I used them. In addition, it allowed me to set actions for double tapping each temple – I set the the right one to activate the voice assistant. Phone calls are clear on both ends – in fact – it’s one of the nicest aspects of the glasses.
Overall, I think these are pretty neat glasses that work well for what they are designed for. Sound quality is OK given the size and weight of the frames. I like being able to walk down the street listening to music while being able to hear around me.
These glasses let you listen to music or audiobooks and take phone calls with just a tap on the frame or a voice command. It’s the most convenient way to access any audio input.
The sound is clear, and they’re very use to use. Set up requires you to download an app and charge the glasses. Then you pair them with your bluetooth — that’s mostly automatic — and they are ready to go. For me, they’re much more comfortable than headphones or earbuds, and better for listening to audiobooks while I do chores. I don’t have to start and stop Alexa in different rooms or miss out when I’m in a room without Alexa.
These are sunglasses, which makes sense –people who don’t need glasses are still likely to use sunglasses. However, since I need glasses, I plan to have prescription lenses added. I think, if I didn’t wear glasses, I would still add a set of the interchangeable frames using blue light blocking lenses, because sunglasses just aren’t appropriate for all the times when I want to wear these.
Otherwise, they’re awesome.
The ANKR Soundcore is a product from ANKR which are polarized sunglasses with exchangeable frames.
While the arms for the glasses come with four speakers, so you can listen to music and also take calls.
It’s fairly easy to use.
Just download the Soundcore smartphone app and create an account.
While just putting the two charging attachments to the arms and let it charge for a minute. Then remove it and immediately, you can start pairing your phone to your glasses.
It’s that easy!
In a way, I like the idea of these glasses, granted unlike in-ear headsets, people can hear the music coming from your sunglasses, so please keep that in mind.
But I like the idea, for example, if I was doing work outdoors, I can have these sunglasses on while listening to music or podcasts from my phone or via the Soundcore website/app.
But if you wanted to be inconspicuous, then in ear headset/earplugs may be more for you.
So, I do like these sunglasses. You get 5.5 hours of power via speakers through the sunglass arms, and polarized sunglass frames all in one.
I definitely like it and recommend it!
What are “Bluetooth Audio Smart Glasses?” They’re glasses with tiny wireless speakers built in and simple touch and voice controls. Are they worth getting? That depends.
As sunglasses, they look good and work pretty well. The temples are on the bulky side, but they aren’t heavy, and the joints are flexible. On my head they’re a slight squeeze, but they stay comfortable. Extra frames are available in a couple of different shapes and sizes, although they’re not cheap.
The Bluetooth pairs easily and has excellent range. If you use these with multiple devices, you might have to reset the connection to switch between them. That simply means touching both temples for a few seconds.
The Soundcores do a nice job of recognizing when you put them on and take them off. If you take them off while listening to something, they automatically pause it, and if you don’t put them back on within two minutes, they automatically shut down. If you do put them back on, they un-pause what you were listening to.
The sound quality is decent, bearing in mind that these aren’t an audiophile gadget. Music sounds fine, and phone calls are quite clear in both directions. You don’t have to install the app to use the glasses, but it’s a good idea since it lets you tweak the EQ and enable the “OpenSurround” feature, which provides a slight boost. There’s also a “Privacy Mode” that activates automatically for calls and that you can turn on in the app. It seems to just lower the volume a little.
Because the audio drivers are in tiny speakers built into the temples, rather than inside earbuds or headphone cups, other people can hear the sound unless the volume is very low. These aren’t appropriate for an open office setting. By the same token, when you’re wearing the glasses you can hear everything in your surroundings.
The app makes you sign up with your email address. I got a couple of welcome emails, but no marketing spam, at least for the few days since I registered. It offers a few built-in features for playlists and such, as well as limited customization of the touch and voice controls.
The kit includes a proprietary USB charging cable that magnetically connects to both temples. I tried a few other wireless chargers, but none of them worked. So be careful if you travel with these, because if you lose that cable, you’re in trouble. Their online store doesn’t currently offer a replacement. On the plus side, when your device is connected, the glasses entry in the list of BT connections displays the current charge level.
So are these glasses for you? My wife loves to listen to audio books while doing yard work, and they’re absolutely perfect for that (although she isn’t using any loud gas-powered equipment). If you have a good use case for them, they’re a solid buy. If, say, you’re just looking for something to listen to music on around the house, you’re better off with something more dedicated to that purpose.
This review is for the Soundcore by Anker, Soundcore Frames Wander Bluetooth Audio Smart Glasses, Interchangeable Frames, Open Ear Surround Sound with 4 Speakers, Polarized Lenses, 2 Mics, Clear Calls, Voice Control, App. Let me just saw up front that I really like these audio sunglasses, but there are some aspects to think about when considering these. First of all, this company is great, and produces some really nice quality products. These sunglasses didn’t disappoint, and ended up being even better than I anticipated.
From a sunglasses viewing and wear perspective, these have nice polarized lens, providing a very clear view and a nice level of shading. The Wayfarer style and fit is comfortable, but do realize that the nose bridge area is molded with no way to adjust. The arms fit snug over the ears without being too tight or uncomfortable. The overall look is normal from the front, but the arms are going to be a little oversized visually from the side just because of the electronics space requirements of the arms. They are noticeably heavier than non-electronic shades, weighing about 1.8 ounces. It isn’t an uncomfortable weight, but again, electronics do have some weight. I also really like the fact that the front part of the frames can be separated exchanged with a different design, enabling the reuse of the “smart audio arms” part of the sunglasses. These are also water-resistant, but not water-proof. I do have a habit of swimming in my sunshades normally, so I really have to remind myself these are an electronic device, and should be treated accordingly around water.
The setup and charging up the audio frames was simple. You do want to be sure and update the firmware immediately with the app before first use. The app itself is adequate without being over complicated. The charging cable is a proprietary magnetic cable, which is designed to charge both arms simultaneously.
From an audio perspective, the frames produce a really nice above-the-ear sound. The sound quality is good for this type of audio device, especially the mids and highs. The bass is the weakest part. It is there, but very muffled, which isn’t surprising for this style. I used the app equalizer to adjust the bass, but it still is weak. If you are expecting and “must have” big booming bass sound, then these aren’t for you. Frankly none of this type of audio sunshades are for you if that is your focus. But for any other style music where a deep pounding bass isn’t the focal point, these shades are very good. Do be aware these are not like earbuds, so others will be able to hear your music and/or conversations.
What was really surprising about these shades were how good they handled phone calls. The mic pickup is fantastic. I literally had someone tell me that I sounded better/clearer talking with the shades mic than I did my native smart phone that is only a year old. The listening part of the call is also awesome.
The touch controls on the shade arms are nice and simple. Just double taps for music control, handling phone calls, etc. It also has a voice control capability if you choose to use it.
When not in use and folded up, the shades are going to take up some room since the arms don’t fold very flat, and I don’t want to constantly have to disconnect the arms. It comes with a triangle sunshades case, which is really needed for these to transport and protect them.
Bottom line is these are a very nice pair of audio smart sunshades, excellent quality, nice styling, and a really good value.
I’m impressed by the overall quality of these Soundcore glasses. The frames are good enough quality that most opticians will put prescription clear or sunglass lenses into them and the frames are interchangeable so people who are part time contact wearers can switch them with regular frames if desired. The blank frame is available for about 50 dollars.
These fit well and are comfortable to wear like normal glasses, but of course my main concern was audio quality. After using these for a few days in several different environments, I’m pretty happy with these. The sound is crisp without being too muddy and aside from the bass not being as loud as I’d like, the overall tone is well balanced with no extremes in any part of the audio spectrum. I’ve used lower cost Bluetooth glasses and the midrange is always way too loud with a very poor sound mainly suited for audio podcasts or very casual background music. With these, I feel like I can hear the music a lot better, while keeping my ears uncovered.
Depending on volume, others can definitely hear the sound from these in a quiet environment. In extremely loud places, it will be hard to hear the sound compared to using earbuds or over the head headphones. I expected that and there is only so much the tiny speakers in the arms can produce. Overall, it’s pretty impressive how such a small package can produce a fairly nice sound and I have had no problems connecting to my phone or charging the batteries. Anker has impressed me with some of their products and I think they did a really nice job with these.
The arms have 4 speakers to create a sort of surround sound experience, and it’s pretty good for what it is. I did try a few calls with these glasses and the microphone seems to work well and the other person was able to hear my clearly and I could hear them. There seems to be some noise cancellation so there must be more than one microphone on these to help filter out background noise.
I’m seeing about 4-5 hours of audio playback on a charge and I’ve been loving these for going on walks with my dog in the mornings. The polarized lenses aren’t too dark and work well in normal to medium bright sunlight pretty well. If you look closely, you can see that these aren’t normal sunglasses, but most people probably won’t even notice. It does say “Soundcore” on the side of the arms. Good product, I’m happy with these and am going to get the blank frames and put my glasses prescription in them so I can use these at night when my contacts are removed.
The Sunglasses: So, this is the area I was most concerned about and I think I was correct to be concerned. The lenses are actually pretty good. Solid polarized vision. Well made. However, the frame feels a bit cheap to me. Again, I am comparing these to really high end frames that cost more than these and don’t have speakers. Still, everyday, these aren’t going to bring you joy to have on your face. That said, they are good and, when you add in all the tech, I am surprised to say that I think most will like them. They fit well. They aren’t for small faces. I absolutely love that they know when they are on your face. Take them off and whatever you are listening to pauses. Back on and so is your media. Really well done. I don’t love them as sunglasses but I think they have done enough to satisfy even my picky pallet.
The Sound: It is oddly good as long as you keep your expectations in line. These do not create something akin to buds. However, it is more than adequate. There is definitely sound leakage so don’t have a private conversation and think that those around you won’t hear it. They will. Speaking of, phone calls are solid. Anker let’s you customize your sound through their app. I played with everything to the point of monotony. Suffice to say that I recommend just sticking with the Soundcore Signature Sound. I like what Anker has done here especially at this price.
Other Stuff: I am getting about five hours of battery life. About what I would find acceptable. They use a proprietary charger here that allows you to charge both arms at the same time. It works but it is an area that Soundcore needs to do some work. Range and connectivity are all solid.
So, this is an interesting product. Does anyone need these? No. That said, I love the idea of a functional set of sunglasses that allows my ears to be free of buds. Anker has set these up so you can buy multiple frames for the arms where all the tech is. Overall, I love this idea. Moving forward, I would like to see a bit more attention to detail with regard to the hinges and frames overall but these are more than adequate. If you want the latest smart tech, for $200, what Anker Soundcore has put together here is very compelling. I am surprisingly, recommending that you give these a go. Just curb your expectations for them as sunglasses and with regard to sound.
When Bose introduced its first audio sunglasses, I was dubious until I tried them, and then I was blown away. Flash forward a year later to these Soundcore glasses by Anker. They aim to compete in the unique portable audio market. While they improve on some aspects of the Bose Tempo sunglasses, they also falter on others.
The sound quality of these Soundcore approaches my Bose when used with “OpenSurround”, a mode that delivers surround sound through four speakers embedded in the arms. They fail when it comes to sound leakage, whether privacy mode and/or regular sound is selected. I cannot figure out why this is since the smaller Soundcore speakers are placed in relatively similar spots on the arms and the Bose speakers are larger. I like to sit on the beach listening to music through sunglasses without my husband being bothered by it. We listen to different kinds of music, and the sound leakage would drive him crazy. He already made a face when I asked him if he could hear the music from the SoundCore. The best sound comes from OpenSurround and privacy turned off, with one of the equalizer setting chosen. You may not get the bass and richness of sound that you get from Bose, but you do get precision and clarity, particularly in the mids and highs.
The real weakness comes with connectivity, saved settings/functions, and the app. When my Soundcore Wander glasses turn off and disconnect, I cannot always get them to automatically turn on and/or automatically connect again to my iPhone. I can try to connect via my Bluetooth settings, but it connects, then immediately disconnects. I’ve learned that I have to open the app before wearing them. If the app is not open on my phone, I have to hold my fingers over both logos at the temples until they turn on. Sometimes when I do this, all the settings I previously used disappear from the app and therefore the sunglasses. It’s an expletive-ing pain. Bose connects flawlessly every time without my having to use the app to connect. When these work correctly, they are great.
As sunglasses, they do an adequate but not great job of blocking glare for those of us with light sensitive eyes. Most people will not find them too light. I do love that the arms are much thinner than the Bose’s and therefore look more like ordinary sunglasses. With the Soundcore, you can easily swap out frame styles since the arms easily disconnect and attach to another look. You don’t have to buy a new Soundcore just to change the lenses, and you don’t need to pop out lenses from the frames. Because I find the Wander frames too big for my face, I might change the style once the firmware gets fixed.
I suspect these were released too early in a rush to get them on the market for the holiday season. I wavered between giving them 3 or 4 stars, the higher rating mainly because the sound quality is good enough to indicate huge potential. Soundcore could and should improve the usage of these sunglasses through firmware updates. I shouldn’t have to use the app once I’ve set them up. Once the firmware amd app are debugged, these sunglasses should prove to be a real competitor to Bose, especially if they are priced slightly lower.
— Debbie Lee Wesselma
I have both the Bose frames as well as the VocalSkull Alien 5 Bone Conduction Glasses. I wear these types of sunglasses when going around on an bike, scooter, inside my house or just walk around.
Sound:
Soundcore is the most balanced of the 3 audio sunglasses. Let me start with Bone Conduction ones. Easy comparison, They’re absolutely garbage for sound quality, really just like $20 earphones.
Highs: Soundcore is a bit off so it’s definitely missing some edge sparkle with the higher frequency instruments like cymbals, but I will say it’s better than the Bose. The Bose have even less pronounced highs so you don’t really notice the highs much at all.
Mids: the Soundcore are more forward such that for vocals, singers sound like they’re more present, but not too forward such that they sound like they’re right in your head. For the Bose, the mids are quite recessed and almost make singers sound muffled in comparison. Once again, the soundcore wins on presence and clarity, but loses on tonality.
Lows: The soundcore has bass that is tighter, cleaner, and has far less mid-bass which contributes to the less warm/muffled sounding vocals. However, it doesn’t go as deep as the Bose. Even EQing it wasn’t able to make it the same level with Bose. BUT this only matters in a quiet environment. Out on the street, bass is non-existent on both sunglasses due to environmental sounds.
Besides, the OpenSurrend Feature is a unique feature that brings a unique feature. It is definitely worth trying but not for all music type.
Pros,
– They look great and are a nice weight. Not too heavy and not too light. (But please be aware of the size, it does look a bit too big on my wife’s head. I think the fitness for size and style are the key for one’s choose)
– I do like the virtually try-on with the App. It let me try more frames and find another suit for me. I would like to see more coming later such as sporty ones.
– Connection is solid and far. Maybe the furthest Bluetooth speaker I have.
– Battery and charging are just fine for me
Cons,
– One cable is not enough for me, especially it is proprietary. I do get one through the chat with their service team on their web. But it is not very friendly for me.
– In noisy environments they’re not as useful.
Hmm.. BTW for privacy: The soundcore are feeling a little bit louder than the Bose frames. But it also sounds louder. I think this will be a sort of con but If you set up your expectation and using case right, it won’t be a problem.
The Soundcore frames have definitely had a ton of thought put into them. I wish with more accessories added (such as charging case, etc.) and more features, it will be a solid product for daily usage.