How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want maximum bass, app-based sound customization and the freedom to fine-tune everything about how your earbuds behave, choose Anker Soundcore; if you need earbuds that stay locked on your ears during runs and let you hear traffic while you ride, choose Ugreen HiTune S3.
These two sit in completely different corners of the wireless earbud world. The Soundcore P20i is a classic in-ear design built around big drivers and a companion app. The Ugreen HiTune S3 is an open-ear clip-on built around awareness and stability. That single design difference drives almost every other trade-off below, so it's worth understanding it before anything else.
• Anker Soundcore — biggest strength: oversized 10mm drivers tuned for boosted bass, plus the soundcore app with 22 EQ presets, customizable touch controls and a Find My Earbuds feature.
• Anker Soundcore — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear design, so it seals your ear canal. That means more bass, but also less awareness of what's happening around you.
• Ugreen HiTune S3 — biggest strength: a 5.3g C-shape clip that hooks onto the edge of your ear, keeping your ear canal open so you stay aware of traffic, teammates and surroundings.
• Ugreen HiTune S3 — biggest trade-off: no app at all — just touch controls — and Ugreen notes the clip may not suit larger ears since the maximum size is 2.5cm.
• Pick Anker Soundcore if you want the most customizable, bass-heavy listening experience and you mostly listen indoors, commuting or at a desk.
• Pick Ugreen HiTune S3 if you run, cycle, drive or work out and want earbuds that stay put without blocking your ears.
The P20i is built for people who care about how their music sounds and want control over it. The 10mm dynamic drivers are described as oversized, and Anker leans into a bass-forward tuning with a signature BassUp EQ among the presets. If you like hip-hop, electronic or anything with a strong low end, that's the design intent here. The app is the real differentiator: 22 EQ presets, customizable tap controls, a gaming mode for lower-latency in-game audio, and Find My Earbuds, which makes a lost bud emit noise so you can track it down.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants rich, adjustable sound for commuting, studying, gaming or desk work, and who values app-level control. Who should skip it: cyclists, runners on open roads and anyone who needs to hear their surroundings — the in-ear seal and sound isolation work against you there. Also skip it if you dislike ear tips or find in-ear fit fiddly.
Ugreen HiTune S3: Who It's For
The HiTune S3 exists for the opposite situation. Instead of plugging your ear canal, the C-shape clip rests on the edge of your ear, and each earbud weighs just 5.3 grams. That open-ear approach means you hear your music and the world at the same time — Ugreen specifically points to cyclists and hikers, and I'd add runners, drivers and gym-goers to that list. The materials are a mix of thermoplastic elastomer and titanium alloy, which is a sensible combo for something that has to flex and hold its shape.
Audio comes from 12mm drivers with what Ugreen describes as balanced sound and deep bass, and it uses AI noise cancelling for voice pickup on calls, plus a claim of reducing sound leakage by 98% — a real concern with open designs, since everyone around you otherwise hears your podcast. Battery is rated at 7.5 hours per charge and 30 hours total, with USB-C fast charging giving 120 minutes of playback from a 15-minute top-up. Bluetooth 5.4 is the newer standard here, with a claimed 0.08-second low delay in Game Mode.
Two honest caveats from Ugreen's own notes: the maximum size is 2.5cm, so these may not fit larger ears, and there is no dedicated app — touch controls only. IPX5 waterproofing handles sweat and rain, which is exactly what you want if these live in your gym bag.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, drivers and anyone who wants situational awareness as a feature, not a compromise. Who should skip it: people with larger ears, and anyone who wants deep EQ customization or maximum bass isolation.
• Best for bass and sound customization → Anker Soundcore. 10mm drivers, BassUp tuning and 22 EQ presets in the app.
• Best for running and cycling → Ugreen HiTune S3. The open-ear clip keeps you aware of traffic and stays secure without sealing your ears.
• Best for app control → Anker Soundcore. Custom EQ, remappable touch controls, gaming mode and Find My Earbuds. Ugreen has no app at all.
• Best for blocking out the world → Anker Soundcore. In-ear sound isolation is the point. The HiTune S3 is deliberately the opposite.
• Best for workouts and sweaty weather → Ugreen HiTune S3. IPX5 waterproofing is an explicit rating; the P20i is described as water-resistant but without a stated IP number in its specs.
• Best for the newest Bluetooth → Ugreen HiTune S3. Bluetooth 5.4 versus 5.3 on the P20i.
• Best for longer single-charge sessions → Anker Soundcore. 10 hours per charge versus roughly 7.5 hours for the HiTune S3.
• Best for larger ears → Anker Soundcore. Ugreen warns its clip may not fit ears beyond 2.5cm.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you need to hear your surroundings? If yes, buy the Ugreen HiTune S3 — the clip-on design, IPX5 rating and Bluetooth 5.4 make it the more sensible choice for running, cycling and driving. If no, I'd buy the Anker Soundcore P20i. The app, the 22 EQ presets, the bass-forward tuning and the extra single-charge battery life make it the better everyday listening earbud for commuting, gaming and desk work. I'd only steer you away from the P20i if ear tips bother you, and away from the HiTune S3 if your ears run large or you want to fine-tune your sound.
For running, yes — in my opinion. The open-ear clip design keeps you aware of traffic and stays secure, and the IPX5 rating covers sweat and rain. The P20i's in-ear seal blocks exactly the sound you want to hear outdoors.
Correct. The P20i works with the soundcore app for 22 EQ presets, custom controls, gaming mode and Find My Earbuds. Ugreen states the HiTune S3 has no dedicated app — just smart touch controls.
The Anker Soundcore P20i edges ahead: 10 hours per charge and 30 hours total, versus about 7.5 hours per charge and 30 hours total for the Ugreen HiTune S3. Both support fast charging and take around 2 hours for a full case charge.
Ugreen warns the HiTune S3 clip maxes out at 2.5cm, so it may not suit larger ears. The Anker P20i uses standard in-ear tips with an ergonomic oval shape, which generally fits a wider range of ears.
Both are budget-tier designs, but I won't quote numbers here — check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page and compare the two before you commit.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.