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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a simple, reliable pair of wired in ear earbuds for a laptop, a school Chromebook or an older phone with a headphone jack, choose ASKUBSKU School Earbuds; if you need true wireless open-ear earbuds that keep you aware of traffic and people around you while you run or ride, choose Anker Soundcore V20i. Those two needs almost never overlap, which is exactly why this comparison comes down to connection type more than anything else.
• ASKUBSKU School Earbuds — biggest strength: a 3.5mm wired connection with a semi in-ear 45° fit, in-line volume control and a storage case, so there is nothing to charge and nothing to pair.
• ASKUBSKU School Earbuds — biggest trade-off: it is a wired product with no battery of its own, the in-line volume control does not work on iOS devices, and it relies on your device's 3.5mm port being clean and working.
• Anker Soundcore V20i — biggest strength: open-ear ear hooks with four adjustable positions, 16mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, four mics for calls, IP55 and up to 36 hours total playtime with the charging case.
• Anker Soundcore V20i — biggest trade-off: nothing plugs in, so you are dependent on battery, pairing and a Bluetooth source, and its open-ear design deliberately does not seal or isolate sound.
• Who each pick is for: ASKUBSKU for students, office users and anyone on a 3.5mm device who wants zero charging hassle; Anker Soundcore V20i for runners, cyclists, commuters and outdoor workers who want wireless freedom plus full awareness of their surroundings.
The ASKUBSKU School Earbuds are about as straightforward as headphones get. The 3.5mm jack plugs into a PC, laptop, Samsung Galaxy A25/A15/A03s/A23/S10, Moto G Power or G Pure, Google Pixel 4a/3a/5a and a long list of other phones and tablets. There is no pairing screen, no firmware, no charging case to remember. The built-in chip and dynamic driver are tuned for a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz range with bass detail and clear mid and high pitch, which is plenty for lectures, YouTube, Spotify and Zoom calls. The in-line control handles volume and the microphone is there for calls, and the metal enclosure in black keeps the whole thing feeling tidy rather than toy-like.
The comfort story is the part I find most interesting for a school or office product. This is a semi in-ear design rather than a deep-seated one, with a 45° insertion angle that the brand says reduces that pressurized, blocked-up feeling after long wear. If you have ever taken a normal in-ear bud out after a two-hour study session and felt relief, that is precisely the problem this shape is trying to solve. The included storage case is a small thing that matters a lot for students, because loose earbuds in a backpack die fast.
Anker Soundcore V20i: Who It's For
The Anker Soundcore V20i sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. It is a true wireless open-ear model with ear hooks, which means the drivers rest near your ear canal rather than inside it. That single design choice drives everything else: you hear your music and you hear the world at the same time. For city running, cycling, walking near traffic, or working in a shared space where someone might call your name, that awareness is a genuine safety and practicality feature rather than a marketing line.
The hardware backs it up. The 16mm dynamic drivers with titanium-coated domes and BassUp technology are aimed at delivering real low-end from an open design, which is normally the weak point of open-ear audio. Four adjustable hook positions let you rotate the fit until it is stable, which matters because a loose open-ear bud is basically a tiny speaker floating next to your head. Four microphones plus an AI algorithm handle calls, and Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint means you can be connected to a laptop and a phone at the same time and jump between them.
Battery is where it pulls ahead for all-day use: roughly 8 hours per charge and up to 36 hours total with the charging case, with about 1.5 hours to charge the buds and 2.5 hours for the case. The buds carry an IP55 rating, so sweat and light rain are not a problem. The 76.4 g total weight and the case's own 57.8 g are noticeable but reasonable for something that lives in a gym bag. The tune-synced customizable lights are a love-it-or-ignore-it extra. Note that there is no active noise cancellation here, and no jack at all — it is Bluetooth 5.4 only.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, gym-goers, delivery and warehouse workers, and anyone who wants to stay aware while listening. Who should skip it: people who want to disappear into music on a plane or in a noisy library, and anyone who refuses to think about charging.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for zero-hassle, no-charging use → ASKUBSKU School Earbuds. Plug in and go; no battery state to think about.
• Best for battery life → Anker Soundcore V20i. Up to 8 hours per charge and up to 36 hours with the case.
• Best for long study or work sessions → ASKUBSKU School Earbuds. The semi in-ear 45° shape is built to avoid long-wear ear pressure.
• Best for calls on the move → Anker Soundcore V20i. Four mics with AI enhancement and multipoint switching between devices.
• Best for sweat and light rain → Anker Soundcore V20i. IP55-rated buds for workouts and commutes.
• Best for older phones, laptops and school devices with a headphone jack → ASKUBSKU School Earbuds. The 3.5mm connection works without pairing.
• Best for people who hate charging things → ASKUBSKU School Earbuds. One cable, no case battery to top up.
• Best for music-first listening in quiet spaces → neither is ideal. The open-ear V20i leaks sound in, and the ASKUBSKU is a semi in-ear, not an isolating design.
In my opinion, the right answer depends entirely on what you are plugging into. If your device has a 3.5mm jack and you want headphones you never have to charge or pair, I would buy the ASKUBSKU School Earbuds — the semi in-ear shape, in-line controls and included case make it the more practical everyday pick for school, work and travel. If you are active outdoors and value hearing traffic and people around you, I would buy the Anker Soundcore V20i instead, because the open-ear hook design, IP55 rating and 36-hour total battery are exactly what that lifestyle needs. Two different jobs, two different tools — and neither is the wrong choice if you match it to your day.
how to make wired earbuds stay in ear
Start with the insertion angle, because that is what the ASKUBSKU design is built around: the brand specifies a 45° semi in-ear fit, so you seat the bud at that angle rather than jamming it straight in. Make sure the ear tip is clean and dry, since skin oils and dust reduce grip, and clean the 3.5mm port on your device as well — the brand notes that dust and static buildup there can cause the headset to misbehave. And use the cable's strain relief: let the wire hang loosely rather than tugging on the bud, since a taut cable is what pulls earbuds out.
how to make apple wired earbuds stay in ear
The mechanics are the same as with any wired bud: a clean, dry ear tip, a consistent insertion angle, and a cable that is not pulling. If you are using the ASKUBSKU School Earbuds on an iPhone through an adapter, keep in mind that the in-line volume control is not available on iOS devices per the brand, so you will adjust volume on the phone itself. Fit issues on Apple's own wired buds usually come down to tip size and angle, not the cable.
how to put earbuds in your ear
For a semi in-ear pair like the ASKUBSKU School Earbuds, pull the ear gently up and back to open the canal, then slide the bud in at roughly a 45° angle and let it rest without pressing hard. The point of this shape is that it does not seal deep, so it should feel light rather than plugged. For an open-ear hook design like the Anker Soundcore V20i, hook the arm over the top of your ear and rotate through the four available positions until the driver sits just outside the canal — stability matters more than depth here.
how to keep earbuds in ears
Fit, cleanliness and cable management do most of the work. On the ASKUBSKU pair, keep the 45° angle consistent, wipe the buds after use, and store them in the included case so the tips do not deform in a bag. On the Anker Soundcore V20i, spend the extra ten seconds rotating the adjustable hooks to the position that locks them in — the four-position system exists precisely for that. In both cases, avoid yanking the bud out by the cable or the hook arm, since repeated stress is what loosens the fit over time.
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