The Anker Soundcore Space 2 headphones are a great value alternative to Bose and Sony

Back in 2023, Anker released Soundcore Space One Noise canceling headphones. Although I thought they were good value for around $100, I didn’t like them even when they became popular headphones. They seemed pretty big on my head and performed decently, if not exceptionally well, across the board. They were a good, budget-friendly alternative to more expensive headphones from Bose, Sony, and Apple, but they fell well short of the flagship models from those brands.

New Anker for 2026 Soundcore Space 2 The headphones ($130) are a definite upgrade. Not only does it have a sleeker, more comfortable design, but it also has improved sound and noise cancellation. At about a quarter of the Sony’s $450 price WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd generation)They are an excellent and affordable alternative to those models. While they’re more than a B-plus for overall performance, they earn an A rating in the value department.

Read more: The best headphones of 2026

Soundcore Space 2 design

While the Space 2 weighs essentially the same as the Space One (265g versus 260.6g), the Space 2 appears to have been slimmed down a bit and looks sleeker. Anker has upgraded the earpads with plush memory foam, and the headphones are generally comfortable and fit securely on my head without having to use a lot of clamping force.

It folds flat and includes a basic fabric-like carrying case as well as a USB-C cable and a 3.5mm cable to connect to audio devices with a 3.5mm jack. Although it doesn’t have premium build quality, it feels more premium than the Space One.

As far as controls go, there’s a pause/play button and a volume rocker on the left ear cup (hold the volume up button to push the track forward and hold the volume down button to skip backwards). On the right earcup, you’ll find the power/Bluetooth button and an ‘NC’ button that allows you to switch between noise cancellation and transparency modes. Long press the power button to access your phone’s voice assistant. You can also answer an incoming call with a single press of the same button or reject it with a long press. After a few days of use, you should get used to operating the buttons through the feel of the unit, although I initially removed the headphones a few times to remind myself which buttons were there.

Soundcore Space 2 features

Space 2 doesn’t have a lot of extra features. However, it supports multipoint Bluetooth pairing and is equipped with ear detection sensors that pause music when you remove the headphones and resume playback when you put them back on (the feature must be activated in the companion Soundcore app for iOS and Android). Additionally, they have an “AI Chat” mode which is basically like Siri always on and allows you to use voice commands to control playback, or just ask for the weather report and other information. This must also be activated in the app, after which saying “Hey, Anka” can be used for voice commands or asking questions.

The app offers manual equalizer settings for adjusting the sound, as well as some presets and a HearID EQ setting that optimizes the sound for your ears based on a hearing test. On a more important note, I was disappointed with the 3D audio mode in the app’s “Sound Effects” setting. It didn’t expand the soundstage or give any kind of spatial audio feel and made everything sound worse. Maybe it will be improved in a firmware update.

In terms of audio codecs, iPhone users get SBC and AAC codecs. Meanwhile, Android users have the additional option of using Sony’s high-quality LDAC for streaming over Bluetooth (it’s Bluetooth 6.1), assuming your Android device supports it, as many do.

While the headphones support wired analog listening using the included cable, there’s no USB-C audio support. I was hoping they would.

Soundcore Space 2 noise canceling performance

The headphones offer Space One-optimized adaptive noise cancellation, with better noise suppression for low-frequency sounds. However, while walking the streets of New York, I heard more noise across all frequencies than the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen), and Apple AirPods Max 2 headphones. In other words, noise cancellation is effective but not at the same level as what you get with more expensive premium ANC headphones. I’d rate it as a B-plus, while the noise cancellation on those other models gets an A-plus.

Soundcore Space 2’s sound quality

Out of the box, I thought the Space 2’s sound quality was pretty good using the default Soundcore Signature EQ, but I can’t say it blew me away. There’s good clarity and definition with a reasonably wide soundstage, but there’s a bit of bass compression (which some people might appreciate), and the sound doesn’t sound quite as clean, natural or rich as what you get with some high-end wireless headphones.

After taking Anker Hearing ID During my hearing test in a quiet room, I compared my Custom Profile to the Soundcore Signature setup and felt like I got a noticeable improvement in sound quality. In my profile, the bass was pulled back a bit, the midrange more so, and there was a rise where the mids cross into the highs. Finally, some of the threesomes were shaved off. It was a kind of modified U-shaped shape with some roughness. I liked how it made the sound sound a little more balanced, with the bass tightening up a bit and a bit of an edge from the highs.

the Baseus Inspire XH1 They are one of Space 2’s closest competitors at the moment. This model, which costs about $100, has “Sound by Bose” and is generally a well-designed headphone with similar overall performance. I like the sound of the Baseus a bit more. It also has a bit of bass boost, but the bass has a bit more energy and the sound seems smoother overall (and the XH1s have more openness). But which sound you prefer will largely come down to a matter of taste. Note that the Inspire

In the end, if I didn’t have a better-sounding set of headphones on hand to compare them to, I might praise the Space 2’s sound more, which is very good with a little tweaking. I’d give them an A or A-minus for sound at this price ($130 still isn’t cheap), but more of a B-plus in the larger scheme of things.

Soundcore Space 2 voice calling performance and battery life

In my tests with callers on noisy New York streets, the headphones did an excellent job of reducing background noise to near silence, but callers said my voice sounded muffled—as if I were speaking through the sleeve of a thick shirt. I could hear callers just fine, but based on the feedback I received from them, I rated the voice calling performance a B.

The Space 2 offers solid battery life of up to 50 hours with noise cancellation at moderate levels and up to 70 hours with noise cancellation off. The Sony WH-1000XM6 is rated for up to 30 hours with noise cancellation turned on.

Anker Soundcore Space 2 Final Thoughts

Not everyone can afford to spend upwards of $250 (or want to) on premium noise-canceling headphones, which is where models like the Anker Soundcore Space 2 come in. They’re a definite improvement over the Space One, with better design and build quality than many of the headphones in our top picks. Budget noise canceling headphones Exist and match or exceed their performance. Some of these headsets cost a little less, but the Space 2 is a better option at this price, especially if you see it on sale for close to $100.