Soundcore is a relatively new audio company, but they’ve quickly become one of the most popular brands for budget wireless earbuds. The Life P2 Mini and Life P2i are two such products – they are both stemmed budget wireless earbuds that emphasize power and bass with portability.
The Life P2 Mini and Life P2i look fairly similar, but how do they actually compare to each other? is one decidedly better than the other? I have fully reviewed both of them and will answer those questions here.
Soundcore Life P2 Mini vs Life P2i Side by Side
Soundcore Life P2 Mini vs Life P2i Specs and Features
| Spec | Life P2 Mini | Life P2i |
|---|---|---|
| release date | Jul 2021 | Aug 2021 |
| price-tier ⓘbudget: around $30 or less value: around $30-$60 performance: around $60-$100 premium: around $100-$200 elite: more than $200 |
budget | budget |
| design style | 10mm single dynamic driver | 10mm single dynamic driver |
| earbuds battery life | 9h | 8h |
| total + case battery life | 36h | 28h |
| weatherproofing | IPX5 | IPX5 |
| onboard controls | touch based | buttons |
| wireless charging | no | no |
| active noise cancellation | no | no |
| transparency mode | no | no |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| EQ app compatibility | no | no |
| Multipoint 2+ device support | no | no |
| warranty | 18 months | 18 months |
The Life P2 Mini and Life P2i indeed have a mostly similar design. The only notable differences between the two are the stem shapes and the touch vs button controls.
Soundcore Life P2 Mini vs Life P2i Fit and Comfort
Both the Life P2 Mini and Life P2i have a comfortable and secure fit. I didn’t have any seal breaking issues with either no matter how I moved any part of my head around. The Life P2 Mini does come with five sets of tips while the Life P2i only comes with three, so there might be a greater chance that some people will have fit issues with the Life P2i.
Soundcore Life P2 Mini vs Life P2i Isolation
The fit and design style of the Life P2 Mini and Life P2i is pretty much the same – a stemmed ovoid that sits a little on the light and shallow side. As a consequence the natural isolation of either is not particularly great, and about the same.
Soundcore Life P2 Mini vs Life P2i Controls
The Soundcore Life P2i controls are significantly better than the Life P2 Mini controls. The Life P2i has buttons that have a great travel and general feel, while the Life P2 Mini has finnicky touch controls that are somewhat unreliable, and I had a fair amount of “misses” with the Life P2 Mini. The Life P2i is also has onboard volume control while the Life P2 Mini does not.
Soundcore Life P2 Mini vs Life P2i Charging Case
The cases are about the same size, but the Life P2 Mini case is a little thinner and more ergonomic. The Life P2i’s case material and lid hinge feel sturdier than those of the Life P2 Mini, which feels a little thin, flimsy, and plasticky in comparison.
Soundcore Life P2 Mini vs Life P2i Sound Quality
Preliminary note: this page explains how I evaluate the sound quality of headphones and earbuds.
The sound quality of the Life P2i is better than that of the P2 Mini. The Life P2i default tuning is somewhat unbalanced towards being overly warm and bassy, but is otherwise fairly smooth, accurate, and overall decent for the budget price-point. The Life P2 Mini has the same default tuning issues but also has specific issues on top of that – weird stuttering and cut-outs at specific frequencies and with specific sounds. The Life P2 Mini has subpar sound quality, even at the budget price-point.
Final Verdict: Is the Soundcore Life P2 Mini or Life P2i Better?
The Life P2i is the clear better choice in my opinion – it has better sound quality without the specific issues that the Life P2 Mini has, a better control schematic that includes volume control, and a sturdier case. Those advantages of the Life P2i significantly outweigh its somewhat worse battery life.
Get the Life P2 Mini on Amazon (affiliate link)
Get the Life P2i on Amazon (affiliate link)
Relevant Articles
• Full Life P2 Mini review
• Full Life P2i review
• Is Soundcore a good audio brand?
• The best budget true wireless earbuds (under $30)
