Anker Soundcore Space Two wishlist: All the features I want to see

It used to be that flagship features cost flagship prices, but not anymore. Price-savvy shoppers willing to search the market can bag high-end features for a fraction of the cost of premium brands. Anker leads from the front and has firmly positioned itself as one of the most popular manufacturers of affordable headphones. For example, the Soundcore Space One are a favorite at the office thanks to their decent noise canceling, comprehensive companion app, and cheap price tag. Sure, their updated Pro-series sibling promises longer battery life and a compact design, but they cost $100 more. With that in mind, it is little wonder fans are excited for the Anker Soundcore Space Two.

Anker has not officially announced the Soundcore Space Two yet, and rumors are sparse at the time of writing. Nevertheless, here are all the features I want to see when the Anker Soundcore Space Two materialize.

Improved sound quality

We all have different preferences regarding what constitutes pleasing sound quality. However, much to the dismay of audiophiles, many consumer headphones have a U-shaped frequency curve. This over-emphasizes bass and treble while under-emphasizing midrange frequencies. The result is a more “exciting” sound that makes kick drums, hi-hats, and bass guitars more prominent. Unfortunately, this can make fundamental sounds in vocals, guitars, and synths sound comparatively subdued.

The Anker Soundcore Space One have a U-shaped default frequency curve. In particular, the headphones accentuate bass and sub-bass frequencies below 150Hz significantly more than our target preference curve. High-end content above 1.6kHz is also over-emphasized and undulates more than we would like. The midrange between 180Hz and 1kHz is attenuated by as much as 7dB, making auditory detail from vocals, pianos, and guitars much harder to hear. I’d like to see the Anker Soundcore Space Two feature a flatter frequency response to appease more listeners.

Touch controls

Many high-end over-ear headphones now come equipped with touch controls. These allow you to conduct sophisticated commands on the fly and are generally considered easier to use than their tactile counterparts. Some headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM5, use a list of handy gestures to control parameters like volume adjustment and track skipping. However, you can also activate Sony’s voice assistant feature by holding the touch panel. Likewise, cupping your hand next to the touchpad turns on Sony’s ambient sound mode.

The Anker Soundcore Space One are controlled with physical buttons on each ear cup. For example, the headphones’ right ear cup features power and song-skipping buttons. Similarly, the left ear cup adorns controls for play/pause and volume up/down. Like the Sony WH-1000XM5, you can cover the left ear cup to activate transparency mode. The headphones also support automatic ear detection and speak-to-chat. Unfortunately, these are the only gestured-based controls the Soundcore Space One uses. The Anker Soundcore Space Two will appeal to more users if they adorn touch controls.

A hard carrying case

It is reasonable to expect that our hard-earned purchases are protected from the elements. Unfortunately, budgets often dictate whether our headphones ship with a carrying case. For example, the Edifier W830NB do not include a cloth or hard case and are prone to minor scuffs and scratches. Counterwise, Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones come with a fabric-wrapped carry case that is well-optimized for frequent flyers and protects the cans from damage.

While the Soundcore Space One are budget headphones, Anker didn’t skimp out on handy add-ons. For example, the headphones come packaged with a USB-C charging cable, a 3.5mm auxiliary cable, and a cloth carry case. However, while the last is welcome, it does little to protect the headphones from hard knocks. This problem feels especially acute when you can spend $50 more on the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 and receive a robust hardcover carrying case. The Anker Soundcore Space Two should include a hard carrying case at launch.

USB-C audio

How we consume music has changed a lot in a relatively short period. For example, it used to be that most listeners would connect headphones and earbuds to their source devices via a 3.5mm aux. However, this is no longer the case. Smartphone manufacturers have been systemically omitting the headphone jack for some time. As a result, Bluetooth and USB-C audio have become the de facto methods for listening to music on the go.

The Anker Soundcore Space One runs Bluetooth 5.3 and connects via the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. However, those who prefer listening over wires can connect the included aux cable to the headphone port on the right ear cup. This provides lossless music streaming and a reliable connection in congested radio environments. However, the Anker Soundcore Space Two will need USB-C audio to stay up to date and compete with the best USB-C headphones.

A more robust design

You’d be forgiven for asking where all the waterproof headphones are, given very few over-ear headphones adorn an ingress protection (IP) rating. However, there are some exceptions for those willing to search hard enough. For example, the Under Armour Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones by JBL adorn an IPX4 rating to protect against omnidirectional water splashes. Similarly, the Jabra Elite 85h wear a water-repellant nano-coating to protect internal components from moisture.

Although it’s a long shot, I would love the Anker Soundcore Space Two to feature a water- and dust-resistant exterior. This would fill a gap in the market and elevate the product above much of the competition. The headphones would also benefit from a more robust build that replaces cheap plastic with metal trims. While this may increase the cost, it would provide a more premium aesthetic and reassure consumers that the headphones are less prone to snapping.

Will there be an Anker Soundcore Space Two?

Anker continues to update its earbuds and headphones category with affordable and high-end offerings. In particular, the company released the updated Soundcore Space One Pro in September 2024. The headphones deliver a “super foldable design,” powerful noise canceling, and comfortable fit. Unfortunately, the cans retail for twice the price as the Soundcore Space One and produce a skull-rattling amount of bass.

There has been no word from Anker about the Soundcore Space Two at the time of writing. However, we can surmise an approximate launch date based on the company’s previous release schedule.

• Anker Soundcore Life Q35 — February 21, 2021
• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 — August 25, 2022
• Anker Soundcore Space One — August 25, 2023

For example, the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 arrived on shelves on February 21, 2021. The Soundcore Space Q45 arrived one year and six months later on August 25, 2022. The Soundscore Space One came to market one year later on August 25, 2023. By that metric, we should have seen the Anker Soundscore Space Two come to fruition in late 2024. The headphones should materialize soon if Anker wants to stay relevant in the competitive wireless headphones arena.

Should you wait for the Anker Soundcore Space Two?

The Anker Soundcore Space One are one of the best affordable noise canceling headphones you can buy. Price-savvy shoppers can grab a pair from major retailers including Amazon and Best Buy. However, given the Soundcore Space Two should have already come to market, fans will rightly question whether it is worth waiting for the company’s next-gen upgrade.

Those wanting the best price-to-feature ratio should consider the Anker Soundcore Space One ($99.99 at Amazon.) These cans cost significantly less than the competition and deliver auto-wear detection, good microphone quality, and decent noise canceling. Specifically, ANC makes sounds appear one-quarter as loud as without the headphones. Anker also provides decent transparency mode passthrough, allowing you to hear your surroundings with minimal added noise. With ANC enabled, you can listen for over 42 hours, and the headphones fast charge four hours from a 5-minute top-up. Fans can connect over Bluetooth 5.3 via the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, and the headphones support advanced Bluetooth features like Auracast. However, downloading the Soundcore app is vital for unlocking Anker’s best features. These include firmware updates, control customization, and an eight-band custom EQ. The last is paramount for taming the headphones’ over-emphasized bass and treble response.

Budget-conscious musos who prefer a flat frequency response will likely enjoy the 1MORE SonoFlow ($99.99 at Amazon.) These headphones don’t deviate too far from our target preference curve, albeit with a slight underemphasis on the low end. Noise canceling is good enough to block out low rumbles from public transport, and the headphones support transparency mode when you need to hear your surroundings. The 1MORE SonoFlow do well in the battery department, delivering nearly 57 hours of listening time on a single charge. A quick 5-minute top-up also yields five hours of playback time. Fans can download the 1MORE MUSIC App to access listening modes, firmware updates, and 12 EQ presets. The headphones connect via Bluetooth 5.0 or the supplied 2.5mm to 3.5mm TRS jack cable. However, note that ANC is unavailable when listening over wires, and any volume adjustment or track skipping must be executed from your source device.

The JLab JBuds Lux ANC ($79.99 at Amazon) are some of our favorite budget headphones in the office. These wear a comfortable form factor with a wider opening at the top of the ear cup to accommodate real ear shapes. The headphones fold up compactly for stowing away in a backpack, although there is no ingress protection (IP) rating for moisture resistance. Fans can connect via Bluetooth 5.3 or listen wired over USB-C. Battery life lasts over 44 hours with ANC enabled and a 10-minute charge begets four hours of listening time. The JBuds Lux ANC show their price in the noise canceling department, with 10 to 20dB of noise cancelation under 700Hz. However, our testing shows most people will enjoy the sound quality of the JLab JBuds Lux ANC. You can download the JLab app to tweak the 10-band custom EQ if the sound isn’t to your liking.

Those wishing to stay within the Anker ecosystem should grab the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 ($79.99 at Amazon.) While a little outdated, these headphones include a list of high-end features. Out of the box you receive a hardshell carrying case, a USB-C charging cable, and a 3.5mm audio cable for wired listening. Using the cans with the Soundcore app delivers a bunch of EQ presets, a custom EQ, noise canceling strengths, and “Superior Sleep.” Battery life lasts over 46 hours on a single charge, and a 5-minute boost yields four hours of listening time. Noise canceling is decent and does a good job of attenuating low drones from cars, planes, and trains. The Soundcore Life Q30 have okay sound quality, although they boost sub-bass and treble frequencies too much for audiophiles. The headphones reproduce voices well enough for taking calls on the move.

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