The Soundcore R60i NC is worth upgrading to if you want stronger ANC, LDAC support, Spatial Audio, AI Translation, better call handling, or longer battery life with ANC on. For basic music listening, the R50i NC is still good enough.
If you already own the Soundcore R50i NC and you're wondering whether the newer R60i NC is enough of a jump to bother upgrading, the answer depends on what is actually bothering you about the R50i.
The R60i NC is not a complete reinvention. Anker built it as a refinement of what the R50i NC already did well. A few of those refinements are substantial enough to matter for specific users, especially commuters, Android users who want LDAC, and people who take calls in noisy places. Others will barely change daily use.
Here’s what actually changed, and who should, and shouldn’t, bother upgrading.
Soundcore R60i NC vs R50i NC: Key Specs
| Feature | Soundcore R50i NC / P30i | Soundcore R60i NC / P31i |
|---|---|---|
| Driver size | 10 mm | 11 mm |
| ANC strength | Up to 42 dB | Up to 52 dB |
| Battery with ANC off | Up to 10h earbuds / 45h total | Up to 10h earbuds / 50h total |
| Battery with ANC on | Up to 7h earbuds / 30h total | Up to 8h earbuds / 40h total |
| LDAC support | No confirmed LDAC support | Yes |
| Hi-Res Audio | No confirmed Hi-Res support | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Not confirmed as a headline feature | Yes |
| AI Translation | No | Yes, through the Soundcore app |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 6.1 |
| Water/dust resistance | Varies by listing, verify before buying | IP55 |
| Best for | Budget ANC and daily music | Stronger ANC, calls, LDAC, and newer features |
What Anker Actually Changed
The R60i NC, sold internationally as the P31i, is the direct successor to the R50i NC, also known in some markets as the P30i. The changes cluster around four areas: sound hardware, noise cancellation, microphone/call handling, and the software feature set.
Drivers and sound signature
The R50i NC leaned heavily into a bassy, straightforward tuning. That was part of what made it popular as a budget pick in the first place. It uses 10 mm drivers and focuses on punchy, easy-to-like sound.
The R60i NC moves to 11 mm drivers and adds Hi-Res Audio with LDAC support. That matters most if you use a compatible Android phone and listen through apps or files that can actually benefit from higher-bitrate Bluetooth audio. The tuning still appears to follow the same Soundcore direction: bass-forward, energetic, and consumer-friendly.
This is not a night-and-day sound upgrade for everyone. If you already like the R50i NC’s bass-heavy profile, the R60i NC will feel familiar. The difference is more about refinement and detail than a completely new sound identity.
Noise cancellation
This is one of the more meaningful upgrades.
The R50i NC is rated for up to 42 dB of noise reduction. The R60i NC raises that figure to up to 52 dB, with real-time adaptive ANC that adjusts based on your surroundings. In daily use, the difference should matter most in places with steady background noise: buses, traffic, offices, cafés, fans, and public transport.
In quiet rooms, the upgrade will feel much less dramatic. Both earbuds can reduce low-level background sound, but the R60i NC has the stronger ANC ceiling.
Microphones and call quality
The R60i NC also improves the call-focused hardware and processing. Some listings describe it as using a six-microphone AI call system, while the R50i NC is positioned more simply as a budget ANC earbud with clear-call features.
This is a practical upgrade if you regularly take calls outdoors, in a car, in an office, or near traffic. The benefit is not just “more microphones” on paper. The real value is cleaner voice pickup and better noise handling during calls.
That said, budget earbuds still have limits. If call quality is your main priority, the R60i NC should be better than the R50i NC, but it should not be treated like a premium business headset.
Software and connectivity features
This is where the R60i NC pulls ahead clearly.
The R60i NC adds Hi-Res Audio certification with LDAC, Spatial Audio, AI Translation through the Soundcore app, and a low-latency gaming mode. These are the features that make it feel like a newer product rather than just a slightly updated R50i NC.
The R50i NC keeps things simpler. It still gives you active noise cancellation, app control, EQ options, transparency mode, and long battery life. For many users, that is enough.
If you are not going to use LDAC, Spatial Audio, translation, or gaming mode, the upgrade becomes much harder to justify.
Where the R60i NC Actually Pulls Ahead
The R60i NC is the better earbud on paper and in practical feature depth. The main advantages are:
-
Stronger rated ANC, up to 52 dB compared with up to 42 dB on the R50i NC
-
LDAC support for higher-quality Bluetooth audio on compatible devices
-
Hi-Res Audio certification
-
Spatial Audio
-
AI Translation through the Soundcore app
-
Better battery life with ANC on
-
Newer Bluetooth version
-
IP55 dust and water resistance
-
More advanced call-focused mic processing
The most useful upgrades are ANC, call handling, and LDAC. Those are the changes most likely to affect daily use.
Where the R60i NC Doesn't Actually Pull Ahead Enough
Not everything improved in a way that matters day to day.
Design
Both use a similar compact stem-style design. The R60i NC has a slightly more polished look, but this is mostly cosmetic. It does not change the basic experience enough to justify upgrading by itself.
Basic battery life
Battery life with ANC off is similar. The R50i NC is rated at up to 10 hours from the earbuds and 45 hours total with the case. The R60i NC is rated at up to 10 hours from the earbuds and 50 hours total with the case.
That is an improvement, but not a reason to upgrade on its own.
The bigger difference appears when ANC is turned on. The R50i NC is rated at up to 7 hours from the earbuds and 30 hours total with the case. The R60i NC improves that to up to 8 hours from the earbuds and 40 hours total with the case.
Everyday music listening
For casual listening, the R50i NC still holds up. If you mainly use your earbuds for YouTube, TikTok, podcasts, gym music, and casual Spotify listening, the R60i NC will not feel like a completely different class of product.
The R60i NC is better, but the upgrade is more noticeable when you use the added features.
Who Should Actually Upgrade?
Upgrade to the Soundcore R60i NC if:
-
You take a lot of calls in noisy places
-
The R50i NC’s call clarity has bothered you
-
You want stronger ANC for commuting or office use
-
You use an Android phone and want LDAC support
-
You care about Hi-Res Audio
-
You want Spatial Audio
-
You want AI Translation through the Soundcore app
-
You want better battery life with ANC turned on
-
You are buying a new pair and the price gap is small
Skip the upgrade if:
-
Your R50i NC still works fine
-
You are happy with its sound
-
You mostly listen casually
-
You do not care about LDAC
-
You do not use Spatial Audio or translation features
-
Your ANC needs are already covered
-
You mainly want better basic music playback
For most casual listeners, the R60i NC is not an urgent upgrade. For commuters, frequent callers, Android users, and feature-focused buyers, it makes more sense.
If You're Buying Fresh
If you are buying fresh rather than upgrading from an existing pair, the R60i NC is the more future-proof choice. It gives you stronger ANC, LDAC, Spatial Audio, AI Translation, better ANC battery life, and newer connectivity.
The R50i NC still makes sense if the price is much lower and you only want the basics: music playback, active noise cancellation, app control, and strong battery life.
In simple terms, the R50i NC is the better budget pick. The R60i NC is the better value pick if the price difference is reasonable.
Final Verdict
The Soundcore R60i NC is worth upgrading from the R50i NC only if you will actually use what changed.
The biggest practical improvements are stronger ANC, LDAC support, better call handling, Spatial Audio, AI Translation, and improved battery life with ANC on. Those upgrades are real, but they are not equally important for everyone.
If your R50i NC already does everything you need, keep it. The core listening experience is not different enough to replace a working pair just for the sake of upgrading.
If you commute daily, take calls in noisy environments, or want the newer Soundcore features, the R60i NC is a sensible upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real difference between the Soundcore R60i NC and R50i NC?
The biggest practical differences are ANC strength, LDAC support, Spatial Audio, AI Translation, battery life with ANC on, and call-focused microphone processing. The R60i NC is a more feature-rich and more refined version of the R50i NC, not a completely different product.
Is the ANC on the R60i NC actually better?
Yes, based on the rated noise reduction. The R50i NC is rated for up to 42 dB noise reduction, while the R60i NC is rated for up to 52 dB. The difference should be most noticeable in consistently noisy places like traffic, public transport, cafés, and offices.
Does the R60i NC support LDAC?
Yes. The R60i NC supports LDAC and Hi-Res Audio. This is one of its clearest advantages over the R50i NC.
Does LDAC drain battery faster?
Using LDAC can reduce battery life because it demands more bandwidth and processing than standard Bluetooth codecs. If battery life matters more than maximum audio quality, standard codec playback with ANC settings adjusted will usually be more efficient.
Is the R60i NC better for calls?
Yes, the R60i NC should be better for calls, especially in noisy environments. It has more advanced call-focused processing and is positioned as the stronger option for voice clarity. Still, call quality can vary depending on phone model, app, wind, and surrounding noise.
Is the R60i NC worth upgrading from the R50i NC?
Only if the specific upgrades matter to you. Upgrade for stronger ANC, better calls, LDAC, Spatial Audio, AI Translation, and better ANC battery life. Skip it if your R50i NC already sounds good to you and you mostly use earbuds for casual listening.
Is the R50i NC still worth buying?
Yes, if the price is significantly lower. The R50i NC remains a solid budget ANC earbud for music, podcasts, calls, and everyday use. The R60i NC is better, but the R50i NC still makes sense for buyers who do not need the newer features.