Product: Anker Soundcore Life Note True Wireless Stereo Earbuds
Model: A3908Z11-5
Condition: New
7 hours of playtime on a single charge and extend to 40 hours with the charging case
4 microphones with the latest cVc noise reduction technology highlight your voice while reducing background sounds
Graphene drivers produce a wider soundstage with exceptional accuracy and clarity
BassUp Technology: Exclusive technology conducts real-time analysis and enhancement of your audio’s bass frequencies to add a powerful sonic punch
aptX Technology: Your music is transferred at the highest possible quality to preserve the sound and give you an exceptional listening experience with CD-like audio quality
Water-Resistant Casing: Life Note’s IPX5-rated protection defends your earbuds against liquid damage
One-Step Pairing: Life Note wireless earphones use our PUSH AND GO technology to automatically connect with the last paired device
Comfortable Fit: Select from a range of eartips in multiple sizes to find the perfect fit for your ears
USB-C Charging: Charge Life Note’s charging case using the included USB-C cable
Bluetooth 5: An ultra-stable connection between the wireless earphones and your device ensures skip-free streaming of music, podcasts, and more
Mono or Stereo: Effortlessly switch between using a single earbud or both
@haydesigner@stinks@zxinfinity I think that link is for “third party” refurbished/renewed, and not “factory refurbished/renewed”. Not saying that it is good or bad, just making an observation. The Amazon description says "Backed by the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
This pre-owned product has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon qualified vendors."
@haydesigner@stinks@zxinfinity lol lmgtfy nice job buddy!! You did it!! You’re an a hole congrats!! You did something other than just provide a link. Wow you really put in the work. Someone should really start paying you.
From the previous cheap earbuds from Meh, I’ve learned that the cheap part is the charging case.
Anyone know if these fit in the case and charge properly or is it a constant PITA to get them “just right” in the almost-fitting indents to charge and then closing the lid shifts them just enough to disconnect from charging so they’re worthless in actual usage?
@mike808 I have somewhat higher end Anker earbuds “Soundcore Life P3” so I can’t say for certain, but mine have magnets and will snap perfectly into place once you bring them close to their custom recesses.
If these are even half as good, you have nothing to worry about charge-wise.
@mike808 I have the white version of the Life Note (A3908). It does have a magnet to hold the headset in place. It holds so good I sometimes have difficulty getting them out of the case…
@john2525 They’re 16.99 on amazon renewed, aka refurbished. Im fine with refurbished products, but earphones are one thing I want that are not pre-used. I dont how good they ‘renew’ them. I dont want the knowledge that someone elses ear wax gunk might have been all over them at some point. that extra 8 dollars is worth imo. Still already have a better pair though so I’m skipping this one aswell.
@john2525@whtthfgg Or, never actually used, just returned. I dunno, a little alcohol on a swab to clean the earpieces, versus $8? (I don’t have a dog in this hunt, I already have all the buds/phones/cans I could ever need.)
@Berndude@hchavers A little spray paint (not sure sharpies will work over black) will fix the color problem and so you can get them in light, medium or dark black to suit. Spray paint not included.
Regarding the description, clearly our favorite writer hasn’t tried AirPod Pros. Their sound and noise canceling ability are both outstanding. Absolutely a top 3 earbud.
@cinoclav@ParadisePete I can’t bring myself to pay that much, though, when I can get decent Anker or Tozo earbuds for MUCH MUCH less. And the battery life on the Airpods Pro are kinda meh.
@cinoclav@ParadisePete
Most outfits rate other earbuds higher, like the Jabra Elite line or the Bose QuietComfort. But the Pros are still very excellent and they are optimized for apple products, so the user experience is very seamless.
@thechilipepper0 Yes, it’s the overall experience that is compelling for me. Most of the time I’m listening to podcasts, but the great noise cancellation and amazing integration is what does it for me.
Maybe it’s just me, but when I’ve used (true wireless?) earbuds which have “stems” like these (especially short stems, like the Airpods Pro), it seemed like whenever I’d insert them or remove them, I’d accidentally activate some unwanted action, like playing music or calling someone or something. I imagine there is/was a special way I could have learned to grasp the stem to avoid that situation, but that seemed to be too hard for me to remember to do each time (especially in the half-sleepy about-to-go-for-my-morning-walk moments), so I gave up on those kinds and (mostly) enjoy the bone-conduction earbuds that I’ve now been using for years.
@andymand bone conduction earbuds… that makes no sense at all. It does track with the rest of your post though. putting in and taking out earbuds isnt a very complicated task. including true wireless(?)
@andymand I too hate the stick style earbuds and don’t get the desire to look like an apple product owner. I end up going with the kind that have a loop over the ear to keep them from falling out. I don’t need to spend half a month’s car payment to listen to audible
Just one (possibly pedantic) point with the copy here: to say that earbuds reach a ceiling because they’re earbuds is… naïve at best. There is a reason that there are $300+ wired In Ear Monitors (from Etymotic, Shure, Westone, etc.) that are worth every penny. (source: I own and have used AirPods, APP’s, 2x Etymotics, 2x Shure’s, 1 Westone, and a few random BT headphones.)
Bluetooth as a protocol is more of a limiting factor than just the fact that something is an “earbud.”
Also, for the record, the appeal of AirPods isn’t necessarily the sound quality. It’s Apple’s “seamless” integration (and their “poetic license” with the Bluetooth spec) with the entire Apple ecosystem that makes AirPods appealing (aka one can effortlessly transition their AirPods from Mac to iPhone to iPad to Apple TV and back again - at least in theory. In practice… yeah.) The original AirPods honestly have mediocre (no pun?) sound quality.
All this to say: these are well worth $25 if they fit your use case. My own use case is a teen that lost a set of AirPods within two weeks…
@bakerzdosen Sounds like that teen needs $5 replacements rather than even $25 ones. Actually for things my kid kept losing I told her, “The first one is on me. Beyond that this is not my problem. You want anther one then it is on you.”. After doing without and paying to replace things herself (after hoping to wear me down by negative behavior that sometimes got her other consequences she didn’t like) the ‘lost/broken and needs replace’ rate went way down.
@bakerzdosen@Kidsandliz My 10 year old has the $10 walmart version of airpods and is just as happy with them as he would be with the “real” ones. We also each own one apple product - his is an old ass ipad that came from my mom when she died and mine is the work phone that I play warzone and answer emails on and absolutely nothing else.
@Kidsandliz welp… not gonna lie: all of that has been floating around in my brain. Suffice to say, we’ll see. I’m viewing these as a way to restore my trust in the kid before I let him buy APP’s.
@ADCDAB not how you do it (so no you didn’t order one). You have to use the /buy command on a line of its own and I think have VMP or member status which you do not.
Concerned about the length of battery life for these type of buds. I have another brand/pair for two years and they still charge but only play for 15 minutes. Hate to throw them out. OF COURSE, FOR APPROX $30, A YEAR OR TWO IS ACCEPTABLE (if these batteries aren’t near dead already). More portable products should have replaceable batteries.
I have the life (I think?) I like them, but the case stopped charging after a little over a year. support was awesome about getting me a new pair though (and the old ones charge in the new case)
Review from Amazon
Satisfied
1.0 out of 5 stars Left bud does not work, damaged case and dirty condition
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
Came in with bad condition. The box is damaged and unsealed. Charger case had scratch marks all over the surface. Earbuds smells old, feels sticky and not sanitized.
Welp, since my last pair of cheapo ones died on me after only a couple weeks and I never replaced them I’ll have to take a pair. Hope they’re decent.
/giphy oval-mournful-lock
/image oval-mournful-lock
I bought these because I need a new pair and the last ones I bought here are too big for my ears. I also need ones that will work in the left ear only, because that’s the only ear I have that actually works. It seems like these do that given the description. So I’m crossing my fingers.
/giphy longing-reclusive-music
Got them today. They look and sound great. Even to people on the other end of a call. They were going to be backup earbuds, they are instead replacements.
They’re definitely not as nice as AirPods, either in terms of build quality or audio. But are they good enough for $25? Yeah, sure. I don’t regret buying these too bad.
They would inconsistently connect with my device, and seemingly they knew exactly when I had an important conference call that I wanted to use them for and explicitly NOT connect for those. The most pleasurable use I found for them was when I absolutely smashed them to shit and threw them away (just now). Well worth the money.
Specs
Product: Anker Soundcore Life Note True Wireless Stereo Earbuds
Model: A3908Z11-5
Condition: New
What’s Included?
Price Comparison
$49.99 at Best Buy
Warranty
1 Year Anker
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 8 - Thursday, Aug 11
I can’t hear you!!
@yakkoTDI Sorry, I can’t hear you, because your noise got cancelled.
@yakkoTDI
@WhiteKenny Thanks. That was kind of awesome.
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!
I’m a big fan of Anker ear buds, but my current pair is fine, and I already have an unopened pair from a previous sale in backup.
What?!?
It’s almost as if someone heard talk of Anker products yesterday….
17 bucks on Amazon for renewed
@zxinfinity link please?
@haydesigner @zxinfinity
lmgtfy
https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Wireless-Playtime-Reduction-Earphones/dp/B08G8KNB8K
@haydesigner @stinks @zxinfinity I think that link is for “third party” refurbished/renewed, and not “factory refurbished/renewed”. Not saying that it is good or bad, just making an observation. The Amazon description says "Backed by the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
@haydesigner @stinks @zxinfinity lol lmgtfy nice job buddy!! You did it!! You’re an a hole congrats!! You did something other than just provide a link. Wow you really put in the work. Someone should really start paying you.
@BuddTX @haydesigner @stinks @zxinfinity Not sure I want previously used things that have been in any orifice, even superficially like an ear canal
@emccracken @haydesigner @zxinfinity Everything okay? I mean, that is literally what I did.
You could assume the 
if it came across wrong.
Though I will
look for an atmdm you my Venmo.@BuddTX @haydesigner @MsELizardBeth @zxinfinity 100%. Tempting until I realized that. And then there was a review that said exactly what we all feared.
@BuddTX @haydesigner @MsELizardBeth @stinks @zxinfinity Anker is selling some direct on eBay, refurbished by Anker themselves, for $14.47 in white, and $20 (and there’s a 10% off coupon) in black.
White https://www.ebay.com/itm/383768399410
Black https://www.ebay.com/itm/384256158463
@BuddTX @haydesigner @MsELizardBeth @squatchy @zxinfinity
Well that hits my impulse buy level. And I managed to misplace two sets of headphones and an AirPods case last month, so nice backfill. Thanks.
Anker? You Anker.
@stinks “Anker? I hardly know 'er!”
@stinks Oh, I’d Ank the 'ell out of 'er!
@stinks @Trinityscrew @atomizer
I bet she’d tell all of you to just go Ank yerselves.
@Atomizer @Kyeh @Trinityscrew
Argo Ankyourself!
@Atomizer @stinks @Trinityscrew TWSS
From the previous cheap earbuds from Meh, I’ve learned that the cheap part is the charging case.
Anyone know if these fit in the case and charge properly or is it a constant PITA to get them “just right” in the almost-fitting indents to charge and then closing the lid shifts them just enough to disconnect from charging so they’re worthless in actual usage?
@mike808 yes. These are anker. They don’t make anything that bad.
@mike808 I have somewhat higher end Anker earbuds “Soundcore Life P3” so I can’t say for certain, but mine have magnets and will snap perfectly into place once you bring them close to their custom recesses.
If these are even half as good, you have nothing to worry about charge-wise.
@mike808 I have the white version of the Life Note (A3908). It does have a magnet to hold the headset in place. It holds so good I sometimes have difficulty getting them out of the case…
I was already eyeballing these on the Anker site when I bought my last charger from them, so now I’m
/giphy straight-designed-science
I hear these are very good. Don’t need them but if you do. Get a few at this price!
16.99 on Amazon unless I’m missing something.
@john2525 They’re 16.99 on amazon renewed, aka refurbished. Im fine with refurbished products, but earphones are one thing I want that are not pre-used. I dont how good they ‘renew’ them. I dont want the knowledge that someone elses ear wax gunk might have been all over them at some point. that extra 8 dollars is worth imo. Still already have a better pair though so I’m skipping this one aswell.
Not missing anything because I double checked. Same model 16.99 on Amazon. Happy listening.
@john2525 the ones you checked are renewed, as in used and refurbed
@john2525 not comparable at all.
@john2525 @whtthfgg Or, never actually used, just returned. I dunno, a little alcohol on a swab to clean the earpieces, versus $8? (I don’t have a dog in this hunt, I already have all the buds/phones/cans I could ever need.)
@CBL_WV @john2525 @whtthfgg Read the reviews… occasionally they’re NASTY. I’d give you a link, but last time I did that I got in trouble.
You can have any color you want, as long as it’s black.
@hchavers do they come in light black, medium black, or dark black? (asking for a friend)
@Berndude @hchavers A little spray paint (not sure sharpies will work over black) will fix the color problem and so you can get them in light, medium or dark black to suit. Spray paint not included.
@hchavers @Kidsandliz NO DEAL!
Cool. Found a coupon code I forgot about, so with VMP, I couldn’t pas these up for $5 and change.
/giphy virtual-winding-string
having too many headphones is much less burdensome now that there aren’t any wires to get tangled.
Regarding the description, clearly our favorite writer hasn’t tried AirPod Pros. Their sound and noise canceling ability are both outstanding. Absolutely a top 3 earbud.
@cinoclav That’s my problem. Now that I’ve used AirPod Pros no other earbud is worth considering. Otherwise I’d be all over this deal.
@cinoclav @ParadisePete I can’t bring myself to pay that much, though, when I can get decent Anker or Tozo earbuds for MUCH MUCH less. And the battery life on the Airpods Pro are kinda meh.
@cinoclav @ParadisePete
Most outfits rate other earbuds higher, like the Jabra Elite line or the Bose QuietComfort. But the Pros are still very excellent and they are optimized for apple products, so the user experience is very seamless.
@thechilipepper0 Yes, it’s the overall experience that is compelling for me. Most of the time I’m listening to podcasts, but the great noise cancellation and amazing integration is what does it for me.
Maybe it’s just me, but when I’ve used (true wireless?) earbuds which have “stems” like these (especially short stems, like the Airpods Pro), it seemed like whenever I’d insert them or remove them, I’d accidentally activate some unwanted action, like playing music or calling someone or something. I imagine there is/was a special way I could have learned to grasp the stem to avoid that situation, but that seemed to be too hard for me to remember to do each time (especially in the half-sleepy about-to-go-for-my-morning-walk moments), so I gave up on those kinds and (mostly) enjoy the bone-conduction earbuds that I’ve now been using for years.
@andymand bone conduction earbuds… that makes no sense at all. It does track with the rest of your post though. putting in and taking out earbuds isnt a very complicated task. including true wireless(?)
@andymand I too hate the stick style earbuds and don’t get the desire to look like an apple product owner. I end up going with the kind that have a loop over the ear to keep them from falling out. I don’t need to spend half a month’s car payment to listen to audible
I like the price comparison from Lowes. I buy all my audio gear from the lumber yard…
@Bumplepimp probably because it didn’t look as good comparing them to the renewed ones on amazon.
(renewed and used are different words for a reason, they mean different things. imagine that) (for the people that are struggling with the difference)
@Bumplepimp Me too Just got a soundbar sub woofer combo with pressure treated enclosures
Just one (possibly pedantic) point with the copy here: to say that earbuds reach a ceiling because they’re earbuds is… naïve at best. There is a reason that there are $300+ wired In Ear Monitors (from Etymotic, Shure, Westone, etc.) that are worth every penny. (source: I own and have used AirPods, APP’s, 2x Etymotics, 2x Shure’s, 1 Westone, and a few random BT headphones.)
Bluetooth as a protocol is more of a limiting factor than just the fact that something is an “earbud.”
Also, for the record, the appeal of AirPods isn’t necessarily the sound quality. It’s Apple’s “seamless” integration (and their “poetic license” with the Bluetooth spec) with the entire Apple ecosystem that makes AirPods appealing (aka one can effortlessly transition their AirPods from Mac to iPhone to iPad to Apple TV and back again - at least in theory. In practice… yeah.) The original AirPods honestly have mediocre (no pun?) sound quality.
All this to say: these are well worth $25 if they fit your use case. My own use case is a teen that lost a set of AirPods within two weeks…
@bakerzdosen Sounds like that teen needs $5 replacements rather than even $25 ones. Actually for things my kid kept losing I told her, “The first one is on me. Beyond that this is not my problem. You want anther one then it is on you.”. After doing without and paying to replace things herself (after hoping to wear me down by negative behavior that sometimes got her other consequences she didn’t like) the ‘lost/broken and needs replace’ rate went way down.
@bakerzdosen @Kidsandliz My 10 year old has the $10 walmart version of airpods and is just as happy with them as he would be with the “real” ones. We also each own one apple product - his is an old ass ipad that came from my mom when she died and mine is the work phone that I play warzone and answer emails on and absolutely nothing else.
@Kidsandliz welp… not gonna lie: all of that has been floating around in my brain. Suffice to say, we’ll see. I’m viewing these as a way to restore my trust in the kid before I let him buy APP’s.
/giphy irrational-radical-steam
They had me at aptX, and my new ZFlip3 5G needs a pal.
/giphy normal-perpetual-nut
Place Order
@ADCDAB not how you do it (so no you didn’t order one). You have to use the /buy command on a line of its own and I think have VMP or member status which you do not.
For those for whom this kind of thing matters, these are not QI charge compatible.
In for one
/giphy blushing-hideous-ant
Concerned about the length of battery life for these type of buds. I have another brand/pair for two years and they still charge but only play for 15 minutes. Hate to throw them out. OF COURSE, FOR APPROX $30, A YEAR OR TWO IS ACCEPTABLE (if these batteries aren’t near dead already). More portable products should have replaceable batteries.
I have the life (I think?) I like them, but the case stopped charging after a little over a year. support was awesome about getting me a new pair though (and the old ones charge in the new case)
POKER! JOKER! NOT MEDIOCRE! AWESOME!
I love you guys but these are only $16.99 at Amazon
@iammacha those are renewed, not brand new like these.
@super32 oh! Thanks for pointing that out! I definitely didn’t see that.
Review from Amazon
Satisfied
1.0 out of 5 stars Left bud does not work, damaged case and dirty condition
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
Came in with bad condition. The box is damaged and unsealed. Charger case had scratch marks all over the surface. Earbuds smells old, feels sticky and not sanitized.
@zr57 that review is for the renewed (i.e. refurbished) version of the product. Meh is selling new.
I have these, and they are amazing.
For noise canceling, I just stick candy corn in my ears. Cheaper that way.
Welp, since my last pair of cheapo ones died on me after only a couple weeks and I never replaced them I’ll have to take a pair. Hope they’re decent.
/giphy oval-mournful-lock
/image oval-mournful-lock
“These blow, but that’s to be expected in this product category” is the bold marketing I’ve come to expect from Meh.
I love this company and have many of their products. But I have to mention that these are well under $20 on the big A.
I bought these because I need a new pair and the last ones I bought here are too big for my ears. I also need ones that will work in the left ear only, because that’s the only ear I have that actually works. It seems like these do that given the description. So I’m crossing my fingers.
/giphy longing-reclusive-music
Got them today. They look and sound great. Even to people on the other end of a call. They were going to be backup earbuds, they are instead replacements.
They’re definitely not as nice as AirPods, either in terms of build quality or audio. But are they good enough for $25? Yeah, sure. I don’t regret buying these too bad.
They would inconsistently connect with my device, and seemingly they knew exactly when I had an important conference call that I wanted to use them for and explicitly NOT connect for those. The most pleasurable use I found for them was when I absolutely smashed them to shit and threw them away (just now). Well worth the money.