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Realme Buds Air8 Pro vs Soundcore P40i: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Realme Buds Air8 Pro comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Realme Buds Air8 Pro - Outstanding overall at around $74.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Realme Buds Air8 Pro leads on 5 of 7 measures.

  • Realme Buds Air8 Pro
  • Soundcore P40i
HearWiki score
84
71
Sound
8.4
6.2
Noise cancelling
8.4
7.4
Battery
7.2
8.9
Calls
8.5
5.5
Value
9.2
8.9
Price (USD)
$74
$48

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

Realme Buds Air8 Pro (2026) against Soundcore P40i (2024). The Realme Buds Air8 Pro is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.1 against 5.3 and Top codec LHDC against AAC.

  • Buds Air8 Pro20262 yr newer
  • P40i2024
What differsBuds Air8 ProP40i

Platform

Bluetooth
6.1
5.3
Top codec
LHDC
AAC

Everyday features

Wireless charging
No
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
No
Water resistance
IP55
IPX5

Level on: ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Buds Air8 ProP40i
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$74
$48
HearWiki score
84
71
Released
2026
2024
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
2-driver hybrid
11 mm dynamic
Driver type
hybrid
dynamic
Driver size
11 mm
11 mm
Drivers per side
2
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Sound signature
-
bass-heavy
Impedance
-
14 Ω
Bluetooth
6.1
5.3
Codecs
SBC, AAC, LHDC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Latency
45 ms
-
Battery life
12 h
12 h
Battery life (ANC on)
-
10 h
Battery incl. case
50 h
60 h
Full charge time
120 min
180 min
Quick charge
10 min → 11 h
10 min → 5 h
Wireless charging
No
Yes
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
adaptive
Transparency mode
-
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
No
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
4.8 g
-
Case weight
53 g
-
Water resistance
IP55
IPX5
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Model code
-
A3955
Microphones
6
6
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
AI ENC
-

What reviewers said

Realme Buds Air8 Pro

The Realme Buds Air8 Pro are feature-rich wireless earbuds that deliver strong adaptive noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a versatile hybrid driver setup for under $100. They offer a long 12-hour battery per charge, Bluetooth 6.1 with triple-device multipoint, and IP55 water resistance, making them a solid everyday choice. Sound tuning requires some adjustment to get the best performance, but the overall package is impressive for the price.

  • Pro:Strong adaptive ANC and usable transparency mode
  • Pro:Long 12-hour battery life with 50 hours total via case
  • Pro:Triple-device multipoint connectivity
  • Con:Sound tuning needs effort to optimize
  • Con:No wireless charging support
  • Con:Battery life per charge may vary depending on usage

Soundcore P40i

The Soundcore P40i are feature-packed budget true wireless earbuds with adaptive noise cancelling, multipoint Bluetooth 5.3, and a standout battery life that extends to 60 hours with the charging case. Their bold bass-forward sound and versatile design make them a strong value pick, though the fit and tuning may not suit everyone. The case also doubles as a phone stand, adding to their everyday practicality.

  • Pro:Excellent battery life with case
  • Pro:Adaptive noise cancelling and transparency mode
  • Pro:Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless switching
  • Con:Heavy bass and treble can be polarizing
  • Con:Fit may be loose for some ears
  • Con:Noise cancelling could be stronger out of the box

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonRealme Buds Air8 ProSoundcore P40i