Review: Soundcore Frames

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This is my first pair of Sunglasses from Soundcore and the first pair of headphones that produces sound outside of the ear. I have a pair of name-brand bone conducting headphones that produce sound other than inside the ear and they sound good for what they do. Unlike bone-conducting headphones, the Soundcore Frames produce sound from several different tiny speakers that surround the ear. In theory, you should be able to wear sunglasses, listen to music, and still be aware of your surroundings. In my opinion, the sound quality is better than bone-conducting headphones.

Soundcore Frame – Features

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Taken directly from the Amazon Sales Page.

• Switch Up Your Style: Make Soundcore Frames audio smart glasses part of your outfit by mixing and matching styles from the wide range of interchangeable frames. Note: Other frame styles are sold separately.
• OpenSurround System: 4 speakers positioned in front of and behind your ears are paired with a custom audio processor to produce immersive and spatial sound.
• Polarized Lenses: Soundcore Frames audio smart glasses have to scratch- and shatter-resistant polarized lenses that block out up to 99% of UVA/B rays.
• Clear Calls: 2 microphones and a noise reduction algorithm pick up your voice clearly, while privacy mode is automatically activated when a call begins for added peace of mind.
• Ideal for Outdoors: Soundcore Frames have IPX4-rated water-resistant protection and are made from durable, skin-friendly materials.
• Ergonomic Design: The frames and audio temples have hinges that flex by up to 8° and are carefully balanced to reduce pressure on your ears and nose for superior comfort.
• Convenient Control: Use voice commands to control Soundcore Frames audio smart glasses without having to first access other voice assistants. Or use the touchpads on the audio temples to control music and phone calls.
• Up to 5.5 Hours of Playtime: If you’re short of time, charge for 10 minutes for 1.5 hours of playtime.
• Customize Your Listening Experience: Use the Soundcore app to choose from 7 surround sound levels, customize the EQ, tailor the touch controls, and use the virtual try-on feature to test out different styles before you buy.

Soundcore Frames  – The Review

When I was younger I worked at a premium sunglass retail shop and I know the difference between well-made fashion sunglasses and sport sunglasses. I also have brightness/glare issues so I have to have a good-quality lens that blocks a fair amount of light and glare. 

On first impressions, the sunglasses are made well but, on the heavier side. They feel about as heavy as glass-lensed sunglasses might be. But the Soundcore Frames have a lightweight plastic lens. Looking through the lens I found them to be clear and to my unprofessional eye optically correct (no lens distortion due to curves in the lens). The weight comes from the tech inside of the frames. It’s impressive how much tech they were able to put in a small space.

You need to read the instructions for setup. You may need to completely charge your frames before pairing. I had to. I had difficulties pairing to my old Samsung Galaxy Note 8. It took about 20 minutes to get a successful pairing. Once paired, it was easy getting the music playing. It sounds good. It isn’t as good as in-ear earbuds but the quality is better than most sunglass speaker systems out there.

Wearing the Soundcore Frames…

They are heavy and took me a few days to get used to the weight. These are fashion glasses. They are advertised (the whole line is) as multifunctional but I found them too heavy for anything more than walking around. Plus they may slip off during activity. The lenses will be fine for most people but for me, I found the lenses didn’t block enough brightness. On extremely bright days I won’t be able to wear these. As to the polarized lens, I’m,  still waiting to were these on a rainy day to see how much glare they block. So far the glare of other vehicles helps but could be better. I also found them to block out enough light and glare when looking out a look on a bright sunny day.

The auto on/off feature where the glasses detect when you put your glasses on or take off them turns them on/off works great. I like that I can turn off the car and the glasses detect that I’m wearing them (sometimes I have to take them off and put them back on) and they turn on. It’s a convenience that allows me to listen to music/podcasts a little longer and not have to turn on my earbuds if I want music as I walk around outside.

Talking on the phone is nice. I haven’t used them outside but I did get to use them while driving the other day. Instead of using the car phone the frames took the call. Both sides had no issues and clarity was perfect.

Be aware, you cannot compare these to earbuds premium or cheap. These use different technology and will sound different than earbuds will. The sound quality will be lower.

I also found that other people can hear what you are listening to if you have it up too loud. Your best bet is to use the privacy setting in the app or turn the sound down if you are needing to be discreet.

Charging

Charging is fast and easy. However, it uses its own charging system and not USB-C. So don’t lose or damage the charging cable. You will have to reach out to Soundcore Support for a new one.

It holds a charge for a while I had them on for a few hours and it held the charge nicely. I haven’t worn them long enough to reach the 5+ hour usage yet but from the amount of time used and what is left before the next charge, It should make the 5-hour claim.

The Case

The case is a nice collapsible one. When not in use, folds flat to fit in a bag pocket. The inside is soft and should scratch the lenses.

The Arms

Connecting the arms to the lens is easy. It took me about 3 minutes to figure it out. It shouldn’t get but a minute to switch them out. That means if you want to switch from sunglasses to clear lenses shouldn’t take but a minute or two.

Pros…

• Customizable lenses including blue blocker computer lenses.
• Auto on/off when you remove your sunglasses.
• Privacy Mode. These features make it harder for others to hear what you are listening to.
• Long battery life
• You can be aware of your environment with these.

Cons…

• Heavy
• The dark lens could be darker or even have mirrored lens to help with glare.
• No real options for sports frames.
• Limited frame/lens options
• No reading glasses (no magnification)
• No prescription options yet. You will need to take the lenses port of the frame somewhere to get that done.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I like the glasses but I do not have much use for them. I do wear them in the car or out walking around. I will continue to use them for those times I need them. I plan to try these out on short solo hikes and see how well they do (I have to wear them at the park while walking around a small lake). I also want to get a set of the blue blocker computer glass lenses so I can wear them inside, at work, or at home, and want a little music late at night but not the earbuds. I may get a second pair to have a reading script for a set of clear lenses.

The Soundcore Frames are a new product (only been about a year (released in 2021)) for them and I believe there will be more frame/lens options in the future if they become popular. Once they have some sports options and darker lenses they might be more useful for me. I can’t count that against them What doesn’t work for me, might work better for others. I do recommend them. If these aren’t the ones for you, check out Soundcore’s website. They have a ton of options to choose from.