JLab Go Air Pop or Soundcore P20i for phone calls?

If phone calls are your main reason for buying budget earbuds, the Soundcore P20i is the better choice overall, but neither model is ideal for noisy environments. The P20i has two built-in microphones and an AI call algorithm, while the JLab Go Air Pop uses two MEMS microphones with environmental noise reduction. Independent testing finds both usable in quiet places but limited around wind and loud background noise.

For a quick call at home, either pair can work. If you regularly call from a coffee shop, sidewalk, office, or other noisy location, the difference becomes more important.

JLab Go Air Pop vs. Soundcore P20i for Calls

The biggest difference is not the number of microphones alone. It is how well each earbud handles your voice when other sounds are present.

Feature	JLab Go Air Pop	Soundcore P20i
Microphones	2 MEMS mics	2 built-in mics
Call processing	1-mic ENC + DNS algorithm	AI-enhanced call algorithm
Single-earbud use	Yes	Yes
Battery for listening	Up to 8 hours	Up to 10 hours
Total with case	Up to 32 hours	Up to 30 hours
Bluetooth	5.1	5.3
ANC	No	No
Water resistance	IPX4	IPX5
App	JLab app	Soundcore app
Best call environment	Quiet rooms	Quiet to moderately noisy settings
Call winner	Good enough	Better overall

Both earbuds are designed for calls, but neither has active noise cancellation. The P20i has two microphones and an AI-based call system, while the Go Air Pop uses microphone noise-reduction processing.

Which Has Better Microphone Quality?

Soundcore P20i

The P20i has the advantage on paper and in several independent tests.

Soundcore uses two built-in microphones with an AI algorithm designed to pick up your voice during calls. It also supports single-earbud use, which can be useful if you want to keep one ear open.

However, don’t confuse “AI-enhanced clear calls” with excellent noise cancellation. Independent testing found that the P20i can handle ordinary calls reasonably well in quiet conditions, but background voices, keyboard noise, subway noise, and wind can still compete with your voice.

Another review found that the P20i’s voice can sound relatively quiet or fragile, particularly when conditions become difficult.

So the P20i is better suited to everyday phone calls than its very low price might suggest, but it is not a serious noise-rejecting headset.

JLab Go Air Pop

The Go Air Pop can also handle phone calls, especially when you’re indoors and the surrounding room is quiet.

Its microphone performance is one of its weaker areas. Independent testing found that voices were understandable in ideal conditions but sounded somewhat dull, while wind and sustained loud noises could make speech difficult to hear.

Other testing similarly describes the Go Air Pop as acceptable for phone calls but notes that the microphone has trouble separating your voice from background noise.

That makes the Go Air Pop fine for an occasional call, but less appealing if calls are a major reason you’re buying the earbuds.

How Do They Perform in Noisy Places?

This is where you should set realistic expectations.

Neither the Go Air Pop nor the P20i has active noise cancellation. The P20i does not include ANC, while the Go Air Pop relies on environmental microphone processing rather than ANC.

At home

Both should be usable.

If you’re sitting in a quiet room and speaking normally, the person on the other end should generally be able to understand you. This is the environment where the low cost of these earbuds is least noticeable.

Winner: Slight edge to Soundcore P20i

In an office

The P20i is the safer choice, but don’t expect perfect voice isolation.

Background conversations and keyboard sounds can still be picked up. Testing of the P20i found that background sounds can remain audible and compete with the caller, especially as the environment gets louder.

The Go Air Pop also struggles with background noise. Its voice can become drowned out in louder settings.

Winner: Soundcore P20i

Outside in the wind

Neither is a strong choice.

Wind is particularly troublesome for inexpensive earbud microphones. Testing of the Go Air Pop found that wind could make the user’s voice hard to hear, while P20i testing also reported a noticeable drop in call quality when wind is present.

Winner: Neither

If outdoor calls are a major part of your day, I’d move beyond this price class rather than expecting either one to solve the problem.

What About Video Calls?

For Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and similar calls, the answer is a little less clear.

The Go Air Pop has received mixed results. Some testing found its video-call performance better than its regular phone-call performance, while other testing found that background chatter and keyboard sounds could still come through clearly.

The P20i is also usable for casual video meetings, but background noise can remain noticeable.

For an occasional meeting from a quiet bedroom or home office, either can be adequate.

For frequent work meetings where clear microphone quality matters, neither would be my first choice.

Battery Life Matters for Frequent Calls

The P20i has a small advantage for continuous use.

Soundcore rates the P20i for up to 10 hours of listening on a single charge and 30 hours with the case. Its published specifications give a lower figure for calls: up to 6 hours on one charge and 18 hours with the case.

JLab rates the Go Air Pop for up to 8 hours per earbud and 32 hours total with the charging case. JLab also provides a quick-charge feature for short top-ups.

So if you’re buying primarily for long calls, the P20i’s published call-time figure is worth considering.

Battery winner for calls: Soundcore P20i

Battery winner for total advertised playback: JLab Go Air Pop

Which Is Better for Everyday Phone Use?

The P20i has a few advantages beyond the microphone.

It uses Bluetooth 5.3, supports single-earbud use, and works with the Soundcore app. The app allows you to customize controls and adjust the sound. Soundcore also rates the earbuds at IPX5 and up to 10 hours of playback per charge.

The Go Air Pop is simpler. It has touch controls, EQ presets, dual-earbud connectivity features, and an integrated USB-A charging cable in the case. JLab rates it for IPX4 protection and up to 32 hours of total playback.

That makes the choice fairly straightforward:

• Choose P20i if calls, app controls, and longer single-charge use matter most.
• Choose Go Air Pop if you want a simple, compact pair and find it significantly cheaper.
• Choose neither if you frequently take calls in heavy traffic, strong wind, airports, or busy cafés.

Which One Should You Buy for Phone Calls?

Choose Soundcore P20i if calls are your priority

The Soundcore P20i is my pick between these two for phone calls.

It has a better microphone setup on paper, AI-enhanced call processing, longer advertised single-charge listening time, and a more flexible companion app. Independent testing also suggests it can handle normal calls reasonably well, even though its background-noise performance is still limited.

It’s the better fit for someone who takes regular calls at home, in a normal office, or while moving around town in relatively calm conditions.

Choose JLab Go Air Pop if price matters most

The Go Air Pop still makes sense when you find it at a very low price.

It’s small, lightweight, simple, and provides long total battery life. JLab also includes microphone noise-reduction technology, so it’s not as though the earbuds were designed without calls in mind.

The problem is that independent testing consistently identifies microphone performance as one of its weaker points.

If you’re only going to make occasional calls, that weakness may not matter much.

Two Real-World Buying Scenarios

Imagine you mostly work from home and take five-minute calls while sitting at your desk. The Go Air Pop can be enough. You don’t need to spend more simply because another budget earbud has a better microphone system.

Now imagine you’re a delivery driver, salesperson, student, or remote worker who regularly takes calls while walking outside. The P20i is the better choice of these two, but I’d still consider moving up to earbuds with stronger microphone noise reduction. Wind and loud surroundings can challenge both models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Soundcore P20i better than the JLab Go Air Pop for phone calls?

Yes. Between the two, the Soundcore P20i is the better choice for phone calls because it combines two microphones with AI-enhanced call processing. However, independent testing still shows limitations with wind and loud background noise.

Are JLab Go Air Pop good for phone calls?

They are acceptable for occasional calls, especially in quiet environments. Their microphone can struggle with background noise and wind, so they are not a strong choice for frequent calls in noisy places.

Do the Soundcore P20i have noise cancellation for calls?

The P20i does not have active noise cancellation. It does have two microphones and an AI-enhanced call algorithm intended to improve voice pickup, but significant background noise and wind can still affect call quality.

Final Verdict

For phone calls specifically, I’d choose the Soundcore P20i.

The JLab Go Air Pop is a good low-cost option for occasional calls in quiet surroundings, but its microphone has more noticeable limitations when background noise or wind enters the picture. The P20i isn’t a premium calling headset either, but its two-mic AI call system, longer single-charge battery rating, and overall feature set give it the edge.

One practical tip: if your calls are important, test either pair from the actual places where you normally talk. A microphone that sounds fine in a quiet bedroom can perform very differently on a windy sidewalk or in a busy coffee shop.