Anker just launched the Soundcore Liberty 5, with a price tag close to the Liberty 4 Pro. The Liberty 4NC costs a bit less. Even though it’s not the newest, the Liberty 4 still deserves a look.
If you’re thinking about getting a new pair, this article breaks down these four models to help you choose.
Price and Availability
As of June 2025, pricing and availability for the Soundcore Liberty earbuds vary based on region and retailer, with the following details drawn from recent sources:
Liberty 5: Priced at approximately $129.99 in the US (Amazon) and launched in May 2025.
Liberty 4 Pro: Retails for $129.99 in the US, though prices fluctuate between $100–$150 depending on promotions. Available in six color variants, launched in 2024.
Liberty 4NC: Priced at $99.99 in the US, often discounted to $60–$80. Available in multiple colors (Black, Cosmic Blue, Earth Blue, Pink, White), released in 2023.
Liberty 4: Typically found at $99.99 or lower due to its older 2023 release.
- Liberty 4 NC: View on AliExpress
- Liberty 4 Pro: View on AliExpress
Soundcore Liberty 5 vs 4 Pro vs 4NC vs 4: Specs Comparison
| Category | Liberty 5 | Liberty 4 Pro | Liberty 4NC | Liberty 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Deeper fit, good for long wear | Deeper fit, good for long wear | Shallow fit, most comfortable | Decent comfort, less refined |
| Security | Secure, deeper fit locks well | Secure, deeper fit locks well | Good, some issues with shallow fit | Good, reliable fit |
| IP Rating | IP55 (dust & water resistant) | IPX4 (sweat & splash resistant) | IPX4 (sweat & splash resistant) | IPX4 (sweat & splash resistant) |
| Case & Battery | 8h (ANC on), 10h (ANC off), 28/36h total, 15m fast charge = 3h | 7.5h (ANC on), 9h (ANC off), 26/33h total, 10m fast charge = 4h, case display | 8h (ANC on), 10h (ANC off), 28/36h total, 15m fast charge = 3h, chunkier case | 7h (ANC on), 9h (ANC off), 24/30h total, 15m fast charge = 3h |
| Controls | Squeeze controls, less responsive, mic mute, self-voice mode | Squeeze & swipe, highly responsive, speak-to-chat | Intuitive touch controls | Squeeze controls, less intuitive |
| Connectivity | SBC, AAC, LDAC, multipoint takeover, gaming mode | SBC, AAC, LDAC, multipoint takeover, mono mode, spatial audio gaming | SBC, AAC, LDAC, gaming mode | SBC, AAC, LDAC, gaming mode |
| Call Quality | Excellent in all conditions | Excellent in all conditions | Struggles with wind & background noise | Excellent in all conditions |
| App & Extras | Soundcore app, safe volume, widgets | Soundcore app, safe volume, widgets, case display | Soundcore app, safe volume | Soundcore app, heart rate sensor (app-only) |
| Noise Cancelling | Best high-frequency ANC, ~5% better than Liberty 4 | Strong ANC, slightly less than Liberty 5 | Strong ANC, slightly less than Liberty 5 | Baseline ANC, 10% mid-bass loss in transparency |
| Transparency | Clearest, minimal occlusion | Good clarity, slight occlusion | Good clarity, slight occlusion | Noticeable occlusion, less realistic |
| Sound Quality | Tied for best, Dolby audio, 114 dB, EQ for balanced bass/mids | Tied for best, spatial audio, EQ for detailed sound | Bass-heavy, solid with EQ mids/treble boost | V-shaped, decent with EQ mid boost |
Soundcore Liberty 5 vs 4 Pro vs 4NC vs 4: Detailed Comparison
Comfort
All four earbuds are comfortable, but the Liberty 4NC stands out with its shallow fit, making it the most comfortable for extended wear.
The Liberty 4 Pro and Liberty 5 have a deeper fit, which some may feel more in the ear canal, though they remain suitable for long sessions.
The Liberty 4 offers decent comfort but doesn’t quite match the 4NC’s shallow fit advantage.
Security
When it comes to fit security, the Liberty 4 Pro and Liberty 5 excel due to their deeper fit, locking the buds firmly in place.
The Liberty 4 and 4NC also stay secure, but some users report issues with the 4NC’s shallower fit slipping during intense activities.
Fit varies by individual, so consider your ear shape when choosing.
IP Rating
For active users, the Liberty 5 is the only model with dust resistance, boasting an IP55 rating.
The Liberty 4, 4NC, and 4 Pro are rated IPX4, suitable for sweat, rain, and light splashes but lacking dust protection. If you train in dusty environments, the Liberty 5 is the better choice.
Case & Battery
All four earbuds offer solid battery life with wireless charging cases. Here’s a breakdown:
- Liberty 5: 8 hours (ANC on), 10 hours (ANC off), 28/36 hours total with case. Fast charge: 15 minutes for 3 hours.
- Liberty 4 Pro: 7.5 hours (ANC on), 9 hours (ANC off), 26/33 hours total. Fast charge: 10 minutes for 4 hours (fastest).
- Liberty 4NC: 8 hours (ANC on), 10 hours (ANC off), 28/36 hours total. Fast charge: 15 minutes for 3 hours.
- Liberty 4: 7 hours (ANC on), 9 hours (ANC off), 24/30 hours total. Fast charge: 15 minutes for 3 hours.
The Liberty 4’s total battery life lags behind modern standards. All cases are compact, with the 4NC being the chunkiest yet pocketable.
The 4 Pro’s case features a small display for battery life and quick settings, though its utility is limited.
Controls
Controls vary significantly across the models:
- Liberty 4 Pro: Combines responsive squeeze and swipe gestures for volume, plus speak-to-chat for instant transparency mode activation. Best overall control experience.
- Liberty 5: Uses squeeze controls but lacks swipe gestures for volume. Less responsive than the 4 Pro, similar to the Liberty 4’s squeeze system. Unique features include mic mute via earbuds and self-voice mode (auto-transparency during calls).
- Liberty 4NC: Intuitive touch controls outperform the Liberty 4 and 5’s squeeze systems for ease of use.
- Liberty 4: Squeeze controls like the Liberty 5, less intuitive, especially for volume adjustments.
All models feature reliable wear detection. Switching modes (ANC, transparency, off) requires the Soundcore app, except for the Liberty 5’s call-specific features.
Connectivity
All earbuds support SBC, AAC, and LDAC high-res codecs. Key differences:
- Mono Mode: Only the Liberty 4 Pro supports true mono mode, mixing left and right audio channels when using one earbud.
- Multipoint Connection: All models support two simultaneous device connections, but only the Liberty 4 Pro and Liberty 5 offer multipoint takeover, auto-pausing playback on one device when another starts.
- Low Latency Gaming Mode: Available on Liberty 4, 4NC, and 5. The 4 Pro has a spatial audio setting that doubles as a gaming mode, but its latency is subpar.
Call Quality
Call quality was tested in three scenarios: quiet room, crowd noise, and windy city with construction noise.
The Liberty 4, 4 Pro, and 5 deliver exceptional call quality across all tests, rivaling premium earbuds.
The Liberty 4NC struggles with background noise, particularly in windy conditions, making it less ideal for outdoor calls. Sample recordings:
- Quiet Room: All models perform well, with clear voice reproduction.
- Crowd Noise: Liberty 4, 4 Pro, and 5 effectively suppress noise; 4NC shows slight background bleed.
- Windy City: Liberty 4, 4 Pro, and 5 maintain clarity; 4NC struggles with wind and construction noise.
App & Extras
The Soundcore app is robust across all models, offering EQ customization, ANC/transparency toggles, and firmware updates.
Notable differences:
- Liberty 4: Lacks safe volume (decibel limit monitoring). Includes a heart rate sensor, but it’s app-only and impractical.
- Liberty 4NC: Includes safe volume and standard app features.
- Liberty 4 Pro & 5: Add safe volume and home screen widgets for ambient mode control. The 4 Pro’s case display offers limited functionality.
Noise Cancelling
ANC performance was tested with plane engine noise, crowd noise, and high-frequency sounds (fans, voices).
All models handle low-frequency noise equally well. High-frequency noise reduction improves incrementally:
- Liberty 5: Blocks ~5% more high-frequency noise than the Liberty 4, with noticeable improvements over the 4NC and 4 Pro.
- Liberty 4 Pro & 4NC: Slightly better than the Liberty 4 but lag behind the Liberty 5.
- Liberty 4: Baseline ANC, effective but less refined.
EQ shift (sound quality changes between ANC modes) is minimal across all models, except for the Liberty 4, which loses ~10% mid-bass in transparency mode.
All support ANC in mono mode and feature auto wind reduction, toggling ANC off in high-wind conditions.
Transparency
Transparency mode clarity improves with each release:
- Liberty 5: Clearest, most natural transparency with minimal occlusion, surpassing the 4 Pro.
- Liberty 4 Pro & 4NC: Comparable, with slight occlusion but good clarity.
- Liberty 4: Noticeable occlusion and less realistic sound compared to newer models.
Sound Quality
Sound quality rankings: Liberty 4 Pro and Liberty 5 (tied), followed by 4NC, then Liberty 4.
Max volume test shows the Liberty 5 reaching 114 dB, though lower volumes are safer. Spatial audio breakdown:
- Liberty 4: Spatial audio with head-tracking; overly reverby, poor quality.
- Liberty 4NC: 3D surround sound, no head-tracking; still reverby and subpar.
- Liberty 4 Pro: Improved spatial audio with head-tracking, better in game mode but rough for music.
- Liberty 5: Dolby audio, no head-tracking; best spatial audio but with some reverb, less ideal for music and movies.
Stock tuning and EQ recommendations:
- Liberty 4: V-shaped tuning, harsh treble. Boost mids, reduce treble for decent clarity and sparkle.
- Liberty 4NC: Bass-boosted, boomy bass, smooth mids, laid-back treble. Boost mids/treble, reduce bass for balanced clarity.
- Liberty 4 Pro: Bass-heavy, forward mids, crisp but harsh treble. Reduce bass/treble, boost mids for impactful, detailed sound.
- Liberty 5: Overemphasized bass, muted upper mids/treble, slight sibilance. Custom EQ (reduce bass, boost upper mids, tweak treble) aligns it closely with 4 Pro’s detailed, natural sound.
Final Thoughts
The Liberty 5 vs. Liberty 4 Pro is the key comparison. The Liberty 5 offers slightly better ANC and transparency but falls short in call quality, control responsiveness, and case features (no display or swipe gestures).
The Liberty 4 Pro excels in controls and mono mode versatility. Upgrading from the Liberty 4 to the Liberty 5 brings moderate improvements in ANC, transparency, and sound quality.
The Liberty 4NC, often cheaper, is a strong value option despite weaker call quality in windy conditions and a bulkier case.
Soundcore’s pricing strategy blurs distinctions between models, but the 4NC offers the best bang for your buck, while the 4 Pro and 5 cater to premium preferences.
Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
