For years, Soundcore (Anker's audio sub-brand) has been the go-to recommendation for anyone who wanted solid wireless earbuds without paying flagship prices. The Liberty 4 Pro at $150 was a textbook overachiever. But the new Liberty 5 Pro, launched in May 2026, does something none of its predecessors managed: it competes directly with Apple, Sony, and Bose on the one metric that actually matters for most people's daily lives: call quality.
At $170 for the standard model and $230 for the Liberty 5 Pro Max, Soundcore is no longer playing in the budget sandbox. This is a direct challenge to the AirPods Pro 3. The question is whether the hardware backs up the ambition.
What's changed since we first published
- Reviews since launch have converged on fit and features but split on sound. TechRadar called the Liberty 5 Pro "feature-packed" and "highly recommended," while What Hi-Fi? summarised them as "lots of features, nice fit, mediocre sound."
- The Liberty 5 Pro Max's case doubles as a note-taking device, according to Wifi Hifi Magazine, which called it reliable but the case design unusual.
- PCMag's review of the Max flagged what it called an "unfortunate subscription fee," a detail that changes the value math on the $230 model.
- The earbuds have since appeared in 2026 roundup lists from RTINGS, Tom's Guide, Mashable, TechRadar, and others, usually as a mid-price candidate rather than a top pick.
What's new: the Thus chip
The headline upgrade is Anker's proprietary Thus chip, a custom audio processor with significantly more computational headroom than anything Soundcore has shipped before. This matters because modern noise canceling, especially for calls, is less about microphone hardware and more about real-time signal processing. The Thus chip gives the Liberty 5 Pro the processing budget to run aggressive beamforming and voice isolation algorithms that were previously only feasible in Apple's H2 or Sony's V2 chips. Forbes framed the chip as a three-year bet on custom earbud silicon, which is a long commitment for a company that used to buy its parts off the shelf.
Reviewers who have used the Liberty 5 Pro for calls have generally been impressed, and reviewers at Android Central highlighted one call-related feature they said was worth hearing to believe. Our original read stands: for remote workers and frequent callers, call handling alone comes close to justifying the price.
Both the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max use the same earbuds. Same chip, same 9.2mm drivers, same microphone array, same ANC performance, same IP55 water resistance, same battery life. The only difference between the two models is the charging case: the Pro Max ships with a larger case that has a 1.78-inch display and note-taking functions, while the standard Pro has a smaller 0.96-inch TFT screen. If you don't care about the case screen, the $170 model is the obvious buy.
ANC and sound quality
Active noise cancellation is strong, not class-leading, but comfortably in the same tier as the Sony WF-1000XM5 and meaningfully better than most sub-$200 earbuds. It handles consistent low-frequency noise (plane engines, AC units) very well. High-frequency transient sounds like keyboard clicks or sudden voices are attenuated but not eliminated, which is typical for hybrid ANC systems at this price. For a broader read on what current ANC can and cannot do, WIRED ran an ANC-versus-noise-isolation test in September 2026, and RTINGS continues to publish measured comparisons across the category. The related argument for why earbuds keep absorbing health-adjacent jobs is in The Earbud Has Become a Hearing Aid.
Sound quality out of the box needs attention, and this is where the post-launch reviews turned less generous. The default tuning is V-shaped: boosted bass and treble with a slightly recessed midrange. For pop, hip-hop, or electronic music it works fine. For vocals, podcasts, or acoustic music it can feel a bit hollow, which is roughly what What Hi-Fi? meant by mediocre sound. The fix is straightforward: the Soundcore app ships with a capable EQ and several preset profiles. Spend five minutes in the app and you can dial in a much more balanced signature. Minor friction, but worth knowing upfront.
The 9.2mm dynamic drivers deliver good detail retrieval and a wide soundstage for a sealed IEM design. Bass extension is solid without being muddy. Overall, the sound profile is competitive with the AirPods Pro 3, different flavor, not worse.
The case screen: gimmick or genuinely useful?
The Liberty 5 Pro's case has a 0.96-inch TFT screen on the front. You can use it to toggle ANC modes, switch sound profiles, enable speak-to-chat, and control Dolby head tracking, all without pulling out your phone. Everything on the screen is also accessible in the Soundcore app, so it's purely additive.
In practice, it's more useful than it sounds. Being able to flip ANC on or off, or switch from a music EQ to a voice EQ, without unlocking your phone is a small quality-of-life win that adds up over a day. It's not a reason to buy these earbuds, but it's a thoughtful detail that shows Soundcore is paying attention to real-world usage.
Battery life and fit
Soundcore rates battery life at 6.5 hours in the earbuds with noise cancellation on, or 28 hours including the charging case. Per charge, that trails the AirPods Pro 3 (up to 8 hours with ANC and 24 hours with the case, according to Apple) and the Sony WF-1000XM5 (8 hours with noise canceling, about 24 hours in total, per Sony). The bigger case is what gives the Liberty 5 Pro the longest total of the three, so it suits people who top up between commutes more than people who wear earbuds through a full working day.
Fit is subjective, but the Liberty 5 Pro ships with multiple ear tip sizes and a secure in-ear design that stays put during light exercise. TechRadar singled out the fit as a strength, and the IP55 rating covers sweat and rain splashes, making them reasonable gym companions, though not ideal for intense workouts where a more secure fit (like a hook or fin) would be preferable.
How it stacks up
The Liberty 5 Pro's most direct competitors are the AirPods Pro 3 ($249), the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($280), and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II ($199). Against all three, the Liberty 5 Pro wins on call quality and loses on brand ecosystem integration. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, AirPods Pro 3 still make more sense for seamless device switching and Siri integration. If you're Android or platform-agnostic, the Liberty 5 Pro is a compelling $80-$110 cheaper alternative that doesn't feel like a compromise.
The wider field is crowded. NBC News tested more than 50 wireless earbuds from Apple, Sony, Bose, Beats and others in September 2026, and WIRED published its own picks the same month after testing more than 50 pairs. Mashable, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, SoundGuys, and Gear Patrol all refreshed their noise-canceling lists between August and September 2026, and the Liberty 5 Pro tends to appear as a value option rather than the winner. Against Sony specifically, the newer WH-1000XM6 is a headphone rather than an earbud, so the honest comparison is with the WF-1000XM5, where the Soundcore trades a little ANC ceiling for a much lower price. For readers weighing whether the Max's extra features are worth paying for annually, the subscription question is covered in The Subscription Model Has Made Us Forget How to Own Things.
Verdict
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro is the best call-quality earbuds you can buy under $200, and it's not particularly close. The Thus chip delivers on its promise: if you spend a lot of time on calls, this is the earbud to get. Sound quality is good with a quick EQ tweak, ANC is strong, battery life is excellent, and the case screen is a nice bonus.
The default sound tuning and the lack of ecosystem integration (no seamless multi-device switching like AirPods) are real limitations, and professional reviewers have been sharper about tuning than early coverage was. But at $170, the Liberty 5 Pro punches well above its weight class. Soundcore has officially graduated from "budget pick" to "serious contender."
Score: 8/10, Recommended for remote workers, frequent callers, and anyone who wants flagship-tier call quality without the flagship price tag.
FAQ
Is the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro good for calls?
Yes. Reviewers who have used it for calls, including Android Central, have highlighted its voice isolation as a standout feature, and call handling remains the main reason to choose it over cheaper rivals.
What is the difference between the Liberty 5 Pro and the Liberty 5 Pro Max?
The earbuds themselves are identical: same chip, drivers, microphones, ANC, and battery life. The Max costs $230 instead of $170 and swaps in a larger case with a 1.78-inch display and note-taking functions, which Wifi Hifi Magazine described as unique but unusual.
Do the Liberty 5 Pro sound good out of the box?
Not to everyone's taste. The default tuning is V-shaped, and What Hi-Fi? called the sound mediocre, though the Soundcore app's EQ makes a quick correction for most listeners.
Does the Liberty 5 Pro Max need a subscription?
PCMag's review flagged a subscription fee tied to the Max, which is one reason the standard $170 model is easier to recommend. Check the current terms in the Soundcore app before buying.
Are the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro worth it over AirPods Pro 3?
They are if call quality and price matter more than ecosystem integration. The Liberty 5 Pro costs roughly $80 less than the AirPods Pro 3 and lacks Apple's seamless device switching and Siri.
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