Soundcore, Anker's audio brand, steps into the premium earbuds market with its Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max, featuring the new Thus chip, which enhances processing power for superior in-call noise cancellation.
Pricing and Features
The Liberty 5 Pro is priced at $170, while the Liberty 5 Pro Max costs $230, placing them in competition with Apple's AirPods Pro 3. Despite the price difference, both models share identical components, such as the chip, 9.2mm drivers, ANC capabilities, and battery life. The primary distinction lies in the design of their cases.
Case Differences
The Liberty 5 Pro's case includes a 0.96-inch TFT screen for adjusting ANC and sound settings. The 5 Pro Max, on the other hand, features a 1.78-inch AMOLED screen with additional functions like screen brightness adjustment, wallpaper changes, and an AI note-taking app that records audio to its 357MB storage and transcribes it via the Soundcore app.
Sound Quality and Customization
Out of the box, the Liberty 5's sound profile leans on the bassy side, which can muddy vocals. However, users can adjust the sound using a series of preset sound clips or an 8-band EQ, resulting in a more balanced audio experience. The Liberty 5 Pro supports LDAC for high-res audio.
Unmatched Call Quality
The standout feature of the Liberty 5 Pro is its call quality. The earbuds handle ambient noise remarkably well, outperforming competitors like the AirPods Pro 3. Test calls in noisy environments, such as with traffic or children playing, demonstrated clear sound on the other end. The voice-control mode is responsive but may require loud speaking in noisy environments.
For users prioritizing call clarity, the Liberty 5 Pro series is an excellent choice. The AI recording feature of the 5 Pro Max is beneficial for frequent note-takers, but the Liberty 5 Pro's lower price and similar performance make it the more appealing option for most consumers.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/935766/soundcore-liberty-5-pro-series-earbuds-review
