True Wireless
Apple AirPods (1st generation)
Not yet scored
$105
Full review dataApple AirPods (1st generation) vs Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Apple AirPods (1st generation) vs Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
True Wireless
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
84Great
$170
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods (1st generation)
No sub-scores yet - not enough rated reviews.
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery8.5
Calls9.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Apple AirPods (1st generation) | Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $105 | $170 |
| HearWiki score | Not scored | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 9.2mm wool-paper diaphragm drivers |
| Driver size | - | 9.2 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 6.1 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 5 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 6.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 28 h |
| Full charge time | 15 min | - |
| Quick charge | 15 min = 3 h | 5 mins = 4 hrs playtime |
| Wireless charging | - | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | both | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 4 g | 5.5 g |
| Case weight | 38 g | - |
| Water resistance | none | IP55 |
| Detachable cable | No | - |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 10 |
| Call noise reduction | - | 8 mics + 2 VPUs + AI Large Model |
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods (1st generation)
These are Apple's original truly wireless earbuds, built around the W1 chip for seamless pairing and automatic device switching. They offer a comfortable, universal fit with simple tap controls, and the charging case extends total playback to a full day, though they lack any form of noise cancellation or water resistance. Battery life per charge is modest at five hours, but the quick-charge feature provides a useful boost when you're in a hurry.
- Pro:Effortless pairing and reliable connection with Apple devices
- Pro:Compact, lightweight design that sits comfortably in most ears
- Pro:Quick charge gives 3 hours of playback from a 15-minute top-up
- Con:No active noise cancellation or water resistance
- Con:Battery life per charge is limited to 5 hours
- Con:Charging case uses a Lightning port, not USB-C
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are feature-packed true wireless earbuds that deliver strong all-around performance, with adaptive noise cancellation, LDAC support, and a comfortable fit. They excel in voice-call quality and offer a versatile set of controls and app customization, though battery life per charge is modest. Overall, they represent a compelling mid-range option with a few notable strengths and minor trade-offs.
- Pro:Excellent voice-call clarity with 10-mic setup
- Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency modes work well
- Pro:Supports LDAC for high-resolution audio
- Con:Battery life per charge is only 6.5 hours
- Con:No wear detection for auto-pause
- Con:Touch controls may require adjustment for some users
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.