True Wireless
Apple AirPods 4 ANC
72Good
$179
Full review dataApple AirPods 4 ANC vs Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro - Great overall at around $150.
True Wireless
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
84Great
$150
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods 4 ANC
Sound7.5
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery6.0
Calls7.0
Value7.0
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery7.5
Calls8.0
Value8.5
Specifications
| Spec | Apple AirPods 4 ANC | Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $179 | $150 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2024 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 10.5 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 14Hz-40kHz |
| Impedance | - | 15.3 Ω |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 4 h | 10 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 4 h | 7.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 20 h | 40 h |
| Quick charge | - | 5 min = 4 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | both | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri | supports voice assistant via app |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 8.6 g | 5.5 g |
| Case weight | 34.7 g | 51 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX5 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 3 | 6 |
| Call noise reduction | - | AI noise reduction |
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods 4 ANC
These true wireless earbuds offer hybrid active noise cancellation and a secure, sweat-resistant build, making them a solid pick for daily use and workouts. They deliver a balanced, bass-enhanced sound signature with multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and intuitive controls, though their battery life is modest. While not the absolute best in noise cancellation, they provide a well-rounded experience that appeals strongly to Apple ecosystem users.
- Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
- Pro:Comfortable, stable fit with IP54 rating
- Pro:Clear, improved bass response
- Con:Battery life is only average at 5 hours
- Con:Noise cancellation is decent, not class-leading
- Con:Limited codec support (AAC only)
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro pack a hefty feature set into a budget-friendly wireless earbud package, including adaptive noise cancellation, LDAC support, multipoint connectivity, and wireless charging. They deliver solid sound with crisp treble and effective call quality, though the charging case can feel gimmicky and prone to fingerprints, and spatial audio falls short. Overall, they're a well-rounded value pick rather than a flagship-level performer.
- Pro:Strong active noise cancellation
- Pro:Wide codec support including LDAC
- Pro:Multipoint and wireless charging included
- Con:Charging case feels gimmicky and smudges easily
- Con:Spatial audio performance is weak
- Con:Battery life is average for the price
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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