True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - Outstanding overall at around $179.
True Wireless
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
79Great
$100
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 4 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
HearWiki score
86
79
Sound
8.6
8.0
Noise cancelling
9.3
7.9
Battery
7.3
8.5
Calls
7.4
5.6
Value
8.3
9.0
Price (USD)
$180
$100
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (2025) against Soundcore Liberty 4 NC (2023). The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC edges ahead on platform, but only just: Top codec LDAC against AAC. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 answers on convenience features: it adds Water resistance IP57 against IPX4.
- AirPods Pro 320252 yr newer
- Liberty 4 NC2023
What differsAirPods Pro 3Liberty 4 NC
- Top codec
- AAC
- LDAC
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX4
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Bluetooth, ANC type, Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3Liberty 4 NC
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $100
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 79
- Released
- 2025
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- 11 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- 11 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 10 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.3
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 8 h
- 10 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- 8 h
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 50 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 90 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 10 min → 4 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- Yes
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- Yes
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- 5.2 g
- Case weight
- 44 g
- -
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX4
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 3
- 6
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- -
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that combine adaptive active noise cancellation with a comfortable, secure fit. They deliver clear calls, robust battery life, and a balanced sound profile, all wrapped in an IP57-rated design that handles water and dust. With Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connectivity, and wireless charging, they offer a polished experience for Apple and non-Apple users alike.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality with beamforming mics
- Pro:Strong battery life of 8 hours with ANC on
- Con:Fit may be tricky for some ears
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Limited codec support (SBC, AAC only)
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds pack premium-style features like adaptive noise cancellation, LDAC support, and wireless charging into a wallet-friendly package. They deliver a warm, balanced sound and solid ANC performance that rivals pricier models, though real-world battery life with ANC on falls short of the headline figure. Overall, they're a strong value pick for everyday use, offering comfort, multipoint connectivity, and a robust companion app.
- Pro:Excellent value for the price
- Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Warm, balanced sound signature
- Con:Battery life with ANC is lower than claimed
- Con:Not a class-leading audiophile choice
- Con:Touch controls may require adjustment
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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