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Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Soundcore Liberty 4: 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.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Apple AirPods Pro 3
  • Soundcore Liberty 4
HearWiki score
86
66
Sound
8.6
6.3
Noise cancelling
9.3
5.8
Battery
7.3
6.0
Calls
7.4
5.7
Value
8.3
4.3
Price (USD)
$180
$130

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 (2022). The Soundcore Liberty 4 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 320253 yr newer
  • Liberty 42022
What differsAirPods Pro 3Liberty 4

Platform

Top codec
AAC
LDAC

Everyday features

Water resistance
IP57
IPX4

Level on: Bluetooth, ANC type, Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app.

Specifications

AirPods Pro 3Liberty 4
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$180
$130
HearWiki score
86
66
Released
2025
2022
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
10.7 mm dynamic
2-driver hybrid
Driver type
dynamic
hybrid
Driver size
10.7 mm
9.2 mm
Drivers per side
1
2
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Sensitivity
110 dB/mW
-
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
8 h
9 h
Battery life (ANC on)
8 h
7 h
Battery incl. case
-
28 h
Full charge time
-
180 min
Quick charge
-
15 min → 3 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
5.6 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

The Soundcore Liberty 4 earbuds pack a robust feature set into a compact, comfortable design, including adaptive noise cancellation, wireless charging, and multipoint connectivity. They offer a very bright, detailed sound out of the box that may be too piercing for some listeners, with average ANC performance for the price. Overall, they are feature-rich but not a top-tier choice for pure audio neutrality.

  • Pro:Feature-packed for the price
  • Pro:Comfortable, lightweight fit
  • Pro:Supports LDAC and spatial audio
  • Con:Very bright tuning can sound harsh
  • Con:ANC is only average
  • Con:Touch controls can be finicky

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonApple AirPods Pro 3Soundcore Liberty 4