Huawei FreeBuds Neo vs Soundcore Liberty Buds: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Huawei FreeBuds Neo comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Huawei FreeBuds Neo leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- Huawei FreeBuds Neo
- Soundcore Liberty Buds
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?
Both shipped in 2026. These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.
- FreeBuds Neo2026
- Liberty Buds2026
Level on: Top codec, ANC type, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app, Water resistance.
Specifications
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $110
- $60
- HearWiki score
- 85
- 73
- Released
- 2026
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- dynamic
- 11 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- -
- 11 mm
- Drivers per side
- -
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 48 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 14 Ω
- Bluetooth
- -
- 6.1
- Codecs
- LDAC
- LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 15 m
- Battery life
- 10 h
- 7 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 6.5 h
- 6 h
- Battery incl. case
- 40 h
- 30 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 90 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 10 min → 4 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- -
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Weight
- 4.8 g
- 4.9 g
- Case weight
- -
- 54.1 g
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IP55
- USB-C
- -
- Yes
- Model code
- -
- D1200
- Microphones
- 4
- 4
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
What reviewers said
Huawei FreeBuds Neo
The Huawei FreeBuds Neo are lightweight, comfortable true wireless earbuds with adaptive active noise cancellation and a robust feature set for their price. They offer solid call quality, a lively sound signature, and practical extras like transparency mode and app support, making them a versatile mid-range option for travel and daily use.
- Pro:Comfortable and lightweight fit
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC
- Pro:Good call quality with 4 mics
- Con:Battery life with ANC is modest
- Con:May not satisfy audiophiles seeking specialized tuning
- Con:Touch controls may require adjustment
Soundcore Liberty Buds
The Soundcore Liberty Buds are affordable half-in-ear true wireless earbuds that combine adaptive noise cancellation, LDAC support, and a comfortable fit. They deliver a bass-forward but well-balanced sound with a rich feature set, including touch controls, transparency mode, and multipoint connectivity, making them a strong value pick. Their IP55 rating and compact design add to their everyday practicality.
- Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode
- Pro:LDAC support for high-resolution audio
- Pro:Secure, comfortable half-in-ear fit
- Con:No wireless charging
- Con:Bass-heavy sound may not suit purists
- Con:Average ANC for noisy environments
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.
