True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM4
84Great
$199
Full review dataSony WF-1000XM4 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM4 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM4 - Great overall at around $199.
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.
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery7.5
Calls8.0
Value8.5
Specifications
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM4 | Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $199 | $150 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 6 mm | dynamic |
| Driver size | 6 mm | 10.5 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 14Hz-40kHz |
| Impedance | - | 15.3 Ω |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | 10 m | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 12 h | 10 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 7.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 40 h |
| Full charge time | 90 min | - |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 5 min = 4 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | Yes |
| Controls | - | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | supports voice assistant via app |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 41.1 g | 5.5 g |
| Case weight | 41 g | 51 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX5 |
| USB-C | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 6 |
| Call noise reduction | - | AI noise reduction |
What reviewers said
Sony WF-1000XM4
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are high-end true wireless earbuds that excel in active noise cancellation and sound quality, with a compact 6mm driver and support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They provide about 8 hours of playback per charge, extendable to 24 hours with the case, and include handy features like multipoint connectivity and quick charging. Their IPX4 rating makes them suitable for workouts, though the overall design is a bit bulky for some ears.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Rich, detailed sound with LDAC support
- Pro:Good battery life with fast charging
- Con:Bulkier fit compared to rivals
- Con:No wireless charging on the case
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky
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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