True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM4
84Great
$199
Full review dataSony WF-1000XM4 vs Soundcore Liberty 5 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 5 Pro
84Great
$170
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 5 Pro
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery8.5
Calls9.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM4 | Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $199 | $170 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 6 mm | 9.2mm wool-paper diaphragm drivers |
| Driver size | 6 mm | 9.2 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | - |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 6.1 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 6.1 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | 10 m | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 12 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 6.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 28 h |
| Full charge time | 90 min | - |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 5 mins = 4 hrs playtime |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | - | touch |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 41.1 g | 5.5 g |
| Case weight | 41 g | - |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP55 |
| USB-C | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 10 |
| Call noise reduction | - | 8 mics + 2 VPUs + AI Large Model |
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 5 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are feature-packed true wireless earbuds that deliver strong all-around performance, with adaptive noise cancellation, LDAC support, and a comfortable fit. They excel in voice-call quality and offer a versatile set of controls and app customization, though battery life per charge is modest. Overall, they represent a compelling mid-range option with a few notable strengths and minor trade-offs.
- Pro:Excellent voice-call clarity with 10-mic setup
- Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency modes work well
- Pro:Supports LDAC for high-resolution audio
- Con:Battery life per charge is only 6.5 hours
- Con:No wear detection for auto-pause
- Con:Touch controls may require adjustment for some users
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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