True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$250
Full review dataSony WF-1000XM5 vs Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM5 - Outstanding overall at around $249.
True Wireless
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
78Great
$110
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery6.0
Calls7.0
Value9.0
Specifications
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $250 | $110 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | hybrid |
| Driver size | 8.4 mm | 10.6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 105 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 12 h | 8 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 6 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 32 h |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 120 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | - |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| ANC type | hybrid | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 5.9 g | 6 g |
| Case weight | 39 g | 56 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | 6 |
What reviewers said
Sony WF-1000XM5
These are high-end true wireless earbuds that focus on adaptive noise cancellation and detailed audio, supporting LDAC for high-resolution streaming. They offer a solid battery life of up to 12 hours without ANC, plus a comfortable fit and IPX4 sweat resistance for daily use. The touch controls and companion app add convenience, though the price reflects their premium status.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long battery life (12 hours without ANC)
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:No higher water resistance rating than IPX4
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro are feature-packed true wireless earbuds with hybrid ANC, LDAC support, and multipoint connectivity. They deliver engaging sound with a customizable EQ, though battery life falls short of claims and the tuning may not appeal to everyone. Overall, they offer strong value for their price point.
- Pro:Excellent sound quality with engaging tuning
- Pro:Strong hybrid ANC and transparency mode
- Pro:Rich feature set including LDAC, multipoint, and wireless charging
- Con:Battery life is below advertised figures
- Con:Sound signature may not suit those preferring neutral tuning
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky at times
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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