Sony WF-C500 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. 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.
Specifications
| Spec | Sony WF-C500 | Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $79 | $150 |
| HearWiki score | 62 / 100 · Average | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 5.8 mm | 10.5 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 14Hz-40kHz |
| Impedance | - | 15.3 Ω |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | 10 m | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 10 h | 10 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 7.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 20 h | 40 h |
| Full charge time | 150 min | - |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 1 h | 5 min = 4 h |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | none | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes |
| Wear detection | No | Yes |
| Controls | buttons | touch |
| Voice assistant | voice assistant support | supports voice assistant via app |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 10.8 g | 5.5 g |
| Case weight | 35 g | 51 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX5 |
| Foldable | No | - |
| Detachable cable | No | - |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 6 |
| Call noise reduction | none | AI noise reduction |
What reviewers said
Sony WF-C500
The Sony WF-C500 are budget-friendly true wireless earbuds that deliver a decent, well-rounded sound, though they may require some adjustment through the companion app to truly shine, especially at higher volumes. They offer a compact, lightweight design with basic IPX4 protection and a straightforward feature set, making them a steady choice for those seeking an affordable entry into the Sony ecosystem. However, their limited battery life, lack of noise canceling, and basic codec support keep them from being a standout in a crowded market.
- Pro:Compact and lightweight fit
- Pro:Solid bass response for the price
- Pro:Good app support for sound adjustments
- Con:Sound needs EQ tweaking to excel at high volumes
- Con:No noise cancellation or transparency mode
- Con:Battery life is modest at 5 hours
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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