Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 buys you 15.1 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (7.0 to 9.5), calls (7.0 to 8.5) and battery (7.0 to 8.0). You do give up ground on value (8.0 to 7.5). On paper: weight 12 g to 5.5 g, bluetooth 5.2 to 5.3 and battery life (anc on) 6 h to 8 h. Worth checking: codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC, AAC and drivers per side goes 2 to 1. That costs $62 more, or about $4 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.08.5
- Noise cancelling7.09.5
- Battery7.08.0
- Calls7.08.5
- Value8.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Weight | 12 g | 5.5 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP57 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 8 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Driver | 2-driver hybrid | 10.7 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro to AirPods Pro 3". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.