Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro to the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 buys you 17.7 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in battery (7.0 to 8.5), noise cancelling (7.0 to 8.0) and value (8.0 to 9.0). On paper: battery life 8 h to 13 h, weight 12 g to 4.7 g and bluetooth 5.2 to 5.4. Worth checking: drivers per side goes 2 to 1 and microphones goes 6 to 3. It's also $40 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. 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 cancelling7.08.0
- Battery7.08.5
- Calls7.07.5
- Value8.09.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 8 h | 13 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC | |
| Weight | 12 g | 4.7 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP55 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 7 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 32 h | 54 h | |
| Full charge time | 120 min | 70 min | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 15 min → 3 h | 10 min → 11 h | |
| Driver | 2-driver hybrid | 11 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 10 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro to Buds Pro 4". 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.