Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC to the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 buys you 12.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in sound (7.5 to 8.5), noise cancelling (7.0 to 8.0) and calls (6.5 to 7.5). On paper: battery life 10 h to 13 h and bluetooth 5.3 to 5.4. Worth checking: battery incl. case goes 50 h to 45 h and microphones goes 6 to 3. That costs $66 more, or about $5 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.
- Sound7.58.5
- Noise cancelling7.08.0
- Battery8.08.5
- Calls6.57.5
- Value8.59.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 13 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP55 | |
| Battery incl. case | 50 h | 45 h | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 4 h | 10 min = 11 hours playback | |
| Driver | dynamic | dual drivers; 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 10Hz-40kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Soundcore Liberty 4 NC 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.