Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 6.0 points above the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (8.0 to 9.5), calls (7.0 to 8.5) and sound (8.0 to 8.5). You do give up ground on value (8.0 to 7.5). On paper: case weight 51 g to 43.99 g. Worth checking: battery life goes 10 h to 8 h and codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC, AAC. That costs $152 more, or about $25 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
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 cancelling8.09.5
- Battery8.08.0
- Calls7.08.5
- Value8.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 8 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Water resistance | IPX5 | IP57 | |
| Battery incl. case | 40 h | 24 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Case weight | 51 g | 43.99 g | |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 4 h | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | |
| Driver | hybrid | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 14 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Soundcore Liberty 4 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.