Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 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 value (8.0 to 9.0), sound (8.0 to 8.5) and battery (8.0 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 10 h to 13 h, weight 11 g to 4.73 g and bluetooth 5.3 to 5.4. Worth checking: full charge time goes 60 min to 70 min and drivers per side goes 2 to 1. That costs $50 more, or about $8 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 cancelling8.08.0
- Battery8.08.5
- Calls7.07.5
- Value8.09.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 13 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | |
| Weight | 11 g | 4.73 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IPX5 | IP55 | |
| Battery incl. case | 40 h | 45 h | |
| Full charge time | 60 min | 70 min | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 4 h | 10 min = 11 hours playback | |
| Driver | hybrid | dual drivers; 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter | |
| Frequency response | 14 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 10Hz-40kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Soundcore Liberty 4 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.