Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max to the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 buys you 10.7 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in value (8.0 to 9.0) and sound (8.0 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 12 h to 13 h, weight 11 g to 4.7 g and battery incl. case 28 h to 54 h. Worth checking: bluetooth goes 6.1 to 5.4 and microphones goes 8 to 3. It's also $190 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 cancelling8.08.0
- Battery8.58.5
- Calls7.57.5
- Value8.09.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 12 h | 13 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC | |
| Weight | 11 g | 4.7 g | |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 | 5.4 | |
| Battery incl. case | 28 h | 54 h | |
| Driver size | 9.2 mm | 11 mm | |
| Microphones | 8 | 3 | |
| Quick charge | 5 min → 4 h | 10 min → 11 h | |
| Controls | both | touch | |
| Driver | 9.2 mm dynamic | 11 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz | 10 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max 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.