Is the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro actually scores 7.0 points below the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in value (5.0 to 9.0), sound (7.0 to 8.0) and calls (6.0 to 7.0). Worth checking: battery life goes 9 h to 8 h and codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC, L2HC 4.0 to SBC, AAC, LDAC. It is at least $125 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.08.0
- Noise cancelling7.07.0
- Battery6.06.0
- Calls6.07.0
- Value5.09.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds Pro 5 | Liberty 3 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 9 h | 8 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, L2HC 4.0 | SBC, AAC, LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.2 | |
| Water resistance | IP57 | IPX4 | |
| Battery incl. case | 38 h | 32 h | |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 120 min | |
| Case weight | 43 g | 56 g | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 48 kHz | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds Pro 5 to Liberty 3 Pro". 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.