Is the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro worth the upgrade from the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro scores 8.0 points above the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (7.5 to 8.5), calls (7.0 to 8.0) and value (7.5 to 8.5). You do give up ground on battery (8.5 to 7.5). On paper: battery life 9 h to 10 h, battery life (anc on) 6 h to 7.5 h and microphones 3 to 6. Worth checking: drivers per side goes 2 to 1. That costs $65 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.
- Sound7.58.5
- Noise cancelling8.08.0
- Battery8.57.5
- Calls7.08.0
- Value7.58.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Buds 2 Pro | Liberty 4 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 9 h | 10 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LHDC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC | |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IPX5 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 7.5 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 3 | 6 | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 2 h | 5 min = 4 h | |
| Call noise reduction | AI call noise reduction | AI noise reduction | |
| Driver | 11mm + 6mm dual drivers | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 40 kHz | 14 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Buds 2 Pro to Liberty 4 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.