Is the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro worth the upgrade from the OnePlus Buds Pro 3?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro scores 6.0 points above the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (8.0 to 8.5), calls (7.5 to 8.0) and value (8.0 to 8.5). You do give up ground on battery (8.5 to 7.5). On paper: weight 10.56 g to 5.5 g and microphones 3 to 6. Worth checking: bluetooth goes 5.4 to 5.3 and battery incl. case goes 43 h to 40 h. That costs $21 more, or about $3 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
- Battery8.57.5
- Calls7.58.0
- Value8.08.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Buds Pro 3 | Liberty 4 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | SBC, AAC, LDAC | |
| Weight | 10.56 g | 5.5 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IPX5 | |
| Battery incl. case | 43 h | 40 h | |
| Microphones | 3 | 6 | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 5 h | 5 min = 4 h | |
| Driver | hybrid | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 14Hz-40kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Buds Pro 3 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.