Is the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max worth the upgrade from the OnePlus Buds Pro 4?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max actually scores 10.7 points below the OnePlus Buds Pro 4, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on value (9.0 to 8.0) and sound (8.5 to 8.0). On paper: bluetooth 5.4 to 6.1 and microphones 3 to 8. Worth checking: battery life goes 13 h to 12 h and weight goes 4.7 g to 11 g. And it costs $190 more for a lower score, which is hard to justify on the data alone. 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.
- Sound8.58.0
- Noise cancelling8.08.0
- Battery8.58.5
- Calls7.57.5
- Value9.08.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Buds Pro 4 | Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 13 h | 12 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LHDC | SBC, AAC, LDAC | |
| Weight | 4.7 g | 11 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 6.1 | |
| Battery incl. case | 54 h | 28 h | |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 9.2 mm | |
| Microphones | 3 | 8 | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 11 h | 5 min → 4 h | |
| Controls | touch | both | |
| Driver | 11 mm dynamic | 9.2 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Buds Pro 4 to Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max". 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.