Is the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) worth the upgrade from the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) scores 6.0 points above the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (7.0 to 9.0), battery (6.0 to 7.5) and calls (7.0 to 8.0). You do give up ground on value (9.0 to 7.5). On paper: bluetooth 5.2 to 5.3 and case weight 56 g to 50.8 g. Worth checking: codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC, AAC and multipoint pairing goes Yes to No. That costs $10 more, or about $2 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 cancelling7.09.0
- Battery6.07.5
- Calls7.08.0
- Value9.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Liberty 3 Pro | AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP54 | |
| Battery incl. case | 32 h | 30 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Case weight | 56 g | 50.8 g | |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Controls | touch | both | |
| Driver | hybrid | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Liberty 3 Pro to AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)". 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.