Is the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 actually scores 5.4 points below the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on battery (8.5 to 6.5) and calls (9.0 to 7.0). On paper: battery incl. case 28 h to 33 h, driver size 9.2 mm to 11 mm and drivers per side 1 to 2. Worth checking: battery life goes 12 h to 7 h and weight goes 5.5 g to 11.6 g. And it costs $38 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.
- Sound8.57.5
- Noise cancelling8.08.0
- Battery8.56.5
- Calls9.07.0
- Value8.07.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Liberty 5 Pro | FreeBuds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 12 h | 7 h | |
| Weight | 5.5 g | 11.6 g | |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 | 5.2 | |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IP54 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6.5 h | 4.5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 28 h | 33 h | |
| Driver size | 9.2 mm | 11 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Microphones | 10 | 4 | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| Driver | 9.2 mm dynamic | 2-driver hybrid |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Liberty 5 Pro to FreeBuds Pro 4". 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.