Is the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro worth the upgrade from the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro to the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro buys you 16.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in calls (6.5 to 9.0), sound (7.0 to 8.5) and noise cancelling (7.0 to 8.0). On paper: battery life 10 h to 12 h, bluetooth 5.3 to 6.1 and water resistance (IP55). Worth checking: battery incl. case goes 38 h to 28 h and driver size goes 11 mm to 9.2 mm. That costs $114 more, or about $7 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.08.5
- Noise cancelling7.08.0
- Battery7.58.5
- Calls6.59.0
- Value8.08.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Redmi Buds 5 Pro | Liberty 5 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 12 h | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6.1 | |
| Water resistance | Not rated | IP55 | |
| Battery incl. case | 38 h | 28 h | |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 9.2 mm | |
| Microphones | 3 | 10 | |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2 h | 5 mins = 4 hrs playtime | |
| Driver | hybrid | 9.2mm wool-paper diaphragm drivers |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Redmi Buds 5 Pro to Liberty 5 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.