Soundcore by Anker has become one of the most popular brands for true wireless earbuds. They offer great sound quality and features at affordable prices. Two of their top models are the Liberty 3 Pro and the newer Liberty 4. But which one is right for you?
In this detailed comparison, we’ll examine the key differences between the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro and Liberty 4 earbuds to help you decide which is the better choice.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Liberty 3 Pro | Liberty 4 |
| Noise Cancellation | Hybrid ANC up to 42dB | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB |
| Audio Driver Size | 11mm | 12mm |
| Codec Support | LDAC | No LDAC |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 hours (ANC off) | Up to 9 hours (ANC off) |
| Charging Case | Provides 3 extra charges | Provides 3.5 extra charges |
| Wireless Charging Case | No | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Audio Personalization | HearID | HearID 2.0 |
| Touch Controls | On each earbud | Single button on each |
Overview And Design
The Liberty 3 Pro was released in 2021 as a high-end model with active noise cancellation and customized sound. The Liberty 4 followed in 2022 as an upgraded version focused on improved call quality and wear detection sensors.
Both earbuds sport a similar sleek stem design that protrudes slightly from your ear. This helps stabilize them and house the microphone. The Liberty 3 Pro has a matte texture while the Liberty 4 has a glossy finish. They both come with oval silicon eartips in multiple sizes for a secure and comfortable fit.
For controls, the Liberty 3 Pro uses touch pads on each earbud. The Liberty 4 simplifies this with a single touch control on each stem.
In terms of durability, the Liberty 3 Pro has an IPX4 water resistance rating while the Liberty 4 bumps this up to IPX5, making them sweat and splash-proof.
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Sound Quality
With their 11mm dynamic drivers and active noise cancellation, the Liberty 3 Pro produce expansive, detailed sound with thumping bass. They support the LDAC codec for hi-res streaming.
The Liberty 4 deliver an equally powerful audio experience with 12mm drivers and a redesigned acoustic chamber. Many reviewers find they have better bass response and clarity compared to the 3 Pro.
A standout feature of both earbuds is personalized hearingID sound that analyzes your hearing and tunes the audio to match. This makes the sound profile more natural and balanced for your ears.
For video watching, the Liberty 4 have lower latency than the 3 Pro at 55ms versus 75ms. This helps prevent audio lag or lip sync issues.
Noise Cancellation
With their hybrid ANC system using feedforward and feedback mics, the Liberty 3 Pro can block out up to 42 decibels of ambient noise. This makes them suitable for commuting and busy environments. There are two transparency modes to let in sound when needed.
The Liberty 4 bump active noise cancellation up to 45 decibels for slightly better performance. They also introduce a new Voice Detect mode to automatically enable transparency when you speak so conversations are easier.
In terms of passive noise isolation from the eartip seal, the Liberty 4 edge out the 3 Pro again. Their redesigned shape improves passive isolation.
Call Quality
Thanks to their dual microphones, the Liberty 3 Pro deliver fairly clear and stable voice calls. Wind reduction helps minimize background interference.
With a total of 6 microphones and an AI-enhanced algorithm, the Liberty 4 excel at call clarity. They have exceptional noise handling even in windy conditions. For voice assistants, the 4 pick up commands accurately.
Battery Life
The Liberty 3 Pro provide up to 7 hours of listening per charge at moderate volume with ANC off. The case gives you 3 additional charges for 28 hours total. Quick charging gives you 2 hours of use from a 15-minute charge.
With ANC on, the battery life drops to about 5 hours. Enabling LDAC streaming also reduces battery life.
The Liberty 4 improve upon this with up to 9 hours per charge and 36 hours total with ANC off. You get roughly 6.5 hours with ANC on. The case now supports Qi wireless charging too.
Connectivity
The Liberty 3 Pro use Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity. This provides reliable pairing and coverage distance up to 10 meters. There is fast switching between multiple devices.
An upgrade in the Liberty 4 is Bluetooth 5.3 support. This bumps up the wireless range slightly while maintaining a stable signal. Bluetooth 5.3 also has lower latency.
For multi-device pairing, both models can connect to two devices simultaneously and detect when you’re using them to automatically switch audio sources.
Features And Extras
A few handy extras on the Liberty 3 Pro include wear detection sensors that auto pause when you remove an earbud. There is also a “Find My Earbud” feature in the app to locate lost earbuds, along with touch controls customization.
The Liberty 4 add in a couple useful upgrades like the previously mentioned Voice Detect mode for conversations and improved wear sensors. The touch controls are also easier to use with the single button on each earbud.
In terms of companion app features, the Liberty 4 gains an EQ with bass boost, while the Liberty 3 Pro EQ lacks a dedicated bass option. Both offer firmware updates though to enhance performance over time.
Price
When released, the Liberty 3 Pro retailed for $170 while the Liberty 4 cost $150. This makes the 4 a better value, providing features like Bluetooth 5.3 and better battery life at a lower price.
These days, the Liberty 3 Pro costs around $100-130 while the Liberty 4 sells for $140-150. With the price gap narrowed, the 4 is still the newer model but both are great values.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The main differences between the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC and SoundPEATS Capsule 3 Pro are:
Sound quality – The Liberty 4 NC have a 12mm driver, LDAC support for hi-res audio, and HearID for personalized sound. The Capsule 3 Pro have a 10mm driver without LDAC or HearID.
Noise cancellation – The Liberty 4 NC uses hybrid ANC with 6 mics to block up to 45dB of noise. The Capsule 3 Pro have hybrid ANC up to 35dB with 4 mics.
Battery life – The Liberty 4 NC get up to 9 hours per charge, the Capsule 3 Pro up to 8 hours.
Wireless charging – Only the Liberty 4 NC case supports Qi wireless charging.
Water resistance – The Liberty 4 NC have an IPX5 rating while the Capsule 3 Pro are IPX4.
So the Liberty 4 NC edge out the Capsule 3 Pro in sound, ANC, and battery with extra features like wireless charging and higher water resistance. But the Capsule 3 Pro can be found for less money.
The main differences between the Liberty 3 Pro and Liberty Air 2 Pro are:
Noise cancellation – The Liberty 3 Pro has hybrid active noise cancellation while the Air 2 Pro lack any ANC feature.
Audio drivers – The 3 Pro use 11mm drivers versus the 15mm drivers in the Air 2 Pro.
Codec support – Only the Liberty 3 Pro support LDAC for hi-res wireless audio.
Battery life – The 3 Pro get around 7 hours per charge while the Air 2 Pro last up to 8 hours.
Charging case – The 3 Pro case provides 3 extra charges versus 2.5 from the Air 2 Pro case.
So the Liberty 3 Pro have superior noise cancellation and codec support. But the Liberty Air 2 Pro offer bigger audio drivers and slightly better battery life in a smaller form factor.
No, the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro do not support Dolby Atmos surround sound. They can play Dolby Atmos content, but will downmix it to stereo as they only have two drivers in each earbud.
Many competing models like the Liberty Air 2 Pro do feature Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound processing to give a wider soundstage.
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro have an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning they are splash-proof but not fully waterproof. They can handle sweat and light rain with no issues, but cannot be submerged in water.
This makes them suitable for workouts but unsafe for swimming or showering. For full waterproofing, an IPX7 rating or higher is needed.
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Verdict
Overall, the Liberty 4 earbuds are the better choice currently when comparing them to the Liberty 3 Pro. The slightly lower price for the improved sound, ANC, battery life and call quality gives them the edge. They have next-gen specs like Bluetooth 5.3 and wear sensors.
However, the Liberty 3 Pro are still excellent true wireless earbuds, especially if found at a discount. Their audio and noise cancellation hold up well. The fit and controls are also very user-friendly.
You can’t really go wrong with either model. The Liberty 4 just outshine the 3 Pro in a few key areas while costing around the same price now. Their fantastic sound and smart features make them one of the top values in the wireless earbud market.