Soundcore’s Liberty 4 Pro noise-cancelling earbuds are packed with features for the price
There aren’t a lot of new ideas in the world of wireless earbuds, so picking the best ones tends to come down to figuring out which features matter most to you and what fits your budget.
Over the past year, though, there have been some more intriguing launches. I’ve reviewed two innovative new pairs of earbuds from JBL – the Live Beam 3 and the Tour Pro 3 – that deliver extra smarts with screens on the charging cases, while I’ve also been hands-on with the newest AirPods and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, which both bring advanced integrations and levelled-up active noise-cancelling (ANC). And now you can add the latest pair from Soundcore to the growing list of interesting buds for 2024.
These buds have a tiny display within the charging case to control certain features, in addition to highly capable ANC with a new pressure sensor, tonnes of app-based features, Bluetooth multipoint, precise and personalised sound quality, spatial audio and more. All that, and they come in at a remarkably affordable £129.99.
Essentially, if you’re not too fussed about getting earbuds that match the brand of your smartphone but still want some of the smartest features and best active noise-cancelling (ANC) around, it’s worth considering the new Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro.
To reach this verdict, I’ve spent the last two weeks using them as some of my main earphones on my commute, in the office and while working from home.
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: At a glance
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: Design, comfort and convenience
The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds combine a sleek design with a practical charging case that’s pocket-friendly. One fairly special perk? The case features a small display showing settings like ambient noise control, spatial audio, a remote camera shutter, atmospheric pressure adaptation and battery levels for both earbuds and the case itself. It’s a little bit like a smaller version of similar displays I’ve seen on JBL’s earphones.
One of the best benefits is that there’s no need to memorise LED colours here to understand how much battery you've got left. This takes the guesswork out of knowing whether your earbuds need a charge. So, even if the touch bar and display may seem a little bit gimmicky to some, I found them useful for checking battery life and adjusting noise-cancellation levels on the go.
The buds come in a great range of fun colours (black, white, light blue, green, glossy light blue and glossy black) and it’s important to note that you’ll only be able to see through the lid to the case’s screen on the “glossy” models.
They’re compact and the stem design makes them look a lot like AirPods. They’re reasonably comfortable too, with six pairs of ear tips in the box and an ear tip fit test in the app. I also appreciated the IP55 dust and water resistance rating, which gives me some peace of mind because it means that they can handle workouts and rainy days with no issues.
The squeeze controls for playback and noise cancellation were intuitive and easy to manage, and the simple swipe gesture for volume control is one of my favourites and should come to more earphones. Overall, these give you lots of on-bud control.
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: Sound quality and audio features
Soundcore has equipped the Liberty 4 Pro with dual drivers. You get a 10.5mm driver and a 4.6mm titanium tweeter in each bud. This combination is great for delivering a powerful and punchy sound that’s especially enjoyable with pop and electronic tracks. It’s energetic and dynamic, making these earbuds ideal if you just want a “fun” and precise sound to your playlists.
When I first tried them, the bass was too pronounced, but the sound profile is very customisable and adjusting it through the HearID test in Soundcore’s app gave me a more balanced, personalised result with crisp high notes and well-defined vocals.
While the sound quality is strong overall, I noticed it lacks the natural richness and instrumental separation I’ve heard from rivals like Nothing Ear and Sony WF-C700N. There’s a slightly harsh “edge” to the audio, which I only really detected when comparing them directly to the other models. For the majority of listeners, though, these buds should be satisfying for most music genres, especially once personalised through the app.
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: Noise-cancelling
Noise cancellation is where these earbuds shine. Soundcore’s adaptive ANC, backed by six microphones and a single pressure sensor, blocks out an impressive amount of background noise. It’s the brand’s most advanced take on ANC yet, measuring ambient sound and adapting three times per second while also using its pressure sensor to deal with changes in pressure – such as when you're on a plane or fast-moving train.
I found it surprisingly effective even in loud environments like the London Underground or a busy office. It's good at quieting conversations, keyboard clicks, and street noise. This ANC performance actually competes well with far pricier options like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Apple AirPods Pro 2.
However, you may notice a slight "pressurised" sensation in your ears and a faint background hum when ANC is active. And, although a transparency mode is available for amplifying outside sounds, I found it overly processed and not particularly pleasant to use. It’s enough for a bit of ambient awareness if needed in a pinch, but not as good as it is from rival models like Apple's AirPods, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds or the Jabra Elite 10.
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: Battery life, charging and extra features
With up to 7.5 hours on a single charge and an additional 30 hours from the case, I rarely felt the need to recharge these buds during testing. They’ve got an extensive battery life that outclasses several rivals. The Bluetooth multipoint feature is handy for switching between two paired devices, and Soundcore's companion app is one of my favourites for its extensive customisation features.
Once you've set up the earphones in the app, you'll find "Easy Chat" (which detects when you're talking, lowers the volume and turns on the transparency mode), a wearing detection sensor, safe volume limits, an ear tip fit test, some specific charging case settings, wind noise reduction, full customisation of the touch control system and comprehensive tweaking of your sound preferences. It's a lot.
In some ways, it may be too much. There’s even a way to set the case to work as a remote camera shutter – for most, this feature might feel a bit unnecessary. Thankfully, you can turn off any of the case features you don't expect to use. And, overall, Soundcore’s app is still among the most user-friendly I’ve tried. Even if you haven't used an app with your headphones before, this one makes it easy to adjust sound preferences to get the best audio profile for your ears.
Various spatial audio options are available, although, I found they sound too processed. If you’re certain that you're after an immersive audio feature, it's worth going for more premium models like the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, JBL Tour Pro 3 or Jabra Elite 10, as they handle this much better.
The Good Housekeeping verdict on the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds
For the price, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro offers fantastic value with a blend of high-quality noise-cancellation, punchy and detailed sound, and a feature-rich app.
While not flawless – I think certain rivals offer slightly superior audio fidelity and richer soundstages – these earbuds deliver excellent versatility and convenience, especially if you think you're going to get a lot of use out of the advanced noise-cancelling while travelling.
The powerful ANC and lengthy battery life alone make them a strong choice for anyone looking for feature-packed buds under £130.
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: Other models to consider
If noise-cancelling prowess is your main priority, Soundcore’s own Liberty 4 NC offers similar performance at an even more budget-friendly price (under £100).
For anyone seeking more natural sound, the Nothing Ear or Sony WF-C700N may be worth a look, and if a better-equipped charging case is appealing, consider spending a little extra for the JBL Live Beam 3.
Each of these alternatives has its strengths, but overall, the Liberty 4 Pro remains an impressive value option for its blend of features, personalisation and battery life.
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