The Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds are now available: Pocket-sized ANC, better than ever

Listen up earphone fans, Soundcore's new Liberty 5 earbuds are available on the market now, and you won't want to miss them. Soundcore earphones are consistently among the best for audio quality and bass, and the Liberty 5 pairs its Hi-Res audio with potent active noise cancellation (ANC) to ensure nothing disturbs your listening. Priced at £99.99, you can grab them from either Amazon or Soundcore's site.

The ANC 3.0 claims to be twice as effective as previous models, and from our experience, that appears to be the case. We've previously reviewed the Liberty 4 and were big fans of how it performed. Now that we've got our hands on the Liberty 5, we're pleased to say that it matches up to its predecessor very well, while improving on the already excellent active noise cancellation.

There's more to love about the Liberty 5. It's very impressive in terms of tech and specifications. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures a stable and consistent connection, and it has an IP55 dust and water resistance rating, so it is plenty durable too. The highlight is easily the audio tech itself, with the 9.2mm flexible wool-paper driver and dual bass-enhancing tubes resulting in a refined and balanced sound profile that performs well across frequencies. Even then, if you're not fully satisfied, you can adjust the balance through the set Dolby Audio modes or the Soundcore app to customise the EQ.

Battery life also matters, and the Liberty 5 is solid in that regard too. With ANC enabled, you can expect to get roughly eight hours of play from the headphones alone, and combined with the charging case, you should see them last upwards of 32 hours.

We've had one of our reviewers, Kyle Purves, test the Liberty 5 hands-on. They've been using this pair as their main earbuds for a while now, and are now familiar with all the strengths, weaknesses, and unique aspects that are worth knowing. Now that they've gathered their thoughts, they are ready to discuss what makes the Liberty 5 good, if they are worth considering, or if you should opt for a budget pair instead.

What’s good?

There’s a lot to like about the Liberty 5, but our favourite feature is easily the ANC. Soundcore tends to do very well with this feature, and the Liberty 5 continues the trend and pushes it forward. For earphones of this size, the ANC 3.0 is superb, blocking out all unnecessary background noise with ease. There were multiple points during our testing when we missed something someone had said to us, so if blocking out all distraction sounds ideal, we think you’ll love this feature. We adore using it on the train, where it quiets out the otherwise noisy environment and lets us relax with our music. The ANC makes this our new go-to pair for travel.

But the ANC isn’t the only impressive feature, as we must also acknowledge the sound quality. The wool drivers ensure the frequency range isn’t limiting, and thus the Liberty 5 works with most genres and mediums. We tried it out with various genres, from metal and rock to classical. Each time, the audio quality was brilliant, never once faltering. After getting hooked on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we often listened to its soundtrack, and once again the Liberty 5 was consistently great. The audio is rich, and that stands for dialogue too, as when watching videos anything spoken was just as clear as standard sound. That’s also partly thanks to the Bluetooth connection, which kept the wireless earphones stable with minimal delay between what we watched and heard.

Although we were satisfied with the sound balance as it was by default, it’s worth noting that if you want to tweak anything, there are options available for that too. As with most Soundcore audio devices, you can connect it to the Soundcore and manually adjust the EQ from there, tailoring it to your preferences.

Another great aspect is the design of the earbuds. We can be picky when it comes to in-ear designs, but the Liberty 5 has a comfortable design that stays in our ears without feeling invasive or bothersome. They have just enough weight that you are aware of their presence but they are never distracting. The box also comes with a few other earbud sizes, so you can swap them around to find the perfect fit for you.

What’s okay?

The six mics are a nice addition as it’s always handy to be able to take calls with Bluetooth headphones and not need to speak directly into your phone. That said, when we tested this out with our peers, the mic sound quality seemed to leave a lot to be desired. Unless you’re in a noisy environment, your phone speaker is likely better.

It’s great that it’s designed to pick up only your voice, eliminating background noise and even wind, but ultimately, the mic quality is still just okay. This is still a useful inclusion and one that we’re glad is here, but it still could use some refinement. Handy to have if you need to take a call suddenly, but otherwise, try to use a different microphone.

Any negatives?

During my time with the Liberty 5, I struggled to find any notable fault with it. The only drawback I can point to is a case of comparison and not anything close to a dealbreaker.

The previous version, the Liberty 4 NC, had a potential playtime of upwards of 40 hours with its charging case and ANC enabled. The Liberty 5’s case brings its earbuds up to around 32 hours with ANC. This is still a great playtime, but the difference between the new and previous model is a puzzling surprise. Interestingly, both sets of earphones last for about eight hours by themselves with ANC on, so this minor issue only applies to the case.

One feature that does slightly alleviate this issue and adds to the fact that we don’t think the charge is an issue is the actual charging time. Both sets are capable of fast charging, but the Liberty 4 NC would net you four hours in 10 minutes, whereas the Liberty 5 bests it with five hours on a 10-minute charge. So, although you may need to charge the case more regularly, the earbuds are likely to need less time charging.

Who is it for?

The Liberty 5 earphones are fantastic for anyone. The sound quality is superb, with the drivers and frequency range able to support bass-heavy music without issue. The ANC is a much-appreciated feature and one that is sure to be ideal for those wanting to focus on a task and block out any audible distractions.

We also find the design to be quite comfortable. Even if you tend to avoid in-ear designs, this set isn’t as bothersome, so it may be worth a shot for you.

Do we recommend it?

Yes, we absolutely recommend the Soundcore Liberty 5. We already thought that the Liberty 4 NC was one of the best pairs of earbuds on the market, but the Liberty 5 is a notable upgrade in most areas, making this the new king of ANC Bluetooth earphones.

Alternatives to the Soundcore Liberty 5

If you aren’t completely sold on the Liberty 5 and think another set of earbuds might be better for you, then take a look at some other pairs that we believe are brilliant.

Who tested it?

Kyle Purves tested the Liberty 5. They’ve tested and reviewed quite a few Anker Soundcore products before, including the Liberty 4 NC and Space One Pro, so they know what to expect and what to look out for. They’ve got an eye and ear for detail, always making sure to note what unique quirks a product may have.

How was it tested?

I tested the Liberty 5 by using the earbuds as my primary pair for a number of weeks. I would listen to music with them as I worked, blocking out the noise of construction going on outside. When travelling, the ANC would quiet the rumbles of a train or the wind of a car blazing past. Both music and video audio was tested, so I got a full idea of the scope that the drivers can work with.

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Kyle Purves is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.

They're well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They're also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.

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