Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Review Rating
Summary
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 are excellent earbuds. They have a huge number of features that other brands can’t compete with. The fitness features should be a major selling point, but 3rd party apps can’t access the HRM function, and you can’t export the fitness data to the likes of Strava/Google Fit etc
Overall
90%-
Overall - 90%
90%
Pros
- Superb all-round performance
- Excellent ANC for the price
Cons
- HRM / Fitness features are restricted to the Soundcore app
I previously reviewed the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro and loved them, I still recommend them now.
Recently, Anker launched the Soundcore Liberty 4, these are not the Pro model, but they seem to be the direct replacement for the Liberty 3 Pro. Perhaps a Pro model will come at a later date, but if you want an upgraded version of the Liberty 3 Pro, these are the ones to get.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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soundcore by Anker Liberty 4, Noise Cancelling Earbuds, True... |
£139.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Specification
- Crisp, Clear Sound via ACAA 3.0 Coaxial Acoustic System
- LDAC & SBC Codecs
- 360° Immersive Spatial Audio with Music and Movie Modes
- CloudComfort Ear Tips for Long-Lasting Comfort
- All-New Heart Rate Sensor with soundcore app
- HearID Personalized Active Noise Cancelling
- Multipoint connectivity (not with LDAC)
- 9/28 Hours of Playtime for All-Day Listening
- IPX4
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 vs Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Differences
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
soundcore by Anker Liberty 4, Noise Cancelling Earbuds, True... |
£139.99 |
Buy on Amazon | |
|
soundcore by Anker Liberty 3 Pro Noise Cancelling Earbuds,... |
£89.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
There are only so many improvements you can make to earbuds each year, so it is always incremental at best.
The immediate difference is the change in design. These are more like the Liberty 2 Pro. For me, the design is a big improvement.
Perhaps the most significant addition is the new heart rate sensor. These then swap out the 3D surround for the trendier spatial audio.
The Liberty 4 earbuds feature a new ACAA 3.0 coaxial acoustic system which is supposed to push the bass further (not that they needed it) and continue to enhance the mids and highs.
On the Amazon page, there is a feature comparison which states:
| Anker Soundcore Feature Comparison | Liberty 4 | Liberty 3 Pro | Liberty 2 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sound Quality | Hi-Res, ACAA 3.0 | Hi-Res, ACAA 2.0 | PureNote Drivers |
| Sound Effect | Spatial Audio | 3D surround sound | Personalized HearID |
| New Feature | Heart rate sensor | HearID ANC | Targeted ANC |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Playtime | 9/28 hours | 8/32 hours | 7/26 hours |
| Calls | 6 mics, AI algorithm | 6 mics, AI algorithm | 6 mics |
| Multi-Connection | Yes | Yes | No |
Design and Fit
In my Liberty 3 Pro, I said I liked the fit but preferred the Nothing Ear (1) fit and comfort. Long term, I found the Liberty 3 Pro a bit annoying, I did find they started to need adjustments when in the gym. I often found them falling out when bending over to lift weights. The little wings on the Liberty 3 Pro that were supposed to anchor them into place helped a little, but not enough.
I much prefer the Soundcore Liberty 4 design, they feel more comfortable, and there seems to be less movement when doing strenuous exercise. Of course, everyone's ears are different, these work well for me, but they may not for you.
The case is quite plasticy and doesn't feel as premium as other brands, but I am not too fussed about this. These have wireless charging, which is to be expected at this price point, but it is not always guaranteed.
One thing worth mentioning, the earbuds are held in place with quite strong magnets, yet you can still get them out of the case easily enough. Many alternative options either have weak magnets or a weird design that makes them hard to pull out of the case (Freebuds Pro 2).
Page 2 for fitness tracking, sound quality, ANC, battery life, price and conclusion
Originally posted on mightygadget.com
Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API