Soundcore Liberty D1200
Sony WF-1000XM5
What Buyers Say
Soundcore Liberty D1200
The Soundcore Liberty Buds are semi-open earbuds that prioritize comfort and awareness of surroundings. Sound quality is widely praised as excellent, especially after EQ, and the ANC is considered surprisingly good for the open design, though not as effective as in-ear competitors. The biggest point of contention is the fit: while some users find them secure and comfortable for all-day wear, others report that the earbuds feel loose and fall out with minimal movement, despite trying different ear fins. Additional minor complaints include the lack of wireless charging and an occasional weak sound output that may require a firmware fix.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality with good bass
- Surprisingly effective ANC for open design
- Very comfortable for all-day wear
- Secure fit for many users
- Great app with customizable controls
Cons
- Fit is inconsistent and may be loose
- Earbuds may fall out with movement
- ANC less effective than in-ear competitors
- No wireless charging
- Occasional weak sound output
Sony WF-1000XM5
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds receive mixed feedback. Many users praise the excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and comfortable fit, making them great for travel and workouts. However, a significant number of complaints focus on Bluetooth connectivity issues, poor ANC compared to previous models, and fit problems that cause discomfort or earbuds falling out. Battery life and case charging also draw criticism, with some users experiencing defects. Overall, while the audio performance is often lauded, reliability and fit concerns prevent a higher rating.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Effective noise cancellation
- Comfortable fit
- Great battery life
- Customizable app
Cons
- Bluetooth connectivity issues
- Poor ANC compared to previous models
- Fit problems causing discomfort
- Earbuds fall out easily
- Case battery drains quickly
Scores
Specifications
| Soundcore Liberty D1200 | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | semi-in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | Dual Ear True Wireless Earbud | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | Four Sizes | XS, S, M, L |
| Weight | 0.05 kg | 0.01 kg★ |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 9.199999809265137 mm★ | 8.399999618530273 mm |
| Drivers | 1 | 1 |
| Freq Min | — | 20 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | — | 40 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 14 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | — | 102 dB★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codecs | LDAC | AAC, LC3, LDAC, SBC |
| Surround | Spatial Audio | Dolby Atmos |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3★ |
| Profiles | — | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wired Connector | — | USB Type C |
| Range | — | 10 m★ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 9 hrs★ | 8 hrs |
| Charge Time | 1 hrs★ | 2 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 15 Minutes for 3 Hours | 3 Minutes for 1 Hour |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 30 hrs★ | 24 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6 | 6 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | — | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa |
| Touch Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| App | Soundcore | Sony Headphone Connect App |
| Volume Limiting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Gaming Mode | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
Pros & Cons
Soundcore Liberty D1200
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong sound (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong connectivity (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (33rd percentile)
Sony WF-1000XM5
- Strong connectivity (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong sound (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (12th percentile)12th %ile
Pricing
Soundcore Liberty D1200 offers 1.9x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 7 of 40 specs.
