Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Sony WF-1000XM5
What Buyers Say
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds are praised for their excellent value, solid noise cancellation, and good sound quality at an affordable price. Users appreciate the customizable EQ, long battery life, and wireless charging case, though some note that the ANC is not perfect and higher-pitched sounds can leak through. Fit issues are common, with some users needing third-party ear tips, and the lack of notifications on iPhones is a drawback. Overall, they are considered a strong competitor to premium earbuds like AirPods Pro and Pixel Buds Pro.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Solid noise cancellation for price
- Good sound quality
- Customizable EQ in app
- Long battery life
Cons
- ANC not perfect for high-pitched sounds
- Fit issues with stock ear tips
- Sound leakage at high volume
- No notifications on iPhone
- Transparency mode could be better
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 4 NC | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | multiple sizes | XS, S, M, L |
| Weight | 0.06 kg | 0.01 kg★ |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | 8.399999618530273 mm |
| Drivers | 11★ | 1 |
| Freq Min | 20 Hz | 20 Hz |
| Freq Max | 20 kHz | 40 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 10 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 123 dB★ | 102 dB |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codecs | LDAC | AAC, LC3, LDAC, SBC |
| Surround | — | Dolby Atmos |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Profiles | — | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wired Connector | — | USB Type C |
| Range | — | 10 m★ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 10 hrs★ | 8 hrs |
| Charge Time | 0.16699999570846558 hrs★ | 2 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 4 hours | 3 Minutes for 1 Hour |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 50 hrs★ | 24 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6 | 6 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | Siri, Google 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 4 NC
- Strong sound (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong connectivity (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
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
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 3 of 40 specs.