Soundcore Liberty A3954R

The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro true wireless earbuds deliver flagship-level noise cancellation and excellent sound quality at a mid-range price. With 10-hour battery life, fast charging, and a comfortable fit, they're a fantastic value for travelers and commuters. Just be aware that call quality can degrade after extended use.

The Liberty 4 Pro uses a 10.5mm dynamic driver paired with a titanium-coated tweeter, and the results speak for themselves. Sound quality lands in the 78th percentile, which is well above average for this price range. The bass hits hard without muddying the mids, and the digital crossover keeps everything separated nicely. If you're into EDM, hip-hop, or anything with a strong low end, these will make you happy. The ACAA acoustic architecture isn't just marketing fluff, it genuinely delivers crisp, full-bodied audio.

Noise cancellation is where these earbuds really shine. The ANC performance sits in the 97th percentile, which means it's among the best on the market right now. The adaptive system adjusts every 0.3 seconds based on your environment, and the 7 sensors (6 for sound, 1 for barometric pressure) do a remarkable job of filtering out everything from airplane rumble to office chatter. The Transparency mode is also solid, letting in just enough ambient sound when you need to hear announcements or have a quick conversation.

Call quality is a bit of a mixed bag. The 6-microphone array with noise reduction ranks in the 97th percentile for mic performance, and in our testing, calls sound clear and natural in most environments. The wind noise reduction algorithm works well outdoors. But there's a catch we'll get into below.

Stacked against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Liberty 4 Pro holds its own surprisingly well. Sony's ANC is still the gold standard, but Soundcore gets close enough that most people won't notice the difference in real-world use. The Sony buds have better sound quality overall and a more refined app experience, but they also cost significantly more. The Liberty 4 Pro actually beats Sony on battery life, with 10 hours in the buds versus Sony's typical 8.

Compared to the Apple AirPods Pro 3, the story is similar. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro 3 offer seamless integration that Soundcore can't match. But the Liberty 4 Pro delivers comparable ANC and better battery life at a lower price. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is another strong competitor with excellent ANC, but again, you're paying a premium. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is probably the closest rival in terms of sound quality, and it edges out the Liberty 4 Pro there, but the Soundcore wins on value. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ is the budget alternative, but it's a step down in almost every category.

At $130 USD, the Liberty 4 Pro is aggressively priced against competitors that cost nearly twice as much. In Europe, you'll find it for EUR 100 to EUR 110 depending on the vendor, and if you're shopping in Spain or Italy, it's worth checking both listings to grab the lower end of that spread. For the ANC performance alone, this is one of the best value propositions in true wireless earbuds right now. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ is cheaper but doesn't match the noise cancellation or sound quality. The Technics EAH-AZ100 and Sony WF-1000XM6 are better overall packages, but you're paying a significant premium for marginal gains.

The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro sits in that sweet spot of true wireless earbuds where you get flagship-level features without the flagship price tag. We're talking adaptive ANC, a slick charging case with a built-in display, and a dual-driver setup that Soundcore has been refining for years. At around $130 USD, it's aimed squarely at people who want AirPods Pro or Sony-level noise cancellation but don't want to spend $250 or more to get it. And honestly, it gets closer to that goal than most earbuds in this price bracket.

So is the Liberty 4 Pro good for travel? Based on our data, yes. The ANC ranks in the 97th percentile among all earbuds we've tested, which puts it in the absolute best right now category. Soundcore claims 3x stronger noise reduction than previous models, and while we can't verify that exact multiplier, the real-world performance backs up the hype. The barometric pressure sensor is a nice touch for flights, adjusting to cabin pressure changes automatically.

For everyday use, these are comfortable enough for long sessions and pack a 10-hour battery life in the buds themselves. The case extends that to 40 hours total. A quick 5-minute charge gets you 4 hours of playback, which is genuinely useful when you're rushing out the door. The multipoint Bluetooth 5.4 connection means you can stay paired to your laptop and phone simultaneously, which is a feature we wish more budget earbuds included.

If you spend hours on phone calls every day, the Liberty 4 Pro might frustrate you. The mic degradation after 3-4 hours of continuous use is a real issue for heavy call users, and you'd be better off with the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, which handle extended calls more consistently. Audiophiles who prioritize pure music quality over features should also look elsewhere, the music score of 58/100 is the weakest area for these buds. The Technics EAH-AZ100 or even the Sony WF-1000XM6 will serve you better for critical listening. And if you need full waterproofing for workouts or outdoor activities, the IPX4 rating means these can handle sweat and light rain but not a dunk in the pool.

Should you buy the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro? If you want top-tier noise cancellation without spending top-tier money, absolutely. These earbuds punch way above their weight class in ANC performance, and the sound quality is genuinely enjoyable for most genres. The battery life is excellent, the fast charging is a lifesaver, and the comfort level means you can wear them for hours without fatigue.

But if you're someone who spends a lot of time on phone calls, especially long conference calls or marathon work sessions, the mic degradation issue is worth considering. Users report that call quality drops noticeably after 3-4 hours of continuous use. For most people, that's a non-issue. For heavy call users, it might be a dealbreaker. Overall, the Liberty 4 Pro is one of the best true wireless earbuds you can buy under $150, and it gives earbuds costing twice as much a serious run for their money.