Anker’s Latest Earbuds Prove Call Quality Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought

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As the portable audio arms race heats up, brands are stuffing more features than ever into tiny earbuds. Many premium options offer Dolby or spatial audio, Apple and Samsung have added live-translation functionality, and there are some wacky features like the ability to use tap controls as a camera shutter.

But even premium earbuds sometimes lag in an essential department — call quality. That’s why Anker’s Soundcore sub-brand has made crystal-clear calls a central part of the appeal of the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds.

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

$169.99

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Pros: Excellent noise-canceling and call quality, comfortable fit, screen is more useful than expected
Cons: Sound quality is somewhat bass-heavy, battery life is decent but could be better

We put Soundcore’s latest models to the test to see how they stack up, testing the mics in quiet and loud environments. In short, you can be confident calls will be clear in any environment, but these earbuds also sound great for music and boast impressive noise-canceling, too.

Design and Construction

The earbuds on the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max are identical, with the difference in design (and price) coming down to the case. The Pro Max has a 1.78” AMOLED display, with features like customizable wallpapers and easily accessible controls. The Pro Max also has a built-in microphone for use as an AI note-taker. The Liberty 5 Pro has a smaller touchscreen display, which is about an inch wide. 

As for the earbuds, they have a bean-shaped design and come in four colors for the Pro and two colors for the Pro Max model. While they’re not as svelte as AirPods, they’re more comfortable, thanks to the silicone wings that create a secure fit in the ear. I haven’t tested these during a workout, but they feel snug enough for activities like running or gym use. 

Controls and Features

The Liberty 5 Pro’s touchscreen case has basic controls, such as adjusting noise-canceling level and EQ. I have generally found touchscreens on earbud cases to be a gimmick, but the ability to quickly check battery level and make quick noise-canceling adjustments came in handy more often than I expected.

The large touchscreen of the Liberty 5 Pro Max is fun to play with and works smoothly, but it makes the case substantially larger and the earbuds more expensive. Unless you expect to use the note-taking feature often, the base Liberty 5 Pro is the better option of the two. 

The earbuds themselves have comprehensive, easy-to-use controls. You can swipe up and down on the buds to change the volume, and the tap controls can be further customized in the app, with the ability to set separate controls for the left and right earbuds. 

As for battery life, you get 6.5 hours with the earbuds, or 28 hours with the case. That applies to both models, and both versions of the case support wireless charging. 

Sound Quality and ANC

Soundcore has stepped up its sound quality and active noise-canceling over the years. The Liberty 5 Pro have superb noise-canceling that’s among the best for this price class. It capably cuts out distractions across a range of frequencies, from humming HVAC systems to conversations. The transparency mode also does a commendable job of keeping you aware of your surroundings.

As for the sound quality, it’s solid, if bass-forward, and you also customize it in the Soundcore app or toggle through the different sound modes directly through the touchscreen. There’s also support for Dolby Atmos, including a head-tracking mode that adjusts the audio as you move. I’m still unconvinced by Dolby Atmos mixes in general, but it’s there if you want it.   

To test the call quality, I recorded myself using the earbuds in quiet and noisy environments. In the quiet environment, my voice sounded natural and clear. I then tried them on a windy day, walking down a busy street. While there was some sibilance and a slightly processed tone to my voice, every word was clear. What most impressed me was that I couldn’t hear the wind or traffic at all when I played the recording back, even though I was speaking quietly. If you’re the type to constantly take calls on the go, these are an excellent everyday companion.

Verdict

If call quality is crucial, the Liberty 5 Pro are among the best earbuds you can buy — not only do vocals sound clear and natural, but the earbuds reduce background noises to less than a whisper. They also have great active noise-canceling, and the sound quality is solid and enjoyable for listening to music and podcasts. 

The small touchscreen on the Liberty 5 Pro is more useful than I expected, too — being able to quickly adjust the noise-canceling or check the battery level from the case is handy. With superb ANC, solid audio quality, and crisp voice calling, the Liberty 5 Pro earbuds are a compelling option for everyday use. 

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

$169.99

Buy Now at soundcore
Buy Now On Amazon

Get this if: You want a solid pair of everyday earbuds, and call quality is a top consideration