Review of the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro TWS Earbuds by Anker: Case with Display and Touch Bar

Technical Specifications of the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro

Package contents

Despite its many features, the package for the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro is quite standard: earbuds, case, six pairs of ear tips in different sizes, and a charging cable. Everything essential is provided right away.

However, Anker is a company that specializes in accessories, among other things. So, for the headphones, there’s also an additional soundcore Earbuds Travel Case with a holder, in case the user finds the regular case insufficient or needs to secure the earbuds, for example, on a small bag. I’m not sure how popular such a solution is, but the manufacturer offers it, and it will definitely be useful for some.

Design and Usability

The sub-brand offers different earbud shapes, but the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro comes in the classic "stem" style. It might not be the most modern option, but it still looks good. Similar models have existed before, but the new release hasn’t lacked certain external refinements. And indeed, it has improved.

The earbuds themselves have completely glossy bodies with rounded shapes. The "stem" isn't very large, so it doesn’t cause discomfort. Again, this is a very subjective matter, but for me, the shape turned out to be absolutely comfortable, even during prolonged use. I didn't experience any fatigue from them. Although I can't say that I have "universal" ear canals that fit any headphones, so the standard rule of "try before you buy" is still something to consider.

The manufacturer offers a variety of colors and finishing options. The earbuds are glossy, while the cases can be fully matte or feature glossy translucent lids through which the display is visible. Currently, only matte options will be supplied to Ukraine. The editorial team received a set with this particular case, which, although quite standard, remains one of the most practical. Small scratches or similar marks are easily hidden by the black color.

Image: soundcore

It's nice to see that the earbuds maintain moisture and dust resistance with an IPx5 rating. This means they can handle light rain or be used during sports activities. The overall comfort and the mentioned "stem" also help keep them secure in place. While, in this regard, the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro may not be the best option for intense, constant training, regular gym visits or morning runs will likely not be an issue for them.

The storage and charging case is quite small—approximately 65×60×32 mm. I don't see much need to buy the Earbuds Travel Case for it. You can toss it in your pocket, it won't take up much space in your bag or, especially, a backpack. It's compact and convenient, so there shouldn’t be any issues with that.

The case is made of plastic, but it feels sturdy enough, and there are no unpleasant sounds from the mechanical elements when opening or closing it. The exterior is completely matte, while the interior has a glossy finish that matches the earbuds. As usual, the earbuds are secured with magnets and stay in place well.

As usual, there is a charging port and a small indicator on the back of the case. What's unusual is that inside the case, there's a small display, and on the outside, in front of it, there's a touch surface, a Touch Bar, for controlling specific functions. This isn't a typical approach, which makes the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro stand out not only among the manufacturer's other models but also in general. We'll dive deeper into the features a little later.

In fact, if it weren't for the touch controls and the display inside the case, this model could be considered quite standard. However, these elements add a certain level of intrigue. As for the earbuds themselves, they are comfortable for everyday use, and personally, I was able to spend several hours in a row with music, regardless of what I was doing. However, I still recommend trying them on before purchasing.

Controls

There are more control options for specific functions in the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro than you usually find in TWS earbuds. But let's start with the basics. Each earbud has touch zones for skipping tracks, pausing or resuming playback, adjusting volume, and more. All of these actions are performed with a single, double, or triple tap, or by swiping. The sensors are located on the "legs," and you won't need much time to get used to their positions.

The control scheme is also simple and will quickly be memorized. Certain functions can be changed or disabled as needed. The only fixed functions are answering and ending calls, which cannot be altered by the user. All functions work according to the stated capabilities, but you just need to get used to the touch controls a bit.

And it gets even more interesting. The display and sensor on the case not only allow you to see the battery level of the earbuds. The Touch Bar, through taps and swipes, allows you to switch between ANC modes and spatial audio, locate the earbuds, optimize the atmospheric pressure measurement function (more on this later), and even control the camera remotely.

In practice, the smartphone is more often within reach than the case. Thus, for example, changing ANC modes is still more convenient and quicker via the app rather than the case. However, in certain situations, such functionality might come in handy. Additionally, it adds some "cool factor" to the model, as not many earbuds offer such settings customization options.

Functionality

Let’s continue with the case. The small display, which only shows white (with a couple of accents), displays the necessary icons and battery level of the earbuds when they are inside. The resolution is obviously not very high, but this doesn't cause discomfort. Personally, I’m not entirely sure what effect the manufacturer was trying to achieve, but it does add some "modernization" to the usual TWS earbuds. Even if you don’t often change settings, it still brings something new to the table for the user.

The list of interesting updates doesn't end here. The earbuds, of course, support noise cancellation, and in addition to six microphones, there is a barometric sensor. This sensor will assess the situation three times per second to optimize the sound for the best performance. According to the manufacturer's measurements, this allows for a reduction of noise in the 600-700 Hz range by 12.2 dB.

[caption id="attachment_268659" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Зображення: soundcore[/caption]

However, the manufacturer has also divided these ANC functions, adding a separate "Airplane Mode" option, where it can actually be useful. The rest of the time, you can use the standard version of noise cancellation or the "Transparency" mode to hear surrounding sounds. Additionally, there is a switch for enhanced "wind protection."

The next section focuses on sound quality. To start, there's a test to assess your hearing capabilities, similar to the one found in previous models. Then, you'll find Spacial Audio with separate modes for music, podcasts, movies, and games. The HeadID function helps determine the ideal equalizer settings, or you can choose from one of the many presets the manufacturer traditionally provides. And for those who prefer precise tuning, the 8-band manual equalizer is still available.

Additionally, the app includes several other features. Easy Chat automatically activates the Transparency mode and lowers the music volume so the user can talk without taking off the headphones. There's an automatic playback pause function when the user removes the headphones. Right after that, there's sound compensation and maximum volume settings.

Among other features, the app offers: the ability to set up simultaneous connection to two devices (which works quite well); a Fit Test to choose the best ear tips; allows you to select the functions you can control from the case; helps find a lost earbud or case (the latter can emit a sound for locating); and provides updates if the manufacturer has released any.

Overall, the soundcore app changes minimally from model to model, but its logic remains similar, with core features easily accessible and more "organizational" aspects hidden further away. Users should not have any difficulties with it.

Sound

Each earbud in the soundcore Liberty 4 Pro model is equipped with two drivers—one for bass and another for treble, designed to deliver Hi-Res Audio (with LDAC support on Android smartphones; sound quality should be three times better than SBC). Not bad for headphones at this price point.

Sound is a very subjective criterion for each user, so another reason for trying before buying is not only comfort but also the quality of music playback. Overall, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro sound quite decent even with an iPhone (that is, without LDAC), but it's worth dealing with the equalizer first.

Depending on the music genres, certain sound settings may still need adjustments. For instance, if a user listens to a wide variety of styles, they’ll likely need to create custom presets. Personally, I didn’t find the manufacturer’s presets very appealing, but after spending a few minutes with the equalizer, I managed to find a more comfortable sound for myself. However, if your playlist includes electronic, instrumental, and drastically different genres, relying on a single equalizer preset may leave you wanting to “boost” or “tone down” certain elements.

As is typical for Soundcore headphones, they are better suited for modern electronic music, hip-hop, and other genres with emphasized bass. Given the presence of 10.5mm drivers dedicated to the "low end," this makes perfect sense. Fans of other genres will also find decent sound quality, although it may not be as impactful as with bass-heavy tracks.

As for spatial audio, I didn’t find this functionality particularly useful. Activating it significantly alters the sound, and the head-tracking feature operates with a noticeable delay, which is quite evident. Therefore, it’s unlikely to be the feature that makes these headphones a must-buy.

Regarding noise cancellation, there are virtually no complaints. The system won’t provide complete silence, of course, but music will effectively mask any additional noise. (It’s hard to evaluate the usefulness of the barometric sensor, so I won’t focus on it for now.) On the other hand, the Transparency mode sounds quite artificial and includes a hint of background white noise. Even quiet music can mask it, but without music, this noise is quite noticeable. Still, it’s possible to hear surrounding sounds when the situation requires it.

In addition to noise cancellation, the microphones allow you to answer calls or join online meetings. While the quality might fall slightly short compared to some competitors or external solutions, it’s still good enough for effective communication. The headphones also handle background noise fairly well. So, the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro is a suitable choice for communication as well.

The additional features are generally quite good. The only slight inconvenience is the Easy Chat feature, which lowers the music volume almost to a minimum and simultaneously activates Transparency mode for conversations. It’s overly sensitive and reacts even to a light cough. Everything else works flawlessly: the headphones pause playback when removed and resume as soon as they’re back in place; there were no connectivity issues; switching between two devices is almost seamless; and the touch controls on the earbuds and case are easy to adapt to. Overall, the additional functionality is quite useful and works predictably.

Battery Life

The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro also offers decent battery life. With ANC enabled, they last up to 7.5 hours, and in Normal mode, up to 10 hours. This estimate is based on playing music at 50% volume. With the charging case, the total battery life extends to 30 or 40 hours, depending on ANC usage. Calls also impact battery life. If the headphones are used exclusively for communication, expect around 4–4.5 hours of use, again depending on whether noise cancellation is active.

The approximate time for fully charging the earbuds in the case is about 1.5 hours. Additionally, fast charging is supported, providing four hours of music playback with just five minutes of charging. The case itself can be charged either via USB-C or with a wireless charging pad. Full charging takes 2.5 hours with USB-C and 3.5 hours with wireless charging.