We’ve tested over 100 Bluetooth speakers in the real world, from camping trips to patios to kitchens, and these are our favorites. The quick takes below outline what each top pick does best, and link to its full review. While we don’t use lab gear for frequency sweeps, we do plenty of listening in noisy and quiet spaces alike. That lets us evaluate sound quality, volume limits, and practical usability. We also consider build quality, durability, and useful extras like voice assistants or stereo pairing. The goal is simple: help you find a speaker that actually delivers when it counts.

The Quick Answer

Check out our top picks below for a quick guide to the best Bluetooth speakers that suit your needs and budget. Each has a link to our full review.

The best overall:

The best smart speaker:

The best Apple speaker:

The best sound quality:

The best speaker for bass:

The best party speaker:

The best clip-on speaker:

The best pocket-friendly pick:

The best Bose Bluetooth speaker:

The In-depth Answer

Below you’ll find our in-depth coverage of the best Bluetooth speakers. Each speaker has been rigorously tested, ensuring you can trust our recommendations.

Best Bluetooth speaker overall: JBL Charge 6

The JBL Charge 6 takes what worked with the Charge 5 and makes it better in all the right ways. It’s still built like a tank, but now has beefed-up rubber bumpers around the passive radiators and an IP68 rating—so it’s totally dustproof and waterproof. That makes it even more ready for whatever outdoor adventure you throw at it. In my experience, the Charge 6 delivers stronger bass than the Charge 5, and its upgraded 7-band customizable EQ in the JBL Portable app is a significant improvement, allowing you to really fine-tune the sound of this speaker.

It keeps the same general shape as the Charge 5, meaning it’s still backpack-friendly, but now there’s a detachable handle and a more stable base, which I find helps it stay put when out and about. Battery life jumps to 24 hours (up from 20), and you can still charge your phone via the USB-C port. JBL also added some nice extras like lossless audio over USB and Auracast support, though keep in mind that in our testing, we discovered it won’t connect with older JBL speakers that use Party Boost.

Read our full JBL Charge 6 review

Best smart Bluetooth speaker: Google Nest Audio

The Google Nest Audio stands out as a smart speaker that combines aesthetics, functionality, and affordability. Its pillow-inspired design allows it to blend seamlessly into your home’s decor while delivering decent audio performance and smart features.

We’re impressed with Nest Audio’s sound quality, thanks to its 75mm mid-woofer and 19mm tweeter. Although it lacks deep bass, it reproduces midrange and treble frequencies quite well, making it suitable for a wide range of music genres or listening to your favorite podcast while making dinner. The speaker’s Media EQ and Ambient IQ features can also dynamically adjust the sound based on the content and your environment.

In our testing, Google Assistant really shines on the Nest Audio. It responds quickly, and I found it super handy for controlling smart home devices, making calls, and setting reminders. The built-in machine learning chip is a nice touch, too. It gradually speeds things up as it learns your routines.

Read our full Google Nest Audio review

Best Bluetooth speaker from Apple: Beats Pill

The Beats Pill makes a strong comeback in the portable speaker market with its latest iteration. Along with seamless iOS integration, this compact pill-shaped speaker packs a punch with its bass-heavy sound profile, making it ideal for bass lovers who want a portable audio solution. Its IP67 rating ensures it can withstand dust, water splashes, and even brief submersion, making it a reliable companion for outdoor adventures.

While the Beats Pill offers a hearty bass response, it does have some limitations. In our testing, we found that the sound quality noticeably declines at higher volumes, with compression and distortion becoming apparent above 50% volume. This makes it less suitable for larger parties or outdoor events where you might need to crank up the volume. Still, its angled design tilts the drivers upward, which I found makes a noticeable difference when listening at a desk. Along with outdoor use, it’s also a solid choice for your home office or casual listening around the house.

Read our full Beats Pill review

Best Bluetooth speaker for sound quality: Anker Soundcore Motion X600

The Anker Soundcore Motion X600 stands out as a high-end portable speaker that doesn’t compromise on sound quality. We quickly discovered that its five-driver system, which includes an upward-firing driver, creates an immersive listening experience that’s uncommon in speakers of this size. The spatial audio mode also adds noticeable depth to your music, making it a great choice for audio enthusiasts who want a portable solution.

While it may not be the most rugged or portable option, I find the Motion X600 best suited for home environments. Its aluminum build and unique grille design make it a stylish addition to any living room, and its built-in handle makes it easy to tote to the basement or backyard. The speaker offers a good balance of features, including LDAC codec support for high-quality streaming and a 9-band customizable EQ through the Soundcore app.

Read our full Soundcore X600 review

Best Bluetooth speaker with bass: Brane X Smart Speaker

There’s no way around it—the Brane X is a beast of a portable Bluetooth speaker designed for those who want their music loud and their bass even louder. Seriously, this heavy-duty speaker packs a serious punch with its built-in 6.5″ x 9″ downward-firing subwoofer and offers stereo playback with two 2.5-inch mid-range drivers and two .75″ dome tweeters.

After testing hundreds of speakers, keeping its size in mind, I can confidently say Brane X easily provides the most low-end in a reasonably compact design. While it may be too bulky and heavy for casual outings, naturally, the Brane X shines in smaller to medium-sized party settings. Its IP57 water resistance also makes it suitable for poolside or beach use.

The companion app offers decent customization options, including a 5-band EQ for fine-tuning the sound to your liking. If you’re keen on using the Brane X around the house, it also offers Wi-Fi connection with voice assistant support for “Hey Alexa.” We’re also happy to let you know that the Brane X still offers a 3.5mm aux input for a wired connection.

Read our full Brane x review

The best clip-on Bluetooth speaker: JBL Clip 5

The JBL Clip 5 continues the legacy of its predecessors as the go-to speaker for outdoor enthusiasts and casual listeners on the move. This latest iteration brings some welcome upgrades while maintaining the compact, convenient, and rugged clip-on design that made the series popular.

The Clip 5 boasts a more premium look and feel compared to the Clip 4. It has a wider carabiner for more placement options and thicker silicone padding on the back for added protection. Additionally, we discovered it offers 7W of output compared to the 5W provided by the Clip 4,  which provides a bit more “oomph” for personal or small group listening in outdoor settings.

New features like companion app support from the JBL Portable app allow users to fine-tune their listening experience with preset and custom EQ options. Like the Charge 6, the Clip 5 now uses Auracast to pair with other compatible JBL speakers like the Xtreme 4 and Flip 7. However, our testing discovered that Auracast pairing limits you to mono sound and JBL’s default EQ settings.

Read our full JBL Clip 5 review

Best Bluetooth party speaker: JBL PartyBox Stage 320

The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 is the ultimate mobile party machine, designed to turn any gathering into an unforgettable event. This powerhouse speaker combines booming sound, a customizable light show, and improved mobility to bring the party vibes wherever you may be.

The Stage 320 quickly impressed us (and our neighbors) with its 240 watts of stereo power, delivered through dual 6.5″ woofers and 25mm dome tweeters. Not only will this speaker pump out the party jams, but we didn’t notice much distortion in our testing either, even at higher volumes. The redesigned light show adds a visual spectacle to match the audio performance, with customizable options available through the JBL PartyBox app.

Improvements in portability, including a telescoping handle and wider wheels, make it easier to transport this 16.5kg party machine compared to previous models. Its IPX4 water resistance rating means you don’t have to worry about light rain or splashes by the pool. While the ParyBox Stage 320 offers up to 18 hours of battery life, we were also happy to discover that it offers swappable battery packs, ensuring that your party will go all night long, off-grid or not.

Read our full JBL PartyBox Stage 320 review 

Best pocket-friendly Bluetooth speaker: Soundcore Select 4 Go

The Soundcore Select 4 Go is a solid pick for a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker for personal use or small hangouts. It has an IP67 rating, so it’s good to go at the beach, in the shower, or wherever your day takes you. My favorite feature, though, has to be the 9-band EQ in the Soundcore app, which gives you more control over the sound than most speakers in this price range.

Battery life is impressive too, with up to 20 hours of playtime. That’s plenty for a few days of casual listening. There’s also a built-in loop for a carabiner and rubber feet on the bottom, so you can set it up to fire sound upward. It’s a nice bonus if you’re working with limited space.

Just keep in mind that while the sound and features are great for the price, the build is not quite as tough as something like the JBL Clip 5. The Select 4 Go feels decently sturdy, but it is not the most rugged option out there.

Read our full Soundcore Select 4 Go review

Best Bose Bluetooth speaker: Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)

The SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) maintains the durability that made the original popular, with its IP67 rating ensuring protection against dust and water. While we discovered there weren’t any hardware upgrades from the 1st Gen, the updated Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and support for the aptX codec (on compatible devices) provide a more stable connection and potentially higher audio quality for Android users.

Sound quality remains a strong point. Honestly, the SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) sounds great right out of the box. While the EQ options in the companion app are somewhat limited—you’re only supplied with Bass, Middle, and Treble sliders—they do allow for some sound customization to suit your preferences. It’s better than nothing!

Read our full Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) review

The best Bluetooth speakers: Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore Boom 2 (): With plenty of bass on tap, customizable dual LED lights, and a floatable design, the Boom 2 brings a little something extra to your next outdoor gathering.
• Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus (): The Boom 2’s bigger sibling and our runner up for “Best Bluetooth speaker with bass”. If the Brane X is out of your price range, consider this less expensive alternative. It provides stereo playback with a hefty bass response, and of course, its built-in light show.
• Bose SoundLink Micro (): This is the perfect companion for bikers and picnic hosts; you can strap it onto your handlebars and or set it on the blanket and dig in.
• JBL Flip 7 (): While upgraded durability, new connection options, and extra carrying attachments aren’t exactly game-changers, the added sound customization is definitely a welcome upgrade to this popular water-bottle-shaped speaker.
• JBL Flip 6 (): The JBL Flip 6 is still a solid speaker, with an IP67 rating and JBL’s signature sound. It’s also just as easy as ever to sync this Bluetooth speaker with your devices. Snag two on sale and run them in stereo!
• JBL Xtreme 4 (): The larger sibling to the Charge 6, the Xtreme 4 offers stereo performance, a shoulder strap, and swappable battery packs.
• EarFun UBOOM X (): The UBOOM X is an affordable boombox-style speaker that sounds great and brings the vibes. With a variety of EQ options and a customizable light show, it delivers without breaking the bank.
• UE HYPERBOOM (): If you like UE but feel its previous offerings weren’t loud enough to power your parties, then the HYPERBOOM is perfect for you. Sure, it’s expensive, but it fills a niche that UE couldn’t previously fill.
• UE Wonderboom 4 (): The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a great portable Bluetooth speaker for impromptu park hangs and on the go. It’s small, sturdy, well-built, and light enough to easily be thrown in a backpack. Unlike its predecessor, the Wonderboom 3, which relied on a micro-USB port, the Wonderboom 4 also now charges via USB-C.
• Sonos Roam 2 (): The Sonos Roam 2 doesn’t stray far from the original in terms of design, specs, and features. Frustrating app setup issues aside, it’s a great-sounding portable speaker. Existing Sonos users will benefit from their home smart setup reaching a little further. Still, with its new Bluetooth connection option, anyone can use it as a standalone Bluetooth speaker for your next adventure without relying on the finicky Sonos app.
• Sony ULT Field 7 (): If you are seeking the full party experience in a package that’s light enough to carry with one hand, the Sony ULT Field 7 is worth considering.

What you should know before you buy the best Bluetooth speaker for your needs

These days, Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen. After testing hundreds of speakers here at SoundGuys, here are a few things you should know before buying. What makes one speaker stand out from the next?

What is a Bluetooth codec?

Represented is the max transfer rate (kbps) of each respective Bluetooth codec (greater is better). Each waveform depicts a transfer rate of 100 kbps.

Just like wireless headphones, Bluetooth speakers support specific Bluetooth codecs. For those unfamiliar with the concept, a codec determines how a file is transmitted from a source (phone) to a receiver (speaker). If you want a lag-free experience, make sure to invest in something that supports aptX or AAC if you’re an iOS user. Not only does this reduce latency, but it also allows for better streaming quality (at least if you use AAC with iOS).

That said, casual listeners don’t worry too much about codec support. Bluetooth speakers are built to fuel the party, not for critical listening. For most people, including myself, the SBC codec sounds just fine. While speakers like the Charge 6 and Beats Pill advertise features like lossless audio, chances are you won’t notice a difference.

What is an IP rating?

The Boom 2 is outdoor-ready with its IPX7 protection rating.

Sometimes, a product’s specifications will plainly read “sweat-resistant” or something similar. However, if you know you’re going to take your speaker on a boat or to the beach, you should invest in something with an official IP rating. IP ratings denote a particular product’s dust and water resistance.

Often, a product is rated something like IPX4, and the X is just a placeholder for a dust-resistant rating. For a product to withstand full submersion, it must be at least IPX7 or higher. For example, the JBL Charge 6 is IP68 rated, meaning it’s fully dustproof and can handle submersion in water, up to 1.5m, for 30 minutes.

How we choose the best Bluetooth speakers

We test them all so you don’t have to.

There are thousands of Bluetooth speakers out there, and while we can’t test every single one, that doesn’t stop us from trying to get our grubby hands on as many as possible. If a speaker made it onto this list, you can be sure we’ve spent time with it and, in most cases, put it through our whole review process.

That includes cranking up the volume to check for distortion, listening across various genres from EDM to heavy metal, running standardized battery tests in the infamous “Booth of Doom” at SoundGuys HQ, checking out all the features its companion app has to offer, and, of course, testing them in real-world conditions. Whether it’s a Charge 6 strapped to a paddleboard for a day on the lake or a Clip 5 hooked to a backpack for a city bike ride, if a speaker can’t hold up and deliver, you’ll hear about it.

We want you to be happy with your purchase, so we’ve narrowed down what it means to be the best Bluetooth speaker. In short, it needs to sound good, be reasonably priced, and handle wear and tear. If it’s designed for outdoor use, we make sure it has an official IP rating, and we’ll be sure to drop it in a tank of water while we’re at it.

After all our in-house (and outdoor) testing, one thing holds true: if a speaker performs well, there’s no reason to spend more than necessary.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

The Soundcore Boom 2 holds its own against the Charge 6.

Every writer follows a strict ethics policy and works to make the research process easier for you. We know spending a ton of money chasing the absolute best gear is possible, but most people aren’t looking to break the bank. Our goal is simple: help you find something you’ll love. We don’t profit from pushing you toward or away from any specific product.

Frequently asked questions about Bluetooth speakers

• Soundcore Sleep A30 introduces active noise cancelation, a key upgrade from last year’s A20
• New Adaptive Snore Masking in the case responds to a partner’s snoring in real time
• 7% slimmer design aims to improve comfort for side sleepers
• Battery life dips slightly due to ANC: 9 hours (local) or 6.5 hours (Bluetooth) playback
• Available for $229.99 in August, or $139 for early Kickstarter backers starting today

A year after releasing Sleep A20 earbuds, Soundcore has introduced a more advanced model, the Sleep A30, adding active noise canceling and a new snore-masking feature built into its charging case.

This is the first time Soundcore has included ANC in its sleep-focused earbuds, something I thought the A20 could have benefited from, as they relied solely on passive isolation. During my review, I found the A20 struggled to block out low-frequency disturbances like passing cars or persistent snoring, especially when the window was open. With the A30’s Smart ANC capable of reducing noise by up to 30dB, Soundcore seems intent on closing that gap.

Also new is Adaptive Snore Masking, a feature that uses mics in the upgraded case to analyze the volume and frequency of nearby snoring and generate custom masking audio in real time. It’s an interesting approach to a common problem that no amount of memory foam can seem to fix. I’m curious to see how effective the system is in practice, but the premise is more proactive than anything seen in the A20.

The Sleep A30 are slimmer and smaller than the last model, which hopefully makes them more comfortable for side sleepers.

The buds themselves are now 7% slimmer, further improving comfort for side sleepers. This may seem minor, but anyone who’s worn sleep earbuds knows how noticeable even small reductions in pressure can be over eight hours of use. Soundcore also promises improved AI-generated brainwave audio, which hopefully is more soothing than the A20’s preset soundscapes, which I found muddy and uninspiring.

Battery life does take a hit compared to the A20 — down from 14 hours to 9 hours in local mode (or 6.5 hours via Bluetooth streaming), with a total of up to 45 hours including the case. Still, that’s enough to cover multiple nights for most users.

Rounding out the feature set are sleep position tracking, a repeatable alarm with snooze, and Find My Earbud support, all returning from the previous model. The Sleep A30 comes in two colors, classic white and a new mist green, and a plentiful variety of ear tips and wing sizes is included to help you find the right fit.

The A30 is available for pre-order now via Kickstarter at a discounted $139 for early backers, ahead of its August retail launch at $229.99 at retailers like Amazon. Whether the ANC and snore detection justify the $80 price jump from the A20 will depend on how well they actually perform, which I’ll be finding out soon with a review unit headed to the pillow.

To many people’s dismay, the company has not announced any details regarding its highly anticipated flagship earbuds. While we wait for confirmation, here are all the features I want to see in the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC.

A more robust IP rating

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC have everything most people look for in wireless earbuds.

Gym enthusiasts and those prone to working up a sweat should purchase workout-friendly earbuds. These typically wear a robust IP rating to protect against water splashes and small solid particles. Some of the best in town, like the JBL Endurance Peak 3 () sport an IP68 build. This accommodates complete submersion in up to 3 meters of water for up to 30 minutes and is completely dust-tight.

Like many true wireless earbuds, Anker’s Liberty 4 NC wear an IPX4 water-resistant exterior. While this is fine for strolls in drizzly weather and gentle workouts at the gym, it does little to appease climbers and those in harsher climates. Unlike some top-end workout buds, the Liberty 4 NC case does not enjoy an IP rating. Subsequently, fans must store the charging case away from moisture and dust to prevent damage. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC would benefit from a more robust IP rating and an IP-protected charging case.

An improved design

Those magnets secure the buds into the case.

ANC technology requires a robust seal to work optimally. As such, the best noise canceling earbuds on the market ship with different-sized ear tips to achieve a secure fit. They also sit further inside the ear canal and, unlike open-ear buds, wear an occluding form factor. The now-discontinued Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 () are the best ANC earbuds we have tested, quelling ambient noise by over 85%. This is largely thanks to their silicone-wrapped ovoid nozzles, anatomically pleasing earbud design, and powerful noise canceling system.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC have impressive noise canceling that dampens ambient sounds by as much as 38dB. Unfortunately, the earbuds don’t sit far enough inside the ear canal to isolate against incidental high-pitched noises such as passing chatter. The AirPods Pro-style design delivers average comfort, but you wouldn’t want to wear these earbuds for more than two hours. Likewise, the charging case is chunky, making it difficult to store in trouser pockets. Anker should implement an improved design with the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC.

Improved sound quality

Our music tastes and listening habits often dictate the sound profile we enjoy most. For example, bass heads and EDM fans will most likely prefer earbuds with plentiful bass and sub-bass reproduction. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a shining example, boosting low-end frequencies by a staggering 20dB. Conversely, podcast enthusiasts and those who listen to music with wide dynamic ranges will likely prefer earbuds with a neutral response. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 follow our target curve and are revered for their superior sound quality.

Don’t get me wrong — the Liberty 4 NC have excellent default sound quality. Specifically, our testing revealed they enjoy an overall MDAQS score of 4.9, securing them as some of the best-sounding earbuds on the market. However, the over-emphasized low-end below 200Hz can make vocals sound comparatively quiet in the mix. Similarly, the 10dB boost around 5.8kHz can become grating when listening to tracks with a lot of high-frequency content. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC should have more tempered bass and treble reproduction.

Less bassy EQ presets

Headphone companion apps come bundled with handy features. However, equalizers are by far the most important customization tool for tinkerers. These allow music fans to hone their sound or select from presets to complement their media on the fly. For example, the JBL Tour Pro 3 use the JBL Headphones app and provides a 10-band custom EQ and several equalizer presets. These include Jazz, Vocal, Bass, and Studio, each owning a frequency curve tailored to their specific use case.

Anker’s Liberty 4 NC offer a whopping 22 EQ presets that can be accessed via the Soundcore app. These include Spoken Word, Flat, Bass Boost, and Treble Boost. Unfortunately, each one over-emphasizes bass and sub-bass frequencies. For example, the Spoken Word preset boosts sub-bass frequencies by over 8dB, while the Flat EQ boosts the lows by nearly 11dB. This seems like a missed opportunity and does little to appease listeners who prefer a less bass-heavy mix. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC must have fewer EQ presets that boost bass to appeal to a wider audience.

Better microphone quality

Leave the buds in the case when pairing.

Whether for work or casual conversations with friends, earbuds are increasingly important for calls on the move. Better still, they can block out distracting environmental noise, allowing the receiver to hear you more clearly on the other end of the line. To achieve this, companies employ sophisticated microphone arrays and noise reduction algorithms. The Sony WF-1000XM5 () are a prime example, using dual feedback mesh-covered microphones to deliver low-frequency noise monitoring and wind noise reduction.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC enjoy decent call quality, particularly for lower-pitched voices. They also reduce ambient street noise, wind, and general office chatter fairly well, although keystrokes may overwhelm your speech. Unfortunately, the earbuds are less well-suited for those with higher-pitched voices. In ideal conditions, the resolution doesn’t impress either and fails to stand tall against industry leaders like the Sony WF-1000XM5. Anker must improve the Soundcore Liberty 5 NC’s microphone and noise rejection algorithm to compete with the best work-oriented earbuds.

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Will there be an Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC?

No wings or stabilizers means your fit relies chiefly on the ear tips.

Anker remains committed to its earbuds category. For example, the latest Liberty 5 were released on May 7, 2025, and bring many flagship features. These include a comfortable design, Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC, and a comprehensive companion app. They also cost significantly less than the competition. However, their mediocre ANC and emphasis on the bass and treble make them a less appealing choice than flagship brands.

Anker has provided no details of the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC. However, the company usually refreshes its earbuds every year. Based on Anker’s previous release schedule, the Liberty 5 NC will likely launch later this year.

• Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC — June 20, 2023
• Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro — October 3, 2024
• Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 — May 7, 2025

As shown above, the Liberty 4 NC launched on June 20, 2023. Their successor, the Liberty 4 Pro, launched one year and four months afterward on October 3, 2024. The upgraded Liberty 5 launched seven months later on May 7, 2025. By that metric, we should expect the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC to hit shelves by spring 2026. However, with no official confirmation from Anker, we must wait for concrete details.

Should you wait for the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC?

Anker’s new charging case features a touch display for controlling features like ANC.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are among the best budget wireless earbuds on the market. Fans can grab them from the company’s website or major retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy. However, with the upgraded Liberty 5 NC potentially releasing soon, it may be worth holding off for a few months.

Price-conscious consumers will enjoy the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC (). Despite their loose-fitting design, the earbuds deliver decent noise canceling for the price. Sound quality is also excellent, and many people will enjoy the over-emphasized bass response. Battery life lasts a staggering nine hours and 53 minutes with ANC enabled, and fast charging yields four hours of listening time from a 10-minute top-up. The case supports wireless charging with a Qi pad and supplies 50 hours of extra playtime. Fans can connect with Bluetooth 5.3 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, and the earbuds’ gaming mode optimizes any latency. The Soundcore app is comprehensive, delivering a Fit Test, 22 EQ presets, an 8-band custom EQ, Adaptive Noise Canceling, and many more flagship features.

Those who desire the best earbuds in Anker’s arsenal should nab the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro (). An upgrade to the Liberty 4 NC, the earbuds dampen low-frequency drones from airplane engines by approximately 30dB. The transparency mode is also excellent, and the maximum setting amplifies external noise louder than when the earbuds are not inserted. Most people will enjoy the Liberty 4 Pro’s sound, emphasizing bass less than the Liberty 4 NC. The Soundcore app begets the same handy features for the Liberty 4 Pro as for the Liberty 4 NC, albeit with poor-quality spatial audio. The main attraction of Anker’s newest buds is their smart charging case. This adorns a small display that controls many of the earbuds’ best features, including ANC, spatial audio, and Find My. The battery life lasts nearly six hours, and the case provides 30 hours of charge.

Workout enthusiasts and loyal Android fans willing to scour the market will likely enjoy the Jabra Elite 4 (). These earbuds feature a robust IP55 water- and dust-resistant rating. They also support the aptX Bluetooth codec. This is superior to SBC and provides 352kbps, 48kHz/16-bit LPCM audio sampling. The earbuds fit more securely than the Liberty 4 NC and ship with three ear tip sizes to achieve a robust fit. The sound quality is pleasing out of the box and closely follows our target preference curve. Unfortunately, the Elite 4’s noise canceling does just an average job of attenuating distracting frequencies below 800Hz. Battery life fares better, with the earbuds offering over five hours on a single charge. Similarly, a 10-minute top-up provides one hour of listening time. The Sound+ app delivers the earbuds’ best features, including a five-band custom EQ, Personalized ANC, and control customizations.

City dwellers and audio tinkerers should consider the Anker Soundcore Space A40 (). These buds excel at dampening low-frequency drones from car engines below 110Hz. They also enjoy decent sound quality with bass and treble under-emphasized compared to most of the competition. If this isn’t to your liking, the Soundcore app provides many presets and an 8-band custom EQ. The buds are IPX4-rated to protect against workouts and come packaged with five ear tips to attain a comfortable fit. You can connect to the Space A40 with Bluetooth 5.2 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. The buds also support Bluetooth Multipoint and provide nearly eight hours of listening time. A 10-minute top-up yields four hours of juice, and the USB-C powered case provides four additional charge cycles.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 NC FAQs

How good is the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 mic? You told us

45% of people rate the microphone quality as at least “Good”.

On a scale of 1-5, the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) returned by our readers is 3.36. This means users generally found the microphone quality slightly above “Okay”, leaning toward “Good”. While 10% of respondents think the microphone sounds “Perfect”, 13% think it sounds “Bad” or “Awful”. Overall, this is a pretty average response for true wireless earbuds, slightly below what we see from the best wireless earbuds on the market.

For comparison, here are the current MOS scores of the microphones from other popular wireless earbuds:

Apple AirPods 4 (n=369): 3.51

• Awful – 5%
• Bad – 8%
• Okay – 30%
• Good – 45%
• Perfect – 12%

Sony WF-1000XM5 (n=8908): 3.46

• Awful – 4%
• Bad – 9%
• Okay – 36%
• Good – 39%
• Perfect – 12%

Listen for yourself

If you haven’t had a chance to hear our microphone samples of the Soundcore Liberty 5, take a listen below. Then, answer the poll to see the most up-to-date poll response figures.

Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone demo (Office conditions):

Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone demo (Street conditions):

Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone demo (Windy conditions):

Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone demo (Reverberant space):

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Anker released the Liberty 4 Pro in October last year, and there has been no official announcement about the Liberty 5 Pro. Consequently, it is doubtful we will see the company’s next-gen model come to fruition soon. However, there are some improvements Anker could make to elevate its flagship product. Read ahead for everything I want to see when the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro eventually launch.

A better charging case

You can view the display through the translucent charging case.

Glossy cases are prone to attracting fingerprints, and that’s before you consider those with a reflective finish. Truthfully, the Liberty 4 Pro attracts grime, smudges, and oils like nobody’s business. While it’s not a deal breaker, it’s a surprisingly easy and avoidable design flaw. This is especially true, given Anker got its other aesthetic-related elements so right. Matte cases are usually better at concealing unsightly marks, and the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro could benefit here.

The Liberty 5 Pro could also switch the Liberty 4 Pro’s touchbar for a larger OLED touchscreen. This would make controlling ANC, EQ presets, phone cameras, and spatial audio from the case a more intuitive experience. The next-gen model could also introduce an integrated audio transmitter similar to the JBL Tour Pro 3. Such functionality would allow users to connect the case to analog audio devices and wirelessly transmit music without Bluetooth to the buds.

Improved spatial audio

The spatial audio mode with head tracking suffers latency.

Consumer audio brands love talking about spatial audio. However, while it can enhance your immersion when watching movies, its application when listening to music is questionable. Even if you enjoy listening to music in a three-dimensional soundscape, not all content is supported by spatial audio. Tracks must be mixed in a surround sound format, like Dolby Atmos, to work with spatial audio-compatible headphones. Even then, many major music streaming platforms such as Spotify do not support surround sound content.

The Liberty 4 Pro provide many spatial audio modes, including Music Mode, Podcast Mode, Movie Mode, and Gaming Mode. Each is tailored to the content type you intend to stream, with Music Mode benefiting from head tracking. Unfortunately, this comes with noticeable latency that can be a nuisance to your listening experience. The Fixed mode is no better and lacks spatial clarity, making it difficult to distinguish between different auditory cues. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro will need superior spatial audio functionality to appease movie enthusiasts.

A dust-resistant IP rating

Many advanced Bluetooth technologies are packed inside each earbud.

The best workout earbuds wear a grippy coating, ear hooks, concha fins, or wings. They also sport a robust Ingress Protection (IP) rating to protect against sweat and small solid particles. Some workout buds, like the discontinued Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2, are IP68 protected. This means the buds can endure total submersion in up to 3m of water for 30 minutes and are completely dust-tight. In the real world, it allows for vigorous exercise and dusty sports like rock climbing and quad biking.

The Liberty 4 Pro have an IPX5 water-resistant rating. This protects the buds from omnidirectional water jets from a squirt gun, but not against dust or small solid objects. Consequently, those living in drier environments or regularly participating in beach sports may give the Liberty 4 Pro a wide berth. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro could be more suitable for harsher climates by using a dust-resistant IP rating.

Bluetooth 5.4 (or 6.0)

You can adjust earbud settings with the touch bar on the charging case.

Each iteration of Bluetooth has improved upon the last. For example, Bluetooth 1.0 was invented as a wireless alternative to serial cables, while version 2.0 brought Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) for wireless audio streaming. Fast-forward to today, and Bluetooth 6.0 is rolling out across the technology industry. This brings Bluetooth Channel Sounding for accurate distance measuring between devices, security and efficiency improvements, and lower latency for audio applications.

However, as excited as I am, we are likely still a couple of years from receiving Bluetooth 6.0 in our consumer electronics. In the meantime, the current Bluetooth 5.4 standard brings enough improvements over version 5.3 to warrant Anker implementing it into the Liberty 5 Pro. For example, the protocol reduces latency and enjoys faster data transfer speeds for smoother audio transmission. It also consumes less power than its predecessor and provides a wider signal range to mitigate dropouts.

LE Audio and the LC3 codec

Anker’s new charging case features a touch display for controlling features like ANC.

Recent advancements in Bluetooth technology have encouraged higher-quality, lower-bitrate codecs. Even still, the rollout of the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) standard and the accompanying LC3 codec looks set to change the game. Unlike the default SBC codec running over Bluetooth Classic, LC3 works over Bluetooth LE and scales to very low bitrates while retaining good-sounding audio quality. The codec also allows multiple synchronous connections, which is handy for those who use hearing aids and other devices that make audio accessible.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro run Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. However, while Bluetooth multipoint is supported, there is no Auracast functionality. This is a misstep, given that Auracast uses Bluetooth 5.2 and is a handy feature for the hearing-impaired to connect directly to nearby broadcasts. LE Audio could also help to extend the battery life of the Liberty 5 Pro beyond the five hours and 42 minutes of their predecessor.

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Will there be an Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro?

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro are excellent wireless earbuds.

Anker remains an industry leader by offering top-tier features at a low price point. Its latest Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 are a shining example, delivering superior comfort and Bluetooth 5.4 for less than the competition. Unfortunately, their mediocre ANC and overemphasized bass and treble reproduction make them a less compelling choice than the Liberty 4 Pro and Liberty 4 NC.

There has been no official announcement from Anker about the Liberty 5 Pro. Rumors are also sparse, given that the current model was released mere months ago. It is unlikely that we will see an upgrade soon.

• Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro — May 31, 2019
• Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro — August 12, 2021
• Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro — October 3, 2024

However, we can surmise a launch date by analyzing Anker’s previous release schedule. For example, the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro launched on May 31, 2019. The updated Liberty 3 Pro launched roughly two years later on August 12, 2021. The latest Liberty 4 Pro launched three years and two months later on October 3, 2024. If we take the average time between each release, we can expect the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro to come to shelves in the summer of 2027.

Should you wait for the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro?

There are many alternatives, although they may cost more for less.

The Liberty 4 Pro are Anker’s best earbuds so far and deliver many desirable features. If you don’t care about buying household brands like Sony and Apple, grab a pair of the Liberty 4 Pro. You can purchase the product from the company’s website and major retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy. Given the current model are so good, I do not recommend waiting for the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro to materialize.

Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro () are some of the best true wireless earbuds money can buy. For example, sound quality is excellent, with the earbuds producing a consumer-friendly frequency curve that most people will enjoy. Noise canceling is also very good at this price range and delivers roughly 30dB of low-frequency noise attenuation. Battery life runs above average at 5 hours and 42 minutes, with the case providing an additional 24 hours of charge. Fast charging yields four hours from a five-minute top-up, and the case can be charged wirelessly with a compatible charging pad. Downloading the Soundcore app unlocks vital firmware updates, an environmental noise slider, and wind noise reduction. Musos can tweak their sound with Anker’s HearID Sound Test, 22 EQ presets, and eight-band custom EQ.

Those seeking superior comfort should buy the Nothing Ear (). For slightly more than the Liberty 4 Pro, fans receive earbuds with a pleasing 4.6g design that’s ready to wear for hours. The buds are IP54-rated, and the case enjoys an IP55 rating to endure wet and dusty weather. The Nothing X app offers basic and advanced EQ, and the buds can be integrated with ChatGPT. However, you need a supported Nothing phone to use this feature. The Nothing Ear run Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0, and LDAC codecs. Battery life lasts over eight hours with ANC enabled, and the case tops up 40 hours of total playback time. You can charge the case wirelessly, and the buds fast charge 10 hours from a 10-minute boost. The sound quality is pleasing, although noise canceling is mediocre and can alter the sound profile when activated.

If best-in-class sound quality is your jam, check out the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 (). Sporting xMEMS Cowell solid-state drivers, Snapdragon Sound, and the aptX Lossless codec, these earbuds are turning the heads of many audiophiles. The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 and run the aptX Adaptive, LC3, AAC, and SBC codecs. The Creative app unlocks a parametric equalizer, firmware updates, low-latency mode, and ANC toggles. The earbuds’ battery life lasts over six hours, and the case provides 24 hours of total listening time. You can fast-charge one hour of playback time from a 10-minute top-up. Noise canceling is decent, attenuating low frequencies around 100Hz by roughly 30dB. The earbuds are lightweight, comfortable, and are IPX5-rated.

There is still no better companion to your iPhone than the Apple AirPods Pro 2 (). Using the company’s latest H2 chip, the earbuds offer one of the most pleasing frequency responses on the market. Their noise canceling is excellent, dampening outside sounds by roughly 20-30dB. Battery life lasts nearly six hours with active noise canceling. The case can be charged with a Qi, MagSafe, or Apple Watch charging mat. iPhone owners can run an ear tip fit test, customize controls, and enjoy Audio Sharing. The AirPods Pro 2 offer personalized spatial audio with head tracking, adaptive transparency mode, and auto-wear detection. As of September 9, 2024, the AirPods Pro 2 also support hearing health features, including a hearing test that lets you use the buds as a hearing aid.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro FAQs

We test every pair of wireless headphones under consistent conditions in our lab, using music that peaks at 75dB SPL and enabling active noise canceling when available. Measuring battery life under these standards helps us determine not just how often you’ll need to recharge, but also whether the headphones might wear out sooner than expected.

Here is the results of our battery testing, pitting the Liberty 5 against other popular wireless earbuds:

• Master & Dynamic MW09: 15 hours and 54 minutes
• Sony WF-1000XM5: 9 hours and 32 minutes
• Soundcore Liberty 5: 7 hours and 8 minutes
• AirPods 4: 6 hours and 21 minutes
• AirPods Pro 2: 5 hours and 43 minutes

The 7 hours and 8 minutes of battery life provided by the Liberty 5 when ANC is turned on is about average for wireless earbuds in 2025. That said, it’s worth pointing out that this exceeds the battery life of the AirPods 4 and even the AirPods Pro 2. Does that surprise you? Let us know in the comments down below.

Of course, there is a lot more to consider than just battery life when selecting your next wireless earbuds. Make sure to take a look at our full Soundcore Liberty 5 vs Apple AirPods 4 breakdown to see how they compare in design, sound quality, and more.

MDAQS test results

An Overall score of 4.7 means most people will like the way the Liberty 5 sound.

The first test we use to evaluate the sound quality performance of earbuds is the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm. This test rates sound quality on a scale from 1-5, based on the listening preferences from a study of hundreds of people. If a product receives a score of 5, that means that most people will enjoy the way it sounds. With a 4.7, the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds pass this test with flying colors. So, what about the Sony WF-1000XM5?

The Sony WF-1000XM5 posts impressive results with its sound quality, appealing to most consumers.

With an Overall score of 4.9, the Sony WF-1000XM5 unsurprisingly perform well in this test. That said, comparing a 4.9 to a 4.7 is not a big difference, and means your preferred sound will mostly come down to personal preferences in this head-to-head.

Frequency response

We measure the frequency response of products to see how much emphasis they place on bass, mids, or treble. Compared to our SoundGuys Curve, we can see that the Liberty 5 have more emphasis on bass below 150Hz, and on treble from 4-8kHz. They have a noticeable dip around 200Hz, which leaves the fundamental notes in some vocals and piano parts sounding quieter than they should. In comparison, the Sony WF-1000XM5 place more emphasis on mids, though they still amplify bass more than our curve.

Customizing the sound

While it’s important for earbuds to sound good out of the box, it’s also very helpful if they include a companion app with a custom equalizer to tweak the sound. Thankfully, the Liberty 5 have a ton of sound customization features in the Soundcore app.

The HearID Sound Test measures and compensates for any hearing loss you might have. On top of that, you can take the Preference Test, which builds an EQ profile suitable to your preferred amount of bass, mids, and treble. If you still aren’t happy with how the earbuds sound, you can try out one of the dozens of EQ presets, or build your own using the eight-band custom equalizer. You can also enable the Dolby Sound feature to add spatial audio effects to any sound source.

These features go toe-to-toe with the Sony WF-1000XM5. In the Sony Sound Connect app, you’ll find a custom equalizer, as well as Sony 360 Reality Audio, though the latter is limited to supported streaming services.

Streaming quality

A key component of attaining good sound quality with wireless earbuds is to ensure the earbuds support high-res streaming. The Liberty 5 connect over the latest Bluetooth 5.4, with support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC. This is the same array of codec support that the Sony WF-1000XM5 has, though the Sony earbuds use the slightly older Bluetooth 5.3 technology. In my time testing both, neither had any connection issues.

Verdict

So do the Soundcore Liberty 5 have better sound quality than the Sony WF-1000XM5? Maybe not, but it’s closer than you might expect. Ultimately, your decision here comes down to your personal sound preferences. According to our testing, the XM5 have a slight edge out of the box, but the Liberty 5 have enough features and customization to make up for that. If you really want exceptional sound quality without breaking the bank, we recommend you check out the Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi or the Nothing Ear.

Fit is key

Ear tip or no ear tip? That is the question.

In order for earbuds to block out external noise, they need to form a tight seal in your ear canal. The problem with AirPods is that they don’t come with multiple sizes of ear tips, and so they don’t form a tight seal in your ears. If the shape of the AirPods doesn’t match the unique shape of your ears, you might find them falling out of your ears entirely.

On the other hand, earbuds like the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 have silicone ear tips to form a tight seal in your ears. This significantly helps with blocking out noise, thanks to passive isolation. So while the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation do have the right technology to block out ambient sound, they don’t have the right design. We’ve seen similar issues with other unsealed earbuds, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds3.

What the data shows

We put both the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC and the Soundcore Liberty 5 through our SoundGuys testing lab to measure the amount of ambient noise reduction. In the chart below, you can see how much noise each earbud blocks out, both with ANC on and when ANC is turned off. The higher the line on the chart, the more decibels of noise reduction.

As you can see, the Liberty 5 block out significantly more noise than the AirPods 4, including when ANC is off and when ANC is on. Our measurements show that the Liberty 5 reduce outside noise by an average of 76%, whereas the AirPods 4 with ANC only reduce outside noise by an average of 53%. That is a very noticeable difference.

If you frequently listen to music at home in quiet environments, then you won’t care about noise canceling. But for those of us who commute to work in loud cities, blocking out noise is a critical feature of wireless earbuds.

Considering how much the AirPods 4 with ANC cost (), would you still buy them, even when budget earbuds outperform them in our testing? Let us know in the comments.

There has been no mention of Anker’s Space A50 earbuds yet. Nevertheless, here are all the features and everything I want to see while the rumor mill churns up hope.

A better charging case

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 have fast charging, giving you an extra 4 hours of listening time from 10 minutes of charging.

How can Anker get it so right with one product and so wrong with another? As mentioned, the company’s Liberty 4 Pro ships with a handy and relatively unique charging case. In addition to a nifty sliding lid, it features a display for checking the earbuds’ battery life, setting ANC strength, toggling spatial audio modes, and more. Sure, it’s a fingerprint magnet and a bit of a gimmick, but it’s good to see the company pushing itself in an area many other manufacturers overlook.

Even if you’re not into all these bells and whistles, it’s reasonable to expect your charging case to protect your earbuds. Unfortunately, the hinges on the Anker Soundcore Space A40 case feel flimsy. The case also does not have lid magnets, meaning the earbuds can easily fall out in transit. This is particularly annoying when storing the earbuds in a backpack, only to find they have come loose and are lost amongst all your other belongings. The Anker Soundcore Space A50 will need a better, more robust charging case to remain competitive.

Improved microphone quality

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 have touch panels on each earbud.

Be under no illusion — earbuds will never reproduce voices as clearly as over-ear headphones or gaming headsets. Even the best earbuds for calls, like the Sony WF-1000XM5, cannot hold a candle to gaming headsets like the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023). This is because dedicated boom microphones placed in front of the mouth do a much better job of capturing voices than beamforming microphones near the ear. However, frequent callers needing a more street-friendly product should consider the new Sony WH-1000XM6.

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 can take calls, but it’s an average experience. The microphones do not handle sibilant sounds well, and the earbuds perform best with minimal environmental noise. Street sounds, for example, are prone to cutting into the voice, and wind noise will make the end caller hear major processing artifacts. This interferes with speech intelligibility, making it much more difficult to conduct seamless conversation. The Anker Soundcore Space A50 must improve microphone quality to appease frequent callers.

Comprehensive controls

The Soundcore Space A40 connect using Bluetooth 5.2.

Companion apps are vital for unlocking the very best features our headphones offer. For example, they can provide native custom EQs, spatial audio with head tracking, and advanced noise canceling functions. Perhaps most important, though, are control customizations. These allow headphone wearers to adjust which buttons or touch surfaces alter specific functions. Some earbuds, like the JBL Tour Pro 3, support single, double, triple, and long presses for controlling over seven unique features.

By comparison, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 feels significantly limited out of the box. For example, the earbuds only support double-tap and press-and-hold commands by default. While you can enable single-tap functionality in the Soundcore app, the earbuds do not support previous track skipping. Likewise, you must cycle through the ambient sound modes to toggle between ANC, transparency, and normal listening. There is no slider control for adjusting volume, and you must assign the function to a single-tap command in the Soundcore app. Anker should implement easier and more comprehensive default controls with the Soundcore Space A50.

A more comfortable and robust fit

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 are prone to falling out of the ear during exercise.

While I may have trumpeted some of the more niche features of the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro, they are, first and foremost, comfortable. They ship with several ear tip sizes, support an ear tip fit test, and wear a similar lollipop-stemmed form factor as the popular Apple AirPods Pro 2. Sure, they’re not as suitable for working out as hook-designed earbuds like the Powerbeats Pro 2. However, the Liberty 4 Pro’s ergonomic fit sits well in the ear. They also do not fly out when you shake your head.

Conversely, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 can be difficult to place in the ear and are prone to falling out. Like many others, I struggle to achieve long-lasting comfort and a tight seal with ovoid-shaped earbuds like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. This is even more apparent when trying to work out. The Soundscore Space A40 may be IPX4-rated, but their lack of stabilizing wings and limited contact with the outer ear means they easily spill from the ear with vigorous exercise. Anker must redesign the Soundscore Space A50 with superior comfort and a robust fit in mind.

Improved sound quality

Like music genres, we all have a personal preference regarding how we like our headphones to sound. For example, while much too prominent for most listeners, the Sony ULT WEAR will appeal to bass heads that enjoy a skull-rattling amount of bass. Counterwise, the Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X serve audiophiles and music producers who require a “flat” frequency response. However, their perceived lack of bass may sound far less exciting to those accustomed to headphones with a “U-shaped” frequency curve.

No matter your preference, we rarely find a pair of true wireless earbuds that underemphasise bass and treble frequencies. And yet, that’s exactly what the Anker Soundcore Space A40 does. Against our target preference curve, the earbuds cut bass and sub-bass frequencies by over 5dB more than we’d like. Similarly, upper-midrange and treble frequencies above 1.8kHz deviate from our ideal curve by as much as 16dB. While the earbuds do not sound bad, many listeners will find they lack the “oomph” of competing earbuds. Anker should improve the bass and treble response of the Soundcore Space A50 at launch.

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Will there be an Anker Soundcore Space A50?

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 are great if you’re looking for earbuds around $100.

Anker undoubtedly remains invested in the earbuds and headphones categories. For example, its latest Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 launched on May 7, 2025. These earbuds enjoy a comfortable fit, Bluetooth 5.4 with the LDAC codec, and a handy companion app. They also represent excellent value for money compared to rival TWS buds from Apple, Sony, and Bose. However, compared to the Liberty 4 Pro, the earbuds have middling ANC and overemphasize bass and treble frequencies more than we’d like.

Unfortunately, Anker has not uttered a whisper about the Soundcore Space A50 yet, and rumors are surprisingly absent at the time of writing. However, we will update you as soon as we hear any news.

• Anker Soundcore Space A40 — August 24, 2022

Given Anker’s limited Soundcore Space A-series release history, it is difficult to gauge exactly when the Soundcore Space A50 will materialize. Generally, the company updates its earbuds every 2-3 years. For example, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro launched on May 31, 2019. The Liberty 3 Pro succeeded these on August 12, 2021. These were updated three years later by the Liberty 4 Pro in October 2024. Judging on that timeline, and considering the Anker Soundcore Space A40 launched on August 24, 2022, we could expect the Soundcore Space A50 to materialize this year. However, we must wait for confirmation from Anker.

Should you wait for the Anker Soundcore Space A50?

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 represent good value for money.

Herein lies the question. Anker makes many enticing earbuds, and deciding which best suits your needs is tricky. If you prefer stemless earbuds and are working on a budget, then the Soundscore Space A40 will work well for you. Otherwise, we recommend exploring some of the competition, including sibling Anker buds.

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 () are a compelling choice for price-conscious buyers. The earbuds’ excellent noise canceling makes taking public transport a breeze, attenuating up to 47dB of environmental noise. Those on long-haul commutes can enjoy nearly eight hours of listening time with ANC activated. Those in a bind can fast-charge four hours of listening time from a 10-minute top-up. The earbuds can be charged atop a Qi charging mat, and listeners can connect with Bluetooth 5.2 via the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. The last profits 990kbps, 24-bit/96kHz Hi-Res playback, which spells good news for those who stream high-quality audio files. Downloading the Soundcore app (iOS/Android) begets vital firmware updates, control customizations, 22 EQ presets, and ANC toggles. However, frequent callers may be disappointed by the mediocre microphone quality, and the case leaves much to be desired.

Superior comfort can cost a little more, but the Nothing Ear (2) () are worth it. The IP55-rated case features a stylish transparent design that protects the IP54-rated buds from dust and water. It also supports wireless charging or can be boosted with a USB-C cable. With ANC enabled, the earbuds should last over six hours, with the case yielding four or five extra charge cycles. However, those in a hurry can fast-charge eight hours from a 10-minute top-up. Nothing includes three sets of oblong-shaped silicone ear tips out of the box to secure a comfortable fit, and the earbuds connect via the SBC, AAC, and the rarer LHDC 5.0 Bluetooth codecs. Noise canceling is better than their predecessor, although sensitive listeners may experience minor issues with in-ear pressure. The earbuds also exhibit drastically over-emphasized treble frequencies that will almost certainly need tempering with the Nothing X app’s basic EQ.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC () are one of our favorite earbuds at the office. They are guarded with an IPX4 rating and are reasonably secure for anything except the most intense workouts. Android and iOS smartphone owners can connect via Bluetooth 5.3 over the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. Battery life lasts a formidable nine hours and 53 minutes with ANC enabled. Similarly, the case yields an additional 50 hours of listening time, fast-charges four hours from a 10-minute boost, and offers wireless charging. Noise canceling is excellent and quells low incidental sounds by nearly 40dB. Anker delivers good sound quality with the Liberty 4 NC, although the bass is much too exaggerated compared to what we like. However, this can easily be remedied by selecting one of the 22 EQ presets in the Soundcore app. Avid tinkerers will enjoy Anker’s 8-band custom EQ, Fit Test, and ANC toggles.

Athletes looking for a set of similarly priced ANC earbuds should consider the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (). Unlike the Anker Soundcore Space A40, these buds wear ear hooks to keep them in place. They also sport an IP66-rated exterior to guard against the elements. I’m also a big fan of the Epic Air Sport ANC’s triple tap controls for changing between EQs. Battery life is extraordinary and lasts over 15 hours. The case tops the buds with an extra 55 hours of listening time, and the buds fast-charge one hour of listening time from a 15-minute boost. Achieving a tight seal is easy with the included ear tips, and ANC helps to dampen low-frequency sounds by up to 30dB. Sound quality is pleasing, although there’s a moderate underemphasis in the mids and treble ranges. The JLab Air ANC app unlocks a custom EQ, firmware updates, and control customizations.

Anker Soundcore Space A50 FAQs

What’s it like to use the Liberty 5 compared to the Liberty 4 Pro?

The Liberty 4 Pro has a screen inside the charging case, while the Liberty 5 doesn’t.

Using the Soundcore Liberty 5 feels familiar if you’ve tried the Liberty 4 Pro, with both featuring stem-style earbuds and a compact, slide-open charging case. The Liberty 5 drops the flashy display on the case in favor of a simple LED light strip. The display on the Liberty 4 Pro case, while a bit gimmicky, does allow for control over settings without needing to open the app. On the other hand, the Liberty 5 has a nicer matter finish that doesn’t show fingerprints as easily as the Liberty 4 Pro case.

Both earbuds are very comfortable to wear, and stay securely in place in my ears. They are also both water-resistant, which means you can use them at the gym without worrying about sweat damage.

Do the Liberty 5 or Liberty 4 Pro have more features?

The Liberty 4 Pro still takes the win when it comes to raw feature count. That case display, while not always useful, enables quick toggling between ANC levels and spatial audio modes. It even works with your phone’s camera — a novelty, but one that tech enthusiasts may appreciate. Both earbuds have access to the Soundcore app, which includes a custom EQ and listening tests to determine your ideal sound profile.

How do the Liberty 5 and Liberty 4 Pro connect?

Though the earbuds are the same on the outside, the internal components are slightly different.

The Liberty 5 feature Bluetooth 5.4, which is slightly newer than the Bluetooth 5.3 on the Liberty 4 Pro. Both earbuds support SBC, AAC, and LDAC for high-res audio, as well as Bluetooth Multipoint, so you can pair with multiple devices simultaneously. In my testing, both earbuds provided rock-solid connections with an iPhone and Android device.

Is battery life better on the Liberty 5 or Liberty 4 Pro?

You can get slightly more juice from the Liberty 5 earbuds.

Battery life is a strong point for the Liberty 5. In our battery testing, they lasted 7 hours and 8 minutes with ANC on. With the case, you get up to 48 hours total playback. Plus, just 10 minutes in the case nets you up to 5 hours of playtime—an impressive fast charging figure. The Liberty 4 Pro don’t last as long, clocking in at 5 hours and 42 minutes with ANC enabled, and topping out at 40 hours total with the case. Both recharge over USB-C or wireless charging.

Do the Liberty 5 or Liberty 4 Pro block noise better?

In our testing, the Liberty 4 Pro cancel more noise, especially low-frequency sounds like engine rumble, with up to 30dB of reduction. I found them particularly effective on noisy city streets and airplanes. The Liberty 5 perform well, too, with ANC knocking out up to 25dB of low-frequency noise and the silicone tips blocking up to 40dB of high frequencies. They do a good job taming background sounds like traffic and conversations. Still, if your top priority is noise canceling, the Liberty 4 Pro are the better bet.

Transparency mode works great with both earbuds — voices come through clearly, often louder than without earbuds.

Do the Liberty 5 sound better than the Liberty 4 Pro?

Both earbuds offer extensive EQ customization, including a custom EQ, 22 EQ presets, and personalized tuning via HearID and Preference Tests. The Liberty 5 offer strong bass and treble out of the box, but that emphasis can be overwhelming. The Liberty 4 Pro are a bit more balanced by default, and I found I needed less tweaking to get them to sound just right.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

An Overall score of 4.7 means most people will like the way the Liberty 5 sound.

High scores across the board mean most people will like the sound of the Anker Souncore Liberty 4 Pro.

According to MDAQS, the Liberty 5 earn a 4.7 Overall score with strong marks for Timbre (4.8) and Immersiveness (4.6), but only a 3.5 for Distortion. The Liberty 4 Pro notch slightly higher at 4.8 Overall, with even better Distortion (3.7) and identical Immersiveness. Most people will enjoy the default sound of both of these earbuds.

Objective Measurements

Both earbuds emphasize sub-bass, but the Liberty 5 also emphasize treble, with a sharp boost from 5-8kHz. This can lead to a sharp or sibilant sound at high volumes unless you EQ it down. The Liberty 4 Pro’s frequency response stays closer to the SoundGuys Preference Curve, especially in the mids and treble.

Do the Liberty 5 or Liberty 4 Pro have a better microphone?

Microphone performance is similar across both models, with each using six mics to isolate your voice and reduce background noise. In simulated noise environments, both earbuds deliver clear speech. Listen below and let us know what you think.

Liberty 5 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Liberty 4 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Liberty 5 microphone demo (Street conditions):

Liberty 4 Pro microphone demo (Street conditions):

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Liberty 5 vs Liberty 4 Pro: Price and availability

Both the Liberty 5 and Liberty 4 Pro have a starting price of $129, but the exact pricing may vary based on sales and availability. The Liberty 5 are newer and may command a slightly higher price initially, though they still fall well below flagship options from Apple or Sony. The Liberty 4 Pro have been out longer and may be easier to find at a discount, making them the more budget-friendly pick in many cases.

Should you get the Liberty 5 or Liberty 4 Pro?

If you already own the Liberty 4 Pro, there’s no compelling reason to upgrade to the Liberty 5. The Liberty 4 Pro still sound slightly better, block more noise, and offer unique features like a case-based control system. At the same or less price, the Liberty 4 Pro are a better buy than the Liberty 5.