Anker’s latest Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds blend premium features like active noise cancellation, a touchscreen case, and customisable controls, challenging the premium market at a mid-range price point.
Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are being pitched as a mid-range alternative that borrows several premium features from the more expensive Liberty 5 Pro Max, while keeping the price lower. In testing, PCMag’s Christian de Looper found that the model combines effective active noise cancellation, a touchscreen case and strong sound quality, making it one of the more feature-rich options in its bracket.
The design is unusually ambitious for the price. The earbuds ship with interchangeable stabilisers in three sizes, alongside multiple ear tips and extra ear wings, to help users achieve a secure fit. The charging case is also a talking point: it carries a full-colour touch display that gives access to battery information and controls for noise modes, sound profiles and spatial audio settings. The earbuds themselves support touch controls, although reviewers note that the audible confirmation for each tap can feel a little intrusive.
Anker has also loaded the Liberty 5 Pro with software features. The companion app allows users to remap controls for single, double and triple presses, as well as press-and-hold actions. That includes functions such as volume, voice assistant access and live translation. Reviewers at RTINGS, TechRadar, SoundGuys and WIRED all point to the app as one of the model’s strengths, while also noting Bluetooth multipoint support and, in some cases, support for LDAC and Bluetooth 6.1.
Noise cancellation appears to be another clear strength. PCMag said the earbuds did a good job of suppressing cabin noise on a flight and handled café sound effectively as well. RTINGS similarly described the isolation as outstanding, while WIRED and SoundGuys said the ANC was effective across different listening modes. The one weak point in this area is transparency mode, which PCMag found less convincing because high-frequency environmental detail is softened.
Sound quality is broadly well regarded, though not without caveats. PCMag praised the bass response, instrument separation and overall fullness, while noting that the default tuning leans towards low frequencies. Other reviews were more mixed on balance and refinement: What Hi-Fi? said the earbuds deliver weight and energy but fall short on precision, while TechRadar and SoundGuys found the bass-heavy profile enjoyable for mainstream music but less ideal for listeners seeking a flatter presentation. The EQ in the app helps to tailor that signature.
Battery life is competitive rather than class-leading. Anker claims 6.5 hours from the earbuds with ANC enabled and up to 28 hours including the case. Fast charging over USB-C is said to deliver four hours of playback from five minutes at the charger, and wireless charging is also supported. Reviewers, however, say real-world endurance can come in slightly below the quoted figures, especially with higher-resolution codecs or maximum noise cancelling. At $169.99, the Liberty 5 Pro aim to offer flagship-like features without crossing into premium pricing.
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