The Apple AirPods Pro 3 meets
the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
The earbuds that made every reviewer throw away their scoring spreadsheet. We tested it head-to-head against the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro ($129) across 7 key dimensions.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
“The earbuds that made every reviewer throw away their scoring spreadsheet”
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
“A $129 earbud with a smarter case than most $300 flagships”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- MKBHD and Mike O'Brien both called ANC performance 'the best they've ever tested,' with 2x noise reduction over AirPods Pro 2
- Built-in heart rate monitor and over-the-counter hearing aid capabilities give these earbuds a health device dimension no competitor matches (InsideTech, RecordingNOW)
- IP57 rating makes them the most water-and-dust-resistant premium earbuds on the market, surviving full submersion where rivals cap at IPX4 splash resistance (InsideTech)
- Zero lossless Bluetooth audio: AAC only, no LDAC or aptX. Audiophiles who care about hi-res streaming over Bluetooth should look at Technics or Sony (Picky Audio, DHRME)
- No companion app on Android, no true Bluetooth multipoint, and no custom EQ: if you're not in the Apple ecosystem, you lose half the features (Mike O'Brien, InsideTech)
- The foam-infused ear tips collect wax faster than silicone and can't be cleaned as easily (Mike O'Brien)
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
- InsideTech ranked call quality 3rd across ALL earbuds at any price, the Liberty 4 Pro isolates your voice in wind and traffic better than earbuds that cost twice as much
- The charging case has a touchscreen display and slider that lets you tweak ANC, EQ, and volume without pulling out your phone, which is genuinely useful when connected to a TV or smartwatch (Mike O'Brien, Picky Audio)
- LDAC support, dual dynamic drivers, and responsive squeeze+swipe controls at $129 make the spec sheet look like a typo (Picky Audio, RecordingNOW)
- Default sound tuning is boomy and bass-heavy out of the box. You'll spend your first 10 minutes in the Soundcore app dialing back the low end (Picky Audio)
- The spatial audio mode adds so much reverb it makes music sound like you're in a cave. Turn it off and forget it exists (RecordingNOW)
- Anker's Soundcore brand doesn't carry the same warranty infrastructure or resale confidence as Apple, Sony, or Bose
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The AirPods Pro 3 won because they score highest in the two areas that matter most to daily earbud users: noise cancellation and reliability. MKBHD measured ANC performance at 2x the noise reduction of AirPods Pro 2, and Mike O'Brien confirmed it matches or beats the Bose QC Ultra in controlled testing. InsideTech ranked their transparency mode as the most natural on the market, meaning you can hold a conversation without removing them.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The AirPods Pro 3 won because they score highest in the two areas that matter most to daily earbud users: noise cancellation and reliability. MKBHD measured ANC performance at 2x the noise reduction of AirPods Pro 2, and Mike O'Brien confirmed it matches or beats the Bose QC Ultra in controlled testing. InsideTech ranked their transparency mode as the most natural on the market, meaning you can hold a conversation without removing them.
- iPhone users who want seamless ecosystem integration across Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV
- Frequent flyers who need the strongest available ANC in a compact, durable package
- Buyers who want health tracking (heart rate, hearing aid) baked into their earbuds
- People who take a lot of phone calls and need top-tier voice isolation
- Anyone who values build quality and IP57 water/dust resistance for gym and outdoor use
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro won the value pick because it packs features that shouldn't exist at $129. InsideTech ranked its call quality 3rd across ALL earbuds tested at any price point, beating the $299 Bose and $330 Sony in windy outdoor environments. The dual dynamic driver setup (10.5mm bass + 4.6mm tweeter) is a hardware configuration you'd expect in the $200+ tier, and LDAC support means Android users get hi-res streaming that the AirPods Pro 3 can't match.
- Android users who want LDAC hi-res streaming and a full-featured companion app
- Budget-conscious buyers who refuse to compromise on call quality
- Students and first-time premium earbud buyers who want the most features per dollar
- People who connect earbuds to TVs, smartwatches, or devices without app support and need the smart case controls
- Anyone who values 30 hours of total battery life and IPX5 water resistance under $130