Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max Earbuds Launch with Thus AI Chip

Anker introduced the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds during its Anker Day event, with sales beginning the same day. The Liberty 5 Pro is listed at $169.99 (reported as $170) and offered in black, blue, pink, and white. The Pro Max is priced at $229.99 (reported as $230) in black or titanium-gold. Both models feature touchscreen charging cases; the Pro’s case includes a 0.96-inch TFT display, while the Max’s case uses a larger 1.78-inch AMOLED screen.

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Both earbuds contain 9.2 mm drivers, eight microphones, and two bone-conduction sensors. ANC 4.0 processes audio up to 384,000 times per second and is claimed to be twice as effective as the Liberty 4 Pro. Battery life reaches 6.5 hours with ANC active and 28 hours with the case. Devices are IP55 rated, support Bluetooth 6.1, multipoint connectivity, Apple Find My, Google Fast Pair, LDAC, and HearID 5.0 EQ. Anker states the Thus chip provides ‘Whisper Clear’ performance, a response under one second for 20 commands, a 100 % ANC improvement, Note-Taker on Pro Max, and translation on both models.

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Field tests showed clear voice transmission despite a shouting child, a nearby wood-chipper, and passing sirens, confirming the claimed call-clarity advantage. The Pro Max’s case records meetings and generates speaker-identified transcripts, a feature reviewers deem useful mainly for frequent meeting users. Audio reviewers criticize the bass-heavy default profile, which mutes male vocals and dulls snare detail, requiring manual EQ or preset selection for balanced sound. The voice-control system monitors eleven activation phrases, causing occasional inconsistency amid nearby conversation. The $60 Pro Max premium is questioned given identical audio performance to the standard model.

Engadget

The Verge lists the Liberty 5 Pro at $169.99 and the Pro Max at $229.99, while Engadget reports $170 and $230 respectively. No information is provided about upcoming firmware updates or long-term durability beyond the IP55 rating.

Engadget

• “I have never heard a pair of earbuds or headphones handle ambient noise on a call this well.” — Reviewer, The Verge

The Verge

• “The exceptional call quality of the Liberty 5 Pro caught me off guard.” — Reviewer, The Verge

The Verge

• “The Liberty 5 Pro buds have a voice-control mode that responds quickly, although it’s not consistent when there’s conversation around you.” — Reviewer, The Verge

The Verge

• “He can’t remember the last time I sounded as natural on a call.” — Reviewer, The Verge

The Verge

At $170, the Liberty 5 Pro undercuts the AirPods Pro 3 price by roughly $80 while delivering comparable ANC and call performance. The Pro Max’s AI transcription adds a productivity angle, positioning Soundcore as a contender in both consumer and professional audio markets.

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