Review · Earbuds ANC (budget)
Soundcore Liberty 5
The Liberty 5 is the budget earbud to buy: Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and Cult of Mac agree it's feature-packed, with strong noise cancelling for the money. Expect to EQ down the bass, live with fiddly stem controls, and get less battery than Soundcore claims. At its discounted price, those are easy trade-offs.
Our take
The short version
Soundcore's Liberty 5 brings most of a flagship spec sheet to a budget price: ANC, LDAC, Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, 6 mics, Dolby Audio, and IP55. Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and Cult of Mac agree it's feature-packed and that the noise cancelling is strong for the money.
List is $129.99, and it was around $79.99 on Amazon in early October 2026, less than half the price of AirPods Pro 3 (~$179). That's why it shares our top value score with AirPods Pro 3 and the Soundcore Space One.
The trade-offs are the kind you can live with or fix. The tuning is bass-heavy and needs EQ, the stem controls are fiddly, and real battery life falls short of the rated 8 hours with ANC (12 without; 32 and 48 hours with the case). If you want more, the Liberty 5 Pro ($169.99) is Wirecutter's top earbud pick, though we don't review it. Jabra left consumer earbuds in 2024, so its Elite line is no longer an option here.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Strong ANC for the money, per reviewers
- LDAC, multipoint, and Bluetooth 5.4
- IP55 and a light 4.6 g per bud
- 6 mics and Dolby Audio
- A deep discount from list
Trade-offs
- Bass-heavy tuning needs EQ
- Fiddly stem controls
- Real battery life falls short of the claim
- LDAC does nothing for iPhone owners
Who it's for
Buy it if…
- Anyone who wants ANC earbuds without spending flagship money
- Android users who want LDAC on a budget
- Gym-goers who want a cheap pair rated IP55
Skip it if…
- iPhone owners who can stretch: AirPods Pro 3 are SoundGuys' pick for iPhone
- Listeners who won't touch EQ: the Sony WF-1000XM6 scores higher for sound
- Workout diehards: the Powerbeats Pro 2 have earhooks and heart-rate sensing
Spec sheet
Liberty 5 specs
| Battery | 8 h with ANC, 12 h without; 32 h / 48 h with the case |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 g per bud |
| Drivers | Not specified |
| Codecs | LDAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water resistance | IP55 |
| Wired / USB-C audio | No (true wireless) |
| Microphones | 6 |
| App / EQ | Not specified |
| Also notable | Dolby Audio |
From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it.
Watch
Liberty 5 on video
Video by SoundGuys on YouTube. Their views are their own.
Cross-shop
Alternatives to consider
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$179
- Sep 2025
- iPhone
The default earbuds for iPhone owners, with ANC SoundGuys ranks among the best of any earbud.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds for iPhone
- Pro: ANC that SoundGuys measured among the best of any earbud
- Pro: Heart-rate sensing plus Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No user EQ
- Trade-off: Built around the iPhone; MacRumors steers Android owners to the Sony
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Apple AirPods Pro 3Sony WF-1000XM6
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$258
- Feb 2026
- Android
SoundGuys' best earbuds overall, and the pick for Android owners who want LDAC and EQ.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds overall
- Pro: SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 support
- Pro: Multipoint plus 4 mics per bud for calls
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Highest list price of the earbuds we cover
- Trade-off: No aptX
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 5 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Soundcore Space One
- Over-ear ANC (budget)
- ~$84.99
- 2023
- Any phone
Wirecutter's budget pick: real ANC, LDAC, and a 40-hour battery at a fraction of flagship prices.
Pros
- Pro: Wirecutter's budget pick
- Pro: 40 h with ANC, 55 h without; a 5-minute charge gives 4 h
- Pro: LDAC and multipoint at a budget price
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: A 2023 model, the oldest on our list
- Trade-off: Our travel and call scores trail the flagships
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 3 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Soundcore Space One
Related guides and comparisons
Sources
Manufacturer specs
- Soundcore Liberty 5 product page (opens in a new tab) — Battery, IP rating, weight, codec, Bluetooth, multipoint, mics, and Dolby Audio
Review consensus
- Tom's Guide — Liberty 5 review consensus: features and ANC for the money; bass, controls, battery
- TechRadar — Liberty 5 review consensus: features and ANC for the money; bass, controls, battery
- Cult of Mac — Liberty 5 review consensus: features and ANC for the money; bass, controls, battery
- Wirecutter — Context only: its earbud top pick is the Liberty 5 Pro, not this model
Published reviews and manufacturer specs, researched October 5, 2026. We didn't test these headphones ourselves; judgments credited to an outlet are that outlet's.
Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.