Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Review

Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Review

Voice & Call Noise Isolation 9.0/10

Six microphones with AI processing handle calls. Voice pickup is clear in quiet rooms and acceptable in offices.

In wind or on busy streets, background noise and voice artefacts become noticeable. For short calls it is fine, but daily meeting users should choose a business earbud.

Laptop calls use standard Bluetooth headset audio, which narrows the sound compared with music playback. For occasional work calls from a phone they are adequate, and colleagues will hear you clearly indoors. Plan to use a USB headset for long meetings on a laptop.

• Mics 6

ANC & Transparency 9.5/10

Adaptive ANC 2.0 measures the ear canal and surroundings to adjust cancellation. Transparency mode is also included.

For under 100 dollars, ANC is impressive, cutting engines, fans and traffic well. It cannot match the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds on voices, but the gap is smaller than the price suggests.

Getting a good seal with the right tip size matters most. Soundcore includes several tip sizes for that reason. Fitting the largest tip that still feels comfortable usually gives the strongest cancellation.

• Adaptive Yes

Battery & Case Charging 6.7/10

Soundcore quotes up to 10 hours per charge, or 8 hours with ANC on, and up to 50 hours with the case. With LDAC, that falls to about 6 hours.

That is excellent for the price and outlasts many premium earbuds. A full week of commuting is possible before charging the case.

The case charges by USB-C, and fast charging gives about four hours from 15 minutes. There is no wireless charging. The battery percentage shows in the app, so you always know when to top up.

• Call Time 4 h
• With Case 40 (ANC on), 50 (ANC off)
• Wireless Chg No
• Fast Charge Yes

Fit, Stability & Portability 8.0/10

The stem-style buds are light and rated IPX4 for sweat and splashes. Soundcore includes five tip sizes.

Most people find them comfortable for a couple of hours. The stems make them easy to remove and adjust, though the shape is less distinctive than pricier rivals.

The case is compact with a sliding lid, which is easy to open with one hand. The stems sit vertically below the ear and help the buds stay seated. They feel secure on walks, though they are not designed for intense workouts.

• IP Rating IPX4

Connectivity & UC Integration 7.0/10

Bluetooth 5.3 supports multipoint, so the buds stay connected to a phone and a laptop at the same time.

Multipoint is rare at this price and useful for hybrid workers who take calls on both devices. The Soundcore app handles EQ, ANC modes and firmware.

Note that LDAC and multipoint cannot be used together on some firmware versions. Check the app if switching does not behave as expected. In practice, a call arriving on the laptop can take over from music playing on the phone.

• Dongle No
• Multi-pt Yes
• BT 5.3

Sound & Audio Quality 9.7/10

Each bud uses an 11 mm custom driver, and the buds support LDAC Hi-Res Wireless Audio on compatible Android phones, plus SBC and AAC.

Default tuning is bass heavy, which some will enjoy on a commute. The app’s EQ presets and HearID personalisation calm the low end and bring vocals forward.

With LDAC on Android, detail improves slightly, though it shortens battery life. iPhone users get AAC, which still sounds good, if less refined than the AirPods Pro 3. Bass lovers can leave the default curve alone, while podcast listeners will want the Voice preset.

• Codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC
• Driver 11 mm
• Driver Type Custom dynamic
• EQ Yes (app and HearID)

Full Specifications

Product Details