Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Comparison
Compare Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC side by side: specs, ratings, pros and cons, and which one fits your room best.
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At a Glance
Using an Android phone and want Google's own ANC earbuds? The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are compact noise-cancelling earbuds with Google's Tensor A1 chip, Silent Seal 2.0 ANC, 11 mm drivers, Gemini voice features and a battery rated for 8 hours per charge with noise cancelling on.
- Best For
- Pixel and Android users
- Launch Price
- $229
- Dust/Water Rating
- IP54
- Bluetooth Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3
- Noise Cancelling
- Silent Seal 2.0 ANC
- Mics per Bud
- 3
- Battery (Buds)
- 8 h
- Battery (With Case)
- 30 h
- Multipoint
- Yes
Want adaptive ANC and multipoint for under 100 dollars? The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are budget earbuds with Adaptive ANC 2.0, 11 mm drivers, LDAC Hi-Res wireless support, Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint and up to 10 hours of playback per charge.
- Best For
- Budget buyers who want strong ANC
- Launch Price
- $99.99
- Dust/Water Rating
- IPX4
- Bluetooth Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Noise Cancelling
- Adaptive ANC 2.0
- Mics per Bud
- —
- Battery (Buds)
- 8 (ANC on), 10 (ANC off)
- Battery (With Case)
- 40 (ANC on), 50 (ANC off)
- Multipoint
- Yes
Review Scores Compared
Expert Score
Voice & Call Noise Isolation
ANC & Transparency
Battery & Case Charging
Fit, Stability & Portability
Connectivity & UC Integration
Sound & Audio Quality
Editorial Reviews Comparison
Voice & Call Noise Isolation
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 28.8/10
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.3/10Leader
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Beamforming microphones and Clear Calling on Pixel phones reduce background noise and boost your voice. A wind-blocking mesh covers the mics. Hybrid workers who spend hours on laptop calls get a steadier experience from the Poly Voyager Free 60+ and its USB adapter, which keeps call audio wideband on Windows and Mac.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
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.
ANC & Transparency
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 28.7/10
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.5/10Leader
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Silent Seal 2.0 runs on the Tensor A1 chip, and Google claims it cancels about twice as much noise as the first Pro. Transparency and Conversation Detection, which pauses audio when you speak, are included. The fin-style stabiliser twists to lock the buds in place, which also improves the seal and therefore the cancellation.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
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.
Battery & Case Charging
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 29.7/10Leader
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.6/10
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google quotes up to 8 hours with ANC on, or 12 hours off, and up to 30 hours with the case using ANC. That is among the best in premium earbuds. A full workday of music and calls is easy, and the case recharges over lunch. Five minutes of charging gives about an hour of playback.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
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.
Fit, Stability & Portability
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 29.3/10Leader
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC8.0/10
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Each bud weighs about 4.7 g, among the lightest in this group, and the twist-to-adjust fin keeps them steady during walks or workouts. Google includes four tip sizes. The small size makes them comfortable for long sessions, and they barely protrude from the ear. That also helps with lying on a pillow or wearing a hat.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The stem-style buds are light and rated IPX4 for sweat and splashes. Soundcore includes five tip sizes. 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.
Connectivity & UC Integration
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 27.1/10Leader
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.0/10
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
The buds connect over Bluetooth 5.4 with two-device multipoint, LE Audio and Fast Pair for one-tap setup. On Android the buds appear in settings without a separate app download. Gemini integration lets you talk to Google's assistant hands-free, which is handy on the move for messages, reminders and directions. Find My Device locates lost buds and the case on a map.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
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.
Sound & Audio Quality
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 29.3/10
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.7/10Leader
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Each bud has an 11 mm dynamic driver, unusually large for such a small earbud. Codec support covers SBC, AAC and LC3 for LE Audio, with no aptX or LDAC. The tuning is lively and bass forward, with clear vocals. The Pixel app's five-band EQ lets you calm the low end for podcasts and calls between meetings.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
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. iPhone users get AAC rather than LDAC; Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are the iPhone-native alternative.
Why Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Beats Soundcore Liberty 4 NC (and Vice Versa)
Why Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 beats Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
- Better battery & case charging: 9.7 vs 7.6 out of 10
- Better fit, stability & portability: 9.3 vs 8.0 out of 10
- Dust/Water Rating: IP54 vs IPX4
- Water Resistance: Sweat and water resistant (IP54 earbuds) vs IPX4
- Wireless Charging: Yes (Qi) vs No
- Battery (Buds, ANC Off): 12 h vs 10 h
Why Soundcore Liberty 4 NC beats Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
- Better anc & transparency: 9.5 vs 8.7 out of 10
- Better voice & call noise isolation: 9.3 vs 8.8 out of 10
- Bluetooth Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC vs SBC, AAC, LC3
- Noise Cancelling: Adaptive ANC 2.0 vs Silent Seal 2.0 ANC
- Call Noise Reduction: Yes (AI algorithm reduces background noise on calls) vs Clear Calling (Pixel)
- Battery (With Case): 40 (ANC on), 50 (ANC off) vs 30 h
Review-score leads of 0.5+ points out of 10 first, then specs where only one comes out ahead.
Full Specifications
General
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Pixel and Android users | Budget buyers who want strong ANC |
| Fit Type | True wireless in-ear | True wireless in-ear |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2023 |
| Launch Price | $229 | $99.99 Better |
| Case Weight | 65 g | — |
| Water Resistance | Sweat and water resistant (IP54 earbuds) Better | IPX4 |
| Colors | Porcelain, Hazel, Wintergreen, Peony | — |
| Case Water Rating | IPX4 | — |
| Hi-Res Certified | — | Yes |
| Lossless Audio | — | Hi-Res Wireless (LDAC) |
| Hearing Health Features | Loud-sound protection (dampens sudden loud noises) | — |
| ANC Levels | — | 5 noise-cancelling levels, 4 travel modes (Plane, Train, Bus, Taxi), 2 transparency modes |
| Microphone Setup | Beamforming microphones | Six with AI processing |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| LE Audio / Auracast | Yes | — |
| Google Fast Pair | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | Touch | Touch |
| Companion App | Pixel Buds app (Android) | Soundcore app |
| Wear Detection | Yes | — |
| Voice Assistant | Gemini | — |
| Custom Controls | Yes (tap and swipe) | Yes (touch control) |
| Find My / Locate | Yes (Find My Device) | — |
| In the Box | Earbuds, charging case, ear tips, USB-C cable | Earbuds, charging case, ear tips (five sizes), USB-C cable |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | — |
| Model Number | Pixel Buds Pro 2 | A3947 |
| OS Compatibility | Android 8+; basic Bluetooth on iOS and Windows | iOS, Android |
Voice & Call Noise Isolation
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 28.8/10 | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.3/10 Better | |
|---|---|---|
| Mics per Bud | 3 | — |
| Microphones | 6 | 6 |
| Wind Noise Reduction | Yes (wind-blocking mesh) | — |
| Call Noise Reduction | Clear Calling (Pixel) | Yes (AI algorithm reduces background noise on calls) Better |
ANC & Transparency
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 28.7/10 | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.5/10 Better | |
|---|---|---|
| Noise Cancelling | Silent Seal 2.0 ANC | Adaptive ANC 2.0 Better |
| Adaptive ANC | Yes (Adaptive Audio) | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
Battery & Case Charging
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 29.7/10 Better | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.6/10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Call Time | — | 4 h |
| Battery (Buds) | 8 h | 8 (ANC on), 10 (ANC off) |
| Battery (With Case) | 30 h | 40 (ANC on), 50 (ANC off) Better |
| Wireless Charging | Yes (Qi) Better | No |
| Fast Charging | Yes (5 min = about 1 h) | Yes |
| Battery (Buds, ANC Off) | 12 h Better | 10 h |
Fit, Stability & Portability
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 29.3/10 Better | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC8.0/10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bud Weight | 4.7 g | — |
| Ear Tip Sizes | Four sizes | Five sizes |
| Dust/Water Rating | IP54 Better | IPX4 |
| Ear Hooks / Wings | Yes (twist-to-adjust stabiliser) | — |
| Case Dimensions | 49.9 x 63.3 x 25 mm | — |
Connectivity & UC Integration
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 27.1/10 Better | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.0/10 | |
|---|---|---|
| USB Dongle | No | No |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 Better | 5.3 |
Sound & Audio Quality
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 29.3/10 | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.7/10 Better | |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC Better |
| Driver Size | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Custom dynamic |
| Custom EQ | Yes (five-band) | Yes (app and HearID) |
| Spatial Audio | Yes (supported Pixel phones) | — |
Takeaways
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC costs the least ($99.99), and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 the most ($229).
- It's a tie on our rating (4.4/5) between Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, so choose on the rows that matter most to you.
- Choose Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 for pixel and Android users.
- Choose Soundcore Liberty 4 NC for budget buyers who want strong ANC.
Pros and Cons
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
PROS
- Small, light buds with a twist-to-adjust fin
- Strong ANC for the price
- Deep Android and Gemini integration
- Long battery life
CONS
- Best features need Android
- No aptX or LDAC
- No dongle for PC calls
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
PROS
- Strong ANC for the price
- LDAC support
- Multipoint connection
- Long battery life
CONS
- Bass-heavy default tuning
- Mics struggle in wind
- Stem design is plain
Similar Comparisons
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Quick Verdict
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 8.9Best overallLeads in Battery & Case Charging, Fit, Stability & Portability, Connectivity & UC Integration
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC 8.7Leads in Voice & Call Noise Isolation, ANC & Transparency, Sound & Audio Quality


