OnePlus Buds Pro 3 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Comparison

Compare OnePlus Buds Pro 3 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC side by side: specs, ratings, pros and cons, and which one fits your room best.

On this page
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 product image
OnePlus Buds Pro 3
Launch price $179.99
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC product image
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Launch price $99.99

At a Glance

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

On Android and want premium earbud features without flagship pricing? The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are noise-cancelling earbuds with an 11 mm woofer and 6 mm tweeter per bud, adaptive ANC up to 50 dB, LHDC 5.0 hi-res audio and up to 43 hours of battery with the case.

Best For
Android users who want hi-res audio
Launch Price
$179.99
Dust/Water Rating
IP55
Bluetooth Codecs
SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0
Noise Cancelling
Adaptive ANC, up to 50 dB
ANC Reduction
50 dB
Mics per Bud
3
Battery (Buds)
6 h
Battery (With Case)
25.5 (ANC on), 43 (ANC off)
Multipoint
Yes (dual connection)
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC

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
ANC Reduction
—
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

How we score

Expert Score

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 38.8/10 Leads
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC8.7/10

Voice & Call Noise Isolation

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.3/10
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.3/10

ANC & Transparency

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.6/10 Leads
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.5/10

Battery & Case Charging

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.6/10
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.6/10

Fit, Stability & Portability

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 38.9/10 Leads
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC8.0/10

Connectivity & UC Integration

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.1/10 Leads
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.0/10

Sound & Audio Quality

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.5/10
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.7/10 Leads

Editorial Reviews Comparison

Voice & Call Noise Isolation

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.3/10
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.3/10

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

Three microphones per bud handle calls, with AI noise reduction to separate your voice from background noise. For laptop meetings they work as standard Bluetooth headsets. A business earbud with a dongle remains better for daily Teams use. Colleagues on Teams or Zoom will hear you clearly from a quiet room, but in a busy cafe the voice processing can clip the ends of words.

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

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.6/10Leader
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.5/10

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

OnePlus rates adaptive ANC at up to 50 dB, with a transparency mode for hearing your surroundings. Cancellation is strong on public transport and in offices, competing with more expensive flagships against low-frequency noise. Voices and sudden sounds get through a little more than with Bose. Adaptive mode adjusts strength to your environment, which helps battery life in quieter spaces.

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

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.6/10
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.6/10

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

OnePlus quotes up to 43 hours total with the case using AAC and ANC off, or 25.5 hours with ANC on. That covers several days of commuting before charging the case. LHDC with ANC drops total time to about 21.5 hours. The case supports USB-C and wireless charging, and fast charging gives hours of playback from a short top-up.

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

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 38.9/10Leader
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC8.0/10

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

The stem design is larger than some rivals, but the buds sit securely. OnePlus includes several tip sizes, and the buds are water resistant for sweat and rain. The stems are easy to grip for removing and adjusting, and touch controls on the stem respond reliably. Smaller ears may find the stems press against the tragus after a couple of hours, so try each tip size before deciding.

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

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 37.1/10Leader
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.0/10

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

Bluetooth 5.4 supports dual connection to two devices at once and Google Fast Pair on Android. Dual connection keeps the buds linked to a phone and laptop, so calls switch automatically. The HeyMelody app adds EQ and settings on non-OnePlus phones. On OnePlus phones, controls are built into the system settings, which makes setup faster than on other devices.

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

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 39.5/10
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.7/10Leader

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

Each bud combines an 11 mm woofer and a 6 mm tweeter. LHDC 5.0 supports up to 24-bit / 192 kHz at 1 Mbps on compatible phones, with AAC and SBC for others. The two-way design gives deep, controlled bass and clear treble, with Dynaudio tuning that avoids harshness. Detail is strong for the price, and the EQ in the app lets you fine-tune the balance.

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 OnePlus Buds Pro 3 Beats Soundcore Liberty 4 NC (and Vice Versa)

Why OnePlus Buds Pro 3 beats Soundcore Liberty 4 NC

  • Better fit, stability & portability: 8.9 vs 8.0 out of 10
  • Dust/Water Rating: IP55 vs IPX4
  • Water Resistance: IP55 vs IPX4
  • Driver Type: Dual dynamic (woofer and tweeter) vs Custom dynamic
  • Wireless Charging: Yes vs No
  • Bluetooth Version: 5.4 vs 5.3

Why Soundcore Liberty 4 NC beats OnePlus Buds Pro 3

  • Bluetooth Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC vs SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0
  • Battery (Buds): 8 (ANC on), 10 (ANC off) vs 6 h
  • Battery (With Case): 40 (ANC on), 50 (ANC off) vs 25.5 (ANC on), 43 (ANC off)

Review-score leads of 0.5+ points out of 10 first, then specs where only one comes out ahead.

Full Specifications

General

OnePlus Buds Pro 3Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Best ForAndroid users who want hi-res audioBudget buyers who want strong ANC
Fit TypeTrue wireless in-ear (stem)True wireless in-ear
Release Year20242023
Launch Price$179.99$99.99 Better
Case Weight50.62 g—
Water ResistanceIP55 BetterIPX4
ColorsMidnight Opus, Lunar Radiance, Sapphire Blue—
Sensitivity97 ± 3 dB at 1 kHz—
Hi-Res Certified—Yes
Lossless AudioHi-res up to 24-bit / 192 kHz (LHDC 5.0)Hi-Res Wireless (LDAC)
ANC Levels—5 noise-cancelling levels, 4 travel modes (Plane, Train, Bus, Taxi), 2 transparency modes
Microphone SetupThree per budSix with AI processing
Charging PortUSB-CUSB-C
Charging Time1.17 h—
Case Battery566 mAh—
Bud Battery58 mAh—
Wireless Range10 m—
Google Fast PairYesYes
Bluetooth ProfilesSPP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP—
ControlsTouch on stemTouch
Companion AppHeyMelody (non-OnePlus phones)Soundcore app
Custom ControlsYesYes (touch control)
In the BoxEarbuds, charging case, USB-C cable, ear tips (XS/S/M/L, M pre-installed)Earbuds, charging case, ear tips (five sizes), USB-C cable
Model NumberBuds Pro 3A3947
OS CompatibilityAndroid, iOSiOS, Android

Voice & Call Noise Isolation

OnePlus Buds Pro 39.3/10Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.3/10
Mics per Bud3—
Microphones66
Bone-Conduction SensorYes—
Call Noise ReductionAI noise reductionYes (AI algorithm reduces background noise on calls)

ANC & Transparency

OnePlus Buds Pro 39.6/10 BetterSoundcore Liberty 4 NC9.5/10
Noise CancellingAdaptive ANC, up to 50 dBAdaptive ANC 2.0
Adaptive ANCYesYes
ANC Reduction50 dB—
Transparency ModeYesYes
Active Noise CancellingYesYes

Battery & Case Charging

OnePlus Buds Pro 37.6/10Soundcore Liberty 4 NC7.6/10
Call Time4 h4 h
Battery (Buds)6 h8 (ANC on), 10 (ANC off) Better
Battery (With Case)25.5 (ANC on), 43 (ANC off)40 (ANC on), 50 (ANC off) Better
Wireless ChargingYes BetterNo
Fast Charging—Yes
Battery (Buds, ANC Off)10 h10 h

Fit, Stability & Portability

OnePlus Buds Pro 38.9/10 BetterSoundcore Liberty 4 NC8.0/10
Bud Weight5.29 g—
Ear Tip SizesXS, S, M, L (M pre-installed)Five sizes
Dust/Water RatingIP55 BetterIPX4
Case Dimensions64.70 x 52.45 x 25.75 mm—

Connectivity & UC Integration

OnePlus Buds Pro 37.1/10 BetterSoundcore Liberty 4 NC7.0/10
USB DongleNoNo
MultipointYes (dual connection)Yes
Bluetooth Version5.4 Better5.3

Sound & Audio Quality

OnePlus Buds Pro 39.5/10Soundcore Liberty 4 NC9.7/10 Better
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0SBC, AAC, LDAC Better
Driver Size11 + 611 mm
Driver TypeDual dynamic (woofer and tweeter) BetterCustom dynamic
Custom EQYesYes (app and HearID)
Frequency Response10 Hz - 40 kHz—

Takeaways

  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC costs the least ($99.99), and OnePlus Buds Pro 3 the most ($179.99).
  • It's a tie on our rating (4.4/5) between OnePlus Buds Pro 3 and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, so choose on the rows that matter most to you.
  • Choose OnePlus Buds Pro 3 for android users who want hi-res audio.
  • Choose Soundcore Liberty 4 NC for budget buyers who want strong ANC.

Pros and Cons

OnePlus Buds Pro 3

PROS

  • Dual drivers tuned with Dynaudio
  • Strong 50 dB adaptive ANC
  • LHDC 5.0 hi-res support
  • Long total battery life

CONS

  • Best codecs need OnePlus or compatible phones
  • Stem design is large
  • Call quality is average outdoors

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

Quick Verdict

  • OnePlus Buds Pro 3 8.8Best overallLeads in ANC & Transparency, Fit, Stability & Portability, Connectivity & UC Integration
  • Soundcore Liberty 4 NC 8.7Leads in Sound & Audio Quality