TL;DR: The Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds are the everyday heroes of the wireless audio world. They bring robust ANC, stellar call quality, and sound customization that’ll make audiophiles raise an eyebrow — all for just $130. If you’re looking for premium features without selling a kidney, these buds might be your next go-to. No Auracast or head-tracked spatial audio, but honestly, you won’t miss them unless you’re really nerdy about those things.

Intro: The Daily Driver You’ve Been Looking For

Let’s be honest. Not everyone needs spatial audio that makes it feel like the drummer lives in your ceiling. Most of us just want earbuds that sound great, cancel noise effectively, feel good after hours of wear, and don’t empty the bank account. That’s exactly what the Soundcore Liberty 5 aims to be — a practical, daily-use pair of earbuds that quietly (and wirelessly) outperform their price tag.

Design & Build: Familiar, Friendly, Functional

Soundcore has a look, and it’s not about to break from tradition. The Liberty 5 buds feature stem-style earbuds, a sliding-lid case (satisfyingly clicky, like a fidget toy), wireless charging, and an LED bar that looks like something from Knight Rider.

You get IP55 protection — meaning they’re sweat-resistant and splash-happy. Whether you’re caught in the rain or caught in a workout, they’re ready.

Inside the box? A surprisingly generous five extra silicone eartips, a USB-C cable, and the usual booklets you’ll never read. Color options? Four — though they could’ve leaned harder into some fun hues. Where’s the neon purple? Come on, Soundcore.

Comfort & Fit: Wear Me All Day

Comfort-wise, these are sleepers — in a good way. The Liberty 5 are the kind of earbuds you forget you’re wearing until your playlist stops. The stems provide a snug, balanced fit without the pressure points that plague bulkier designs.

For those with finicky ears (hi, it’s me), the Soundcore app offers a fit test that guides you to the right tips for both comfort and ANC optimization. It’s like having a tiny audio consultant in your pocket.

Controls & Connectivity: App-tastic Versatility

I will die on the hill that squeeze-to-click > touch controls — and Soundcore nails it here. The pressure-based controls are responsive, reliable, and glove-friendly (unless you’re wearing mittens, then all bets are off).

You get four customizable gestures per bud — single-, double-, triple-click, and long-press — all tweakable via the app. Bonus feature? Use a single click as a remote shutter for your phone’s camera. Niche? Yes. Cool? Also yes.

Bluetooth 5.4 and Google Fast Pair make connection seamless. Multipoint support now works in harmony with LDAC(thank you, Soundcore), something competitors like EarFun can’t pull off.

However, no Bluetooth Auracast. That’s disappointing in 2025. It’s like buying a new TV and realizing it doesn’t have Netflix.

Sound Quality: Good Out of the Box, Great with Tweaks

Let’s cut to it: out of the box, the Liberty 5 delivers solid bass, warm mids, and slightly recessed highs. Not bad. But if you want great, take 10 minutes to run Soundcore’s HearID and sound preference test. It’s like running a personality test for your ears, and the result is a custom EQ that fixes almost everything.

There are also dozens of EQ presets, manual tweaks, and three Dolby Audio modes (Music, Podcast, Movies). Do they help? Marginally. After tweaking HearID, I turned Dolby off.

LDAC unlocks better resolution on Android. iPhone users are stuck with AAC, but most won’t notice the difference unless they’re playing FLACs while blindfolded in a soundproof booth.

ANC & Transparency: Almost AirPods-Level Magic

ANC on the Liberty 5 is excellent — especially considering the price. It softens traffic, chatter, and keyboard clatter like a white noise hug.

Compared to the Liberty 4 Pro, it’s slightly better at higher frequencies (think voices) and slightly worse with low-end hums (think plane engines). Realistically, though, both are top-tier performers for the price.

Transparency mode is where Soundcore has truly leveled up. It’s not quite as spooky-good as Apple’s, but it’s 90% there. You can walk, talk, and even order coffee without taking them out.

Call Quality: Loud and Clear

Phone calls are crisp, clean, and almost immune to background chaos. The Liberty 5’s mics do a great job separating your voice from wind, traffic, and barking dogs. There’s also auto-sidetone, which lets you hear yourself talk (very useful — unless you hate your own voice).

The only oddity? The mute toggle works well, but iOS doesn’t sync its mute icon with the earbuds — which might throw some folks off.

Battery Life: No Range Anxiety Here

Soundcore promises 8 hours with ANC on, 12 without, and a total of 32-48 hours with the case. I got about 7.5 hours with ANC, LDAC, and moderate volume — which is totally respectable.

A 10-minute quick charge gets you 5 hours of use (no, that’s not a typo), which makes it basically impossible to run out of juice unless you’re on a transatlantic flight and forgot your case.

What’s Missing?

No head-tracked spatial audio. No heart rate sensor. No Auracast. Are these dealbreakers? Not for most people. But if you’re chasing the bleeding edge, you might want to check out something like the Beats Fit Pro 2 or Sony LinkBuds S2.

Also, the stems are a bit slippery — a tubular shape might’ve offered better grip. But I’m nitpicking.

Verdict: Buy, Wait, or Skip?

If you’re shopping in the $100-$150 range, the Soundcore Liberty 5 is probably the smartest choice you can make right now. It offers more polish than budget competitors like EarFun, while avoiding the price creep of Apple, Bose, or Sony.

Should you wait for a price drop? Maybe. Soundcore products do get discounted often. But even at full price, this is a killer value.