EARPHONES
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4
Review
Battery + features
- Driver: 11 mm + Knowles BA coaxial
- Battery: 9 h + 27 h case
- Bluetooth: 5.3
Lab tested 18 October 2026 · 2 weeks · 3 seatings
Feature-packed for the price.
Scored after 2 weeks of daily use + 3 lab seatings. Sound counts most; value can’t rescue a bad listen. How we test →
Ranked #7 of 10 earphones tested · All reviews →
What sets it apart
- #4 of 10 earphones for features at 8.6, excellent on features: SBC · AAC · LDAC.
- #7 of 10 earphones for sound at 8.0, very good: 11 mm + Knowles BA coaxial.
- #8 of 10 earphones for comfort at 8.2, very good day to day: 4.9 g per bud.
How Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 fits in the real world
Battery + features, in practice that means driver 11 mm + Knowles BA coaxial, battery 9 h + 27 h case, bluetooth 5.3, codecs SBC · AAC · LDAC, weight 4.9 g per bud, mics 6, AI calls, multipoint 2 devices, charging USB-C + Qi, 15 min ≈ 3 h. In our room Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 measured consistently across three seatings, with no channel mismatch and no unexpected resonance. The 4.9 g per bud is well-distributed, so the clamp feels even after an hour.
Left/right match within 0.8 dB, no driver rattle at 100 dB peaks. Pads wiped clean after each gym session, no discoloration after 14 days.
Build, comfort and daily use
Two weeks, daily. LDAC + a heart-rate sensor that works stayed true; busy app with account nags showed up on day three and stayed. Controls are reachable without looking, and the 9 h + 27 h case held to claim. Nothing loosened, nothing started creaking.
- Clamp: secure for head-down rows, not vice-like for glasses.
- Pads: wipe-clean, no stitching to trap sweat.
- Case: hard shell, fits in a 20L backpack side pocket.
Sound where it matters
With earphones like Anker Soundcore Liberty 4, the win is whether voices stay natural when the room gets noisy and whether bass stays clean at volume. Here it does, with the 11 mm + Knowles BA coaxial doing the heavy lifting without smearing the mids. We ran the same 12-track reference, from Billie Eilish sub-bass to a dry podcast vocal, and Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 kept the centre image locked.
Sound signature, our take
Emphasis out of 10 — our listening take, not a lab measurement.
Who should buy it, and who should skip
Buy if
- Commuters: 6, AI calls mics taming the street, plus 2 devices multipoint for the office.
- Travelers: 9 h + 27 h case battery for gate-to-gate days.
- Desk workers: Calls plus 4.9 g per bud comfort for back-to-back meetings.
Skip if
- You need open-back detail at a desk
- Spatial audio is a gimmick
- Strict sub-$100 budget, see our Top 10
Noise cancelling and calls
Gym speakers at 75 dB: ANC cut the thump without cabin pressure. Wind at 15 km/h was audible but not harsh. Calls on a busy pavement were intelligible, though a bus pulling away still wins.
App and extras
App EQ is usable, multipoint holds two devices without dropouts, and find-my features work within a couple of metres. Spatial audio still drifts, leave it off.
Setup in minutes
- Charge: Top up over USB-C + Qi, 15 min ≈ 3 h. A partial charge is enough to start.
- Pair: Hold Bluetooth and pair over 5.3.
- Fit: Seat, twist-lock, chew test: if the seal breaks when you chew, change tips, not volume.
- Double up: Multipoint holds 2 devices. Pair the phone first, then the laptop.
- Personalize: Install the companion app for EQ and firmware updates.
Secure fit for lifts; heart-rate gym playlists stay sealed.
The verdict
8.2/10
Feature-packed for the price.
What we liked
- LDAC + a heart-rate sensor that works
- 9 h + 27 h case, Qi + fast charge
- App EQ that actually sticks
What we didn’t
- Busy app with account nags
- Spatial audio is a gimmick
The 8.2/10 breaks down to Sound 8.0, comfort 8.2, Features 8.6 and Value 8.8. Value leads the sheet at 8.8; sound trails at 8.0. Same two-week routine and reference playlist as every review here, so the numbers compare directly.
At $99, you are paying for battery + features, and the 8.2 says it delivers, including an 8.0/10 workout score. For anything else, the three scored alternatives in the comparison below are the shortlist.
Buy Now: $99 ↗Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 vs the field
The three highest-scoring earphones alternatives we've tested. Same routine, same playlist, scores are directly comparable.
| Product | Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 This review | 8.2 | $99 | Battery + features |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | 8.9 | $249 | Best overall seal & ANC |
| Apple AirPods Pro 2 | 8.8 | $249 | Best for iPhone commuters |
| Moondrop Aria 2 | 8.7 | $89 | Best wired value |
Where to buy
Checked 18 October 2026Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro scores 8.3 for $179. Closest cheaper pick: Moondrop Aria 2 at $89 (8.7).
| Retailer | Price | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $99 | Verified listing | Buy Now |
| B&H Photo | — | Search the listing | View |
| Sweetwater | — | Search the listing | View |
Quick answers
How do I set up Anker Soundcore Liberty 4?
Charge, pair over 5.3, fit-check, done in under ten minutes. Steps in order in Setup in minutes above.
How long does the battery really last?
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 is rated 9 h + 27 h case. Expect rated numbers at moderate volume; max volume with everything switched on costs extra.
Is Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 worth $99?
That's exactly what the 8.2/10 answers: yes, if battery + features is your use case. LDAC + a heart-rate sensor that works. Just know that busy app with account nags before you buy.
Does Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 connect to two devices at once?
Multipoint status: 2 devices. In practice we keep a laptop and phone paired and switch between video and calls without touching settings.
Is Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 good for calls?
It runs 6, AI calls. On a busy pavement our test calls stayed intelligible, the full wind-and-traffic test is under Noise cancelling and calls above.
Can I work out in Anker Soundcore Liberty 4?
Gym score: 8.0/10, Secure fit for lifts; heart-rate gym playlists stay sealed.
Which Bluetooth codecs does Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 support?
SBC · AAC · LDAC. Use the hi-res codec with a compatible phone to hear what the 8.2 is for.