ConsFirst / Wireless earbuds / Compare
EarFun Air Pro 4 vs Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
EarFun Air Pro 4 ranks higher (#2 vs #3 of 11) and scores better on battery. Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro wins on noise cancelling, comfort & fit, call quality.
The biggest complaint about the EarFun Air Pro 4 is stem design may not seal or stay put; for the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro it's battery shorter than rivals. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Good for: Strong ANC for under $100
Its catch: stem design may not seal or stay put
Check price on AmazonGood for: Lots of phone calls in noisy places
Its catch: battery shorter than rivals
Check price on AmazonPaid links. We don't list prices — they change daily. Neither one feels right?
Side by side
| EarFun Air Pro 4 | Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in wireless earbuds | #2 | #3 |
| Price tier | $ | $$ |
| Type | Noise-cancelling | Noise-cancelling |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 9% | 12% |
| Overall score | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Sound | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Noise cancelling | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Comfort & fit | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Call quality | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Battery | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Durability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
EarFun Air Pro 4
- Stem design may not seal or stay put
Wirecutter says people with tiny or deep-set ear canals may not get a proper seal, and the stems may slip loose from small ears or during high-impact workouts. Amazon owners, by contrast, praise a secure fit during workouts.
- Touch controls misfire
Wirecutter says the tap-and-hold commands take practice to learn and often registered a single tap when testers adjusted the buds.
- Sound and mics trail pricier buds
Wirecutter says the highs are coarser and recordings less dimensional than pricier picks, and SoundGuys says ANC reduces sound quality. SoundGuys found the mics struggle in noisy settings, while Wirecutter found calls clear even in wind.
- Occasional connection failures
Amazon's summary says connectivity is generally easy, but some customers report connection failures.
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
- Battery shorter than rivals
Wirecutter got about 6.5 hours with ANC, and 4.5 hours with Dolby, ANC and voice commands all on. Amazon's summary says some owners find battery life 'horrible' while others call it amazing.
- Bass-heavy default sound
SoundGuys lists the bass-heavy default tuning as a con, and Wirecutter found the bass and highs 'too hyped' out of the box until EQ'd. What Hi-Fi?'s review headline calls the sound mediocre.
- Fussy touch and voice controls
Wirecutter says single-tap is off by default to prevent misfires; with it on, she paused music while tucking her hair. The voice commands have no wake word, so they can trigger by accident.
Source: Wirecutter - Reliability and Bluetooth hiccups
Amazon's review summary reports mixed experiences with reliability and Bluetooth connectivity.
Who should pick which
Pick the EarFun Air Pro 4 if
Strong ANC for under $100
Long battery days
Android users who want LDAC/aptX
Skip it if: You have very small or deep-set ear canals; You do high-impact workouts; You make lots of calls in loud places (mixed mic reviews)
Pick the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro if
Lots of phone calls in noisy places
Strong ANC for well under flagship prices
People who want a secure fit with wings
Skip it if: You need all-day battery without the case; You want great sound with no EQ tweaking; You dislike touch controls
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.
Neither one feels right?
If both catches are deal-breakers, start here.
Tom's Guide's top pick, with some of the strongest noise cancelling SoundGuys has measured and 8-hour battery life. The fit still slips for some ears, the squeeze controls annoy testers, and most of the extras only work with an iPhone.
Its catch: fit can slip or hurtA third option · #4Samsung Galaxy Buds4 ProExcellent sound and strong ANC make it the pick for Galaxy phone owners in Tom's Guide and SoundGuys. Outside the Samsung ecosystem you lose many of the features and multipoint, and battery life trails the AirPods Pro 3.
Its catch: best features locked to Galaxy phonesAll 11 comparedSee every earbud, rankedEach one's biggest complaint at a glance, with the full ranking and a 3-question quiz.
Browse wireless earbuds →Not sure which downside you can live with? Take the 3-question quiz →