ConsFirst / Wireless earbuds / Compare
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro vs EarFun Air Pro 4
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on noise cancelling, comfort & fit, call quality. EarFun Air Pro 4 wins on battery.
The biggest complaint about the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro is battery shorter than rivals; for the EarFun Air Pro 4 it's stem design may not seal or stay put. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro | EarFun Air Pro 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in wireless earbuds | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$ | $ |
| Type | Noise-cancelling | Noise-cancelling |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 12% | 9% |
| Overall score | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Sound | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Noise cancelling | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Comfort & fit | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Call quality | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Battery | 2.5 | 4.5 |
| Durability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $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
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.
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.
Who should pick which
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
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)
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.