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- Anker launches Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max earbuds
- The earbuds are the same, but some of the features are different, including a touchscreen on the Max
- Also new app, bespoke chipset for the buds
Anker's Soundcore has just announced two new pairs of earbuds, which are its first products made with its new 'Thus' audio chipset. This little component promises to enable its speakers and headphones to enjoy better active noise cancellation, improved on-device audio AI, more accurate voice controls and, perhaps most usefully, better power efficiency.
Anker also unveiled VibeOS, which confusingly isn't an operating system despite the title, but is rather the name of its new and improved tie-in app, that you'll use to control your audio gadgets.
VibeOS is set to have a huge range of features, and if Anker delivers, its devices could be feature-packed gems. The best new picks include an EQ listening test, audio source restoration, sleep management, audio transcript creation and real-time environmental adaption for your music.
It's not quite clear when VibeOS will roll out, whether it'll come to existing Soundcore gadgets or will arrive alongside new ones. But we have some likely contenders from the brand in the shape of its two new buds.
Free up some time for the Liberty
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and the Liberty 5 Pro Max, are the bigger new releases from Anker, both bearing the Thus chip. They follow the 'normal' Soundcore Liberty 5, released a year prior, but when you read about them you'll understand why they're not the Liberty 6.
At a press briefing, Anker didn't describe the audio specs of the Liberty 5 Pro series, but they'll likely be similar to, or better than, the 9.2mm dynamic driver-toting original.
Anker sold the buds on their features: they're set to have eight microphones for improved call quality and noise cancellation, Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking, and an AI voice recorder function for note taking.
The main draw to these earbuds — and the distinction between them — is in the charging case. Both buds get a case with a touchscreen, with the Pro getting a little strip and the Pro Max's case bearing a large display.
This touchscreen can be used to monitor battery, change ANC modes, and toggle a variety of features. By the sounds of things, it can be used to toggle those aforementioned features too, perhaps such as setting up the voice recorder to record a meeting.
You can also point to the touchscreen cases for the prices: the Liberty 5 Pro costs £149.99 (about $200, AU$300, exact global pricing TBC) while the Liberty 5 Pro Max goes for £199.99 (around $280, AU$400, again global prices TBC).
So they're noticeably pricier than the original buds at $129 / £99 / AU$169. We've got the Liberty 5 Pro series in for testing now, to see if they justify that cost… watch this space.
➡️ Read our full guide to the best earbuds
1. Best overall:
Technics EAH-AZ100
2. Best mid-range:
Cambridge Audio A100
3. Best budget:
Nothing Ear (a)
4. Best for noise-cancelling:
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2nd Gen
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