Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds have AirPods Pro 2 specs for half the price
(Image credit: soundcore)
Soundcore has become a staple in the budget earbud field with some epic options that take the fight to the best wireless earbuds you can buy today. Now the firm is looking to reseat itself on the budget throne with the new Liberty 5 earbuds.
They're an interesting-looking pair of buds — and they pack in specs that make flagship options from the likes of Sony and Apple blush. Perfecting the formula
(Image credit: soundcore)
I've long been a big fan of Soundcore's silicon eartipped $129-mark earbuds. They've always been packed with epic features, and the 5th generation version only looks to make things even better. You may like
First and foremost is a new AI noise canceling algorithm, which Soundcore promises will offer "the strongest and most seamless noise reduction as well as blocking voices twice as effectively as previous models." Considering the ANC on my older Liberty Buds was pretty good, that's exciting news.
Then there's all the hi-res goodies and spatial audio formats that Soundcore has packed in. You'll get different Dolby Atmos modes in the form of "Music Mode, Movie Mode and Podcast Mode." There's support for LDAC and other Hi-Res wireless connection modes thanks to Bluetooth 5.4.
That also means Google Fast Pair, so you won't need to dip into 1 million different menus to connect them to your Android device. They hook up to the Soundcore app as well, where you'll find the Soundcore HearID 4.0 to tune them to your hearing profile.
Sound wise things are looking rosy beyond the hi-res options as well, with new 9.2mm drivers made out of wool-paper "providing the most accurate playback of all frequencies." I'm looking forward to testing them out, especially when they only cost $129 — that's AirPods Pro 2 rivalling specs for half the price.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
You can buy a pair from the Soundcore website or Amazon now. More from Tom's Guide
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Get Your Hands on These Anker Soundcore Open-Ear Earbuds While They're Down to Just $53
There are a lot of options for good running earbuds out there, so finding the one that fits you can be tricky. One really good option is to go with an open-ear style though, as it can help you feel a bit cooler and more comfortable. Well, right now you get your hands on the Soundcore C30i by Anker for $53 as long as you use the on-page coupon to save yourself 25%. This is a great chance to grab these buds for less, and they've got loads of features that make them really good for all kinds of workouts. These open-ear earbuds are available in two colors, black and white. Their firm-shell design is lightweight and comfortable. It also has a secure clip-on design so they won't fall out. You can take them anywhere you go, as they're water-resistant. We haven't tested these specific buds, but they promise clear and high-quality audio, giving you the best listening experience. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. If you're looking for more listening options, check out our list of the best deals on earbuds and headphones going on right now. Why this deal matters Anker's Soundcore open earbuds are designed to fit comfortably in your ears with a tight grip so it doesn't fall out while exercising. The $53 earbuds are now significantly cheaper than Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds which run around $299.
Tom's Guide
5 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I test TVs for a living and the Switch 2 is a huge letdown when it comes to specs — here's why
It's launch day, and the hype for the Nintendo Switch 2 is at a fever pitch. The performance enhancements for base Switch games seems quite promising and the specs it offers in handheld mode, like 120fps with VRR support, are exciting. But as someone who tests TVs for a living, I wouldn't upgrade to a new one just for the Switch 2 — there's really no point. This is a console that might have a whole library of great console exclusives but that won't make up for the fact that it's missing out on the latest and greatest display technologies like HDMI 2.1, the Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos formats, and lacks the ability to stream movies and shows on the go. As a gamer, I'm excited to get my hands on a Nintendo Switch 2. But as someone who covers TVs for a living, there are a couple of the major setbacks that have me rethinking my Switch 2 preorder. One of the biggest blunders with the Nintendo Switch 2 is the absence of HDMI 2.1 support. Most of you might be able to simply look past this setback, as the Switch 2 wouldn't exactly be able to hit a stable 4K/120Hz and it's not exactly built to be a direct competitor to more spec-heavy consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X. But HDMI 2.1 provides so much more than just 4K/120Hz compatibility. Other important specs introduced with HDMI 2.1 were support for dynamic HDR (a feature we'll talk about in more detail in a second), 4:4:4 Chroma subsampling and uncompressed bit-stream audio. Had I been in Nintendo's shoes, I might've waited just another few months for HDMI 2.2 to hit the market and be the first to adopt that technology. Now, admittedly, not every gamer is going to have the AV hardware necessary to support these specs, but compared to the home-cinema-friendly Xbox Series X and PS5, the Nintendo Switch 2 won't deliver the same experience. Had I been in Nintendo's shoes, I might've waited just another few months for HDMI 2.2 to hit the market and be the first to adopt that technology. Because it doesn't go all-in with HDMI 2.1, the new Switch misses the boat on major audio enhancements, including Dolby audio passthrough and surround sound functionality, like Dolby Atmos. According to the Nintendo Switch 2 specs page, the device's audio support maxes out at a 5.1-channel PCM output. In the world of audio setups, that's a bit lackluster, especially if you want more immersive sounds in games and entertainment alike. And the real kicker for me is that the Switch 2 even has a special surround sound feature in handheld mode. It's like the company skimped on its docked potential, ignoring how much it could do on some of the best TVs. That's a huge setback for audio aficionados and Nintendo could have even rode the hype train on such enhanced specs with additional peripherals, like Nintendo-branded surround sounds speakers. That sounds a bit absurd, but remember that this is the same company that approved the design for a compatible Piranha Plant camera. If you thought those were a huge miss, this might be the nail in the coffin for movie and TV lovers: The Nintendo Switch 2 won't support streaming apps on launch, and that's a bummer for the on-the-ground crowd as much as it is for those who aim to keep the device mostly docked. This includes many of the best streaming services, from Hulu to Max. While the Switch 2 is primarily meant for gaming, a wider range of entertainment platforms would suit it nicely, ensuring you don't need to bring an extra streaming device with you or rely on a mobile device. The original Switch had a range of support for these platforms, so it comes as a yet another major letdown. Nintendo has never tried to appeal to home theater enthusiasts the same way Sony and Microsoft have. The latter helped usher millions of DVDs and Blu-rays into people's homes thanks to their support. Nintendo just focuses on its IP, not technology. I know I'm biased here, but I wish Nintendo cared a bit more about having better specs. No, I'm not expecting to play Metroid Prime 4 in 8K on a Samsung QN990F and have the highest resolution supported, but it feels like a miss that I won't even be able to play it at 4K/120 on my Hisense U8QG because it's so underpowered. As for the extra HDR and spatial audio features, they're pie-in-the-sky desires, but as someone who routinely enjoys playing games in Dolby Vision, Nintendo Switch games will always look a little duller without it. At least it has Duskbloods, and that's something I can't say about the Xbox Series X or PS5.
Business Insider
6 hours ago
- Business Insider
PlayStation State of Play showcases new ‘007' game, ‘Ghost of Yotei'
At its State of Play event, Sony 's (SONY) PlayStation made a number of announcements pertaining to upcoming PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2 software releases. Highlights of the presentation include: a reveal for puzzle game 'Lumines Arise,' out fall 2025 for PS5 and PSVR2; a new trailer for Capcom's (CCOEY) 'Pragmata,' out 2026 for PS5; a new trailer for Konami's (KONMY) 'Silent Hill f,' out September 25, 2025 for PS5; a reveal for 505 Games' 'Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement,' out 2026 for PS5; a reveal of Square Enix's (SQNXF) 'Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles,' a remaster of 'Final Fantasy Tactics,' out September 30, 2025 for PS5 and PS4; a reveal of Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) 'Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection,' a collection of classic 'Mortal Kombat' titles,' out 2025 for PS5 and PS4; a reveal of the Project Defiant, a wireless fight stick controllers for PS5; a new trailer for Konami's 'Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater,' out August 28 for PS5; a reveal for Koei Tecmo's (TKHCF) 'Nioh 3,' out early 2026 for PS5; a reveal for Eidos Montreal's 'Thief VR – Leagcy of Shadow' for PSVR2, coming in 2025; a new trailer for IO Interactive's '007: First Light,' out for PS5 in 2026; a new trailer for Sony's 'Ghost of Yotei' for PS5, out October 2, 2025; and a reveal for Marvel Comics fighter 'Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls' for PS5 and PC out 2026. Confident Investing Starts Here:
