Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro review: feature-packed buds

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The Soundcore- branded wireless earbuds from the nker Anker have better-than- expected sound and are priced lower than the competition. The Liberty 3 Pros are an example of how far the company has come in designing audio products.

The Liberty 3 Pros are the most advanced earbuds in the Soundcore lineup, with dual drivers in each bud, active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and extra conveniences. They offer a powerful, rich sound signature that is a rung above the Liberty Air 2 Pro, lengthy battery life, IPX4 water resistance, and more. They come in a range of colors, including white, black, purple, and gray.

The ear and wing tips that come in the box are usually thrown in the kitchen sink. Four of the Liberty 3 Pro buds are stemless. Finding the right fit starts to feel like a process as you try on different combinations. When most major competitors throw in three pairs of ear tips and call it a day, the company deserves credit for providing an abundant selection. These earbuds aren't as small as some of their competitors, but they're not unattractive.

The Liberty 3 Pros has a pebble-shaped charging case that opens with a smooth sliding motion and closes with a satisfying thunk. It's easy for these cases to feel cheap if they have loose tolerances or open too easily, but Anker avoids those pitfalls. Each earbud has an indicator that lights up when they are properly seated in the case, which supports wireless charging in addition to topping off overusb-c.

A lot of people think that the Soundcore buds are recommended by 20 experts. If not as refined as our favorite premium picks, they sound quite dynamic. One driver handles bass while the other focuses on mids and treble. The Liberty 3 Pros have a V-shaped EQ curve and sound great out of the box. The default bass output was too loud for my liking when I listened to Bleachers. The Liberty 3 Pro's habit of boosting frequencies into harsh territory was exposed by that track. If you prefer to dial in your own sound, you can get extensive EQ controls.

I've noticed audio cutouts when using the Liberty 3 Pros despite their support ofBluetooth 5.2. It only happens once every listening session or two. Competitors like Sony and others have gotten more reliable in terms of connection stability.

The Liberty 3 Pros are the only ones that support both LDAC and multipoint Bluetooth, so you can connect to two devices simultaneously. Not even Sony's flagship 1000XM4 earbuds offer multipoint.

It's worth noting that you can listen at LDAC quality and use multipoint at the same time, because of the limitations ofBluetooth, but you have to pick one or the other in the Soundcore mobile app. I preferred the convenience of multipoint during the workday. If you want to get the most out of higher fidelity tracks from Amazon Music, Apple, Tidal, or Qobuz, you can find the LDAC toggle. It takes a toll on the battery life, cutting the eight hours you get on a charge (with ANC off) down to a little over four hours. I had six hours of continuous play with ANC on using the standard codecs. The earbuds can be charged three times with the charging case.

It is still not on the same level as Sony, Bose, and Apple, but it is getting better. The Liberty 3 Pros do a decent job of quieting your surroundings, but the best noise-canceling earbuds make it feel like you hit a button for the world around you, and these aren't there yet. The difference is that transparency mode is an improvement over previous models, but falls short of the effect you get with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Background noise on my end occasionally broke into the conversation, but the Liberty 3 Pros kept my voice clear.

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it. It is impossible for us to read and analyze all of these agreements. We started counting how many times you have to agree to use devices when we review them.

You can pair the Liberty Air 2 Pro to your phone without agreeing to any terms of service. If you want to use the Soundcore companion app, you have to agree to it.

• Terms of service
• Privacy policy

You need to give the app permission to record audio on your phone if you use the HearID function.

There were no mandatory agreements, two optional agreements and one optional permission.

I'm not sure who asked for a shopping mall section in the companion app for audio accessories, the Soundcore app is bloated and chaotic. There are a lot of features crammed in, but it could use some streamlining and less tacky promotion of other Soundcore products. The app reminds you that you went with a value brand and not in a good way.

The Liberty 3 Pros are an excellent value at $170. It is easy to get tunnel vision when shopping for earbuds and only look at the biggest brands. If you want to spend less than $200 on a new set of earbuds, the Soundcore buds come with a long list of features, enjoyable sound, and a comfortable fit. They are not the best in class, but they are very good in several categories and a solid buy.

Chris Welch is a photographer.