Anker introduced the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds, both equipped with its new Thus AI chip, during its Anker Day event. This chip enhances voice performance with features termed Whisper Clear by the company.
Both models offer active noise cancellation (ANC), voice controls, and personalized sound, but include distinct features as well. The Liberty 5 Pro Max boasts an AI Note-Taker capability and a high-resolution touchscreen charging case, while the Liberty 5 Pro also has a touchscreen case, albeit without the AI Note-Taker.
The Thus AI chip utilizes eight microphones and two bone conduction sensors for optimal voice clarity in noisy environments. The AI model effectively separates the speaker’s voice from background noise, improving call quality. Anker stated that the bone conduction sensors enable voice capture at lower volumes in moderately quiet settings. The chip also allows for 20 voice commands, with a response time claimed to be under one second.
Both models feature Soundcore’s Adaptive ANC 4.0, processing audio data up to 384,000 times per second. This system continuously monitors external noise and adjusts ANC in real-time, reportedly doubling the effectiveness of the previous Liberty 4 Pro model.
Customization is facilitated through HearID 5.0, which constructs a personalized equalizer based on a brief hearing test. Additionally, AI Sound Enhancement can restore up to 65% of audio quality typically lost during Bluetooth compression.
Battery performance for both models is rated at up to 6.5 hours with ANC active, reaching a total usage time of 28 hours when including the charging cases. Other features include multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, Bluetooth 6.1, and compatibility with Apple Find My and Google Fast Pair. Both earbud models are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance.
The cases differ as well; the Liberty 5 Pro case has a 0.96-inch TFT touchscreen, while the Liberty 5 Pro Max features a 1.78-inch AMOLED display. The Pro Max’s AI Note-Taker generates meeting transcripts, identifying speakers and action items through the Soundcore app, a feature not available on the Liberty 5 Pro. AI-based translation is accessible on both models, though it is enhanced in the Pro Max case.
Pricing for the Liberty 5 Pro is set at $170, available in black, blue, pink, and white. The Liberty 5 Pro Max, priced at $230, is offered in black and gold.
