New Anker wireless earbuds offer AirPods Pro features at a cheaper price
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Anker’s new flagship earbuds are packed with features that rival Apple’s very well AirPods Pro 2.
called Freedom 4 (opens in new tab), the buttons are part of Anker’s brand of Soundcore audio devices. They include some of the same features as the AirPods Pro 2, including active noise cancellation via HearID ANC and spatial audio. Unique to the Liberty 4 is a heart rate monitor nestled in the right earbud, something that should be in Apple earbuds but apparently it was cut.
As described, you must first activate the heart rate sensor via the Soundcore App (opens in new tab); no other accessory is needed. Soundcore claims the sensor can measure oxygen levels in the blood with a small red light that turns on when it does so. The company does admit that the feature is intended for general health and fitness use rather than being an actual medical device, so it may not be the most accurate.
Functions
Complementing the other features, the Liberty 4’s spatial audio should make users feel like they are completely surrounded by music. The feature is further aided by built-in gyroscopes for dynamic head tracking. This way the sound quality remains constant, no matter how you turn your head.
HearID ANC (opens in new tab) (Adaptive Noise Canceling) differs from typical noise canceling features in that it adapts to the environment, according to Soundcore. HearID ANC will be more prominent in noisy environments such as public transportation and less so in quiet places. And thanks to HearID, you can create custom equalizer profiles for specific types of audio through the official app. There are also music and movie modes, which, as the names suggest, are audio configurations specific to their respective content.
Playtime is estimated at nine hours on a single charge, with a maximum of 28 hours when used with the wireless charging case. However, the battery life will decrease depending on the function you have activated. According to Soundcore, enabling HeadID ANC reduces playtime to seven hours, and adding spatial audio to that reduces it to five hours.
Missing information
The Liberty 4 looks pretty good on the surface, but we have some questions.
For starters, there isn’t much information about the speakers. What is known is that each button contains “two dynamic drivers” that according to Soundcore can produce “clear sound” with a “deep bass”. And looking at the product page, there is a certification for it LDAC, a Sony-made audio codec (opens in new tab) that provides a high-quality sound feed over a wireless connection.
But the most glaring omission is the IPX rating to indicate water resistance. While the earbuds aren’t explicitly fitness equipment, it’s not hard to imagine people putting them on before going for a run. It would be great to know how the Liberty 4 earbuds withstand sweat and rain. We will update this story if Soundcore responds to our request.
That said, you can buy a few: Liberty 4 earbuds from Soundcore’s website (opens in new tab) for $149.99 ($100 cheaper than the AirPod Pro 2). The only color available is Midnight Black, and the Cloud White version will ship sometime before October 20.
If the Liberty 4 earbuds have piqued your interest, check it out TechRadar’s best earbuds of 2022. We’ve compiled a list of the best performing models and the more affordable options.