Anker’s new buds are the first to feature its new THUS AI chip, designed to power everything from smarter noise cancellation to real-time voice enhancement and even AI-powered note-taking on the pricier model.
The Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max both use a 10-sensor array that combines eight microphones with two bone-conduction sensors designed to detect vibrations from the user’s skull. According to Soundcore, this setup allows the earbuds to isolate speech more effectively in noisy environments – useful if you regularly take calls on trains, in airports or from busy offices.
Soundcore says both earbuds have achieved a ‘Guinness World Record for call clarity’ (!) Naturally, I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve had the chance to test them myself.
Elsewhere, the company claims its updated Adaptive ANC 4.0 technology delivers up to twice the noise cancellation performance of the previous-generation Liberty 4 Pro. The system reportedly analyses sound up to 384,000 times per second, adapting in real time to block everything from engine rumble to office chatter.
Personalisation is another key focus. HearID 5.0 creates a tailored EQ profile based on a hearing test, while an AI sound enhancement system promises to recover detail typically lost through Bluetooth compression.
The standout feature, however, belongs exclusively to the Liberty 5 Pro Max. Its charging case features a 1.78-inch AMOLED touchscreen and can function as a standalone AI note taker. Users can record meetings without needing a phone nearby, then generate transcripts, identify speakers and pull out action points in the Soundcore app.
Battery life is rated at up to 6.5 hours with ANC enabled, extending to 28 hours with the charging case.
The Liberty 5 Pro is available now for £149.99, while the Liberty 5 Pro Max costs £199.99. The obvious question now will be whether these AI-heavy earbuds genuinely improve everyday listening – or whether they simply add more features you’ll rarely use.
