Wireless Earbuds / Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone.
Wins overall by 0.7 points
Quick Verdict
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.7 points. Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are both closely matched wireless Earbuds models, and the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is $149 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ($99.99 vs $249). On Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed. On Call Quality, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.0 vs 7.0/10) — microphone performance and background noise rejection. On Durability, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — IP rating, build materials and case robustness. Overall, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.9/10 for the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $99.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 8 | 8 |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 24 | 40✓ |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Apple ANC on the H2 chip; Apple claims roughly twice the noise reduction of AirPods Pro 2 | Adaptive ANC 2.0, hybrid, with a claimed 98.5% noise reduction |
| Driver Size (mm) | Not published by the manufacturer | 11 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | No — Apple offers iCloud automatic device switching, which hands the connection over rather than holding two at once | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Weight per Bud (g) | 5.55 | 5.2✓ |
| Codecs | SBC and AAC only — no aptX or LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | Not published by the manufacturer |
| App EQ | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | White | Black, White, Blue, Pink |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on tuning, detail and codec support. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on how much ambient noise is actually removed. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort & Fit
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call Quality
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on microphone performance and background noise rejection. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on IP rating, build materials and case robustness. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if…
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.5/10 here (how much ambient noise is actually removed).
- • Call Quality matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (microphone performance and background noise rejection).
- • Durability matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.5/10 here (IP rating, build materials and case robustness).
- • Comfort & Fit matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions).
- • Your main use case is travel or calls.
Choose the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores 9.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $149 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
Pros & Cons
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Pros
- +Among the best noise cancelling in any earbud, and a huge step over the Pro 2
- +The FDA-authorised hearing aid feature is a genuine health function, not a gimmick
- +IP57 is the toughest rating here
- +Heart-rate sensing and Live Translation
Cons
- −No EQ of any kind — you cannot adjust the tuning at all
- −No true multipoint, only Apple device switching
- −AAC and SBC only, with no hi-res codec
- −On Android you get playback and almost nothing else — you cannot even update the firmware without an Apple device
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Pros
- +LDAC and Qi wireless charging at under $100 is an unusual combination
- +8 hours in the buds with ANC on matches flagships costing three times as much
- +Full custom EQ plus hearing personalisation
- +Frequently discounted well below list
Cons
- −Plastic build feels its price
- −ANC is strong for the money but short of Bose or Sony
- −Only IPX4, so no dust protection
- −Soundcore now sells the Liberty 5 above it, so this is the value tier rather than the newest
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or Soundcore Liberty 4 NC better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Noise Cancelling (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed.
Which is better for Call Quality, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Call Quality (9.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — microphone performance and background noise rejection.
Which is better for Durability, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Durability (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — IP rating, build materials and case robustness.
Which is better for Value, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores higher on Value (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the price difference over the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Noise Cancelling.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the better fit if you mainly care about travel or calls. The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Nothing Ear (3a) — $99.00
Premium Option
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro — $249.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.