Anker's new flagship pair of headphones is packed with features that could rival Apple's AirPods Pro 2.
Called Liberty 4 (opens in a new tab), the headphones are part of Anker's Soundcore brand of audio devices. They will have some of the same features as the AirPods Pro 2, including active noise cancellation through HearID ANC and spatial audio. Unique to the Liberty 4, a heart rate monitor is tucked into the right earcup, something that was supposed to be present in Apple's headphones, but has apparently been cut.
As described, you must first activate the heart rate sensor through the Soundcore app (opens in a new tab); no other accessories are needed. Soundcore claims that the sensor can measure blood oxygen levels with a small red light on when it does. The company admits that the feature is designed for general health and fitness use rather than being a proper medical device, so it may not be the most accurate.
Features
Expanding on the other features, Liberty 4's spatial audio should make users feel like they're totally surrounded by music. Functionality is enhanced by built-in gyroscopes for dynamic head tracking. So no matter which way you face your head, the sound quality remains consistent.
HearID ANC (opens in a new tab) (Adaptive Noise Cancellation) differs from typical noise cancellation features in that it adjusts based on the surrounding environment, according to Soundcore. HearID ANC will be more prominent in noisy environments like public transportation and less so in quiet places. And, thanks to HearID, you can create custom EQ profiles through the official app for specific types of audio. Music and Movie modes are also present, which, as the name suggests, are specific audio settings for their respective content.
Playtime lasts for nine hours on a single charge, with a maximum of 28 hours when used with the wireless charging case. However, the battery life decreases depending on the function you have enabled. According to Soundcore, enabling HeadID ANC drops playback time to seven hours, and if you add spatial audio on top of that, it drops to five hours.
Missing information
The Liberty 4 looks pretty good on the surface, but we do have a few questions.
For starters, there isn't much information about the speakers. What is known is that each button houses "two dynamic drivers" which Soundcore claims can produce "clear sound" with "deep bass". And looking at the product page, there's certification for LDAC, an audio codec created by Sony (opens in a new tab) that ensures high-quality sound transmission over a wireless connection.
But the most glaring omission is the IPX rating to indicate water resistance. While headphones aren't explicitly fitness devices, it's not hard to imagine people putting them on before running. It would be great to know how the Liberty 4 headphones stand up to sweat and rain. We will update this story if Soundcore returns our request.
That said, you can buy a pair of Liberty 4 earphones from Soundcore's website (opens in a 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 before October 20.
If the Liberty 4 headphones have piqued your interest, check out the best headphones TechRadar 2022. We've put together a list that includes the best performing models and the most affordable options.