Soundcore Liberty 4: Review, Pros & Cons

Summary

Check your fit before you buy: several testers and owners report a shallow seal and buds that work loose while chewing or talking.

Strengths

Rich bass and bright detail from the dual-driver design, with a full EQ in the app.
Effective noise cancellation for the price, with no hiss in quiet rooms.
LDAC, multipoint and wireless charging at a mid-range price.
360-degree spatial audio with head tracking.
Heart-rate and stress tracking that matched an Apple Watch in one reviewer’s test.
Compact slide case with solid battery life.

Weaknesses

Out-of-the-box sound is very bright and piercing, with harsh vocals and sibilants.
Fit is shallow for some owners; buds can pop out while chewing or talking.
Adaptive ANC struggles with low rumble such as bus engines and car honking, per some reviewers.
Warranty terms are not stated on the manufacturer pages retrieved.
L and R drivers were mismatched on one reviewer’s test unit.

Verified specifications

Model	A3953 (Liberty 4), four color variants: Midnight Black (A3953Z11), Cloud White (A3953Z21), Sky Blue (A3953Z31), Nova Red (A3953Z81).
Acoustic system	ACAA 3.0 coaxial dual dynamic drivers; 360-degree immersive spatial audio with music and movie modes and head tracking.
Drivers	9.2 mm plus 6.0 mm per earbud.
Frequency response	20 Hz to 40 kHz; impedance 16 ohms.
Noise cancelling	HearID personalized adaptive ANC; ANC, Transparency and Normal modes; switch modes by double-pressing the pressure-sensitive control.
Heart rate and stress sensing	optical sensor in the right earbud; requires the soundcore app open; not for medical use; transparent ear tips required.
Playtime	Normal mode up to 9 hours on a charge, 28 hours with the case; ANC or Transparency up to 7 hours, 24 hours; calls up to 5 hours, 15 hours.
Charging	buds full in 1 hour; case full in 2 hours (3 hours wireless); a 15-minute top-up gives up to 3 hours of listening; wireless (Qi) and USB-C charging.
Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC. Not AptX; LDAC needs Android 8.0 or later, uses more power, and does not work during multipoint.
Bluetooth	5.3 with multipoint (two devices at once).
Microphones	six with an AI algorithm.
Controls	squeeze or pinch the lower handle; customizable in the app; single-earbud use supported; music pauses on removal.
Fit	four sizes of ear wings and tips (S, M, M2, L); transparent tips required for heart-rate tracking; third-party tips not recommended.
Reset	place buds in the case, leave the lid open, hold the case button 10 seconds until the LED flashes white rapidly three times.
Power management	buds disconnect 10 seconds after being placed in the case; auto power-off after 30 minutes outside the case, not worn, and disconnected.
App features	HearID ANC test, Fit Test, spatial audio, soundcore Wellness (heart rate and stress), customizable controls, dual connections.
Water resistance	IPX4.
Weight	5.6 g per earbud (without case).

Parts, consumables and accessories

Replacement ear tips

Replace: as needed

transparent tips are required for heart-rate tracking, and third-party tips are not recommended; replacements are handled through Soundcore customer support only.

Compatible 3 Pairs S/M/L Silicone Earbud Tips for Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Black $12.04View at eBay
Compatible 3 Pairs S/M/L Silicone Earbud Tips for Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Black $14.20View at eBay

Full research notes and sources

Sound and fit

The Liberty 4 uses a V-shaped, bass-forward signature: potent bass with bright detail, per PCMag, while RTINGS found the out-of-the-box tuning very bright, piercing and painful, with harsh vocals and sibilants. The sculpted signature can be adjusted with the app’s graphic EQ and presets. Fit is polarizing: PCMag and ZDNet describe a secure, comfortable hybrid fit, while RTINGS and owners report buds popping out while chewing or talking and shallow seals that let the sound change. The four included tip and wing sizes help, but third-party tips are not recommended because the heart-rate sensor needs transparent tips.

Noise cancellation

HearID adaptive ANC personalizes the cancellation to your ears. PCMag and CNET found it effective on low-frequency rumble like airplane cabin noise and solid on the subway, a step below AirPods Pro 2. RTINGS found it struggles with the low rumble of bus engines, and ZDNet found it effective for lighter sounds like AC hum but weak against car honking. The HearID ANC test itself made music sound echoey with no clear benefit in one reviewer’s use. ANC switches to Normal automatically when one bud goes back in the case unless you change it in the app.

Heart rate and stress tracking

The optical sensor sits in the right earbud and reports heart rate and stress via the soundcore Wellness app. ZDNet found readings matched an Apple Watch, from 65 bpm at a desk to 95 bpm while walking, with stress analysis based on heart-rate variability but no actionable suggestions. CNET noted a few seconds of delay. The sensor is not for medical use and requires transparent tips to function.

Battery and charging

Manufacturer figures are 9 hours in Normal mode (28 with the case), 7 hours in ANC or Transparency (24 with the case), and 5 hours for calls (15 with the case). Buds charge in 1 hour, the case in 2 hours (3 hours wireless), and a 15-minute top-up gives up to 3 hours of listening. RTINGS measured over six hours of continuous use on one charge. LDAC streaming increases power use and shortens playtime.

Is it worth it?

The manufacturer site listed all four colors at $116.99 at fetch time, with the product marked Sold Out. PCMag reported a $149.99 MSRP and $116.99 at Best Buy in 2022. At that around-$116.99 level, the Liberty 4 packs dual drivers, spatial audio with head tracking, heart-rate tracking, HearID ANC, LDAC, multipoint and wireless charging, and PCMag rated it Excellent. Independent tests rate the sound as good but not flagship, and ANC as decent but below AirPods Pro 2 and Bose. Value weakens above roughly $130 to $150, where competing earbuds with stronger ANC or more neutral sound become available; at the $149.99 MSRP, weigh the feature set against alternatives with published instrumented tests.

Which model this is

This page covers the Soundcore Liberty 4, model A3953, sold in Midnight Black (A3953Z11), Cloud White (A3953Z21), Sky Blue (A3953Z31) and Nova Red (A3953Z81). The hardware is the same across colors. The Amazon listing for this product is ASIN B0DBHPZLCC. Do not confuse it with the Liberty 4 NC, which is a separate model.