Anker used to be the “budget Apple.” You paid half the price. Got 80% of the experience. Good enough for most people. Then the Liberty series got stagnant. Boring updates. Regressive choices in some spots. The enthusiasm died.
Then came the Liberty 5 Pro ($179) and the Liberty 5 Pro Max ($349).
Something shifted.
These are the first Anker buds powered by their new custom AI chip. It’s not just a marketing slogan. The performance jump is real. Everywhere. But specifically, on phone calls. If you work from a noisy coffee shop, or walk your dog through construction zones, listen up. Anker might have accidentally solved the one thing AirPods sometimes struggle with.
Two Cases. One Earbud Design.
The buds look the same. Inside and out.
The difference? The carrying case.
Liberty 5 Pro has a standard sliding lid case. Small LCD screen on the front. Lightweight. Unobtrusive.
Liberty 5 Pro Max is the weird one. Massive 1.8-inch OLED screen. The case records audio. It acts like an AI notetaker.
Do you need your earbuds to record meetings when they aren’t in your ears? Probably not. But the tech is there. And because of it, the Pro Max case is heavier. Bulky. It slips out of pants pockets if you sit on a hard chair. Oof.
For that reason, the Liberty 5 Pro wins. It’s the better all-rounder.
The case screen on the Pro Max is cool. But weight is tax. Paying in pocket space.
Both have track-style sliding lids. Fancy mechanism. Feels premium. The earbuds themselves stick out more than a standard stem design. Think Bose QuietComfort vibes. They’re oval-tipped. No long plastic stems dangling off your ear. Some users love that low profile. Some hate that it looks like an old Nokia phone. You’ll either like it or not. No middle ground.
They’re IP55 rated. Dust? Yes. Water spray? Yes. Running in the rain? Likely fine. Don’t submerge them.
The Brain: Bluetooth 6.1 and AI
Bluetooth 6.1 is onboard. Future-proof? Yes.
Multipoint connects to three devices. Switching from laptop to phone to tablet? Easy.
Find My integration works for Apple users.
Dolby Atmos spatial audio? Yes.
Adaptive ANC 4.0? Yes.
The coolest part? Voice commands.
Say “Hey Anka”.
No wake word needed if you toggle the setting right. Just ask it something. “What’s the weather in NYC?”
It answered me. Gave me a forecast. Warned me to bring an umbrella. I didn’t even know I enabled it. I’d only used the AI on their headphones before. It just worked here. Too.
Battery life is decent.
6.5 hours with noise cancellation on.
28 hours total with the case.
Apple claims 8 hours on AirPods Pro 3. Anker gets less play time but more total battery with the case. Trade-off. You’ll probably charge these daily anyway.
Noise Canceling: It Actually Works Now
Previous Anker buds? Meh.
Liberty 4 Pro? Okay, if you squinted.
Liberty 5 Pro? Impressive.
Anker claims it’s twice as good. I measured it against the HVAC unit in my apartment. The constant thrum of machinery.
Sony WF-1000 XM5: Silenced it 10/10.
Bose QC Ultra: Silenced it 9/10.
AirPods Pro 2: Silenced it 8.5/10.
Anker Liberty 5: Silenced it… 8.8/10?
Close. Susceptible to higher-frequency leaks outside? Yes. Voices poked through a bit. But inside an apartment? Or a plane cabin? It’s fantastic.
The transparency mode feels natural. Less robotic hiss. Just you talking to someone walking by. A small win that makes a huge difference.
Sound: Not Audiophile Grade, But Good
9.2mm drivers. Bass tubes.
Default sound is Anker’s “signature” EQ. Safe. Bass-heavy.
Turn on HearID. The app listens to your ears and builds a profile. Mine came back “Balanced.” With a tiny treble boost.
Add in AI Sound Upscaling. Similar to Sony’s DSEE. It fixes low-res streams. Spotify Free sounds like Spotify Premium. Mostly.
Here’s the thing.
You can buy Sony’s for $250 more. They sound wider. Bigger bass. Richer tones. 15% better sound quality? Maybe. For 50% more money? No thanks.
Anker competes with the Bose QuietComforts. Beats the AirPods on bass depth. Matches the Mids perfectly. If you’re picky? Look elsewhere. If you listen to music while doing chores, or in traffic, or before a nap? Perfect.
Calls: The Killer Feature
This is the headline.
Call Josh at the office. He is an editor. He has good ears.
He told me he could barely hear the background traffic on 6th Ave.
I am loud. My voice carries. The background? Gone.
Compare that to AirPods Pro 2. They cut some wind. But traffic noise leaks. Wind noise is brutal on the mic.
Anker fixed it.
It set a Guinness World Record for clarity. I don’t believe Guinness records. But Josh believes the audio. Multiple testers confirmed it. The Pro model cleared this bar. The Pro Max clears it too (same tech, just missed the competition).
For anyone who takes client calls, walks dogs on busy streets, or hates background hiss, this is a game changer.
Should You Buy?
Anker spent years making cheap plastic. Now they’re making Pro.
The noise canceling rivals Bose.
The sound beats most at the price point.
The calls are unmatched.
Buy the Liberty 5 Pro. It’s $180. You save $130 over the Max. You lose the recording case (who wants a heavy case anyway?) and keep the performance.
Anker leveled up. They stopped chasing shadows and started setting standards.
Surprised? Yes.
Pleasant? Also yes.
Don’t sleep on it.
They are actually quite good now.
