Soundcore today announced the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max at Anker Day in New York, and they’re the first two products built around Anker’s new co-developed THUS AI chip. The headline trick is on the Pro Max: a 1.78-inch AMOLED touchscreen baked into the charging case that records meetings directly to the case without your phone in the room, then hands the audio to the Soundcore app to generate transcripts, identify speakers, and extract action items.
The Liberty 5 Pro gets a smaller 0.96-inch TFT touch display on its case, while both models share the same 10-sensor mic array and Adaptive ANC 4.0. Soundcore also says the Pro Max inherits the Pro’s Guinness World Record call clarity via identical earbud hardware. Pricing starts at $169.99 for the Pro and $229.99 for the Pro Max, and both are on sale today on Soundcore.com, Amazon.com, and BestBuy.com.
What the THUS chip actually does
Most earbud launches lead with a chip name and leave it at that. Soundcore is being unusually specific about what theirs is for. The THUS AI chip pairs with a 10-sensor matrix (eight microphones plus two bone conduction sensors that pick up skull vibrations) and runs a neural-net AI model to separate your voice from background noise during calls.
The practical claim: the Pro and Pro Max can keep your voice clean on a call when you’re walking down a busy street, sitting in a coffee shop, or talking at low volume in a quiet room. The bone conduction sensors are the interesting part. They detect the physical vibration of your voice through your skull, which gives the chip a second input alongside what the external mics pick up.
Soundcore says the Liberty 5 Pro was certified by Guinness World Records in April 2026 for the highest objective speech quality score (G-MOS) for true wireless earbuds. The Pro Max uses the same earbud hardware, so the claim extends to both.
Adaptive ANC 4.0, and what real-time adjustment means for you
The other big spec story is the noise cancellation. Soundcore says Adaptive ANC 4.0 leans on the same eight-mic array, processes audio data up to 384,000 times per second, and adjusts the cancellation curve in real time. In plain terms: the buds don’t lock into one ANC setting, they’re constantly adjusting as your environment changes.
The target list is the usual mix: low-frequency engine rumble on a plane or bus, mid-to-high-frequency office chatter, and ambient voices. Compared to the Liberty 4 Pro, Soundcore is claiming up to 2x deeper noise cancellation, which is the kind of generational jump that usually shows up most on the low end (engines, HVAC, road noise).
Transparency mode is here too, plus an Easy Chat feature that lets you temporarily interact with someone and resume playback without yanking a bud out.
The smart case is the actual headline
The Liberty 5 Pro’s case has a 0.96-inch TFT mini touch screen. That’s a nice extra, but the Pro Max is where this gets interesting.
The Pro Max case carries a 1.78-inch AMOLED touchscreen, and Soundcore is calling it the world’s first smart screen earbuds with AI Note-Taker. After a session is recorded to the case, double-tapping the button on the back of the case tells the Soundcore app to generate a transcript, identify speakers, and extract action items.
That’s a real workflow shift if it holds up. Most AI meeting recorders today are phone apps or dedicated dongles you have to carry separately. Putting it on the charging case you’re already carrying turns a thing you have to remember into a thing you already have in your pocket. The open question is recording audio quality, since Soundcore hasn’t specified whether the recording uses dedicated case mics, the earbud mics, or both. We’ll dig into that in a full review.
Both models also support AI translation, with the Pro Max able to run translation through either the buds or the case screen.
HearID 5.0 and the sound story
For music, both pairs use HearID 5.0, which runs you through a quick hearing test in the app and builds a personal EQ profile that follows everything you play. Soundcore is also leaning on an AI Sound Enhancement system that they say rebuilds up to 65% of the audio detail typically lost to Bluetooth compression.
That’s a manufacturer claim, and Bluetooth compression recovery is notoriously hard to verify by ear. The more concrete reason to care about the sound here is LDAC support, which gives Android users a Hi-Res wireless codec out of the box. iPhone users won’t get LDAC, but AAC over Bluetooth 6.1 with Multipoint to three devices is still a solid daily setup.
Voice control without the awkward pause
The THUS chip is also doing voice-command work. Both models support 20 built-in voice commands with a claimed 0.91-second response time. The pitch is no fumbling for the phone and no double-tapping a bud and hoping the gesture registers.
Try Before You Buy, but only in the US
Soundcore is offering a 30-day Try Before You Buy program for US customers on Soundcore.com, in limited availability, with no upfront cost. It’s a confidence play built around the Guinness call-quality claim, and it lowers the bar for anyone who’s been burned by earbuds that disappoint on real-world calls.
The Gadgeteer take
The Liberty 5 Pro Max is the more interesting product on paper because of the smart case, but the Liberty 5 Pro is the one that quietly raises the bar for the category. It’s also the model that actually carries the Guinness G-MOS certification; the Pro Max shares the same earbud hardware but isn’t separately certified. You’re getting that earbud, the same Adaptive ANC 4.0, the same battery life, and LDAC over Bluetooth 6.1 for $169.99. The smart case on the Pro Max is the kind of feature that either changes how you work or sits unused, and the answer depends on how much of your day involves meetings you wish you’d transcribed. Worth a long-term test on both fronts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and the Liberty 5 Pro Max?
Both share the same earbuds, THUS AI chip, 10-sensor mic array, Adaptive ANC 4.0, and battery life. The Pro Max steps up with a larger 1.78-inch AMOLED touchscreen on the case, an AI Note-Taker that records and transcribes meetings, and AI translation through either the case or the buds. It’s $60 more in the US.
How long does the battery last on the Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max?
Both models offer up to 6.5 hours of playback with ANC on, or up to 28 hours total with the charging case at 50% volume.
Do the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds support LDAC?
Yes. Both models support LDAC Hi-Res Wireless Audio over Bluetooth 6.1, plus Multipoint connectivity for up to three devices at once.
Can the Liberty 5 Pro Max really record meetings without my phone?
Yes. The case records directly without needing your phone in the room. After the session, double-tapping the button on the back of the case prompts the Soundcore app to generate a transcript, identify speakers, and extract action items.
Are the Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max waterproof?
Both carry an IP55 rating, which covers dust protection and resistance to water jets from any direction. They’re fine for workouts and rain, but not for swimming.
When does the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro release?
Both the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max go on sale May 21, 2026 at Soundcore.com, Amazon.com, and BestBuy.com. US customers can also opt into a 30-day Try Before You Buy program through Soundcore.com.
Is the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max worth it?
The Pro Max’s $60 premium over the Liberty 5 Pro buys you a larger 1.78-inch AMOLED case touchscreen, the AI Note-Taker that records and transcribes meetings, and case-screen AI translation. It’s worth it if meetings or multilingual conversations are part of your day. If they aren’t, the Liberty 5 Pro gives you the same earbuds, same ANC, same battery life, and the same Guinness call-quality hardware for $169.99.
Do the Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max work with iPhone?
Yes. Both pair with iPhone over Bluetooth 6.1 using AAC, with Multipoint to three devices and Apple Find My support. LDAC Hi-Res Wireless Audio is Android-only, so iPhone users won’t get that codec.
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(as of May 21, 2026 19:01 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
