Anker Soundcore by Anker Liberty Buds Wireless Review

These $80 earbuds have mic quality in the 97th percentile, beating buds three times their price. With solid ANC, spatial audio, and 28-hour battery, they deliver a shockingly premium experience for commuters, gamers, and anyone who takes calls on the go. Just don't expect them to be the absolute cheapest or the absolute quietest.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty Buds are a bit of a sleeper hit. For $80, you're getting a feature set that punches way above its weight, with adaptive ANC, spatial audio, and a semi-in-ear design that actually stays put. Our data shows they score highest for fitness and gaming, hitting 79.5 and 77.2 out of 100 respectively, while their weakest area is their 'budget' score at 55.8, which is a funny way of saying they're not the absolute cheapest, but they deliver way more than you'd expect for the cash.

Where these buds really shine is in the details. They land in the 97th percentile for microphone quality, which is frankly wild for this price. The battery life sits in the 86th percentile, offering 9 hours on the buds and a total of 28 hours with the Qi-compatible case. With IP55 dust and water resistance, they're built for more than just the occasional jog.

Let's talk numbers. That 97th percentile mic rating isn't a fluke. With six microphones total and dedicated noise cancellation for calls, these are some of the clearest-sounding earbuds for phone calls we've tested under $100. The adaptive ANC lands in the 84th percentile, which is solid, but it's important to note it's not going to match the absolute silence of a Sony or Bose. The semi-in-ear design helps with comfort (86th percentile) and breathability, but it does mean the passive noise isolation is less than a full seal. Sound quality is good at the 82nd percentile, driven by a 9.2mm dynamic driver, and the spatial audio support adds a nice sense of width for movies and gaming.

At $80, the value proposition here is incredibly strong. You're getting ANC, spatial audio, wireless charging, and elite call quality—features often reserved for buds costing twice as much. The price-to-performance ratio is excellent, especially when you consider the high percentile rankings across mic, battery, and comfort. Anker is essentially undercutting the entire mid-range market with a spec sheet that looks borrowed from a more expensive product.

Stacked against the giants, the Liberty Buds make a compelling case. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra will have better ANC (think 95th+ percentile) and slightly richer sound, but they cost over $250. The Liberty Buds offer 85-90% of that core experience for less than a third of the price. Compared to something like the standard AirPods Pro, you're trading seamless Apple ecosystem integration for better battery life, a more secure fit with fins, and a much lower price tag. Against other budget champs, the Liberty Buds' combination of IP55, wireless charging, and that phenomenal mic array is hard to beat.

Skip these if you demand the absolute best noise cancellation money can buy and budget is no object. The ANC, while good at the 84th percentile, isn't in the elite 95th+ tier of a Sony or Bose. Also, if you absolutely need the deep, thumping bass that comes from a tight in-ear seal, the semi-open design here might leave you wanting. And if your only metric is the absolute lowest price, their 55.8 'budget' score confirms there are cheaper, more basic options out there.

If you want premium features like adaptive ANC and great call quality without a premium price tag, the Liberty Buds are an easy recommendation. The data doesn't lie: they excel in the areas that matter for daily use (mics, battery, comfort) and only really concede to products that cost significantly more. For $80, this is one of the most complete packages you can buy.