We may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links

Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo Wireless Earbuds Review

Are you looking to buy some great wireless earbuds? If so, our Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo Wireless Earbuds Review will definitely be of interest.

These are a superb sounding, high-quality earbud solution, but at an affordable price point, making them popular with a vast number of buyers.

But, before we get to that, let’s find out a little more about Soundcore…

Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo Wireless Earbuds Review


What Is Soundcore?

Soundcore was launched in 2018 and is Ankers range of top of the line audio products. Anker has always been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to audio, but Soundcore took things to a new level. With the launch, they added a lot of new wireless headphones and speakers to their lineup.

The main goal with Soundcore was to give consumers premium products without having to pay the premium price, and they delivered on this promise. Today, Soundcore is a well-known brand and have some really high-end products at great prices. The Liberty Neo is just one example of how Anker has proven that affordable doesn’t have to mean cheap.

Feature-packed…

The Soundcore Liberty Neo is really popular amongst its users. And it is easy to see why! They are packed with great features like the IPX7 sweat guard, Bluetooth 5.0, 12 hours of playback time, and a great fit. They are also really great for athletes because of the secure fit and the fact that they are water-resistant. And they not only withstand sweat, but you can even be submerged for up to 30 minutes.

You can´t use them for swimming since they don’t have built-in storage, but should your friends throw you into a pool, they won’t be damaged.

A big plus is that they are very simple to use as well. You can use the earbuds to directly control playback, adjust the volume, answer and decline calls, or even access your virtual assistant. The buttons are accessible and simple to use, and the logo on each earbud is actually the button. Since the main housing sticks out a little from your ear, it’s very easy to grab hold of it while pressing the button. This also relieves pressure against your ear.

Uninspired, maybe even boring design, but it works…

2019 Upgraded, Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo True Wireless Earbuds, Pumping Bass


They are pretty simple when it comes to design, but that doesn’t really matter since they work well and fit so nicely.

They are extremely well made. The earbuds are delivered with a selection of ear tips and silicone sleeves, some of which are fitted with wings. If you want to get the most out of them, you want to find the best combination of tips and sleeves. This will not only keep the buds in place but also improves the sound quality because of the isolation.

Unfortunately, the charging case that comes with the buds is just as boring and uninspiring as the buds themselves. It opens with a slight creak, and inside you find a centered silicone flap protecting the micro-USB port. This isn’t the best solution we have seen, but it works. The case itself is relatively small and fits easily into your pocket or purse. We have seen some monstrous cases over the years, so this was a nice surprise.

Can you use them for exercising?

As mentioned, they use the IPX7 sweat guard. So, no matter how hard you sweat, they will withstand it. Because of the extremely secure fit, they are ideal for indoor workouts and general exercise. They work for outdoor athletes as well, but they would be better off finding something with ambient aware mode, or listen in mono, which is supported but only with the right bud.

What About The Soundcore App?

Unfortunately, there is really no point in downloading the app anymore. After May 2023, the app only supports a few headset models, not including the Liberty Neo. However, you could still download it since the Liberty Neo might be supported in the future. If they are to be supported, the app will facilitate firmware updates, but until then, you don’t gain anything by downloading it.

Staying connected….

They use Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to your phone or other devices. If you are indoors, the connection is really stable, but once you go outside, the stability may become an issue.

Inside, they stayed connected even through walls but as soon as we went outside, it was quite difficult to stay connected. We kept the phone in our pocket, which Anker recommends for the best connectivity, but even so, the left earbud kept disconnecting. If you don’t usually listen to music or sound books when walking around, this isn’t an issue, but if you’re an outdoor athlete, you might want to look at another pair of earbuds.

AAC and SBC supported…

Like other economical headsets, they only support AAC and SBC. If you are an Android user and you are looking for reliable Bluetooth codecs, you should check out the Anker Liberty Air 2 buds. They are Anker’s premium version.

However, if you’re often on the move or in noisy environments, you probably won´t notice any difference in the quality of the codec. But if you turn the volume up, the music may not sound very good if you run into any compression artifacts.

How does it pair?

Pairing the Bluetooth is the same as on most devices. First, you open the case and remove both earbuds. You wait a few seconds until the LED indicator on each bud flashes white. This indicates the pairing mode. Now, you simply open the Bluetooth menu on your phone or whatever device you want to pair them to, and select the Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo.

Unfortunately, you can’t pair them with more than one device at a time because Bluetooth multi-point isn’t supported. If you want to pair with another device, you must manually disconnect and chose the headset from the other device.

Battery life and charging…

2019 Upgraded, Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo True Wireless Earbuds


In testing, it took just four hours and four minutes before the batteries were out of juice. However, the charging case has the capacity for an 15 additional hours of battery charge, so you should be ok for a while before you need to recharge the case again.

This is done with a micro-USB cable. It takes about 90 minutes to fully charge the earbuds, and unfortunately, it doesn’t support fast charging. This is one of the downsides when you buy economical products, but hey, you get what you pay for.

What About The Sound?

The dynamic drivers really do their part. They boost the bass, making them sound a lot louder than either the mids or and highs. This isn’t really something you would use to monitor music in a studio, but this frequency response appeals to most consumers because it is something they are familiar with.

If you listen to Hip-hop or pop music, they will sound ok, but if you are listening to other genres like country or classical music, you can run into some auditory masking. This is when the louder sounds make it hard to hear the relatively quieter ones.

The isolation, on the other hand, is excellent thanks to the combination of tips and wings. It was hard to hear a washing machine when we turned it on, except when standing right next to it, but even then, it was about half as loud as without the buds. Conversations were also reduced to an almost none existent level.

Making phone calls…

The microphone is very good, and you can easily use the Liberty Neo to make phone calls. Voices weren’t a hundred percent accurate, but it was still easy to understand exactly what was being said, which is the most important thing when it comes to a good microphone.

With that said, if you are used to making phone calls in loud, noisy environments. Then you would be better off looking at a dedicated conference call headset or a set of premium earbuds.

Pros And Cons Of Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo Wireless Earbuds

2019 Upgraded, Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo True Wireless Earbuds, Pumping Bass, IPX7 Waterproof, Secure Fit, Bluetooth 5 Headphones, Stereo Calls


Pros

  • Sweat-proof.
  • Amazing isolation.
  • Excellent fit and comes with a selection of wings and tips.
  • Bluetooth 5.0.

Cons

  • Only AAC and SBC.
  • Poor connection outside.
  • Lacks ambient aware mode.

Looking For More Superb Audio Solutions?

If so, then take a look at our in-depth Best USB Microphones for Macs reviews, our Best Portable CD Player review, our Best Bone Conduction Headphones Review, our Best Internet Radio Reviews, and our Best Bluetooth Beanies Review.

Or check out our Best Internet Radios reviews, our Best Digital Voice Recorders reviews, or our comprehensive review of the Best Computer Speakers you can buy in 2023.

Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo Wireless Earbuds Review Conclusion

So, should you buy them? Let’s put it like this. You can go out and spend 250$ or more and get yourself the absolute best set of wireless earbuds money can buy. But why would you spend that amount when you actually get a decent pair of earbuds for a fraction of the price?

All in all, the Liberty Neo earbuds are really good. The value for money is second to none, and you get a great set of earbuds. Yes, they aren’t perfect, but what can you expect for the price? They are comfortable, have great isolation, are sweat-proof, and feature a respectable battery life.

It’s a great pair of earbuds for athletes and gym freaks. And the best part about these earbuds is that anyone can afford them.

Happy listening.


About Paul S. Brunet

Known as the "Tech Lover", Paul is an expert of current and trending technology. Here at TinyGrab, he makes "tech" easy to understand for the average person.

Leave a Comment