Anker has launched two AI-forward earbuds—Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max—powered by a “Thus AI” chip aimed at clearer calls, smarter noise cancellation, voice commands, and real-time translation. The Max also brings a case-mounted AI note-taker
The next time someone tries to talk over traffic while you’re in the middle of a commute, Anker wants your earbud to make the background feel smaller.
That’s the promise behind two new additions to Soundcore’s Liberty 5 lineup: the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and the Liberty 5 Pro Max. Anker says the key change is a new “Thus AI” chip built to separate the wearer’s voice from noise like traffic, wind, office chatter, and other background sounds.
Both Liberty 5 Pro models carry the same Thus AI chip. Soundcore pairs it with eight microphones and two bone-conduction sensors. then uses an AI model to focus on the speaker’s voice. In practical terms, the goal is simple: fewer garbled calls, more intelligible conversations—even when the world is loud.
Soundcore also leans on proof of voice performance. It says the Liberty 5 Pro earned a Guinness World Records certification in April 2026 for the highest speech quality score for true wireless earbuds. The Liberty 5 Pro Max uses the same earbud units, so call performance is positioned as similar across both models.
The AI push doesn’t stop at calls. The earbuds also target noise cancellation, with both models using Adaptive ANC 4.0. Soundcore says it processes noise data up to 384. 000 times per second and adjusts in real time. aiming to reduce noise from streets. subways. and offices. The Thus chip also powers 20 built-in voice commands. letting users adjust playback. volume. and ANC modes without reaching for a phone.
For the Liberty 5 Pro Max, the upgrade becomes more dramatic—because the case gets the spotlight. The Pro Max case includes a 1.78-inch AMOLED display and an AI Note-Taker, designed to record meetings and conversations. The Soundcore app can then generate transcripts, summaries, speaker labels, and action items.
Translation is built into both models, too. Soundcore says both earbuds support translation in more than 100 languages. On the Liberty 5 Pro, translation works through the earbuds. On the Liberty 5 Pro Max, translation runs through both the earbuds and the case.
The standard Liberty 5 Pro keeps a smaller screen—an 0.96-inch TFT touchscreen—used for switching ANC modes, transparency controls, activating Dolby Atmos, and adjusting EQ settings. Both models include HearID 5.0, which Soundcore says creates a custom EQ profile after a short hearing test.
Under the hood. the shared core specs include 9.2mm wool-paper diaphragm drivers. Bluetooth 6.1. LDAC support. three-device pairing. Google Fast Pair. Apple Find My. and IP55 dust and water resistance. Both support wireless charging and offer up to 6.5 hours of battery life with ANC on. or up to 28 hours with the case.
Pricing places the two models at distinct levels: the Liberty 5 Pro costs $169.99, while the Liberty 5 Pro Max is priced at $229.99.
In a market where wireless earbuds often feel like incremental upgrades, the new Liberty 5 line is trying to change the conversation—literally—by moving more of the heavy lifting into on-device AI.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds AI note taker adaptive ANC 4.0 Thus AI wireless earbuds call quality translation microphones bone-conduction sensors HearID 5.0 Bluetooth 6.1 LDAC IP55 AMOLED case
So basically it makes calls better? Cool I guess.
Wait the “Thus AI” chip separates your voice from traffic… but like won’t it just amplify the bad stuff too? I swear every “AI cleanup” feature ends up sounding robotic on my end.
Guinness certification for speech quality score sounds kinda sketchy ngl. Like what counts as a “true wireless” call in April 2026? Also translation in real time while on the bus feels like it’ll be 2 seconds behind.
The Max has that case-mounted note-taker? So it’s reading what you say and typing it out on the case?? Or are we supposed to carry around a whole mini recorder now. I just want ANC that doesn’t make my ears feel weird lol. Plus 384,000 times per second… sounds like marketing, but if it actually fixes the garbled calls then sure.