Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max leak: AI chip, touchscreen case, and recorder revealed

A new leak suggests Anker is preparing two feature-packed additions to its TWS earbuds lineup: the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max. The standout? A dedicated AI chip, a touchscreen charging case, and a built-in voice recorder on the Max model. If accurate, these earbuds could push Soundcore into more experimental territory, especially with features we don’t typically see in this price range.

The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro could bring a touchscreen case and AI audio

According to AnkerInsider, the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro (model D1203) will introduce a new “Anker Thus” compute-in-memory AI chip. This chip reportedly enables AI-powered audio upscaling, though it’s still unclear how much of a real-world impact that will have on playback quality. The earbuds are also expected to feature Adaptive ANC 4.0, an upgrade over previous versions. Soundcore’s ANC has steadily improved over time, so this could be a meaningful step forward for isolation.

Anker appears to have upgraded the Liberty 4 Pro’s case display with a fully fledged touchscreen. The details provided so far indicate that users will be able to control playback, switch between devices, adjust ANC, and check battery status on the fly. In my experience, case-based controls can be hit or miss. They look great on paper, but usability depends heavily on responsiveness and interface design. Nevertheless, if Anker gets this right, it could reduce how often you need to reach for your phone.

Other expected features under the hood include Dolby Atmos spatial audio, Bluetooth 6.1 + with Multipoint, and an IP55 rating. The last is ideal if you want to take the buds with you to the gym or beach. AnkerInsider claims that the Liberty 5 Pro last 6.5 hours with ANC on and 10 hours with ANC off. The case reportedly provides up to 45 hours total listening time, and fast-charging the buds for 5 minutes yields 4 hours of playtime. The case can be topped up wirelessly or via USB-C charging.

The Liberty 5 Pro Max adds a voice recorder and voice recognition

The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max (model D1204) appear to build on the Pro model with a few standout additions. Most notably, the charging case doubles as a voice recorder, reportedly using eight microphones. That’s an unusual feature for earbuds, and it could appeal to journalists, students, or anyone who regularly records conversations.

The Max model is also expected to include voiceprint recognition, allowing the earbuds to identify the user’s voice. It’s unclear how this will be used, but it could potentially help with personalized settings or smarter voice assistant interactions. Otherwise, the core experience should match the standard Pro model, including the AI chip, ANC, and connectivity features.

Price and availability

The leak points to a $169.99 US launch price for the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, which should include Black and White color variants. The higher-end model could launch at $229.99, with different color options including Black and Gold.

If you’re already considering upgrading your earbuds, it might be worth waiting for Anker’s latest installments to arrive. The Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max offer more ambitious features than most competitors at similar price points. But as always with leaks, treat this information cautiously until Anker makes things official. Once these earbuds land, we’ll run them through our full testing process to see how they actually perform.