Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 vs Skullcandy Method 360 ANC: Which should you buy?

Anker Soundcore and Skullcandy are well-known in the budget audio space, so how do their latest earbuds under $130 compare? While they take very different approaches, they are both compelling packages in their own right. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 and Skullcandy Method 360 ANC with Sound by Bose go head to head with powerful feature sets, custom EQ options, and decent active noise cancelation (ANC). But which one deserves your money?

What’s using the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 like compared to the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC?

The Liberty 5 feels like a refined evolution of past Soundcore designs. The lightweight buds and six ear-size tips provided excellent comfort for long sessions, and the stem-based pinch controls made playback seamless. The sliding case works smoothly, and its matte finish doesn’t show fingerprints. Though you miss out on the flashy touchscreen from the Liberty 4 Pro, that’s not a dealbreaker.

Meanwhile, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC borrows heavily from Bose’s QC Ultra earbuds. That’s a good thing for comfort—Bose’s multiple sizes of ear tips and fins provide a secure, fatigue-free fit. But Skullcandy’s case design is quite different. It’s too long to be pocketable and is meant to be worn with a built-in carabiner clip at the top. The case slides open to house an upside-down earbud on either side. It’s a bit of a learning curve to use, and the slider can loosen over time.

The Liberty 5’s IP55 rating also offers better protection against dust and water than the Method 360 ANC’s IPX4, making them slightly more workout-ready. However, the Methos 360 ANC in-ear stability is better for activity and moving around.

Do the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 or Skullcandy Method 360 ANC have more features?

Soundcore packs the Liberty 5 with software features that punch above its price point. Inside the app, you’ll find a robust 8-band EQ, hearing compensation via HearID, a preference-based sound test, firmware updates, fit tests, and even a low-latency mode. You can also fine-tune ANC levels and assign custom touch controls.

Skullcandy counters with a reskinned version of the Bose app, which includes a customizable 5-band EQ, multipoint pairing, adjustable ANC/transparency levels, Spotify Tap, and even camera shutter control. However, its overly loud voice prompts do get annoying. Still, if you like bold EQ presets and multipurpose controls, it’s a strong showing.

How do the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 and Skullcandy Method 360 ANC connect?

The Liberty 5 leaps ahead with Bluetooth 5.4 and LDAC support, offering better bandwidth and potentially higher-quality audio, assuming your device supports it. Multipoint connectivity works well; we didn’t experience pairing hiccups during testing.

Skullcandy uses the older Bluetooth 5.3 protocol and omits high-resolution codecs entirely. You’re limited to SBC and AAC, which is common at this price point but worth noting. However, multipoint still works reliably, which is a welcome feature, though we did encounter an issue with the left earbud becoming unpaired when switching between different devices.

Is battery life better on the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 or Skullcandy Method 360 ANC?

The Liberty 5 turn in solid endurance: 7 hours and 8 minutes with ANC on, and up to 12 hours without it. The case bumps that to 32–48 hours depending on your settings. Fast charging gives you five hours from a ten-minute top-up, and the case supports both USB-C and wireless charging.

Skullcandy holds its own with 7 hours and 43 minutes with ANC enabled, and up to 11 hours with it off. The case provides 32–40 hours in total. It charges quickly over USB-C, but lacks wireless charging. Overall, both sets go the distance, though the Liberty 5’s wireless charging gives them a slight edge.

Do the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 or Skullcandy Method 360 ANC block noise better?

The Liberty 5 reduce ambient sound by up to 76% in our testing, with decent ANC performance across most urban environments. You can tweak the ANC strength in five levels, and the transparency mode sounds impressively natural.

However, Method 360 ANC outperforms here, reducing environmental noise by 80%. Thanks to its Bose-style fit, it cuts low-end noise by up to 28dB and manages 35dB of attenuation above 1kHz. The ability to adjust ANC intensity adds versatility, and I found the performance very respectable for the price, especially during commutes.

Do the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 sound better than the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC?

Right out of the box, the Liberty 5 aim for mass appeal with boosted bass and treble. With Dolby Sound modes and robust EQ tools, you can tailor the sound exactly how you like. I appreciated the Preference Test and HearID features, which help tune the sound for individual hearing profiles.

Skullcandy’s tuning is even more extreme—bass-heavy and bold. It’s fun for a few tracks, but the boomy low end can become fatiguing, and vocals often get lost in the mix. Still, if you’re a basshead, the default profile might be your jam. I recommend jumping into the custom EQ early to rein in that low-end punch.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

MDAQS gives the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC a slight win here with an Overall score of 4.9 vs. the Liberty 5’s 4.7. The Method 360 ANC also edge out in Timbre (4.9 vs. 4.8) and Immersiveness (4.8 vs. 4.6), suggesting a more spacious and tonally faithful sound. However, the Liberty 5 score better in Distortion (3.5 vs. 3.1), indicating cleaner audio reproduction under pressure.

Objective Measurements

The Liberty 5 skew bass- and treble-forward, with significant energy under 150Hz and from 5–8kHz. It’s vibrant but can be overwhelming on tracks with dense instrumentation. Skullcandy pushes this even further, with exaggerated sub-bass and sharp treble peaks near 2.5kHz. Both sets benefit from EQ tweaking, but if you’re looking for balance or something that closely follows our industry-validated house curve, neither earbud delivers it out of the box.

Do the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 or Skullcandy Method 360 ANC have a better microphone?

Anker equips the Liberty 5 with six microphones that provide solid voice clarity and background noise reduction. We found call quality reliable in quiet and moderately noisy environments, though voice tone can sound a bit thin.

Skullcandy’s microphone performance is a mixed bag. While it’s impressively clear in noisy conditions, the voice sounds processed and slightly distant. It’s good enough for calls and Zoom meetings, but the artificial tone may bother some users. The Liberty 5 offers a more natural vocal pickup, though both are usable.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 microphone demo (Street conditions):

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC microphone demo (Street conditions):

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 vs Skullcandy Method 360 ANC: Price and availability

Both earbuds retail for $129.99, but the Method 360 ANC launched with an introductory price of $99.99, which is still available at the time of writing, and we anticipate equivalent sale prices in the future. That gives Skullcandy a clear value edge, especially if you find them on sale.

Anker hasn’t cut the Liberty 5’s price yet, but the features justify it, especially if you value wireless charging or LDAC support. Both models deliver excellent value, but Skullcandy offers more frequent bang-for-your-buck deals.

Should you get the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 or Skullcandy Method 360 ANC?

If you want balanced features, flexible sound tuning, and higher-end connectivity like LDAC and wireless charging, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 is the smarter pick. The companion app is robust, the design is sleek, and it offers a more customizable audio experience.

But if bass is your love language and you can live with some quirks, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC punches well above its weight. With Bose-designed hardware and solid ANC, it’s an unexpected hit, especially when discounted. Just be ready to tame the sound with the EQ.

Overall, these are both some of the best budget earbuds on the market.