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AirPods 5 or Liberty 4 NC?

AED 549 against AED 167 on Amazon.ae. Both cancel noise. One of them costs three times as much, and the reason is not the sound.

You use an iPhone and live in Apple's world: AirPods 5. You are paying for the way they work with your phone, laptop and watch.

Everyone else: the soundcore Liberty 4 NC. Stronger battery, wireless charging, a proper in-ear seal, and AED 382 left in your pocket.

soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds with their charging case.
The Liberty 4 NC.

Side by side

Specs and prices from the Amazon.ae listings on 28 September 2026.

AirPods 5Liberty 4 NC
PriceAED 549AED 166.99 (list AED 499)
Noise cancellingYesYes, adaptive
FitOpen, no rubber tipsIn-ear, rubber tips
BatteryUp to 4 h, 20 h with caseUp to 10 h, 50 h with case
ChargingUSB-CUSB-C and wireless
Water and dustIP57Water resistant
ExtrasSpatial Audio with head tracking, Live Translation, SiriLDAC Hi-Res audio, connects to two devices
Ratings on Amazon.aeNew listing, very few ratings yet4.3 stars from 27,482 ratings

What actually decides it

Your phone

This is the whole question. With an iPhone, AirPods connect the moment you open the case, move between your phone, iPad and Mac by themselves, and unlock Apple features like Spatial Audio with head tracking and Live Translation. On Android, they are ordinary Bluetooth earbuds, and you are paying AED 382 extra for nothing.

The fit

AirPods 5 sit open in the ear with no rubber tips. Some people love that, some find they never feel secure. The Liberty 4 NC seal the ear with tips, which also helps the noise cancelling block more of a flight or an open office.

Battery

Going by the listings, the Liberty 4 NC last more than twice as long per charge, and the case holds more than twice as much. They also charge wirelessly.

For the gym

Neither. For workouts I use ear hooks: my Sport X20 have not fallen out once in four months.

Both, on Amazon.ae

Questions people ask

Are AirPods 5 worth AED 549 in the UAE?

Only if you use an iPhone and want Apple's extras: instant pairing, switching between Apple devices, Spatial Audio with head tracking and Live Translation. For sound, noise cancelling and battery alone, the soundcore Liberty 4 NC at AED 167 is the better deal.

Which has better battery, AirPods 5 or Liberty 4 NC?

The Liberty 4 NC: up to 10 hours from the earbuds and 50 with the case, against up to 4 and 20 hours for AirPods 5, according to the Amazon.ae listings.

Do AirPods 5 work with Android?

Yes, as normal Bluetooth earbuds, but you lose most of what the price pays for, which is the iPhone integration.

Which is better for the gym?

Neither is built for it. AirPods 5 have an open fit and the Liberty 4 NC a normal in-ear fit. For workouts, earbuds with ear hooks such as the soundcore Sport X20 stay in better.

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