Anker launches Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds with the Thus AI chip

Anker has introduced two new wireless earbuds powered by its newly developed Thus AI chip during the company’s Anker Day event. The new Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max combine artificial intelligence features with premium audio tools, including adaptive noise cancellation, voice controls and personalised sound settings.

The launch marks the first appearance of the company’s Thus AI technology in consumer audio products. Alongside familiar features expected from high-end earbuds, Anker has added several new tools to improve communication and productivity. These include AI-powered translation, touchscreen charging cases and an AI Note-Taker function on the higher-end Liberty 5 Pro Max model.

The two models are available immediately, with the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro priced at US$170 and the Liberty 5 Pro Max at US$230.

AI chip focuses on clearer calls and voice controls

The centrepiece of both earbuds is the Thus AI chip, which Anker said is designed to improve call clarity in noisy environments. The system combines a chip with eight microphones and two bone-conduction sensors to isolate the speaker’s voice from surrounding sounds.

According to the company, the earbuds use an AI model to separate speech from background noise in real time, keeping voices clear for listeners during calls. Anker added that the bone-conduction sensors can capture speech at lower volumes in “moderately quieter settings”.

The Thus chip also powers voice command functions on both devices. Users can access up to 20 different voice commands for playback controls and other tasks. Anker claimed that the response time for these commands is under one second.

Both earbuds also include Soundcore’s Adaptive ANC 4.0 technology. The active noise cancellation system uses the eight microphones to process sound information up to 384,000 times per second. This allows the earbuds to monitor external noise and sounds entering the ear canal, then automatically adjust the level of noise cancellation.

Anker said the updated noise-cancelling algorithm can reduce a wide range of unwanted sounds, including nearby conversations and human voices. The company claimed the new ANC system is up to twice as effective as the one used in the earlier Liberty 4 Pro earbuds.

Personalised sound and smart features added

To tailor audio performance to individual users, both new earbuds come with HearID 5.0. The feature creates a personalised equaliser profile after users complete a short hearing assessment through the Soundcore app.

The earbuds also include AI Sound Enhancement, which aims to restore audio detail that is commonly lost during Bluetooth transmission. Anker said the feature can recover up to 65 per cent of the sound quality typically reduced by wireless compression.

Battery life remains the same across both models. Each pair offers up to 6.5 hours of playback on a single charge with active noise cancellation enabled. With the charging cases included, total listening time increases to 28 hours.

Additional features include multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, Bluetooth 6.1 support, Apple Find My compatibility and Google Fast Pair support. Both models also carry an IP55 rating for resistance to dust and water.

While the two earbuds share most of their audio features, the charging cases provide one of the biggest differences between the models. The standard Liberty 5 Pro charging case includes a 0.96-inch TFT touchscreen on the front edge, while the Liberty 5 Pro Max comes with a larger 1.78-inch AMOLED display.

The displays allow users to access controls and features directly from the charging case without opening the Soundcore mobile app.

Pro Max model introduces AI meeting tools

Anker has positioned the Liberty 5 Pro Max as the more advanced option by including an AI Note-Taker feature. The tool is designed to generate meeting transcripts within the Soundcore app after conversations or discussions.

According to the company, the AI Note-Taker can automatically identify different speakers and highlight action items from meetings. This feature is exclusive to the Liberty 5 Pro Max and is not available on the standard Liberty 5 Pro model.

Both earbuds, however, support AI-powered translation features. On the Liberty 5 Pro, translation is available through the earbuds themselves. The Liberty 5 Pro Max expands this functionality by allowing translation through both the earbuds and the charging case display.

Anker is offering the Liberty 5 Pro in four colours: black, blue, pink and white. The Liberty 5 Pro Max is available in black and gold.

The company’s latest launch reflects a growing trend among audio manufacturers to integrate artificial intelligence into consumer devices beyond standard voice assistants. By combining AI-driven communication tools with audio enhancement and productivity features, Anker appears to be targeting users who want wireless earbuds to serve as both entertainment devices and work tools.