These headphones have a touch screen, but they are no longer a cheap option
Anker's Liberty 5 Pro Max headphones attempt to fundamentally change the perception of the brand: not just as one that offers "good value for money," but as a player that sets the bar in the market. To justify this, several improvements are required.
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In recent years, Anker Soundcore's audio products have built a fan base by positioning themselves as an accessible, affordable alternative to giants like Apple, Bose, and Sony. The perception was that you didn't have to pay a fortune for good headphones, even if you had to accept some compromises.
However, with the arrival of Anker's Liberty 5 Pro Max in Israel, the company is aiming higher, trying to shift from a "good value" brand to a market leader. We tested the headphones to see if they live up to this new standard.
The main innovation: a touch screen on the case
The case includes an unusual element: a built-in 1.8-inch AMOLED touch screen. This comes with a physical price—the case is larger and heavier than usual, taking up significant pocket space.
Beyond the size, the touch screen's responsiveness is disappointing: it is quite slow, which hampers the user experience. While you can customize the wallpaper, it remains a gimmick.
Anker tried to maximize the case's utility with advanced features, including a built-in microphone for voice recording and transcription. While promising, the microphone quality is very weak, making the app-based transcriptions poor. Another feature, remote camera control, suffers from a noticeable lag (about a second) on iPhones.
Sound quality
The headphones are equipped with the company's Thus AI chip, which combines a processor and memory to offer 150 times the usual computing power. This drives technology that uses eight sensors to monitor about 384,000 noise signals per second.
The sound is balanced, and the bass is restrained. However, the app's preset modes feel like digital correction rather than genuine sound enhancement. Still, the audio quality is competitive with premium models in the $200–250 range.
Noise isolation: 5 levels, not enough
On paper, the headphones promise double the noise cancellation of the previous generation. In practice, despite having 5 levels, the differences are minimal. The system struggles with strong background noise, and activating ANC negatively affects the sound profile. The transparency mode performs better, though the sound is clearly processed through microphones.
Performance and AI: adaptation required
The headphones feature an inner arch that requires an adjustment period but offers a relatively comfortable fit, even if the structure is somewhat bulky. We noted some oddities: the sensor sometimes fails to detect when the headphones are removed, keeping the smartphone "tethered" to them. The case also occasionally fails to recognize the headphones inside.
The AI chat mode acts as a continuous voice assistant, but it is slow, and commands are sometimes lost. The face-to-face translation feature does not support Hebrew. However, the companion app is a bright spot: it is well-designed, convenient, and organized.
Note that these AI features are not free. After two years, you will need to pay 60 shekels per month or 800 shekels per year to continue using them beyond the monthly 120-minute limit.
Battery: stable
The headphones offer stable performance: up to 6.5 hours of continuous playback with ANC on, and up to 28 hours total with the charging case. Each earphone has a 62 mAh battery, and the case has a 690 mAh capacity. A full wired charge takes about an hour for the headphones and up to three hours for the case.
Price: a 300-shekel gap
The headphones will be available starting August 9 on the Anker Israel website and at authorized dealers for 1,000 shekels—not exactly a cheap alternative. While they cost $230 (about 700 shekels) abroad, the local market absorbs a significant premium. This pricing puts them in the arena of the big players, placing the burden of proof on Anker.
Main competitors: Apple and Sony
At the $200–250 price point, the Liberty 5 Pro Max faces competition from Apple's AirPods Pro 3, Sony's WF-1000XM6, and Samsung's Buds4 Pro, which offer more natural ANC and transparency modes. If you don't need the screen or recording features, you might be better off choosing another model, as this is no longer a budget-friendly option.
***Full disclosure: Hamilton, the importer of Anker products in Israel, provided Globes with the headphones for review.
