Anker Soundcore Liberty Air: Strong Audio For The Price

While just about every audio manufacturer offers true wireless earbuds these days, most go for well over $100. On a cost basis alone, the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air ($79.99) earphones are appealing. The deal gets sweeter: They sound better than pairs costing twice as much. Add simple controls and a water-resistant design, and you get our Editors’ Choice for budget-friendly true wireless earphones.

- Tim Gideon

DESIGN

Available in black, the Soundcore Liberty Air earpieces have a glossy exterior and touch-sensitive control surfaces on the outer panels. Like the Apple AirPods, they have a stem that hangs down from your ear, but unlike the AirPods, they’re proper earbuds that completely seal the ear canal. They’re also rated IPX5, meaning they can withstand water splashes from any direction but shouldn’t be submerged.

The on-ear controls divide tasks between the two earpieces, with the right ear controlling playback, call management, and track-skipping and the left ear controlling track rewind and summoning your mobile device’s voice assistant. All of these actions are handled with various seconds-long taps or holds. Phone-specific controls can be utilized when on a call, such as a double-tap to put your current call on hold and answer an incoming one. There are no volume controls.

The flip-top charging case has a matte-black surface with three status LEDs on the front. The included micro USB charging cable connects to the micro USB port on the bottom panel. You also get five pairs of silicone eartips. The earpieces don’t use earfins in addition to the tips, but they fit securely.