The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are a decent pair of truly wireless headphones that are a good upgrade over the previous version, offering some high-end features like wireless charging and a dedicated companion app. They have a well-balanced sound profile that has a little extra kick of bass, but should be versatile enough for most genres. They also isolate a decent amount of background chatter and have an amazing battery life for truly wireless headphones.
Our Verdict
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are okay for neutral sound. While their sound profile is decently well-balanced, it's a little bass-heavy and their mid-range is slightly recessed. Like all closed-back in-ears, they also have a very poor soundstage. On the upside, their harmonic distortion and imaging performances are both very good, and their companion app includes a graphic EQ so you can change the sound profile to better match your own personal preference.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Excellent battery life for truly wireless headphones.
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Premium look and feel for budget headphones.
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Mediocre microphone performance.
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Disappointing touch-sensitive controls.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are good headphones for commuting or travel. Even without ANC, their noise isolation performance is quite good, though they'll block out background chatter better than plane or train engines. They're decently comfortable for in-ear headphones and are extremely portable thanks to their truly wireless design. On the downside, they won't quite last a full day off a single charge, though this is normal for truly wireless headphones, and they can be charged five additional times from their case, which is great.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Excellent battery life for truly wireless headphones.
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Premium look and feel for budget headphones.
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Mediocre microphone performance.
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Disappointing touch-sensitive controls.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are great headphones for fitness use. Once you find the right sized silicone tip, they feel quite stable in your ear and will likely be able to withstand most workouts without falling out. They're also fairly comfortable and have a decent touch-sensitive control scheme so you can change your music without taking out your phone. They're rated IPX5 for sweat and water resistance, though we don't test for this.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Excellent battery life for truly wireless headphones.
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Premium look and feel for budget headphones.
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Mediocre microphone performance.
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Disappointing touch-sensitive controls.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are decent headphones for office use. They do a very good job of blocking out background chatter, which will help you stay focused at work. Unfortunately, their battery lasts just under 6.5 hours, meaning you'll likely have to take a break to charge them in the middle of the day. They also may not be the most comfortable for everyone due to their in-ear fit.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Excellent battery life for truly wireless headphones.
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Premium look and feel for budget headphones.
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Mediocre microphone performance.
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Disappointing touch-sensitive controls.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 aren't recommended for wireless gaming. They can only be used via Bluetooth, which means they aren't compatible with Xbox One of PS4. While they'll connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their high latency may not be suitable for gaming.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are Bluetooth-only headphones that can't be used wired.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are okay for phone calls. Like most Bluetooth headphones, their microphone will make your voice sound slightly muffled and lacking in detail. Their noise handling is also sub-par, meaning the person on the other end of the line won't be able to hear you in even moderately noisy environments.
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Great price-to-performance ratio.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Excellent battery life for truly wireless headphones.
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Premium look and feel for budget headphones.
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Mediocre microphone performance.
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Disappointing touch-sensitive controls.
- 7.0 Neutral Sound
- 7.8 Commute/Travel
- 8.1 Sports/Fitness
- 7.1 Office
- 5.7 Wireless Gaming
- 5.6 Wired Gaming
- 6.7 Phone Calls
- Updated Sep 09, 2021: Retested Bluetooth for negative latency values.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Dec 04, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Dec 02, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Dec 02, 2019: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 27, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Nov 26, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Liberty Air 2 are a nice upgrade over the previous model, with a more premium look and a much better battery life. They have a well-balanced sound profile that should be versatile enough for most genres, and are decently comfortable for in-ears. While they don't have some high-end features like ANC, they are very impressive for their price-point and outperform some more expensive options. We suggest taking a look at our recommendations for the best truly wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds, and the best noise cancelling earbuds and in-ears.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless. The Liberty Air 2 look very similar but have much better controls, a more premium-feeling design, a much better battery life, and a dedicated companion app. On the other hand, the first generation have a slightly better-balanced sound profile and are cheaper.
The Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless are slightly better than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless. The Life P3 are more comfortable, and they have better noise isolation thanks to their ANC feature. However, the Liberty Air 2's continuous battery life is a bit longer.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless are two similarly performing headphones. They both have comfortable fits, well-built designs, and are compatible with the Anker Soundcore app. However, the Air 2 have a better battery performance, while the Pro have an ANC feature that helps them block out more noise.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are similar truly wireless in-ears to the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. The Apple are more comfortable, have a better case, feel better built, and have ANC. On the other hand, the Anker have better controls, a more bass-heavy sound profile, and a better-dedicated app.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better true wireless headphones than the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. Although the Apple feel better made, the Anker have a noticeably more neutral sound profile, and they pack a lot more accurate bass thanks to their closed-back design. That also means that the Anker block out more ambient noise thanks to their typical in-ear fit. On the other hand, if the Apple fit your ears, they're very comfortable. However, the Anker come with a lot of tip options to help you find the most comfortable fit.
The Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless are a bit better than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless. They have longer continuous battery life and a much better mic recording quality. They have a much better onboard control scheme and are rated IP57 for dust and water resistance, while the Anker aren't rated for dust resistance. On the other hand, even though they don't have ANC, the Anker offer a better noise isolation performance. Their bass-rich default sound profile makes them better-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop, but both options come with a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless. While both are well-built, the Liberty 3 Pro have a more comfortable and stable fit. Their ANC does a better job of blocking out ambient noise, and their overall battery performance is better. They also support multi-device pairing.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless. The Air 2 sound reproduction, design, and fit are almost identical, but the Life have wireless charging, a dedicated app, a more durable-feeling case, and touch-sensitive controls. On the other hand, the Life have a longer overall battery life.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless are better noise cancelling over-ears than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless. The Sony feel significantly better built and are more comfortable. They're also compatible with an excellent companion app that gives you access to tons of sound customization features. On the other hand, the Anker have a more stable fit and a more bass-heavy sound profile, which adds some thump and may please fans of genres like EDM or hip-hop.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless and the JBL TUNE 230NC TWS True Wireless are similarly performing headphones with different strengths. While both are well-built, the JBL are more comfortable, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their battery performance is better. However, the Anker have lower latency on iOS and Android devices as well as a significantly better noise isolation performance.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro Truly Wireless. The Air 2 have a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, isolate more background noise, and their mic has a better recording quality. On the other hand, the Liberty 2 Pro are more stable and have a better battery life.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better than the Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless. The Anker have a longer continuous battery life and more customization options thanks to their graphic EQ. Even though the Skullcandy have an ANC feature, the Anker does a better job isolating against background noises passively.
The Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless and the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless have different strengths and depending on your useage, you may prefer one over the other. The Jabra are more comfortable, have better controls, feel better-built, and have a better-dedicated app. On the other hand, the Anker support wireless charging, have a similar sound profile, and have a longer battery life. They're also able to isolate more noise passively.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are much better-performing earbuds than the Monster Clarity 101 AirLinks Truly Wireless. While the Anker's battery life is slightly less than the Monster's, if you're charging the Anker one earbud at a time, you can still listen to audio. The Monster also don't have a companion app, but Anker's app support comes with 20 preset EQs, making it easy to find the right sound profile for you.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless are very well-matched for mixed usage. The Liberty Air 2 have a more comprehensive touch-sensitive control scheme, an integrated microphone that does a better job of isolating speech from ambient noise, and a dedicated companion app with a graphic EQ and audio presets. On the other hand, the Life Dot 2 are a bit cheaper, have a much longer total battery life, and marginally better noise isolation performance.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better than the OnePlus Buds Z Truly Wireless. The Anker have better noise isolation and longer continuous battery life. Also, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets for greater sound customization. However, the OnePlus are more comfortable.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless and the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro are similarly performing earbuds and depending on your usage, you may prefer either pair. Even though they don't have an active noise cancelling feature, the Anker are able to passively block out more ambient noise and their continuous battery life is better. However, the Razer have a better battery performance, and a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are more versatile headphones than the Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction. The Anker are in-ears with very consistent audio delivery, they can block out more ambient noise around you, and their sound profile is more customizable as their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets. In comparison, the Shokz are bone conduction headphones, and while they aren't able to reproduce a thumpy bass, they're more comfortable. By design, they don't block out ambient sound, but you may prefer this if you want to monitor your surroundings while jogging outdoors or working in a collaborative office.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless. The Anker are better-built, and their v-shaped sound profile has a more balanced mid-range than the Cowin, which some listeners may prefer. They have a better noise isolation performance, leak less audio, and come with a graphic EQ for more sound customization. However, the Cowin are more comfortable.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless and Anker Soundcore Life A2 NC Truly Wireless each have their own advantages, and you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs. The Liberty Air 2 deliver audio more consistently, block out more ambient noise despite lacking an ANC system, leak less audio, and have lower Bluetooth audio latency on some iOS and Android devices. Meanwhile, the Life A2 NC have a more comfortable, stable fit, noticeably better microphone noise handling capability, and much longer continuous battery life.
The EarFun Air Pro True Wireless are better truly wireless headphones are better than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless. The EarFun are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have an ANC system that's able to block out a bit more background noise. They also have a better battery performance. However, the Anker have a companion app that offers a graphic EQ and presets that you can use to tweak their sound to your liking.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2021. While both headphones are well-built and decently comfortable, the Anker have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and can isolate you from more background noise passively. However, the Razer have a more robust companion app, offer a better battery performance, and have customizable RGB lighting.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Anker can passively block out a greater amount of ambient noise and have a slightly better battery performance. They also have a companion app that offers a graphic EQ and presets so that you can adjust their sound to your liking. However, the JBL have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the EarFun Air Pro 2 True Wireless 2021. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Anker can block out more ambient noise passively, and they have a companion app that allows you to customize their sound using a graphic EQ and presets. They also have lower latency on iOS and Android devices. However, the EarFun have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their battery performance is better.
The Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless and the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are two great truly wireless headphones. There's a noticeable difference in style, but when it comes to performance, both are rather similar, especially when it comes to sound and isolation. However, the Jabra can connect simultaneously to two devices, but the Anker's case can hold more additional charges.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better overall headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94 Truly Wireless. The Anker have a better-balanced default sound profile along with a companion app with a graphic EQ to let you fine-tune your listening experience. They also have longer battery life, lower audio leakage, and superior microphone noise handling capability. However, the TaoTronics have lower Bluetooth latency on mobile devices, a more comprehensive control scheme, superior mic recording quality, and block out more ambient noise thanks to their ANC feature.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better earbuds than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. The Anker are more comfortable as well as stable and their sound profile is better-balanced. They're also able to isolate more noise passively, and have a companion app with a graphic EQ plus presets to help customize their sound.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless and the Mpow X3 Truly Wireless have different strengths. The Mpow are more comfortable, they have better controls, and they feel more stable in-ear. However, the Anker have a bass-heavy sound that some users may prefer. Even without an ANC feature, they're able to reduce more ambient noise than the Mpow's ANC, and they even have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets. If you're looking for something to wear while commuting, go with the Anker but if you're looking for a more neutral listening experience, go with the Mpow.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better overall headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless. The Anker have a more comfortable fit and a more consistent audio delivery. The Anker also have a more neutral sound profile, though it's slightly bass-heavy, especially compared to the TaoTronics' lack of sub-bass. Unlike the TaoTronics, the Anker have a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound. The Anker are also a better choice for isolating background noise, and they leak less noise, too.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Boltune BT-BH024 Truly Wireless. Both have a slightly bass-heavy sound profile, but the Anker are much better-balanced and more suitable for neutral listening. The Anker also come with a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app, so you can customize their sound, unlike the Boltune. Also, the Anker have a better microphone performance, so they're better for phone calls. That being said, the Boltune have a longer continuous battery life than the Anker.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better truly wireless headphones for mixed usage than the Skullcandy Indy Fuel Truly Wireless. The Anker provide a more consistent listening experience with better-reproduced treble and mids, passively block out more ambient noise, have a far more comprehensive companion app, and last far longer off of a single charge. Meanwhile, the Skullcandy charge substantially faster, and have a control scheme with greater functionality.
The Mpow M30 Truly Wireless and the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are very similar performing headphones. they have a near-identical sound profile, but the Mpow are slightly more comfortable. On the other hand, the Anker have a good app that offers plenty of presets and a graphic EQ. They also last longer on a single charge but take considerably longer to fully charge.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are slightly better truly wireless headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 Truly Wireless. The Anker have a better charging case that feels more premium, a longer single-charge battery life, and a dedicated companion app with a ton of EQ presets and a graphic EQ. They also isolate much more background noise passively and leak less audio. On the other hand, the TaoTronics have a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and a better microphone. The TaoTronics may also represent a better overall value for some people.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless and the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless are both versatile, well-rounded truly wireless earbuds. The Samsung have a much more neutral sound out-of-the-box, which makes them more versatile for a wider range of genres by default. The Anker have a more excited sound profile, and their companion app provides a lot of sound customization options, including a graphic EQ. The Samsung have a more comfortable, compact earbud design, however, and a significantly better battery performance.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are slightly better truly wireless in-ears than the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless. The Anker have a better-balanced default sound profile, and their companion app gives you a lot of different sound customization options. The Anker's battery also lasts longer on a single charge. However, the TOZO's touch controls are easier to use.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are much better truly wireless earbuds than the JLab Audio JBuds Air Executive Truly Wireless. Both models have an exciting default sound signature, but the Anker's is less exaggerated, and they have more sound customization options with their companion app. The JLab's battery life isn't quite as good, but they do charge more quickly. The Anker isolate more noise though and feel better-built.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are much better truly wireless in-ears than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. The Anker have a much better-balanced sound profile, block more ambient noise, and are more comfortable. They also have better controls, better battery life, and feel more premium. They have a companion app with more customization features, including a graphic EQ. On the other hand, the Razer have a lower latency with gaming mode enabled.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better headphones for most uses than the Beats Solo Pro Wireless. The Anker have a more comfortable and stable fit, and their mic offers a better recording quality. You can also customize their sound profile. The Beats are better-built, and they have longer continuous battery life. They also have an H1 chip, so you can seamlessly pair them with your Apple devices.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are better truly wireless earbuds than the Skullcandy Indy Truly Wireless. Their default sound profile is better balanced, and their companion app gives you lots of sound customization options to choose from. Although they don't have a standby mode like the Skullcandy, their battery lasts much longer on a single charge, and they feel much better built overall.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Truly Wireless are slightly better truly wireless in-ears than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless. The Samsung are more comfortable, feel more stable, have a slightly more accurate sound profile, and last longer off a single charge. On the other hand, the Anker have better controls, isolate more noise, and have longer overall battery life.
Test Results
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 have a very similar style to the first generation. Our unit has a nice matte black finish which shouldn't attract as many fingerprints as the previous version's glossy black finish, and they have a small splash of red color on the bottom of the stems. Overall, they look slightly more premium than the first-gen SoundCore Liberty Air. If you don't like the stem design, check out the more earbud-like looking Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro.
The Liberty Air 2 are decently comfortable, though their in-ear fit may not be for everyone. They come with five different silicone tip sizes to help ensure you get the most comfortable fit. If you want a pair of truly wireless headphones that are even more comfortable, check out the Google Pixel Buds 2020 Truly Wireless, the OnePlus Buds Z Truly Wireless, or the Mpow X3 Truly Wireless.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2's touch-sensitive control scheme is decent and significantly improved over the previous model. Unfortunately, the headphones only offer four programmable controls which can be customized within the companion app: a double-tap and long hold on each ear. There's no feedback on the touch controls, and you only get audio cues when powering on/off or pairing the headphones. If you prefer physical buttons, check out the more affordable Anker SoundCore Life P2.
Like most in-ear headphones such as the Google Pixel Buds A-Series Truly Wireless and the EarFun Air Pro 2 True Wireless, the Liberty Air 2 don’t trap any heat inside your ear, so you shouldn’t notice a difference in temperature when wearing them. This makes them a good option for sports as you shouldn’t sweat more than usual.
These truly wireless headphones are very small and lightweight and have excellent portability. Their charging case is also on the smaller side and should easily be able to fit into most pockets or bags.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2's charging case is great. It feels slightly more premium than the previous model thanks to its matte finish, and it now includes wireless charging capabilities that should work with any Qi-enabled charger. It's worth noting that while we don't test this, we tried it on various wireless chargers around the office and found that it seems to be very susceptible to placement on the charging pad, and we had to place it in just the right spot to ensure charging.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2's build quality is good. Both the earbuds and the case feel less plasticky and slightly more premium than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air. The case feels sturdy enough, with a good quality hinge that doesn't feel wobbly or loose, and overall it should be able to withstand a few drops or bumps without sustaining damage. The headphones are also rated IPX5 for sweat and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 feel quite stable in your ear once you find the proper fit with the included tips. Like the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless, once you achieve a decent seal, the buds should likely stay in your ear even during runs or light workouts. Unfortunately, they don't have optional stability fins, which would help improve this even further.
- Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 headphones
- 5 tip sizes
- Charging case
- USB-C charging cable
- Manuals
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 have a fairly well-balanced sound profile that's slightly bass-heavy but without the bass being too over-powering. Unfortunately, their mid-range is slightly recessed, which may push leads and vocals to the back of the mix. Overall, these headphones will likely please fans of thumpy bass, though they should be versatile enough for most genres. They also have a companion app with a ton of available presets, so you can pick the one that best suits your personal preference.
The frequency response consistency is outstanding. They deliver audio more consistently than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless, and once you achieve a proper fit and seal with the included tips, you'll likely get consistent bass and treble response every time you use them.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2's bass accuracy is excellent. They're slightly overemphasized in the low-bass range which will give a bit of thump and should please fans of dubstep or EDM. The rest of the range evens out a bit more, giving them a deep, well-balanced, and punchy bass response that shouldn't sound muddy or boomy.
The Liberty Air 2's mid accuracy is good. While this range is mostly flat, unfortunately it's underemphasized throughout the entire frequency range. This results in leads and vocals that may sound slightly distant, weak, and pushed back in the mix.
The Liberty Air 2's treble accuracy is excellent. They follow our target curve fairly well and while they're slightly over-emphasized in the upper mid-treble range, they shouldn't sound too harsh or piercing.
The peaks and dips performance is great. They're reasonably well-balanced and stay fairly flat throughout all frequency ranges. However, there's a bit of a dip throughout the entire mid-range, which may make leads and vocals sound ever so slightly weak and distant. There are also two peaks in the treble range, though these are in high enough frequencies that they likely won't be too audible for most people.
The Liberty Air 2's stereo imaging is excellent. The group delay is below the audibility threshold for the entire range, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. Also, the L/R drivers of our test unit were very well-matched. This is important for the accurate placement and localization of objects (like voices or footsteps) in the stereo image. These results are only valid for our unit and yours may perform differently.
Like all closed-back in-ear headphones, their soundstage is poor. This is because creating an out-of-head and speaker-like soundstage is largely dependent on activating the resonances of the pinna (outer ear). The design of in-ears and earbuds is in such a way that fully bypasses the pinna and doesn't interact with it.
The Liberty Air 2's weighted harmonic distortion is very good. All frequencies fall within very good limits, which should result in a clear and pure audio reproduction.
The Liberty Air 2's noise isolation performance is quite good. They can passively isolate against more background noise than some headphones that have an ANC feature, like the Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless or Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro. Assuming you've got a proper seal with the included tips, they do a great job at blocking out background chatter, making them a good choice for the office. Unfortunately, they do a sub-par job at blocking out the rumble of a bus or plane engine.
The Liberty Air 2's leakage performance is outstanding. They leak almost no audio, and shouldn't bother those around you.
The microphone recording quality on the Liberty Air 2 is passable. Like most Bluetooth headphones, the speech recorded with this microphone will sound muffled and lacking in detail.
The microphone's noise handling is fair and it performs better than the Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction's mic. If you're taking a call from a busy street, background noise is present as you speak, but your speech is still intelligible. Loud sounds like a train pulling into the station can overpower your voice though.
The Liberty Air 2's battery life is mediocre overall, but good for truly wireless headphones. Their continuous battery life is on the longer side, and their overall battery life of nearly 26 hours is very good. You can also charge one earbud while listening to the other. That being said, if you want headphones with an even longer continuous battery life, check out the Boltune BT-BH024 Truly Wireless or the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless.
Update 01/17/2020: We previously incorrectly stated that the case provided an additional five charges, when it actually provides three, resulting in shorter total battery life than originally claimed. The review has been updated to reflect these changes.
Update 01/17/2020: Upon updating the Anker Soundcore app we've found that Anker has added an 8-band Graphic EQ. The review has been updated to reflect this.
The Liberty Air 2's dedicated companion app is good. It offers 20 EQ presets as well as an 8-band graphic EQ to fully customize your sound profile. The app also contains Anker's HearID feature, which creates an EQ personally for you. While we don't officially test this, we tried it in the office and found it didn't make much of a difference. If you want wireless in-ears with a more impressive custom personalized EQ, check out the Nura Nuraloop Wireless. The Anker Soundcore app also allows you to button-map the four available touch-sensitive buttons. If you'd rather something with EQ presets built directly into the earbuds, consider the JLab Audio JBuds Air Executive Truly Wireless.
Update 09/09/2021: We now measure negative latency values in test bench 1.5 and have extended our scoring curve accordingly. Negative latency means that your audio comes before your visuals. Previous to this test bench, we gave a score of 0ms when the value was negative. However, using test bench 1.5, we measured -2ms on iOS and 8ms on Android. These headphones still have a good latency value, though, as a good value falls between -55ms to 150ms. You also shouldn't notice a delay in audio or visuals. However, the scoring of this box has changed from 7.0 to 7.3 to reflect these changes.
The Anker Liberty Air 2 are Bluetooth-only truly wireless headphones. Unlike the first generation, these headphones now support aptX, which is a nice addition. They have high latency using aptX codec, but their latency is much lower on Android and iOS devices, which is nice if you like to stream video. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently, and your experience may vary.
Note: Unfortunately, our Bluetooth dongle encountered issues and we were unable to test their SBC latency. Considering how slightly high their aptX latency is, we'd expect their SBC performance to be slightly worse, and they likely aren't a good option for watching video content. We'll update this score when we can properly test latency. If you want more gaming-oriented truly wireless headphones, check out the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless.
These headphones are Bluetooth-only.
These truly wireless headphones are Bluetooth-only. Their charging case charges via USB-C, and a 1.9ft cable is included.