Anker Soundcore Space One vs Anker Soundcore Liberty 5
Quick take: The Anker Soundcore Space One lasts longer per charge (40 hrs).
Which one to buy
Same brand, same $79 price, different formats: over-ear headphones or earbuds. Since few people truly need both, the question is what you'll use them for.
For long sitting sessions, the Space One wins. It runs 40 hours with ANC on, has a 3.5mm jack for when the battery dies, and wear detection pauses music when you lift an earcup. Its ANC handles office chatter better than its price suggests, though deep plane rumble only gets dulled. The Liberty 5 manages about 7 hours with ANC in measured use (8 claimed) and 32 total, with ANC measured around 76% that lands mid-pack.
For talking and multitasking, the Liberty 5 wins. Long-term reviewers rate its six-mic call quality near the top of the budget class, while the Space One's mics make callers sound muffled even in quiet rooms. Both support LDAC, but only the Liberty 5 keeps it running with multipoint on; the Space One makes you choose. The Liberty 5 is also IP55, while the Space One has no water rating.
Their weak spots are different too. The Liberty 5's squeeze-stem controls are fiddly and easy to trigger by accident, and its treble arrives dull until you EQ it. The Space One starts very bass-heavy, clamps hard on larger heads, and has a transparency mode owners call one of the worst they've used. Both share Soundcore's app with HearID, so expect to spend a few minutes tuning either one.
Anker Soundcore Space One
If most of your listening happens sitting down at a desk, on a plane or on a couch, and you'd rather charge weekly than daily.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5
Worth it when you take calls, switch between a laptop and a phone all day, or need something that fits in a pocket and survives sweat.
| Spec | Anker Soundcore Space One | Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$79 | ~$79 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Over-Ear Headphones | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 40 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | 32 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 5 min = 4 hrs | 10 min = 5 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 9.2 mm |
| Weight | 265 g | 4.6 g |
| Water Resistance | — | IP55 |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | No | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Anker Soundcore Space One
- ✓Adaptive ANC, LDAC, and multipoint for around $80
- ✓40-hour battery with ANC engaged
- ✓Handles voice chatter better than the JBL Tune 770NC
- ✓Excellent custom EQ in the Soundcore app
- ✓Wear detection rarely seen at this price
- ✓5-minute charge buys 4 hours
- ✗Deeply bass-heavy stock tuning makes the EQ mandatory
- ✗Faint ANC hiss audible in quiet rooms
- ✗Toylike headband slider on an all-plastic build
- ✗LDAC costs battery life and some connection stability
- ✗Mediocre call quality in noise despite AI-mic marketing
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5
- ✓LDAC hi-res plus multipoint simultaneously — rare at any price
- ✓8-hour ANC-on battery matches Sony's flagship
- ✓10 min = 5 hr quick charge leads the class
- ✓HearID EQ meaningfully personalizes the sound
- ✓IP55 handles sweat and dust
- ✓Six-mic calls punch above the price
- ✓Voice-focused ANC 3.0 works well in offices
- ✗Overall ANC is mid-pack — well below Bose and Sony
- ✗Squeeze-stem controls are fiddly and mis-trigger
- ✗Glossy design looks cheaper than it is
- ✗Dolby Audio is an effect, not true spatial audio
Anker Soundcore Space One vs Anker Soundcore Liberty 5: common questions
Is the Liberty 5 or the Space One better for Zoom calls?▾
The Liberty 5, without much contest. Its six-mic setup is one of its strongest points, while the Space One's muffled mic is its most common complaint.
Can I use LDAC and multipoint at the same time on the Liberty 5 or the Space One?▾
On the Liberty 5, yes, and that's unusual. On the Space One, no: turning on one disables the other in the app.
Does the Space One or the Liberty 5 block more plane noise?▾
Neither removes deep engine rumble: the Space One only dulls it, and the Liberty 5's ANC measures mid-pack at around 76%. The over-ear's real flight advantage is its 40-hour battery and wired fallback.