Nothing Ear (a) vs soundcore Liberty 5 Pro: which should you buy?

Answer worked out Oct. 31, 2026

Nothing Ear (a) price: Checked Oct. 31, 2026

soundcore Liberty 5 Pro price: Checked Oct. 30, 2026

Most people: get the Nothing Ear (a), because it is the better fit for more of what people buy these for.

Get the Nothing Ear (a) for phone calls and sound quality.

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Nothing Ear (a) vs soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

Nothing Ear (a)
NOTHING

Nothing Ear (a)

$59 at Amazon
soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
SOUNDCORE

soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

$169.99 at Soundcore
  1. Nothing Ear (a): Up to 42.5 hours with the case and 9.5 hours per charge, noise cancelling offBatterysoundcore Liberty 5 Pro: ANC on: up to 6.5 hrs / 28 hrs with case; normal mode: 12 hrs / 50 hrs
  2. Nothing Ear (a): 4.8 g per earbud; 49.2 g totalWeightsoundcore Liberty 5 Pro: 5.5 g per earbud
  3. Nothing Ear (a): IP54 earbuds, IPX2 caseWater resistancesoundcore Liberty 5 Pro: IP55
  4. Nothing Ear (a): Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC; dual connection to 2 devices at onceConnectivitysoundcore Liberty 5 Pro: Bluetooth 6.1; multipoint, up to 3 devices
  5. Nothing Ear (a): $59Price today$110.99 apartsoundcore Liberty 5 Pro: $169.99
Nothing Ear (a)
Buy at Nothing$59
We may earn a commission.
soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
Buy at Soundcore$169.99
We may earn a commission.
All the details

Key differences

  • Battery life: close (5.5 hrs vs 6.5 hrs) (both ANC on)Nothing Ear (a): 5.5 hrs ConfirmedSourcesoundcore Liberty 5 Pro: 6.5 hrs ConfirmedSource

From each maker's own specifications. A point is listed only when both makers state a figure and the two differ; a point either maker does not state is left out, never guessed. Two figures measured under different conditions are shown side by side, not compared.

Who should buy which

  • The Nothing Ear (a) Guide names it for travel, music and calls.Travel: Four noise cancelling modes up to 45 dB quiet the trip, and the case stretches playback to 42.5 hours. Source linkedSourceMusic: Meaty, arresting sound over LDAC Hi-Res Audio, with a custom EQ and bass enhance in the Nothing X app. Source linkedSourceCalls: Three microphones per bud and Clear Voice Technology cut background noise from your calls. Source linkedSource

The soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Guide does not name what it is best for yet, so this list does not compare the two.

From what each Guide names the product best for.

Side by side

FeatureNothing Ear (a)soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
BatteryUp to 42.5 hours with the case and 9.5 hours per charge, noise cancelling offANC on: up to 6.5 hrs / 28 hrs with case
Weight4.8 g per earbud5.5 g per earbudNothing4.8 gSoundcore5.5 g
Water resistanceIP54 earbuds, IPX2 caseIP55
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDACBluetooth 6.1
ControlsPinch controls for music, calls and noise cancelling, customizable in the Nothing X appTouch controls, 20 built-in voice commands, and a touch screen
Noise cancellingNoise cancelling up to 45 dB: high, mid, low and adaptiveYes, Adaptive ANC 4.0
Works withiPhone and Android: the Nothing X app isiPhone and Android, soundcore app
Earbud batteryUp to 9.5 hours with noise cancelling off, 5.5 hours with it on6.5 hrs (ANC on)
Case batteryUp to 42.5 hours with noise cancelling off, 24.5 hours with it on, earbuds and case together28 hrs with case (ANC on)
Lossless audioHi-Res Audio with LDACLDAC
CaseCharging case with USB-C wired chargingCharging case with a 0.96-inch touch screen

Nothing Ear (a)

Buy at Nothing$59
Checked Oct. 30, 2026

soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

Buy at Soundcore$169.99
Checked Oct. 30, 2026

We may earn a commission.

Works with your phone

iPhone
Works with limitsWorks with limits
Android
WorksWorks

Sources

NothingSoundcore
Nothing Ear (a) vs soundcore P20i