Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Named Best Overall Headphones in NYC Durability Test

After extensive testing across the bustling streets of New York City, the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds have been named the best overall headphones in the Made It Here Awards 2026. The rigorous evaluation, which involved 12 testers assessing nine different pairs of headphones, focused on their ability to withstand the city's demanding environment, from noisy subway commutes to busy streetscapes.

The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro stood out for its customizable fit, flexible noise cancellation, and impressive battery life. Testers noted that the five levels of active noise cancellation were highly effective, with one tester reporting that the noise cancellation on its highest setting was so potent he "mostly only wore one" earbud to remain aware of his surroundings.

Beyond noise cancellation, the earbuds impressed with their unique charging case, featuring a touchscreen for controls, battery life display, and even a remote shutter for a phone's camera. The Liberty 5 Pro also comes with multiple ear-tip and wing-tip sizes to ensure a secure and comfortable fit for various users. Testers praised the battery life, with the earbuds offering a full charge out of the box.

Key Features of Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro:

• Noise Cancellation: Five adjustable levels, including an extreme active noise cancellation mode.
• Battery Life: Extended duration, with a full charge upon purchase.
• Charging Case: Features a touchscreen with controls, battery indicator, and camera remote functionality.
• Fit: Customizable with five sizes of ear-tips and three wing-tip sizes.
• Audio: Equipped with Dolby Spatial Audio and optimized for Dolby Atmos.

While the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earned the top spot, other headphones were recognized for specific strengths. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 were noted as the best option for Apple device users, offering features like live translation and hearing health protection. The Sony WH-1000XM6 earbuds were highlighted for their exceptional noise cancellation and call quality, though some testers found them to be heavy.

In the over-ear category, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) was crowned the best overall for its comfort, adjustable noise cancellation, and spatial audio capabilities. For travelers, the Beats Studio Pro offered a stylish and practical option, particularly with its inclusion of an AUX cable for in-flight entertainment systems. The Apple AirPods Max (2nd Gen) were praised for their aesthetic appeal, though comfort was a point of contention for some.

For those preferring open-ear designs, the Shokz OpenDots 2 were deemed the best overall, providing immersive sound and good awareness of surroundings. The JBL Soundgear Clips stood out as the best for workouts due to their secure clip-on design and sweatproof capabilities, while the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were lauded for their superior transparency mode.

The testing criteria included subway noise effectiveness, call clarity in loud environments, comfort for extended wear, battery life, awareness mode functionality, bag compatibility for over-ear models, style, durability, and overall sound quality, assessed using specific film score tracks.