Top-Rated Earbuds for Crystal Clear Voice Calls in 2026

Both run on Anker's new in-house AI chip — a change the publication credits with reversing several Liberty generations of stagnant or regressing call quality. Sony's WF-1000XM6, Apple's AirPods Pro 3, and Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 Pro round out the top tier for buyers who anchor on microphone performance.

Anker Liberty 5 Pro vs Pro Max

The Pro lists at $170; the Pro Max at $230. Earbud hardware is identical across both SKUs; the split is the case. The Pro carries a smaller touchscreen. The Pro Max carries a 1.8-inch AMOLED touchscreen plus an AI Notetaker voice recorder with a built-in microphone. The Max case is larger and heavier. CNET's Editors' Choice went to the Pro — identical acoustic and call stack, lower price, no oversized brick to pocket. Per the publication, it is the new chip, not the case, that drives the call-quality delta against earlier Liberty generations. Design caveat from CNET: the buds stick out of the ear more than most competitors.

Sony WF-1000XM6 spec counterweight

Sony counters with a different optimization path. CNET documents eight microphones — up from six in the prior generation — a QN3e processor rated three times more powerful than its predecessor, improved analog-to-digital conversion, and a revised bone-conduction sensor. The bone-conduction element is what CNET ties directly to voice pickup in noisy environments. CNET rates the XM6's voice-calling performance as top-tier, alongside its sound quality and active noise cancellation. The earbuds carry an external redesign versus the prior generation; pricing is not disclosed in the material reviewed.

Buying criteria

Three measurable variables define voice-calling quality at this tier: beam-forming microphone count and placement, the background-noise-reduction algorithm running on the DSP, and the presence of a voice accelerometer that detects jaw movement during speech. CNET explicitly notes that call quality varies by host handset and carrier service — the same earbud will not measure identically on an iPhone on one network and a Galaxy on another. Practical implication: bench-test with your own phone and your own service before committing. The Pro Max's $60 premium and added case bulk are justified only if the AI Notetaker workflow adds measurable value to the buyer's routine. Anker's positioning as a lower-cost alternative to Apple, Bose, and Sony is the underlying pricing premise of the entire Liberty 5 line.