Apple AirPods 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Which are the better wireless buds?

For

Pro-level features for less
Effective ANC for open ear buds
Find Me for ANC case
Sweat-resistant design
Superior call quality

Against

Average battery life
Poor call quality
Lanyard is available at extra cost

For

Exceptional sound quality
Powerful noise canceling
Exceptional functionality
Excellent level of control
Stable gaming times

Against

Smaller earbud size affects eartip seal and fit
Battery life remains the same as before
Flaky 360 Reality Audio customization setup

AirPods 4 It’s much better (with the ANC) than we imagined. shares the same sound design with AirPods Pro 2 with bells and whistles (e.g. Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio), plus adding active noise cancelingThey are a valuable competitor for many companies. best wireless headphones.

What better way to evaluate the latest AirPods than to compare them to the current class leader? Sony WF-1000XM5. Understandably powerful ANC, exceptional sound, and tons of features in a premium, eye-catching design, sony They have a true wireless gem on their hands.

So how do the AirPods 4 hold up against Sony’s Mark Series 5 buds? Scroll down to find out.

AirPods 4 and Sony WF-1000XM5: Features compared

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Header Cell – Column 0	Apple AirPods 4	Sony WF-1000XM5
Price	$249 / £229 / AU$399	$299 / £236 / AU$449
wireless charging box	Yes	Yes
Dimension	1.19 x 0.72 x 0.71 inches (per bud); 1.82 x 1.97 x 0.83 inches (charging case)	Not specified
Weight	0.15 ounce (per bud); 1.22 ounces (charging case)	0.21 ounce (per bud); 1.38 ounces (charging case)
Battery life (rated)	4 hours (ANC on), 5 hours (ANC off), 30 hours (charging case with ANC off)	8 hours (ANC on); 12 hours (ANC off); 24 hours (with box and ANC on); 36 hours (with box and ANC off)
Connection	Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC	Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC
Durability	IP54 (buds and box)	IPX4 (buds only)

AirPods 4 and Sony WF-1000XM5 comparison: Price and availability

Apple launched the AirPods 4 (with ANC) for $179 / £134 / AU$263, while the Sony WF-1000XM5 was initially launched for $299 / £236 / AU$449. The latter comes in more color options – Black, Silver and Smoky Pink – and it’s often on sale (we’ve seen it for as low as $223). Apple sells the AirPods 4 only in White. These two bud sets are available at popular online retailers as well as their respective brand websites.

Performance on both sides exceeds MSRP. Therefore, this category is a draw.

Winning: To connect

Comparison between AirPods 4 and Sony WF-1000XM5: Design

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

The Sony buds have a striking oval shape with a matte finish and small, wind-resistant mesh grilles that sit flush against the bottom of the touch panel. Whether you choose the included memory foam or silicone tips, they provide a nice, secure fit. IPX4 certification means sweat and water resistance. The lighter, thinner and smaller charging case is just as stylish and portable.

(Image credit: Future)

The AirPods 4 look no different from the previous version, except that they come with a smaller charging case with a built-in speaker with Find My integration. All other details remain intact, from the long-bodied silhouette to the fragile plastic structure. Open ear designs do not allow for a secure fit.

Winning: Sony WF-1000XM5

AirPods 4 and Sony WF-1000XM5 Comparison: Controls

(Image credit: Future)

It’s a blessing to experience Apple’s true wireless control scheme, which consists of seamless voice controls, precise motion detection, and force sensors that provide excellent haptic feedback. “Hey siriVoice activation for voice commands on AirPods 4 is notable. Force sensors instantly respond to single/multiple presses and long presses. Wear detection is also accurate, automatically pausing content when removing buds.

(Image credit: Sony)

Sony has done a great job with the WF-1000XM5’s controls. Touch gestures and wear detection are responsive and hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant works fine. AirPods 4 works flawlessly within Apple’s ecosystem.

Winning: AirPods 4

AirPods 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

Few brands can compete with Sony’s true wireless audio. Apple is not one of them. That’s not to say the AirPods 4 aren’t great-sounding headphones, because they are impressive sonically. The combination of dynamic range amplifier, high excursion driver and Apple’s H2 chipset delivers clearer frequency range and richer bass. An adaptive EQ adjusts the sound to your environment. Personalized Spatial Audio creates dynamic and immersive 3D audio that no other open wireless headset can replicate.

Sony’s V2 processor and Dynamic Driver DSEE (Digital Audio Enhancement Engine) increases fidelity by upgrading poorly designed recordings. There’s an EQ with several great presets and a Find Your Equalizer setting to create a sound profile based on your hearing. 360 Reality Audio adds natural sound to music and movies. Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec support completes the package, providing smooth Bluetooth playback at higher bitrates.

Winning: Sony WF-1000XM5

AirPods 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Active noise canceling performance

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

AirPods 4 can neutralize up to 85 percent of unwanted noise; This is surprisingly good because the open earbuds are designed to let ambient sound in. Common home distractions like talkative family members, loud televisions, and the humming sound from the central air conditioning unit go unnoticed. The same can be said for everyday outdoor sounds like birdsong, grocery store chatter, and passing cars. Transparency mode is useful for increasing situational awareness. Apple’s other listening features are also available: Adaptive Audio, Speech Awareness, Headphone Accommodations, Live Listen, and Personalized Volume.

(Image credit: Future)

ANC is stronger and more intuitive on the WF-1000XM5. These buds eliminate up to 90 percent of noise across the frequency spectrum. High frequency sounds are processed much better. Sony’s 20-level Ambient Sound mode captures large amounts of external sound and delivers outstanding audio capture; We could hear conversations from across the street.

Winning: Sony WF-1000XM5

AirPods 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Special features

(Image credit: Future)

The features are equally abundant in both groups of buds. We have previously touched on the relevant audio enhancement and listening modes. AirPods 4 bring back key features like auto switching, audio sharing, Find My integration, “Hey Siri” voice activation, head gestures, and one-tap pairing with iOS devices.

(Image credit: Future)

Meanwhile, the WF-1000XM5 supports hands-free Alexa or Google Assistant, Quick Attention to automatically lower the volume to 10 percent, Speak-to-Chat to pause content when it detects your voice, Spotify Tap the shortcut and multi-tech to pair the buds with two devices simultaneously.

Winning: To connect

AirPods 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5 comparison: Call quality

(Image credit: Sony)

No matter the AirPods model, Apple always gets call quality right. Voice calling on the AirPods 4 is mostly loud and clear. But the headphones let in more background noise than we’d like. WF-1000XM5 is more reliable for voice and video calls. Improved AI noise reduction and mesh grilles keep background noise and wind to a minimum. Sony’s feedforward microphones deliver clear audio output.

Winning: Sony WF-1000XM5

AirPods 4 and Sony WF-1000XM5 Comparison: Battery life

(Image credit: Sony)

It’s mind-boggling to see that AirPods 4’s battery life is lower than AirPods 4’s AirPods 3. The 5-hour maximum playback time (4 hours with ANC on) is pretty disappointing, even for current-gen AirPods. The WF-1000XM5 provides up to 12 hours of listening time, depending on how you use the headphones. Sony’s wireless charging case lasts up to 36 hours; That’s 6 hours more than Apple’s wireless charging case. Quick charging is faster on the WF-1000XM5: 3 minutes of charging equals 1 hour of playback time. Like all AirPods models, AirPods 4 provides 1 hour of use with a 5-minute charge.

Winning: Sony WF-1000XM5

AirPods 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5 Comparison: Verdict

(Image credit: Future)

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Header Cell – Column 0	AirPods 4	Sony WF-1000XM5
Price and value (5)	4	4
Design (15)	11	13
Controls (10)	10	9
Sound quality (20)	16	19
Active noise cancellation (20)	16	18
Special features (15)	13	13
Call quality (5)	4	5
Battery life (10)	5	9
Total score (100)	79	90

Sony’s WF-1000M5 wireless headphones easily win this battle. Getting the brand’s best audio technologies and noise-cancelling features in a sharp-looking design is worth the high MSRP. Strong battery life, call quality, and connectivity are features any business user will appreciate. Any complaints about these buds seem minor considering their overall performance.

Apple has smartly improved the design and sound of the AirPods 4 with many of the same features as the AirPods Pro 2. ANC performs well to allow listeners to enjoy music and movies peacefully. Spatial Audio effectively animates the soundscape. Apple’s control scheme is also untouchable. But decreasing battery life and unstable compatibility can’t be overcome.