
Wi-fi earbuds continue to red meat up every person year. Two of the prime strategies accessible dazzling now are the AirPods Skilled 2 and the Sony WF-1000XM5. In our reports of every devices, we gave them every a 4.5-well-known particular person rating. They each offer gigantic sound and ANC aspects, overjoyed fit, and a unbelievable particular person skills, so you in fact can’t streak scandalous with either different. Nonetheless, is there a greater option between them? Let’s stumble on and discover.
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: specs
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
Weight | 5.3 grams per earbud; 50.8 grams carrying case | 5,9 grams per earbud; 39 grams carry case |
Eartips | X-little, little, medium, and gigantic | X-little, little, medium, and gigantic |
Fashion | In-ear, closed | In-ear, closed |
Ambient sound modes | ANC, transparency, Adaptive Noise Adjust, Dialog Consciousness, Loud sound reduction, spatial audio | ANC, Ambient Sound mode, Dispute Focal point |
IP rating | IP54 | IPX4 |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Battery lifestyles | As a lot as 6 hours between charges; 30 hours total with charging case | As a lot as eight hours between charges; 24 hours total with charging case |
Coloration strategies | White | Sad, Smoky Red, and Silver |
Label | $249 | $299 |
Purchase |
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: originate and comfort

The first-skills AirPods Skilled 2 was once introduced in September 2022 and has since been discontinued. This preliminary iteration featured a Lightning connector on the charging case, which was once conventional for many Apple devices on the time. Nonetheless, in September 2023, Apple introduced the present version of the AirPods Skilled 2, now geared up with a USB-C connector, aligning extra carefully with the broader tech alternate type toward universal charging strategies.
From a originate perspective, each versions remain fixed, showcasing Apple’s dedication to a gathered and minimalistic stunning. The earbuds sport a sleek white halt, complemented by short stems that residence the microphones and touch controls. To make certain that a overjoyed and stable fit correct through utilize, every pair comes with silicone ear guidelines in diversified sizes (additional-little, little, medium, and gigantic) to cater to diverse ear shapes and preferences. Whenever you occur to win the dazzling dimension for you, the fit is ultimate and the AirPods Skilled 2 might presumably perchance well furthermore be frail for extended classes of time.
The included charging case is also white and aspects a compact originate that’s easy to carry. A standout feature of the case is its constructed-in speaker, which supports Glean My alerts, making it simpler for customers to stumble on their case if it’s misplaced. The case also supports MagSafe and wi-fi charging capabilities, providing versatility in how customers can recharge their devices.
We chanced on the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds remarkably overjoyed to boot, thanks to their tender plastic building and newly designed foam ear guidelines. The earbuds non-public been expertly crafted to be smaller, lighter, and extra streamlined than their predecessor, the WF-1000XM4, making them ideally suited for prolonged listening classes with out discomfort.
The accompanying charging case has also been redesigned, making it extra pocket-friendly thanks to its compact dimension. This makes it helpful to carry round, whether or no longer commuting, traveling, or factual heading out for a speedily errand.
Nonetheless, it’s charge noting about a things. The sleek halt of the WF01000XM5s can construct them slippery, which can presumably perchance well furthermore fair rob some getting at risk of, in particular when dealing with them. Furthermore, while the fit is in overall perfect, we chanced on it less stable than the XM4. This might occasionally presumably pose a quandary correct through extra vigorous actions, similar to working or intense exercises, where a cushty fit is preferable for optimum performance total. While the WF-1000XM5 earbuds inform a overjoyed skills correct through informal utilize, these with energetic existence must consider of the aptitude for a less stable fit.
Resulting from the fit effort with Sonys when put next to the AirPods Skilled 2, we’re giving this demonstrate Apple’s earbuds.
Winner: AirPods Skilled 2
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: aspects and controls

The AirPods Skilled 2 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 are top charge earbuds geared up with diverse evolved audio aspects and adjust strategies. The AirPods Skilled 2 encompass Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), an Adaptive Transparency mode, Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head monitoring, and Adaptive EQ. While stationary, you might presumably perchance construct changes the usage of the Settings app on your connected iPhone or iPad. The capacity sensors on the stems enable for straightforward playback management for on-the-streak adjust.
Furthermore, you might presumably perchance utilize Siri for fingers-free operation and an update with the iOS 18 update came easy-to-utilize head gallop aspects that show you methods to bag Siri prompts admire incoming phone calls, by nodding “yes” or shaking your head “n0.” Computerized ear detection also pauses the tune everytime you get rid of one earbud and resumes playback once it is miles positioned help on your ear.
A standout feature of the AirPods Skilled 2 is dialog consciousness, which robotically lowers the quantity and enhances voices if you occur to inaugurate speaking. The earbuds seamlessly swap between Apple devices, allowing you to govern tune while instant transitioning between your Mac and iPhone within the event you, let’s inform, utilize each all the procedure through your work day for calls and Groups meetings.
Aspects admire Glean My toughen enable right region monitoring and personalized alerts through the charging case speaker. Lastly, the Listening to Assist compatibility feature helps you to utilize the earbuds to let you hear better. These aspects construct the AirPods Skilled 2 a delicious different for Apple customers.
Sony’s earbuds offer impressive aspects that enhance the actual person skills. The touch controls are right and intuitive, providing a delicious audible tone as confirmation with every interplay. This makes it simpler to navigate through functions and minimizes the possibilities of unintended faucets.
One principal enchancment (versus the old mannequin) is the enhanced performance that permits customers to adjust the quantity on the earbuds with out shedding access to order assistant aspects. This seamless integration capability you might presumably perchance bag pleasure from your tune and diagram up your calls with out interruption.
The XM5s also reach geared up with modern head gallop adjust gestures equivalent to the AirPods Skilled 2 — a straightforward nod can bag incoming calls, while shaking your head will decline them. This fingers-free feature is at hand when your fingers are occupied.
The Bluetooth connection stands out for its reliability, putting ahead a trusty link even at a distance. Whether or no longer out for a creep or curious round the dwelling, the connection remains strong and uninterrupted, taking into consideration a tender listening skills. Overall, Sony has blended particular person-friendliness with evolved skills, making their earbuds a standout different for audio fans.
It’s laborious to select a winner on this point, so we gained’t.
Winner: Tie
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: battery lifestyles

The 2d-skills AirPods Skilled battery lifestyles can final up to 6 hours with energetic noise cancellation (ANC) when inclined at about 50% quantity, making them ideally suited for each day commutes or prolonged meetings. Nonetheless, the usage of ANC carefully might presumably perchance well furthermore fair minimize the battery lifestyles to round 5 hours. A speedily 5-minute charge offers an additional usage hour, while the wi-fi charging case supports four paunchy charges, totaling 30 hours of listening time.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 stands out for its battery lifestyles, providing up to eight hours with ANC activated and 12 hours with it deactivated. The charging case offers round 36 hours of total playtime, making it true for each day utilize. Furthermore, their speedily-charge feature enables for another hour of playtime in barely three minutes, appealing to informal listeners and audiophiles.
We’ll give the threshold to Sony right here.
Winner: WF-1000XM5
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: sound quality

The AirPods Skilled 2 delivers distinctive sound quality that stands out within the competitive market of fair wi-fi earbuds. Our review of them sure that they construct punchy bass that feels deep and resonant, providing a rich audio basis with out overpowering the mids and highs. The treble is meticulously crafted, showcasing readability and crispness that permits the refined intricacies of vocals and instruments to shine through. Each nuance on your accepted tracks is articulated fantastically, making even basically the most complex preparations easy to take care of.
Among the standout aspects is the broad soundstage, which creates plenty of spatial consciousness that envelops the listener from all directions. The head-monitoring spatial audio feature severely enhances this immersive quality, which simulates a are residing concert or cinematic ambiance. Sounds waft round you seamlessly as you progress your head, making every listening session in fact feel taking part and fresh. This invites you to stumble to your tune library in a brand original gentle.
In step with our reviewer, even supposing, the sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds is prime-notch to boot, pointing out that “you gained’t win better, even within the event you utilize extra.”
Sony constantly excels in sound quality, and the XM5 earbuds are no longer any exception. They offer an audio skills that enhances the already impressive performance of the XM4s, handing over balanced bass that is each resonant and musically rich.
Throughout a spectrum of genres, from laborious rock to jazz, the XM5 earbuds diagram up to defend diverse musical factors obvious and certain. As an instance, correct through Invoice Laurance’s complex computer screen “Zeal,” which overwhelmed the $400 Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2, the XM5s successfully organized the multiple layers of synths, strings, and percussion, making them simply decipherable. The usage of Sony’s LDAC Bluetooth codec on Android enhances part and dynamic differ, in particular with lossless excessive-resolution audio files, which the AirPods Skilled 2 does no longer toughen.
The soundstage is impressively detailed and right, even supposing it tends to remain reasonably confined to the listener’s head, concentrating quite loads of the audio internal a compact space correct through conventional stereo playback. In distinction, immersive 3D audio codecs similar to Sony 360 Truth Audio (360RA) and Dolby Atmos severely develop the listening skills, with 360RA demonstrating basically the most abet.
Furthermore, Sony has introduced a beta feature known as Glean Your Equalizer, which personalizes your sound skills. You make a selection a music and the diagram guides you through three EQ changes. After every step, you resolve your most in type modification from a checklist, unlocking additional refinements. Finally, these settings are saved as a custom preset within the Headphones app, taking into consideration future changes. Even though the ensuing sound profile was once no longer to my liking — favoring lower frequencies while diminishing the highs — it’s a lively instrument for these that prefer no longer to adjust particular particular person EQ sliders manually.
Winner: WF-1000XM5
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: call quality

The most fresh AirPods Skilled 2 non-public elevated the probability skills, boasting indispensable sound quality surpassing earlier devices. Here’s basically attributed to their pronounce-of-the-art work noise cancellation skills, which successfully filters background noise, allowing the actual person’s order to face out clearly. Throughout our opinions, even disruptive sounds admire site traffic from internal sight autos were entirely blocked out for the wearer, making conversations easy and free from disturbances.
Nonetheless, in extraordinarily loud out of doors settings, the readability of the order might presumably change into a runt bit of dampened. This might occasionally presumably furthermore fair terminate up in a perception that the order sounds relatively a long way-off to the listener. Nonetheless, feedback from callers indicates that they might be able to hear the speaker with out quandary, similar to speaking straight away correct into a phone’s microphone.
On the diversified hand, Sony’s most fresh WF-1000XM5 earbuds boast impressive call quality, thanks to their modern dual processor and evolved microphone setup. Each earbud contains six microphones and a bone conduction sensor that captures the vibrations of your order. The sensor is then processed by an AI trained on heaps of of millions of order samples. This refined skills successfully distinguishes your order from any background noise.
In our testing, we were in fact impressed with the WF-1000XM5’s capacity to suppress exterior sounds that frequently intervene with calls. Noises from site traffic, building, and even strong winds were completely managed, leaving the diversified birthday celebration with an evident audio skills.
It’s charge noting that in scenarios where background noise is deafening, your order will likely be relatively diminished in quantity. Some compression might presumably perchance well furthermore occur, affecting finer nuances in speech. Nonetheless, the general performance of the XM5s delivers a richer dynamic differ compared to the AirPods Skilled, making them ideally suited for out of doors and indoor conversations, where their microphone quality in fact excels.
Winner: Tie
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: impress

The AirPods Skilled 2 are priced at $249 old to any discounts and are handiest accessible in white. In distinction, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds retail for $299 and reach in three colours: Sad, Silver, and Smokey Red.
While the AirPods Skilled 2 are extra affordable than the Sony earbuds at their weird and wonderful costs, each products frequently streak on sale. Make obvious to buy round old to setting up a absorb show.
Apple AirPods Skilled 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: The choice

Choosing between the AirPods Skilled 2 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 largely depends on your preferences. The Sony WF-1000XM5 is identified for its superior audio quality and distinctive noise cancellation (ANC). It offers a rich, detailed sound profile and enables for customizable EQ settings through the Sony Headphones app, making it ideally suited for audiophiles.
On the diversified hand, the AirPods Skilled 2 excel of their seamless integration all the procedure through the Apple ecosystem. They offer effortless connectivity, spatial audio, and unbelievable total performance. While each devices feature impressive noise cancellation, many customers, in particular these that basically utilize Apple devices, prefer the AirPods Skilled 2 for their comfort and particular person-friendly skills.
In summary, if audio quality and noise cancellation are your prime priorities, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is probably going the higher different. Nonetheless, within the event you are carefully invested within the Apple ecosystem, charge ease of utilize, and unbelievable sound quality, the AirPods Skilled 2 will likely be the extra true option.
Overall, we charge the Sony WF-1000XM5 a runt bit of upper than the AirPods Skilled 2. Honestly, on the opposite hand, it’s handiest by a nose.
Winner: WF-1000XM5