Sony
Sony WF-1000XM5
Integrated V2 · LDAC · Dual processors
91
/ 100
From $299
VS
AirPods Pro 4 wins by 3
Apple
AirPods Pro 4
H3 · Adaptive ANC · Real-time translation
94
/ 100
From $279
Specdex verdict
AirPods Pro 4 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sony WF-1000XM5 lands at 91 and AirPods Pro 4 at 94. That puts AirPods Pro 4 ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sony WF-1000XM5 if…
- ✓Excellent ANC for the size
- ✓LDAC hi-res on Android
- ✓Smaller than XM4
Pick AirPods Pro 4 if…
- ✓H3 chip doubles ANC performance
- ✓Real-time Live Translate
- ✓Improved fit/heart-rate sensor
Score breakdown
Sony WF-1000XM5
91 anc 93
sound 92
comfort 88
battery 84
features 90
AirPods Pro 4
94 anc 96
sound 92
comfort 94
battery 82
features 98
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Sony WF-1000XM5
AirPods Pro 4
Drivers
8.4 mm dynamic
—
Codecs
LDAC, LC3, AAC, SBC
—
Battery
8 h (ANC) / 24 h case
6 h (ANC) / 35 h case
Water rating
IPX4
IP57
Chip
—
H3
Connectivity
—
BT 5.4
Release year
—
2025
Sony WF-1000XM5
Pros
- +Excellent ANC for the size
- +LDAC hi-res on Android
- +Smaller than XM4
Cons
- −Case fingerprint magnet
- −Some find them bass-heavy
- −Price pressure from rivals
AirPods Pro 4
Pros
- +H3 chip doubles ANC performance
- +Real-time Live Translate
- +Improved fit/heart-rate sensor
Cons
- −Pricier than AirPods Pro 3
- −Android compatibility limited
- −Battery ~6h still
FAQ: Sony WF-1000XM5 vs AirPods Pro 4
Which is better, Sony WF-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro 4? +
AirPods Pro 4 scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony WF-1000XM5 worth the price? +
At $299, Sony WF-1000XM5 delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in anc.
Is AirPods Pro 4 worth the price? +
At $279, AirPods Pro 4 delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in features.
Does Sony WF-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro 4 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.