Sony WF-1000XM5 vs. Apple AirPods Pro 2 Compared

What actually differs

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are flagship noise-canceling earbuds that compete for the same buyers, and they lean in different directions. The Sony trades on ANC strength, call quality, a longer per-charge battery rating and phone-agnostic features. The Apple model trades on fit, transparency mode and tight iPhone integration. Digital Trends says the Sony’s ANC is as capable as the AirPods Pro 2’s for day-to-day use, and Tom’s Guide lists the AirPods Pro 2 among the Sony’s direct competitors on price 12.

Few write-ups on record cover both products, so the sections below separate three kinds of evidence: write-ups that put both earbuds side by side and made the comparison themselves, single-product findings placed next to each other, and manufacturer specs, which can be lined up because the comparison is arithmetic. The direct comparisons come mainly from SoundGuys, Tom’s Guide, Digital Trends, The Verge and What Hi-Fi? 34156. Both models have since been replaced: RTINGS says the Sony WF-1000XM6 succeeds the Sony, and RTINGS and TechGearLab both point to the AirPods Pro 3 as the better Apple model 789.

Which one cancels more noise?

This is the dimension with the most direct comparisons, and they lean toward the Sony without agreeing. SoundGuys states in its Sony review that the WF-1000XM5 reduces noise better than the AirPods Pro 2, especially in the mid and high frequencies 3. Tom’s Guide says the same in its AirPods Pro 2 review, ranking the Sony and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds above the AirPods Pro 2 for noise cancelling while still calling the Apple model remarkably effective 4.

The Verge and Digital Trends see less of a gap. The Verge found the Sony right up there with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the second-generation AirPods Pro in its subjective tests, and said picking a winner is “like flipping a coin” 5. Digital Trends found the Sony just as capable as the AirPods Pro 2 for day-to-day use, with a condition: only the best-sealing eartips, twisted in deeply, got the Sony to match the Apple and Bose earbuds in its bathroom-fan check 1.

Single-product results add texture without settling the order. SoundGuys measured the Sony attenuating more than 30 dB of low-frequency noise below 1 kHz, and the AirPods Pro 2 blocking between 20 and 30 dB depending on frequency 310. TechGearLab measured the Sony at 22.0 dB low, 25.5 dB mid and 42.9 dB high, and the AirPods Pro 2 at 28.9, 28.9 and 24.9 dB 119. Those two write-ups list different group-best figures, so they are separate measurements rather than one head-to-head table. TechGearLab’s high-frequency figures favor the Sony, in line with SoundGuys’ conclusion, but its low-frequency figures favor the AirPods Pro 2, at odds with SoundGuys’ low-frequency numbers. RTINGS calls the AirPods Pro 2’s ANC stellar and its noise isolation remarkable, and credits a large part of the Sony’s noise isolation to its memory-foam tips rather than its ANC 87. TechRadar and What Hi-Fi? each judge the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II ahead of the Sony in one piece and ahead of the AirPods Pro 2 in another, which does not order the two earbuds against each other 1213146.

Winner: the Sony WF-1000XM5, narrowly. Two outlets that compared the pair say it cancels more, two call it even, and no outlet that compared them puts the AirPods Pro 2 ahead 3451.

Which has the better transparency mode and everyday features?

Transparency mode, which pipes outside sound in, is where the direct comparisons favor Apple. Digital Trends says the Sony’s transparency mode is more natural than its predecessor’s but cannot quite meet the very high bar set by the AirPods Pro 2 1. The Verge places the Sony a smidge behind the AirPods Pro 2 and the Bose earbuds on how natural and convincing transparency sounds, though it calls the Sony adequate for its purpose 5. Engadget, reviewing the Apple model alone, calls its transparency the best on the market 15.

Feature polish follows a similar split. Digital Trends says Sony’s head-tracked spatial audio, which it got working only in a few situations, is less smooth and convincing than Apple’s version 1. The Verge describes more friction in setting up Sony’s adaptive features than in Apple’s, and says Apple’s phones and earbuds integrate at the operating-system level 5. What Hi-Fi? says Apple’s Conversation Awareness handles voice detection more intelligently than Sony’s Speak-to-Chat, which can fire on any noise the wearer makes 6. On the other side, SoundGuys credits the Sony with more comprehensive software controls, and Digital Trends lists the AirPods Pro 2’s lack of EQ adjustments as a con 316.

Winner: the Apple AirPods Pro 2 on transparency, where Digital Trends and The Verge agree 15. Feature depth depends on the phone, covered under compatibility below.

Which one sounds better?

Nothing on record settles this, and the disagreement is genuine. SoundGuys says the AirPods Pro 2 align more closely with its headphone preference curve than the Sony and that it expects most listeners to prefer the Apple model’s out-of-the-box sound, while adding that a custom EQ preset can change the result 3. What Hi-Fi? reaches the opposite ordering in its AirPods Pro 2 review, saying the newer Sony offers a greater level of detail, clarity and power, and that the AirPods Pro 2 sound richer and fuller than the older Sony WF-1000XM4 6. Tom’s Guide says the AirPods Pro 2 have soft spots at the low and high ends of the spectrum that rivals such as the Sony don’t share 4.

The phone matters here. Tom’s Guide found the Sony’s sound over AAC on an iPhone less detailed than over LDAC on an LDAC-capable Android phone, and even said the Sony did not sound much better than its predecessor over AAC 2. What Hi-Fi? says the AirPods Pro 2’s AAC connection with an iPhone did not seem to limit the sound it heard 6. Tom’s Guide lists best performance with an LDAC playback device among the Sony’s traits 2.

Separate single-product scores do not line up either. TechGearLab scored the Sony’s sound quality 7.4 out of 10 and called it pleasant but a little flat, the lowest of its five-earbud group, and gave the AirPods Pro 2 bass, mid-range and treble scores of 7.7, 8.3 and 7.5 out of 10 119. Those figures come from separate rubrics and comparison groups, so they are not comparable.

Winner: unresolved, since no head-to-head result settles it. What Hi-Fi? gives the Sony the edge for detail, clarity and power, and Tom’s Guide credits the Sony with low and high ends the Apple model lacks, while SoundGuys gives the AirPods Pro 2 the edge for out-of-the-box tuning.

Which is better for phone calls?

Digital Trends and What Hi-Fi? both pick the Sony for calls. Digital Trends’ reviewer and a colleague ran a series of phone calls on both, found traffic, construction and wind erased on the Sony to the point of leaving no audible trace, and concluded the Sony delivers voices with greater dynamic range than the AirPods Pro 1. What Hi-Fi?, reviewing the Apple model, calls its own call quality decent but says the “wonderfully clear” Sony WF-1000XM5 is the pair to want for the best voice calls 6.

Single-product findings muddy the picture. TechGearLab scored the Sony’s call quality 5.1 out of 10, the lowest of its group, and reports the subway-noise call test came out poorly, while it calls the AirPods Pro 2’s call quality some of the best in its test group 119. RTINGS calls the Sony’s microphone mediocre and the AirPods Pro 2’s sub-par 78. Tom’s Guide lists the AirPods Pro 2’s call quality as a con 4, and The Verge lists much clearer voice-call performance as a pro for the Sony 5.

Winner: the Sony WF-1000XM5 on the two direct comparisons, with the caveat that TechGearLab’s separate testing points the other way.

Which lasts longer on a charge?

On rated figures the Sony leads per charge and the AirPods Pro 2 lead with the case. Sony rates the earbuds at up to 8 hours with ANC on and a 24-hour total with the case, or 12 and 36 hours with ANC off 17. Apple rates the AirPods Pro 2 at up to 6 hours per charge, 5.5 with Spatial Audio and head tracking on, and up to 30 hours in total 18. Sony gives its case-only figure as 16 hours, while Apple publishes only the combined total, so the case totals are the like-for-like number 1718. Tom’s Guide sets the rated 8 hours against the AirPods Pro 2’s 6, and What Hi-Fi? says Apple’s improved battery now competes with the Sony’s 8 hours and 24-hour total 26.

Measurements broadly follow the ratings. SoundGuys measured 9 hours 32 minutes on the Sony, without stating whether ANC was on, and 5 hours 43 minutes on the AirPods Pro 2 with ANC on 310. TechGearLab measured 14.0 hours on the Sony with ANC off at 75% volume, and 8.5 hours on the AirPods Pro 2 at 75% volume, without saying whether ANC was on 119. The ANC conditions differ or are unstated, so these are supporting data rather than clean comparisons. Battery longevity over time is a Sony-only worry in the record: The Verge cites widespread battery-reliability complaints about the WF-1000XM4 and says it will watch the WF-1000XM5, and no source on record raises the same about the AirPods Pro 2 5.

Winner: the Sony for hours per charge, and the AirPods Pro 2 for total hours with the case on the rated figures.

Which is more comfortable, and which fits better?

Apple has the edge on ease of fit and comfort in the two direct comparisons. Tom’s Guide’s Sony review says the reviewer needed several attempts to seat the right Sony earbud properly and had to re-run the fit test each time, something never encountered with the AirPods Pro 2, where medium eartips gave a good seal every time 2. SoundGuys’ Sony review says the AirPods Pro 2 have a more comfortable fit 3.

Security during exercise is a separate question, and the single-product reports do not favor either side. For the AirPods Pro 2, RTINGS says the tips can wiggle out during intense workouts, Tom’s Guide says they may not feel quite as secure during intense athletic activity, and TechGearLab says they passed its headstand and headbanging stability tests 849. For the Sony, TechGearLab says nothing dislodged the foam tips in running, headstand and headbanging tests, RTINGS says they won’t fall out during tough gym reps, and Tom’s Guide says they stayed firmly in place without slippage while running 1172. Digital Trends says the Sony’s fit isn’t super secure and What Hi-Fi? lists it as a con, while TechGearLab scored comfort and fit 8.0 out of 10 and found the foam tips wear faster than silicone 11411.

Tom’s Guide found the Sony unsuitable for running, but says that was not a fit problem: footsteps thudded through the earbuds, and it says the AirPods Pro 2 seem to isolate those vibrations better 2.

Sizes differ on paper. Apple lists 5.3 g per AirPods Pro 2 earbud and Sony’s help guide lists 5.9 g per earbud including a medium tip, a 0.6 g gap from two spec sheets 1819. TechGearLab measured 5.95 g for the Sony, while TechRadar’s spec table lists 4.2 g, which conflicts with both 1112. On the case, The Verge says the AirPods Pro case is still a bit thinner than the Sony’s 5.

Winner: the Apple AirPods Pro 2 on ease of fit and comfort, since Tom’s Guide and SoundGuys prefer its fit 23. Its listed weight is lower, though the small weight gap is unlikely to decide anything alone, and workout stability is unresolved.

Which works better with your phone?

Compatibility splits by platform, not by quality. Sony’s earbuds support SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3, per its help guide, while SoundGuys lists only SBC and AAC for the AirPods Pro 2, and Digital Trends adds that Apple omits LE Audio and Auracast 191016. SoundGuys puts the trade-off plainly: the Sony has better Android compatibility and more comprehensive software controls, while the AirPods Pro 2 offer easier pairing, hearing-aid functionality and automatic switching between Apple devices 3. SoundGuys’ AirPods Pro 2 review recommends them only to iPhone owners, and TechRadar and Digital Trends both list weak Android support as a con 101316.

Multipoint is a spec difference. Sony lists Multipoint Connect for two simultaneous Bluetooth devices, and Digital Trends says the AirPods Pro 2 still lack it, while adding that automatic device switching works almost as well for Apple owners 1716.

Winner: the Sony WF-1000XM5 for Android users and anyone wanting multipoint, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 for iPhone owners already in Apple’s ecosystem.

Which is more water resistant?

Sony rates the WF-1000XM5 at IPX4 for the earbuds only, noting the case and eartips are not water resistant 17. Apple’s spec page for the original AirPods Pro 2 states IPX4 for the earbuds and case 18. On the USB-C-case model, RTINGS reports IP54 for the earbuds, and SoundGuys and TechGearLab report IP54 for the earbuds and case, which adds dust resistance to the splash rating 8109. Tom’s Guide describes the Sony’s IPX4 rating as suited to gym use 2.

Winner: a tie on splash and sweat resistance, with Apple ahead on paper for the case and dust on the USB-C model.

Which costs less?

Sony’s MSRP was $299.99 in July 2023, and Apple priced the AirPods Pro 2 at $249 in September 2022 and again for the USB-C-case version a year later, so the AirPods Pro 2 were the cheaper pair at launch on the manufacturers’ own figures 172021. Tom’s Guide lists the two at $299 and $249 in the same passage of its Sony review, and its AirPods Pro 2 review says Apple’s price is quite a bit less 24.

Current street prices are not comparable from the figures on record. TechRadar reported in January 2024 that the AirPods Pro 2 were commonly available around $189, and What Hi-Fi? notes the Sony has dropped as low as £149 in UK sales, a different currency and date 1314. Both models are also discontinued, and TechGearLab says the AirPods Pro 3 would be its pick over the AirPods Pro 2 unless the older model is on sale 9.

Winner: the Apple AirPods Pro 2 on MSRP. Current pricing is unresolved.

Which one to buy

The dimension results do not add up to one overall winner. The Sony WF-1000XM5 took noise cancellation narrowly, calls on the direct comparisons, per-charge battery, and Android and multipoint support 346117. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 took transparency mode, ease of fit and comfort, launch price and iPhone integration 12321. Sound quality stays unresolved, and water resistance is a tie.

An iPhone owner who mostly listens and takes occasional calls has the stronger case for the AirPods Pro 2: SoundGuys says the AirPods Pro 2 pair more easily with Apple devices, and Tom’s Guide heard less detail from the Sony over AAC 32. An Android owner has the stronger case for the Sony, since SoundGuys says the AirPods Pro 2 only make sense for iPhone owners and Tom’s Guide heard the Sony at its best over LDAC 102. Someone who needs the best voice calls should note that Digital Trends and What Hi-Fi? favor the Sony, though TechGearLab’s separate scores do not 61119. Anyone shopping today should also price the successors, which RTINGS says improve on both models 78.