Apple’s latest AirPods are here, and they offer a lot more features than before. Are they better than Sony’s reference WF-1000XM4 ANC headphones?
Last year’s benchmark still grabs attention, but are they still the benchmark headphones to talk about? Now that the AirPods Pro have a second generation, it’s time to put Sony’s benchmark headphones in a fight against Apple’s best pair.
We reviewed the second-generation AirPods Pro headphones and the fourth-generation Sony XM headphones, and both offer a truly wireless design, active noise cancellation, a hint of water resistance, and more. They are both feature rich and very well thought out, but is one better than the other? We will find out.
Design
With a choice between bulbous and playful or Apple’s AirPods designed to go in the ear, we’re starting this headphone battle with one that’s hard to decide.
The AirPods Pro and XM4 are very well designed, and no matter which you choose, you’re going to end up with a classy pair of headphones.
Winner: Tie
Sustainability
Next is durability, and while we wouldn’t recommend throwing either pair down stairs or down a ravine, they’ll survive pretty much the same kind of treatment, with a resistance rating to IPX4 water.
Simply put, it’s basically the equivalent of sweat resistance and running in light rain, so interpret that however you like. In short, wear a hat, hoodie or something else to protect your hat if you decide to wear either and there is a shower forecast.
Winner: Tie
Comfort and fit
We’re big fans of both, but there’s a clear winner in terms of comfort and fit, and Sony’s push for larger earbud tips certainly didn’t help it win this category.
While Sony has spent time remaking a new type of earmold that mixes foam and silicone, the size of its earmolds is such that even when used with something that fits your ear properly, they’re not not comfortable for long periods of time. It’s just not helpful.
Meanwhile, Apple’s AirPods Pro have stuck with a tip type that’s seamless and easy, and added a little extra tip in the box. We wore the AirPods Pro 2022 for longer periods of time than the WF-1000XM4 and had no issues, so they’re easily the more comfortable of the two for us. Your mileage may vary, of course, but we’d give Apple comfort and fit this time.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Controls
The competition gets a bit more complex when we get into the controls, in part because the AirPods Pro offer more controls from two types of controllers per ear – a button and a touchpad on each stem – although Apple doesn’t only offers customization on iOS.
Sony offers a touchpad on the XM4 with an app for either operating system, but the controls aren’t as complex as Apple’s offer, as you can control playback and volume on the AirPods. , and only playback on the XM4.
And here’s the thing: while Apple won’t allow Android owners to change the controls of the second-generation AirPods Pro on Android, the volume and playback controls still work on Android. Offering both sets of controls is enough for us to give Apple this section.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Connection & reliability
Connection and reliability is one area where neither will fight, as both pairs offer a solid connection to your phone, hi-res player, etc.
Between the chips offered by Apple and Sony, you won’t find a bad connection either in the WF-1000XM4 or in the 2nd generation AirPods Pro. There’s a little more to the AirPods Pro if you live in the Apple world, thanks to the ease of switching between iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and MacBook, but that’s something specific to all Apple headphones, and only an advantage in an ecosystem. Switch to Android and Windows, and both will work just as well.
Winner: Tie
Sound quality
Both models are also pretty solid in terms of sound quality, with excellent audio output in the second-generation AirPods Pro or Sony’s WF-1000XM4. They are both good and both different.
In the XM4 you can expect a warm sound that accentuates the lows and mids, while in the AirPods Pro Apple works the lows, mids and highs fairly evenly, delivering solid, balanced sound to all. levels.
Spatial audio is supported on both, albeit differently: in the AirPods Pro it’s Dolby Atmos audio over Apple Music, supporting head-tracking technology if desired, while the Sony WF-1000XM4 supports 360 Reality Audio over Tidal, which lacks head-tracking but still offers some form of spatialization.
Basically they are similar, but different, although both are equally good in this category.
Winner: Tie
Noise cancellation
A year has passed between Sony’s last release of ANC headphones and Apple’s last, and this year may have given Apple the skills it needs to pay the bills.
While both pairs will let you handle the regular drone of motors and the chorus of human traffic, we found the algorithms used on the AirPods Pro 2 handled noise cancellation on individual humans talking better than we’ve experienced. with any other pair, including Sony.
That’s a level of adaptive noise cancellation we haven’t really experienced before, and enough to give Apple the winning spot.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Compatibility
But there is a clear winner in compatibility, and you can thank the obsession with platform specificity for which Apple will lose this round. Simply put, you can find an app for Sony headphones on iOS and Android, while Apple’s AirPods Pro only offer customization on iOS.
We’ve complained about it before in our podcast, and we’ll say it again for cheap seats that don’t bother listening: Apple should be like sound makers, and less like phone makers in how which he produces audio material.
Apple’s other brand, Beats, makes an app for Android that allows Beats wearers with an Android phone to change their phone’s functionality, but Apple doesn’t. And that’s a real shame.
With the 2nd generation AirPods Pro – or any other Apple audio product, for that matter – you can only make adjustments on an Apple phone or tablet, although you can listen using any Bluetooth product, be it Windows computer or Android phone. or tablet.
But because Sony makes its Headphones app for iOS and Android, you can make changes to the WF-1000XM4 on iPhone and Android, making them just this much more compatible with more platforms than AirPods Pro.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
Battery
In the race for the best battery, it’s a tight competition, with a solid 24 hours for each, although Apple’s AirPods Pro manage to edge out Sony’s option.
Both can easily hit 24 hours, but the AirPods Pro 2 can gain a little more with noise cancellation on and no Spatial Audio, approaching 30 hours if all you’re doing is listening.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Case
Both models arrive in a very compact compact case and come with wireless charging.
Apple has a bit of an Apple-only advantage with FindMy tracking support in the case plus a sound to hear it but if you have Android you won’t be able to use it due to no app on Android.
For us, that makes it a bit of a tie, with a case that’s ideal for both.
Winner: Tie
Assess
It’s a similar situation with value, because while the price of the WF-1000XM4 has fallen from the RRP of $449.95 it launched last year, and is now approaching the 349.95 mark. $, that’s not a dramatic difference from the AirPods Pro’s $399 price tag. 2.
The prices for both are quite good for consumers, offering plenty of value for what you get. They both sound great, offer a hint of water resistance, and one of the best active noise cancellations of any pair of truly wireless earbuds. We’ll call this one a tie, too.
Winner: Tie
Which should I choose: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen or Sony WF-1000XM4
While the winner of our round-by-round showdown is clearly Apple’s 2022 AirPods Pro with four wins over Sony’s, the number of categories settled with a tie clearly indicates just how strong each earbud pick really is, because both pairs make a good case for being picked up.
At the end of 2022, we like the 2nd Gen AirPods Pro a bit more than Sony’s offering, but both are still capable of great sound, and if Sony ever adopts spatial head-tracking audio and improves its comfort levels, we suspect we’d be back to Sony’s offerings in a heartbeat.
Every model is different, mind you, and if you don’t listen to Apple Music or use an Android phone, Sony’s XM4 may provide a better alternative, simply because compatibility and the ability to customize are an important feature to consider. .
Both models are excellent, however, and whichever one you end up with, your ears are bound to be pleased with what they hear.
Apple’s latest AirPods are here, and they offer a lot more features than before. Are they better than Sony’s reference WF-1000XM4 ANC headphones?
Last year’s benchmark still grabs attention, but are they still the benchmark headphones to talk about? Now that the AirPods Pro have a second generation, it’s time to put Sony’s benchmark headphones in a fight against Apple’s best pair.
We reviewed the second-generation AirPods Pro headphones and the fourth-generation Sony XM headphones, and both offer a truly wireless design, active noise cancellation, a hint of water resistance, and more. They are both feature rich and very well thought out, but is one better than the other? We will find out.
Design
With a choice between bulbous and playful or Apple’s AirPods designed to go in the ear, we’re starting this headphone battle with one that’s hard to decide.
The AirPods Pro and XM4 are very well designed, and no matter which you choose, you’re going to end up with a classy pair of headphones.
Winner: Tie
Sustainability
Next is durability, and while we wouldn’t recommend throwing either pair down stairs or down a ravine, they’ll survive pretty much the same kind of treatment, with a resistance rating to IPX4 water.
Simply put, it’s basically the equivalent of sweat resistance and running in light rain, so interpret that however you like. In short, wear a hat, hoodie or something else to protect your hat if you decide to wear either and there is a shower forecast.
Winner: Tie
Comfort and fit
We’re big fans of both, but there’s a clear winner in terms of comfort and fit, and Sony’s push for larger earbud tips certainly didn’t help it win this category.
While Sony has spent time remaking a new type of earmold that mixes foam and silicone, the size of its earmolds is such that even when used with something that fits your ear properly, they’re not not comfortable for long periods of time. It’s just not helpful.
Meanwhile, Apple’s AirPods Pro have stuck with a tip type that’s seamless and easy, and added a little extra tip in the box. We wore the AirPods Pro 2022 for longer periods of time than the WF-1000XM4 and had no issues, so they’re easily the more comfortable of the two for us. Your mileage may vary, of course, but we’d give Apple comfort and fit this time.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Controls
The competition gets a bit more complex when we get into the controls, in part because the AirPods Pro offer more controls from two types of controllers per ear – a button and a touchpad on each stem – although Apple doesn’t only offers customization on iOS.
Sony offers a touchpad on the XM4 with an app for either operating system, but the controls aren’t as complex as Apple’s offer, as you can control playback and volume on the AirPods. , and only playback on the XM4.
And here’s the thing: while Apple won’t allow Android owners to change the controls of the second-generation AirPods Pro on Android, the volume and playback controls still work on Android. Offering both sets of controls is enough for us to give Apple this section.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Connection & reliability
Connection and reliability is one area where neither will fight, as both pairs offer a solid connection to your phone, hi-res player, etc.
Between the chips offered by Apple and Sony, you won’t find a bad connection either in the WF-1000XM4 or in the 2nd generation AirPods Pro. There’s a little more to the AirPods Pro if you live in the Apple world, thanks to the ease of switching between iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and MacBook, but that’s something specific to all Apple headphones, and only an advantage in an ecosystem. Switch to Android and Windows, and both will work just as well.
Winner: Tie
Sound quality
Both models are also pretty solid in terms of sound quality, with excellent audio output in the second-generation AirPods Pro or Sony’s WF-1000XM4. They are both good and both different.
In the XM4 you can expect a warm sound that accentuates the lows and mids, while in the AirPods Pro Apple works the lows, mids and highs fairly evenly, delivering solid, balanced sound to all. levels.
Spatial audio is supported on both, albeit differently: in the AirPods Pro it’s Dolby Atmos audio over Apple Music, supporting head-tracking technology if desired, while the Sony WF-1000XM4 supports 360 Reality Audio over Tidal, which lacks head-tracking but still offers some form of spatialization.
Basically they are similar, but different, although both are equally good in this category.
Winner: Tie
Noise cancellation
A year has passed between Sony’s last release of ANC headphones and Apple’s last, and this year may have given Apple the skills it needs to pay the bills.
While both pairs will let you handle the regular drone of motors and the chorus of human traffic, we found the algorithms used on the AirPods Pro 2 handled noise cancellation on individual humans talking better than we’ve experienced. with any other pair, including Sony.
That’s a level of adaptive noise cancellation we haven’t really experienced before, and enough to give Apple the winning spot.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Compatibility
But there is a clear winner in compatibility, and you can thank the obsession with platform specificity for which Apple will lose this round. Simply put, you can find an app for Sony headphones on iOS and Android, while Apple’s AirPods Pro only offer customization on iOS.
We’ve complained about it before in our podcast, and we’ll say it again for cheap seats that don’t bother listening: Apple should be like sound makers, and less like phone makers in how which he produces audio material.
Apple’s other brand, Beats, makes an app for Android that allows Beats wearers with an Android phone to change their phone’s functionality, but Apple doesn’t. And that’s a real shame.
With the 2nd generation AirPods Pro – or any other Apple audio product, for that matter – you can only make adjustments on an Apple phone or tablet, although you can listen using any Bluetooth product, be it Windows computer or Android phone. or tablet.
But because Sony makes its Headphones app for iOS and Android, you can make changes to the WF-1000XM4 on iPhone and Android, making them just this much more compatible with more platforms than AirPods Pro.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
Battery
In the race for the best battery, it’s a tight competition, with a solid 24 hours for each, although Apple’s AirPods Pro manage to edge out Sony’s option.
Both can easily hit 24 hours, but the AirPods Pro 2 can gain a little more with noise cancellation on and no Spatial Audio, approaching 30 hours if all you’re doing is listening.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Case
Both models arrive in a very compact compact case and come with wireless charging.
Apple has a bit of an Apple-only advantage with FindMy tracking support in the case plus a sound to hear it but if you have Android you won’t be able to use it due to no app on Android.
For us, that makes it a bit of a tie, with a case that’s ideal for both.
Winner: Tie
Assess
It’s a similar situation with value, because while the price of the WF-1000XM4 has fallen from the RRP of $449.95 it launched last year, and is now approaching the 349.95 mark. $, that’s not a dramatic difference from the AirPods Pro’s $399 price tag. 2.
The prices for both are quite good for consumers, offering plenty of value for what you get. They both sound great, offer a hint of water resistance, and one of the best active noise cancellations of any pair of truly wireless earbuds. We’ll call this one a tie, too.
Winner: Tie
Which should I choose: Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen or Sony WF-1000XM4
While the winner of our round-by-round showdown is clearly Apple’s 2022 AirPods Pro with four wins over Sony’s, the number of categories settled with a tie clearly indicates just how strong each earbud pick really is, because both pairs make a good case for being picked up.
At the end of 2022, we like the 2nd Gen AirPods Pro a bit more than Sony’s offering, but both are still capable of great sound, and if Sony ever adopts spatial head-tracking audio and improves its comfort levels, we suspect we’d be back to Sony’s offerings in a heartbeat.
Every model is different, mind you, and if you don’t listen to Apple Music or use an Android phone, Sony’s XM4 may provide a better alternative, simply because compatibility and the ability to customize are an important feature to consider. .
Both models are excellent, however, and whichever one you end up with, your ears are bound to be pleased with what they hear.