Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: a detailed comparison

The biggest change to the Sony WF-1000XM4 is the addition of a new audio chip called the Sony V1 that promises clearer sound and even better active noise cancellation. The already-successful Sony WF-1000XM3 that came before these buds is also completely different and more comfortable to wear. After days of testing, it’s safe to say that the WF-1000XM4 is one of the best noise-cancelling earbuds money can buy. It’s also one of the best wireless earbuds generally.

Even though Sony may occasionally have trouble coming up with memorable names for its products, the company’s latest flagship wireless earbuds are called the WF-1000XM5, which is somewhat of a significant flex on the company’s part. They are of outstanding quality, and the sound quality and ANC functionality they provide are more than sufficient to sell the earbuds even without any smart branding. Do not be put off by what appears to be a random string of letters; the recently released WF-1000XM5s are unquestionably now the greatest wireless earphones that can be purchased.

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5 Comparison Table

The difference between the Sony WF-1000XM4 and the WF-1000XM5 is a matter of priorities. XM4 provides exceptional audio quality in addition to comfort and noise suppression. It’s likely that XM5 makes this even more precise. Wait for the XM5 if having the most recent features is important to you and money is not a concern. Aside from that, the XM4 is still a great option if you want comfort and strong audio quality.

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Design and comfort

Sony may have been smart to get rid of the WF-1000XM3’s wide and long shape and give the WF-1000XM4 an oval shape with bigger round touch panels. It doesn’t sit quietly on your ears like the Beats Studio Buds or Jabra Elite 85t, but the WF-1000XM4 is still less noticeable than its predecessor and feels both luxurious and strong. Sony’s headphones have some of the best attention to detail that the company has ever made. The metal ring around the edge of each bud makes them stand out and also holds the ANC microphone. The embossed logo and arrangement of the mic are also unique features.

The first sign that Sony’s makers have been hard at work is the WF-1000XM5 charging case. It’s smaller than the one it replaced, and if you open the top, you’ll see that the shrinking has spread. The earbuds have really been cut down. Sony says that the WF-1000XM5 are about 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the WF-1000XM4. At first, it’s hard to get them out of their charging case, but we soon figure out how to do it. Most of each earbud’s outside is made of a new shiny plastic that looks and feels high-end by today’s standards. It’s also very smooth, which makes it hard to pinch the earbuds and pull them out of the case. We’ve found that it’s much easier to get an earbud out of its magnetic case if you pull it toward you.

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Connect

They can only connect to one device at a time, but they can switch between them without having to physically disconnect from each one first. At home and on the street, the connection to a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, an iPhone 12 Pro, and a Surface Pro 7 was rock strong. Due to the Covid-19 issue in the UK, testing could not be done in places with a lot of people. The excellent Headphones Connect app for Android and iOS handles sound modes, the equalizer, settings, updates, and shows the battery level of the earbuds and case.

We can’t give them full marks across the board because the team, using different review samples on different continents, had more than one or two drops in connectivity during testing, which didn’t happen with their rivals. As you’d expect from a top-tier set of earbuds, they have multi-point connectivity (but only to two devices, not three), LDAC, and adaptive sound control. This means that your actual location or activity can be automatically detected and adjusted if you want it to.

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Controls

You can also set up the Sony WF-1000XM4’s touch settings, though there aren’t a lot of things you can change. Instead of being able to give specific actions to certain touch commands, you have to choose between sets of controls for ambient sound, playback, and volume control. By default, the left earbud is used to control the ambient music. If you tap the left bud once, you can switch between the noise-canceling and ambient sound modes. If you hold your finger on the bud, “Quick Attention” will start.

The outside surface of the earbuds that is utilized for the touch controls and that leads down to the outer mic arrangement is the only part of the earbuds that does not have a glossy finish. The result is more of a matte finish with a very finely textured appearance. To add insult to injury, the touch controls don’t work nearly as well as they should, but there is a welcome new control feature included with the updated model (more on that later).

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Sound Quality

The same sound quality from the WH-1000XM3, but they didn’t. Luckily, the company improved its sound profile, giving the WF-1000XM4 a more dynamic, well-defined sound profile that works well with all types of media, from music and movies to podcasts and eBooks. The stereo imaging on these headphones is amazing, and each instrument on a track is put and centered in the right place. I put on Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and it was a surprise to hear the gently tapped hi-hats coming out of the left channel and the iconic, looming bassline coming out of the right channel.

If you went straight to the section about the sounds, then I admire you and I have some wonderful news for you. Sony claims that it has put a lot of effort into improving the weight and clout of the bass in this product, and it is not joking about it. The WF-1000XM5 is an excellent option to consider purchasing if you are looking for headphones with a powerful bass response but prefer earbuds to cans.

Even when streaming lossy Spotify tracks (or far better Apple Music streams), the WF-1000XM5 chew it all up and put on an agile, meaty, and energetic performance. Those who have a Tidal account are in for a particular treat thanks to the 360 Reality Audio; but, even those who do not have a Tidal account are in for a wonderful treat.

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Noise cancellation

You can switch between ANC on, ANC off, and Ambient mode. In Ambient mode, the earphones use their noise-cancelling microphones to let you hear what’s going on around you. You can also choose Automatic Wind Reduction and turn on Speak-to-Chat. When you start speaking, the volume automatically drops and the earphones switch to Ambient mode. There is also EQ that can be changed by the user and different presets that can be chosen.

The active noise cancellation performance of the Sony WF-1000XM5 is an improvement over that of its predecessor, which was one of our top recommendations. These earbuds have an outstanding active noise cancellation (ANC) performance, and the upgraded ear tips offer a safe fit, better comfort, and superior isolation. If the earbuds have good isolation, they will have a better chance of blocking out incidental high-frequency noise, such as the clatter of construction equipment or the screech of a subway car.

Which one should you consider?

Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sony WF-1000XM5 depends on what’s most important to you. The WF-1000XM4 has great noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort, making it a great choice for audiophiles and people who move a lot. The WF-1000XM5 is certainly an improvement on both technology and features over the WF-1000XM4. If you want the latest improvements and are ready to spend money, the WF-1000XM5 might be worth waiting for.

Sony WF-1000XM4: The good and The bad

The sound profile of the Sony WF-1000XM4 is described as being smooth and pleasant. Their midrange is fairly well-balanced, despite the fact that they do not have a low-bass that is particularly thumpy.

Sony WF-1000XM5: The good and The bad

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are the ideal in-ear headphones for anyone who is prepared to pay a higher price for active noise canceling technology that performs exceptionally well.

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