Sony WF-1000XM5 v/s Apple AirPods Pro (2nd-gen): Which is better
What's the story
Sony has announced WF-1000XM5 as its latest flagship noise-canceling earbuds.
In comparison to the WF-1000XM4, the new earbuds offer improved in-ear comfort, ANC performance, and battery backup.
They compete head-to-head with Apple's AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) in the premium TWS earphones segment.
Here's a quick comparison between the two rivals to find out which one offers better value.
Design
Sony's earbuds offer foam-based ear tips
The WF-1000XM5 has a slightly revamped look than its predecessor but follows Sony's traditional design philosophy with a round-shaped in-ear design and large surface area for controls. It comes in Silver and Black colors.
The AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) has a dangling stem with touch and pinch controls. It comes in White shade.
Sony's earbuds have memory foam ear-tips as opposed to silicone on AirPods.
Protection & controls
Both earbuds are IPX4 water resistant
Both WF-1000XM5 and AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) are IPX4 rated, meaning they can endure water splashes. Apple earbuds also get an IPX4 rating for the charging-cum-carry case.
The WF-1000XM5 accepts taps for play/pause and changing volume as well as tracks. In contrast, on AirPods Pro (2nd-gen), you pinch the stems to change track or modes, and swipe up/down for volume.
Battery/connectivity/features/protection
The WF-1000XM5 earbuds pack dual processors
The WF-1000XM5 earbuds are powered by Sony's newly-developed V2 processor and an HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) houses an H2 chipset.
Both of them offer a six-microphone array.
On Sony's earbuds, you can enable Speak-to-Chat and Adaptive Sound Control. Somewhat similar features such as Conversation Awareness and Adaptive Audio are coming to AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) later this year.
Features
Both earbuds offer spatial audio with head tracking
The WF-1000XM5 and AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) offer personalized spatial audio with head tracking. While Sony prefers calling it "360 Reality Audio," in Apple's language, it's just "Spatial Audio."
They also support pass-through mode.
Both feature ANC and block out ambient noise. However, the WF-1000XM5's memory foam tips can block more noise, as compared to the silicone tips on the AirPods Pro (2nd-gen).
Information
WF-1000XM5 provides up to eight hours of listening time
The WF-1000XM5 earbuds provide up to eight hours of listening time per charge. A quick charge of three minutes adds up to 60 minutes of playback. In contrast, the AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) offers 5.5 hours of music streaming. Both support wireless charging for their cases.
More
Sony earbuds support high-resolution audio streaming
The WF-1000XM5 earbuds are equipped with Sony's specially designed Dynamic Driver X for wide frequency reproduction and detailed vocals.
The Sony earbuds support high-resolution audio streaming (LDAC) and their DSEE Extreme algorithm upscales compressed digital music in real-time.
The AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) houses a high-excursion Apple audio driver with a high dynamic range amplifier. It doesn't support lossless audio codes.
Information
Price and availability
The WF-1000XM5 will cost around £259 (nearly Rs. 27,000). It will be available from August, with India launch likely to happen a while later. The AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) is already available in India and can be purchased for as low as Rs. 22,990 via Flipkart.
Verdict
Which one should you buy?
The AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) ought to be your pick if you are in Apple's ecosystem.
However, Android owners should pick Sony WF-1000XM5 over AirPods Pro (2nd-gen). You get support for lossless streaming and a bunch of customization options through Sony's app.
That said, the flagship Sony earbuds will work just fine with an Apple device too.