True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)
Not yet scored
$249
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro (1st generation) vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) vs Sony WF-1000XM5, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$249
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)
No sub-scores yet - not enough rated reviews.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $249 | $249 |
| HearWiki score | Not scored | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2019 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Custom high-excursion Apple driver | 0.33" |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 8.4 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | - | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 102 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.3 |
| Codecs | AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 4.5 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | - | 90 min |
| Quick charge | - | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | - | Yes |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | hybrid | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | both | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri | Yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 5.4 g | 11.8 g |
| Case weight | 45.6 g | 39 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| Detachable cable | No | - |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 4 | 6 |
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)
These are Apple's premium true wireless earbuds with hybrid active noise cancellation and a transparency mode for ambient sound. They rely on a custom 11mm driver and the H1 chip to deliver adaptive EQ and seamless pairing with Apple devices, though battery life is modest at 4.5 hours per charge. The IP54 rating offers basic sweat and splash resistance, but they lack multipoint Bluetooth and USB-C charging.
- Pro:Effective hybrid noise cancellation
- Pro:Natural-sounding transparency mode
- Pro:Secure fit with multiple ear tip sizes
- Con:Short battery life per charge
- Con:No multipoint connectivity
- Con:Lightning port instead of USB-C
Sony WF-1000XM5
These are high-end true wireless earbuds that focus on adaptive noise cancellation and detailed audio, supporting LDAC for high-resolution streaming. They offer a solid battery life of up to 12 hours without ANC, plus a comfortable fit and IPX4 sweat resistance for daily use. The touch controls and companion app add convenience, though the price reflects their premium status.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long battery life (12 hours without ANC)
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:No higher water resistance rating than IPX4
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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