True Wireless
Apple Beats Studio Buds +
78Great
$170
Full review dataApple Beats Studio Buds + vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM5 - Outstanding overall at around $249.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$250
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple Beats Studio Buds +
Sound7.5
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery8.0
Calls7.0
Value8.0
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Apple Beats Studio Buds + | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $170 | $250 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | custom two-layer transducer | 0.33" |
| Driver size | 8.2 mm | 8.4 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | - | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | - | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 102 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | Class 1 Wireless Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 9 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 36 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | - | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | hybrid | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes |
| Wear detection | No | Yes |
| Controls | buttons | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri | Yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 59 g | 11.8 g |
| Case weight | 49 g | 39 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 3 | 6 |
What reviewers said
Apple Beats Studio Buds +
These wireless earbuds offer a solid mix of active noise cancellation and clear sound, making them a good pick for daily commutes or travel. They work well across different devices and provide long battery life with the charging case, though they skip some premium extras like wireless charging and multi-device pairing. The design is comfortable and sweat-resistant, giving you a dependable option without the top-tier price tag.
- Pro:Effective hybrid noise cancellation for the price
- Pro:Comfortable, secure fit with IPX4 sweat resistance
- Pro:Strong battery life with quick charge support
- Con:No wireless charging option
- Con:Lacks multipoint Bluetooth for switching devices
- Con:No custom EQ or high-res audio codecs
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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