True Wireless
JLab Epic Air ANC
68Good
$100
Full review dataJLab Epic Air ANC vs Sony WF-1000XM4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM4 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM4 - Great overall at around $199.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM4
84Great
$200
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
JLab Epic Air ANC
Sound7.0
Noise cancelling6.0
Battery8.0
Calls6.0
Value7.5
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | JLab Epic Air ANC | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $100 | $200 |
| HearWiki score | 68 / 100 · Good | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 8 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | - |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | 9.1 m | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 12 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 48 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | 180 min | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 2 h | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | No | - |
| Custom EQ | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | Yes | - |
| Controls | buttons | - |
| Voice assistant | Siri/Google Assistant | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 7 g | 41.1 g |
| Case weight | 57 g | 41 g |
| Water resistance | none | IPX4 |
| Detachable cable | No | - |
| USB-C | No | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | - |
| Call noise reduction | MEMS microphones | - |
What reviewers said
JLab Epic Air ANC
The JLab Epic Air ANC delivers a solid budget-friendly introduction to active noise cancellation, with punchy bass and flexible EQ adjustments via the companion app. While its battery life is impressive and value is strong, the noise cancelling and app performance don't consistently match pricier rivals, making it a decent but not top-tier choice.
- Pro:Long battery life with charging case
- Pro:Customizable EQ in app
- Pro:Affordable price point
- Con:ANC and transparency are merely average
- Con:App reliability can be inconsistent
- Con:Only SBC codec support
Sony WF-1000XM4
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are high-end true wireless earbuds that excel in active noise cancellation and sound quality, with a compact 6mm driver and support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They provide about 8 hours of playback per charge, extendable to 24 hours with the case, and include handy features like multipoint connectivity and quick charging. Their IPX4 rating makes them suitable for workouts, though the overall design is a bit bulky for some ears.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Rich, detailed sound with LDAC support
- Pro:Good battery life with fast charging
- Con:Bulkier fit compared to rivals
- Con:No wireless charging on the case
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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