True Wireless
Realme Buds Air8 Pro
78Great
$142
Full review dataRealme Buds Air8 Pro 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
$249
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Realme Buds Air8 Pro
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery7.0
Calls8.0
Value8.0
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Realme Buds Air8 Pro | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $142 | $249 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2026 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | hybrid | 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 | - | 102 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 6.1 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Latency | 45 ms | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 12 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 27 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 50 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | 120 min | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 11 hours playback | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Google Fast Pair | Yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 4.8 g | 11.8 g |
| Case weight | 53 g | 39 g |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | 6 |
| Call noise reduction | AI call noise cancellation | - |
What reviewers said
Realme Buds Air8 Pro
The Realme Buds Air8 Pro deliver a well-rounded true wireless experience under $100, combining robust noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a punchy hybrid driver sound that shines once you tweak the EQ. Battery life is solid for daily use, and the triple-device multipoint plus Bluetooth 6.1 make it a flexible pick for multitaskers, though squeezing out the best audio takes a little effort. Overall, it's a strong value option that competes well in its price bracket.
- Pro:Effective active noise cancellation for the price
- Pro:Clear call performance with six microphones
- Pro:Triple-device multipoint connectivity
- Con:Sound quality requires EQ tuning to reach its full potential
- Con:Battery life per charge is modest at around 12 hours
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
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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