True Wireless
Skullcandy Method® 540 ANC
62Average
$150
Full review dataSkullcandy Method® 540 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
$199
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Skullcandy Method® 540 ANC
Sound6.0
Noise cancelling6.5
Battery7.5
Calls6.0
Value5.5
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Skullcandy Method® 540 ANC | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $150 | $199 |
| HearWiki score | 62 / 100 · Average | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2026 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 12 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20KHz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.x | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | 10 m | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 11 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 9 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 29 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | - | 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 | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | Yes | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 11 g | 41.1 g |
| Case weight | - | 41 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 4 | - |
What reviewers said
Skullcandy Method® 540 ANC
These wireless earbuds offer adaptive noise cancellation and a comfortable, secure fit, but they don't bring much new to the table compared to cheaper predecessors. Battery life is decent, especially with the charging case, though the bulky case and sparse feature set hold them back. Overall, they're a passable option only if you find them at a discount.
- Pro:Secure, comfortable fit for extended wear
- Pro:Good battery life, especially with the case
- Pro:Adaptive ANC works well in most settings
- Con:Bulky, oversized charging case
- Con:Limited feature set for the price
- Con:Only supports basic SBC codec
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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