True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$249
Full review dataSony WF-1000XM5 vs Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: 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
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro
68Good
$130
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro
Sound7.0
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery6.0
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $249 | $130 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 68 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 0.33" | dynamic |
| Driver size | 8.4 mm | 11 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 105 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 12 h | 7 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 6 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 26 h |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 10 min = 2 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | No |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Yes | Siri |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 11.8 g | 10.5 g |
| Case weight | 39 g | 50.5 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | 6 |
What reviewers said
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
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro delivers a premium true wireless experience at a mid-range price, combining solid active noise cancellation with a customizable sound profile via a robust app. It offers versatile features like wireless charging and LDAC support, though its value is somewhat diminished by cheaper alternatives with similar capabilities. Overall, it's a well-rounded performer for those prioritizing ANC and app control in a compact design.
- Pro:Effective targeted active noise cancellation
- Pro:Strong app support with custom EQ
- Pro:Supports high-quality LDAC codec
- Con:Battery life is modest at 5-6 hours without case
- Con:No Bluetooth multipoint connectivity
- Con:Priced higher than comparable models with similar features
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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