Is the Sony WF-1000XM5 worth the upgrade from the Edifier NeoBuds S?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Edifier NeoBuds S to the Sony WF-1000XM5 buys you 20.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in battery (5.5 to 8.0), sound (7.0 to 9.0) and noise cancelling (7.5 to 9.0). On paper: battery life 6 h to 12 h, weight 58 g to 11.8 g and multipoint pairing. Worth checking: full charge time goes 60 min to 90 min and driver size goes 10 mm to 8.4 mm. That costs $69 more, or about $3 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.09.0
- Noise cancelling7.59.0
- Battery5.58.0
- Calls6.58.0
- Value6.57.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | NeoBuds S | WF-1000XM5 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 6 h | 12 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | |
| Weight | 58 g | 11.8 g | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX4 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 5.5 h | 8 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 16 h | 24 h | |
| Full charge time | 60 min | 90 min | |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 8.4 mm | |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 1 h | 5 min = 1 h | |
| Driver | Hybrid: Knowles balanced armature + dynamic | 0.33" | |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40kHz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "NeoBuds S to WF-1000XM5". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.