Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds vs WH-1000XM5 headphones: Which is best in 2024?
Sony''s WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM5 are two of its flagship offerings in the earbuds and headphones segment. Sony launched the WF-1000XM5 earbuds in September 2023. It came with improved active noise cancellation and sound quality over the WF-1000XM4. The buds themselves as well as the case were made lighter than the previous generation.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 was launched in May 2022, sporting a minimalist one-frame design. it was comparatively more flexible as well as lighter than the previous generation XM4s. The noise cancellation on the newer WH-1000XM5 was improved massively as well.
Both are great audio devices and come at a premium price. So which one should you go for in 2024? This article presents a comprehensive comparison of the two audio devices to help you choose the best one for your audio needs.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's opinion.
How are the Sony WF-1000XM5s different from the WH-1000XM5s?
Both the WF-XM5s and the WH-XM5s were launched targeting different segments of the headphone market. The WF-XM5s fall under the earbuds category and are a pair of wireless headphones that go inside the ear. They come with a case that keeps the buds charged up for use every time.
The WH-XM5s fall under the headphone category. They are wireless headphones that are used over the ears and generally sound better than in-ear headphones owing to larger drivers. Further, the battery is located inside the headphones, so you need to charge them separately and not via the case. The case is only used to carry the XM5s and serve an aesthetic purpose.
Design
Sony went with the minimalistic lightweight theme for its XM5 versions compared to the XM4 versions. The WF-XM5 features a lighter and smaller case. It is even smaller than the AirPods Pro 2, which sports one of the smallest case designs in the market. There are two versions of the earbuds - black with copper accents and silver with gold accents.
The battery case features a matte design which feels cardboard-like from the outside. The earbuds also come with a smaller and lighter design than the previous generation XM4s. The touch-sensitive area of the buds is matte whereas the body comes with a polished finish. As a result, they are prone to slipping from hands.
The ear tips of the buds are foam-made, so they feature an extremely secure and comfortable fit in the ear. Along with the tips attached to the buds, there are three other sizes of tips that come in the box. Contrary to this, the WH-XM5 does not come with any extra ear muffs. The muffs on the bigger headphones are also made of foam and are extremely soft and comfortable.
The XM5 headphones sport a lighter design than the previous generation headphones as well. They ship with a vegan leather finish, which gives a premium quality feel. The overall structure is quite flexible and comfortable to wear for long hours. The newer XM5 headphones moved away from the foldable design of the XM4 to this new one-frame design that is less travel-friendly.
Sound quality
The sound quality of the newer XM5 earbuds has been improved over the previous generation, but the same cannot be said about the XM5 headphones. The XM5 headphones have the same audio quality as the older XM4. Despite this, the sound quality of the XM5 headphones is far better than the XM5 earbuds.
The earbuds come with 8 mm drivers, whereas the headphone features a 30 mm sound driver. Not only will the larger driver produce exceptionally better lows, mids, and highs, but the sound separation will be better as well. So, in terms of sound quality, the XM5 headphones take the win. This was pretty obvious from the start.
Noise cancellation
The noise cancellation has been improved in both devices over the previous generations. The version on the headphones, however, is much better for everyday noises. It cancels out even heavy traffic and the sounds of a busy park.
The noise cancellation on the XM5 earbuds can passively as well as actively cancel out moderate traffic and lower frequency sounds like the sound of a running train when sitting inside it, etc. However, a slight hissing sound is heard when ANC is on. This is not majorly noticeable, and becomes completely unnoticeable when audio is playing.
In terms of ANC, the WH-1000XM5 obviously wins again. The AirPods Pro 2 does the best job in active noise canceling and is currently the best ANC earbud in the market.
Specs comparison between the WH-1000XM5 and the WF-1000XM5
The earbuds are comparatively new, launched recently, and thus feature Bluetooth v5.3 which improves connectivity and range. They have 8 hours of continuous listening individually with ANC on and 16 hours of additional usage with the case. They even feel lighter to use and do not strain your ear even when used for longer hours. The XM5 earbuds are extremely portable when traveling.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones come with 30 hours of battery life with ANC on. It sounds miles better than the earbuds and also cancels noise better. The only drawback is portability. If Sony hadn't scrapped the foldable design, the XM5 headphones would have easily been the recommended pair.
Read More: Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: Which is the better headphone in 2024?
The WH-1000XM5 retails for $399, which is exactly $100 more than the XM5 earbuds. We would recommend going for the WF-1000XM5 earbuds for $299 over the headphones. They are extremely comfortable to wear and are very easy to carry around. The sound quality doesn't disappoint either and it sounds very good for everyday use.
The choice ultimately here falls on the buyer on what to choose. If you need extremely good sound quality and prefer an over-the-ear form factor, then you should go for the WH-1000XM5 headphones. Other than that, the XM5 earbuds would be the obvious choice.