If you are willing to buy wireless headphones, or to change the ones you already have, for more sophisticated ones, with more technological innovation and higher quality, we recommend you to read this review! In it we analyse and compare the features of two of the most competitive brands today, Sony and Apple. Specifically, we focus on the AirPods Pro Vs Sony WF-1000XM4 models. We’ve already told you that, although they’re not perfect, they’re close to it. Do you want to know why? Here we go!
[amazon box=”B09JQZ5DYM, B095DNPH4R” grid=”2″]
AirPods Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4: What makes each one stand out?
First, let’s take a brief look at the most notable features of each wireless headset, to see what they have to offer as a whole:
1) AirPods Pro: advanced audio technology, but short battery life
We start by looking at what we think is the highlight of the AirPods Pro, which is that they are the only Apple AirPods with active noise cancellation and transparency mode. So you can regulate the level of outside noise you want, or isolate yourself completely. They also have adaptive equalisation, so you can adjust the sound to suit the shape of your ear.
However, this is not the only interesting feature found in these headphones. They also have the usual Apple features, such as spatial audio with dynamic head tracking or the high dynamic range custom amplifier.
In terms of design, they bring back the silicone ear cushions, which you can choose from three different sizes. And when it comes to the battery, with ANC available, the battery life is a little shorter than other AirPods, and can run for 4.5 hours on a single charge.
However, if you add in the time available thanks to the case, it extends to 24 hours. And, as with other models, you can execute touch controls by pressing directly on the earbuds. Finally, it’s worth noting that they can sync with Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant.
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2) Sony WF-1000XM4: good wearing comfort, but less comfortable to use
We continue with the Sony headphones, which are also equipped with active noise cancellation and ambient mode. The Sony WF-1000XM4 is equipped with Sony’s most advanced processor, the V1, which improves on the already good noise cancellation of the QN1. In fact, its adaptive sound control function exercises a more intelligent recognition of the environment.
Another feature we really like is the Speak-to-Chat technology, which means the headphones will automatically pause the music if they detect you’re talking, leaving only ambient sound so you can carry on a conversation without taking them off.
The third aspect to highlight is the good battery life of up to 8 hours with ANC active, which extends to 12 hours if you turn it off. And, if you have to charge them, it only takes 1.5 hours.
Aesthetically, they look nothing like the AirPods Pro. The Sony XF-1000XM4s have a bulbous but stemless shape, with a slightly wider ear cup than its rival. This earpiece is covered with a silicone ear cushion that integrates a noise reduction system, although there are only two sizes to choose from.
[amazon box=”B095DNPH4R”]
Where the AirPods Pro wins out
Let’s take a look at the features where Apple has the edge over Sony:
- Spatial audio: both the AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4 have spatial audio, but the audio quality and dynamism is better on the AirPods Pro. Increased comfort, mainly due to the narrower size of the headset, which is better suited to different types of ear buds. In addition, the stem of the earcups provides more stability in the grip.
- Sound technology: the advantage is slight, but Apple has equipped its AirPods Pro with a set of technologies and features that make it sound clearer than its rival.
Where the Sony WF-1000XM4 excels
We do the same with Sony’s headphones, which excel in the following criteria:
- Battery life, offering 40% longer playback time with the ANC function active in both cases.
- Noise reduction cushion, to mitigate disturbing sounds such as wind or noise.
- Connectivity with other devices, being more versatile with both iOS and Android devices.
AirPods Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4: How are they similar?
It’s not all differences; there are also some similarities between the two models. These are as follows:
- Fast charging, an option whereby both headphones can be charged in 5 minutes for an hour of battery life.
- Active Noise Cancellation, a feature shared by both headphones that allows you to isolate yourself from outside sound. However, you can also switch to transparency or ambient mode in case you want to keep some background noise.
- IPX4 resistance, which means they both tolerate splashes or drops of sweat and water.
These are the best-selling cordless headphones
You already know that Amazon is the world’s largest marketplace. Therefore, it has become a very reliable source of information when we want to know the opinions of other users about certain products. In this line, we show you the ranking of the best-selling wireless headphones of each brand:
AirPods
[amazon bestseller = “airpods” items = “5”]
Sony
[amazon bestseller = “cordless headphones Sony” items = “5”]
AirPods Pro Vs Sony WF-1000XM4: conclusion and verdict
The decision depends on your preferences and aesthetic tastes. We assume that both headphones perform excellently in terms of audio quality.
For example, both feature ANC active noise cancellation and transparency mode. Although, in this respect, Apple is perhaps a step above thanks to better spatial audio, which gives a more immersive feel.
The same is not true for battery life, where the clear winner is Sony. In fact, in this regard, we are surprised by the short battery life of the AirPods Pro, although it is true that Apple is not known for the battery life of all its AirPods. And if we look at the design and comfort issues, subjective perception comes into play.
In our view, the shape of the AirPods Pro is more comfortable than the Sony AirPods, as they are slightly narrower and have a stem to stabilise the grip on the ear. But, as we say, this depends a lot on your taste.
Looking at the price, which is usually a decisive factor, in this case it is not, as the economic difference is not much. On the other hand, this shows that we are looking at two wireless headphones with very similar features, so, whichever model you choose, you’ll get it right.