AirPods Pro 2 vs Sony WF-1000XM4 (Active Noise Cancellation TESTED!)

Apple and Sony are fiercely competing for the title as "best ANC earbuds" and so the I tested them both thoroughly in a head to head comparison.

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ADDITIONAL REVIEW NOTES:
ANC TEST
Airplane test: Sony = 30, AirPods = 27
Female voice test: Sony = 10, AirPods = 16
Wind test: definitely audible with both, but AirPods were marginally better
Air conditioner test: Sony blocked substantially better. Airpods picked up clicking very well
AirPods are more compressed, so it is hard to tell what you are hearing through them
Quiet room test - they are both dead silent. No hissing or white noise

Apple seems to have a better algorithm, but the Sony earbuds are more powerful

TRANSPARENCY
AirPods have a dB limiter - good for concerts?
Sony has some white noise, but I could hear a truck backing up two streets over, so it picks up sounds at natural volumes
Sony sounds slightly like straws in my ears
AirPods sounds like nothing in my ears at all

MIC TEST

SOUND QUALITY
LDAC vs AAC/SBC
Sony earbuds are clean and detailed with properly powerful lows, an excellent in-app EQ. They gently lift the lows and mids and everything up to around 3k or 4k Hz or so. I think this gives them a warmer tone, but I like to EQ them and lift the highs and drop the mids slightly so they never sound dark. The Sony earbuds have a great soundstage and instrument separation.

Airpods have much less boomy and to some extent, a shallower bass, albeit a massive improvement from the old pros. They still manage to reproduce fairly natural sounding music with little distortion, great instrument separation, and beautiful detail. We still have more emphasis on higher frequencies for more perceived clarity, but they are far from an energetic and lively pair of earbuds. For acoustic music, these are nice, and for podcasts they are great, btu the clear winner here are the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds

DESIGN
Appearance: Vote! I think I like Sony better
Two colors vs one color
Comfort - I prefer the airpods
1000XM4 foam tips broke
Controls (pinch and swipe vs touch)
IPX4 both
Cases: AirPods case is much much smaller
Both have wireless charging
Battery = 6/30 AP Pro, 8/24 hrs with Sony

FEATURES
Sony has speak to chat
Both have 3D sound capabilities
Both take pictures of your ears to customize
Sony has customizable controls
Sony has adaptive sound control
Sony has tap to speak
Airpods have native Siri
Airpods have seamless switching
Neither has true multipoint
AirPods have mono mode
FindMy
Case speaker

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Price: $250 vs $250 (originally $280)
Compatibility: They both work with any BT connections, but there is no AirPods app for Android and no galaxy app for apple

Disclaimer: This video is purely based on my experiences, research, and opinions. You and only you are responsible for your actions. I made this channel to advise viewers and I truly hope to help you all out. I love making these videos and connecting with my viewers!
This channel is monetized via YouTube ads as well as some affiliate links. If a purchase is made after clicking the link, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to the buyer. Thank you all for watching!

[stormymondayk]

I have the Sony‘s and the AirPods Pro and one thing I don’t see many reviewers talking about is the benefit of replacing the silicone tips on the AirPods Pro with memory foam tips available from Amazon. I replaced the silicone tips with memory foam tips and it took my AirPods Pro to a whole new level as far as, comfort, sound and noise canceling. Just about on par with the Sonys

[robertllobrerajr.]

Just bought the Sony WF-1000XM4 like 2 weeks ago. I also used the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 before, and I am very happy with my purchase! The sound quality when compared to the Buds 2 is just day and night. They may look so bulky, but I can sleep with them without discomfort on my ears. The Speak-to-chat feature when set to 5 seconds is so underrated! I don't have to use the touch controls nor manually stop the music through my phone.

[MP_pov]

You are really onto something here. Testing with female voices should be done by every reviewer. I’d go as far as to say manufacturers should make this a big thing, even advertise on the box. I’d call this WNC - Wife Noise Cancellation

[cheongmj]

Having both, these are my thoughts. I liked the WF-1000XM4 over the original AirPods Pro. Now that i have the AirPods Pro 2, i very much prefer the ANC and microphones over the XM4. I listen to lots of instruments and vocals hence the APP 2 is perfect for me, music seems airy and spacious while the bass is definitely sufficient for me. XM4 has an energetic sound signature, perfect for songs with lots of beats such as drums but i found vocals to be recessed despite EQ and the soundstage never did quite expand to what i'd like. Vocals + String insruments→ APP 2. Multimedia + Bass → XM4

I like the XM4s because of how dynamic they sound but they didn't perform well across all genres while APP2 was adequate and fascinating in fact! I prefer the fit of the APP2 which sits outside my ears. XM4s are a little large for my ears and i find them sore after an hour of us. I am hoping the XM5s will solve these issues!

Overall, i think the APP2 doesn't disappoint and is what i prefer instead of the XM4s.

[dustinbaconflipper]

I bought the AirPods Pro 2 sometime last month while on sale. On the other hand, I’ve had the XM4’s for a little over 2 years.

Absolutely adore everything about the XM4’s, to the point where I don’t see the need to get the XM5’s: The sound is incredibly warm, with good resolution and separation, the bass is just right (I don’t like strong bass but these are just right) and the ANC is phenomenal.

Decided to give the AirPods Pro 2 a try because, well, everything mobile for me is Apple (MacBook, IPad, IPhone, Apple Watch) and figured it should improve the experience: not really. The AirPods do fit a little better, took some time getting used to the squeeze but the swipe is nice to control. The sound is definitely less warm and has kore clarity, but some tracks do come across as Harsh for my sensitive ears. There is one incredible redeeming aspect for the AirPods: That Transparency mode is incredible, downright a super power. Sometimes I throw these on with head tracking and it honestly feels like a concert. While studying in a library, it almost feels like I’m tapping into other peoples conversations with transparency mode: It’s just that good.

Overall, my experience with the AirPods 2 was really good and the difference comes down to this: If I’m on campus for classes and am collaborating with my contemporaries: The AirPods are the go to with that godly transparency mode, it’s kinda trippy to be listening to a video while maintaining a conversation. For everything else, essentially music and pleasure: The XM4’s take it by a long shot. I do find that they sit a little better with how my ears are shaped, and the sound is overall better.

AirPods: Transparency Mode
XM4’s: Everything Else

[TroyArn]

problem with AirPods is no matter what capabilities they advertise, and no matter the actual function, apple will - if they think they can get away with it - degrade or ruin the performance of what you bought with a trojan horse software update before a new release. AirPods Pro, case in point. At this moment, AirPods Pro ANC is no longer functioning as it should, and as it used to. But AirPods Pro 2, which they're now selling, works just fine. Apple can't be trusted. how what they're doing is even legal is beyond me.

[jbountalas]

I couldn't get the Airpods Pro to stay in my ears, so I went with the Sonys. The Sonys don't hook into the Apple ecosystem, but they have so many features and really good ANC, along with a sound that is so clean, they are great.
I have a few premium buds, but If I had to keep only one set, it would be the Sonys.

[SkydiveSim]

Excellent detailed review. You really hit on every feature I was curious about. As far as the mic, the Apple AirPods really sound much better to me.

[liquid]

When Mike said that the wf-1000xm4 does not block out that much wind, but they have a wind noise block mode.

[anyapanthaky]

What a great video! Definitely helped me have more context to making a choice between the two.

[shassafrass]

Love my sony's and it was great buying em this year since the price has gone down significantly too.

[vincentlee]

I have been using my 1000XM4 for a year, so far I didn't find any issues with it. 👍

[Michael.Chapman]

Thank you for a great comparison and ypur useful ANC test simulations. I use my AirPods when out for breakfast at a sidewalk Cafe. There is conversation, music, noise of passing vehicles, sirens, etc—that might make an interesting ANC test. Compared to my AirPods Pro Gen 1, the new Pro 2 is significantly improved in sound quality and bass response, really pleasing. A huge improvement for me is fit and seal, both subjectively and using the Apple Seal/ Fit test utility. The default medium tips fitted and sealed perfectly for me from the start. The old Pro’s required me to buy and try third party silicone covered foam tips to finally get a reasonable seal—plus a lot of experimentation with tip sizes—and they were never as comfortable as the Gen 2s.

[ericdobson]

I’ve owned both and I can tell you for me the Sonys are way better I found they had better sound quality, the noises cancellation were better ect

[gunargundarson]

I love Sony buds but I feel like their size can be bothersome for small ears, and Applebuds, although a little more comfortable, is lacking in battery life.

[paulh]

Foam tips always provide better sound isolation and bass response than silicon tips. I thought my galaxy buds + were aweful and I tried foam tips and the difference was amazing. I am currently rocking the Sennheiser CX + with the silicon tips and these are amazing for the price. It seems the Air Pods 2 might be worth it for the nag cancellation.

[sodaef]

You asked about microphone. I am not native speaker.

XM4 was more clear for me. AirPods was a little bit hard to understand in both environment. Airpods had some "chrrr" sound.

Headphones right now: WH-1000XM4, audio from Macbook Pro 14".

[CornelSerban]

I have the AP2, and it looks when there is no high noise, the airpods pro second generation adapt and reduces the anc to a lower level. Maybe to save battery?!

[muhammadammar]

Which one is better for audio video recording or vlogging? Can we use one of these for our YouTube videos?

[ashadsiddiqui]

I hear the Sony's are rumored to be receiving a multipoint update soon. Plus I they seem to have gone to 180 on sale. I think that may just break the draw tbh.