Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Sony WF-1000XM4

Since the Sony WF-1000XM4 came out, fans have been wondering how Sony will improve the next-gen earbuds. Fortunately, we no longer have to wonder. The WF-1000XM5 come with even better active noise canceling (ANC) and a more comfortable fit than before. Just because the XM5 buds are newer, though, doesn’t make them the best earbuds for your needs. We’ll compare the Sony WF-1000XM5 vs WF-1000XM4, to clear up some unique differences between the buds.

Editor’s note: this post was published on July 26, 2023, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 look like the WF-1000XM4, but the newer buds are 25% smaller and 20% lighter. Not only did Sony shrink the buds, but it also re-contoured the shape and got rid of the edges. The new buds still protrude from the ears more than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or AirPods Pro 2, but they’re noticeably more comfortable than the last-gen buds.

We also credit the improved comfort to the wider array of memory foam ear tips. The WF-1000XM4 include three sets of foam tips (S-L), and the newer buds come with four sizes (XS-L). Sony also redesigned the WF-1000XM5 tips, making them more malleable than before, which allows the buds to block out more noise.

The WF-1000XM4 and XM5 earbuds share the same IPX4 water-resistant build. You can exercise with them and get caught in a rainstorm. We prefer working out with the WF-1000XM5 because of the smaller shape. You may need dedicated workout earbuds with hooks or wings, depending on your preferred exercise. Do note that while the IPX4 rating protects the buds from water splashes, you can’t shower with or submerge them.

Under the hood, the Sony WF-1000XM5 house the V2 and QN2e processors, while the WF-1000XM4 house the V1 and QN1e processors. Both do the same thing, but the newer chips afford more processing power for improved ANC and microphone performance.

Both cases accept USB-C and support wireless charging. Their horizontal orientations allow them to stand upright. The WF-1000XM5 case measures 65 x 27 x 40 mm, and the WF-1000XM4 case measures 69 x 30 x 30 mm. The new case is lighter than the old one too, weighing 38g compared to 41.1g.

Sony gives you two color options: black and silver for its WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM4 earphones.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM4 support touch controls. Tapping the buds a certain number of times lets you change songs, answer calls, and more. With the WF-1000xM5, Sony added onboard volume controls, which the WF-1000XM4 lack.

Sony WF-1000XM5 controls:

The Sony WF-1000XM4 and WF-1000XM5 support “Hey, Google” or “Alexa” on Android and have proximity sensors for automatic wear detection. This means removing the earbuds pauses music, and wearing them resumes music. You can customize the controls through the free mobile app.

Sony WF-1000XM4 controls:

The Headphones Connect app complements the WF-1000XM5 and XM4 and works on Android and iOS. The app experience is virtually identical between the buds, except the newer WF-1000XM5 have a toggle for head tracking. This feature works with spatial audio content and tracks your head movement relative to the device.

Shared features that you’ll find in the Headphones Connect app include a five-band equalizer. Sony also includes some EQ presets if you don’t want to create your own. The presets are suitable for specific types of media like spoken word content. You can also toggle Ambient Sound mode (aka transparency), Adaptive Sound Control, and Speak-to-Chat on or off. Adaptive Sound Control accounts for the environmental noise and your movement, adjusting the Ambient Aware and ANC modes on the fly. With Speak-to-Chat, the earbuds sense when you’re speaking and immediately pause media playback and enable Ambient Sound. This way, you can hold a quick conversation without removing the buds.

The app is also necessary for using DSEE Extreme, Sony’s algorithm for upscaling lossy audio files. Most listeners won’t need this, but it can be particularly helpful if you store lossy, low-quality audio files on your device. The app also hosts an ear tip fit test for both sets of buds. More basic in-app features include control customization and firmware updates.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 use Bluetooth 5.3, which is slightly more efficient than Bluetooth 5.2 found on the WF-1000XM4. With the WF-1000XM5, you get LE Audio for low-latency streaming on compatible devices. Both sets of buds support the same Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, and LDAC.

You can enjoy one-step pairing to an Android device with either set of buds, because they both support Google Fast Pair. Both sets of buds can also juggle simultaneous connections with multipoint.

We tested the WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000X4 with our standardized battery tests, playing music peaking at 75dB(SPL) until the batteries depleted. With ANC on, the WF-1000XM5 lasted 9 hours, 32 minutes on a single charge, about two hours longer than the 7 hours, 43 minutes we eked out of the WF-1000XM4. Both charging cases hold an extra 16 hours of ANC listening and support wireless charging. To recharge either case by wire, Sony provides a USB-C cable.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 have better noise canceling than their predecessors. The new earbuds attenuate sub-bass frequencies up to 32dB, whereas the max sub-bass attenuation for the WF-1000XM4 is about 28dB. Additionally, the WF-1000XM5 have a more consistent ANC effect from 100-300Hz than the WF-1000XM4. You won’t observe any odd filtering noise with the WF-1000XM5.

Sony improved its memory foam ear tips on the WF-1000XM5, too. The new tips are easier to pinch and fit in your ears, resulting in better high-frequency isolation. You can see this improvement from 1-3kHz. Ambient noises that fall in that frequency range, like background laughter and unpredictable noises, will sound about 50% quieter with the new buds.

Another benefit of the WF-1000XM5 over the WF-1000XM4 are the copper-colored mesh covers that reduce wind noise. In all fairness, both sets of earbuds are great for commuting and air travel. The WF-1000XM5 will take the edge off a touch more than the WF-1000XM4.

We tested the WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM4 on our B&K 5218. The chart above depicts the results, illustrating how the models have similar frequency responses but handle treble differently. With the newer XM5 earbuds, you’ll perceive more vocal and instrumental clarity in the high frequencies (above 1kHz) than the WF-1000XM4. This improved treble response is primarily due to the new 8.4mm dynamic drivers, compared to the 6mm drivers in the WF-1000XM4.

Since both generations of buds share the same app, you can equalize them to your liking. It takes just a few moments to create a custom EQ for the WF-1000XM4, so they sound akin to the XM5 buds. Aside from that, you may also want to equalize either set of buds to reduce the bass emphasis. We recommend decreasing the Clear Bass slider a couple of notches.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 have the most advanced mic system in the WF-1000X series. Each earbud houses three microphones. Together, they use AI to enhance the speaker’s voice above background noise. Unfortunately, our WF-1000XM5 are pre-production earbuds, and the microphone quality doesn’t reflect the mass-market units on sale today. We will update this section when we have demos that accurately represent the WF-1000XM5 mics. Below, we’ve included the WF-1000XM4 standardized microphone samples. At the very least, the newer buds should have equal call quality.

Sony WF-1000XM4 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sony WF-1000XM5 vs WF-1000XM4: Price and availability

The Sony WF-10000XM5 are available now and cost $298. The WF-1000XM4 are a bit more affordable at $278. You’ll find the WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM4 available in black or silver. Historically, the WF-1000XM4 go on sale around various holiday seasons. We’ve noticed the price drop as low as $178 and expect the WF-1000XM5 will go on promotion throughout their lifecycle too.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM4 are some of the best noise canceling earbuds around. For the absolute best ANC between the two, get the WF-1000XM5. The more comfortable design lends itself to longer listening sessions, and the improved ANC is impressive. The WF-1000XM5 are also Sony’s first earbuds to include head tracking — a great feature for movie buffs.

That said, the WF-1000XM4 hold their own against modern flagships. The ANC and isolation are effective, and you get most of the same software features as the WF-1000XM5. I especially appreciate how Sony added multipoint connectivity to the WF-1000XM4 via update. If you have larger ears, the WF-1000XM4 may fit as comfortably as the smaller WF-1000XM5, too. If you want the best value between these two sets of earphones, get the WF-1000XM4.