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Sony WF-1000XM4 vs. AirPods Pro: 1 month later

Sony WF-1000XM4: AirPods Pro: Comply foam eartips: *CNET may get a commission from these offers. Sony and Apple make some of the best wireless earbuds you can buy. This long-term review will cover everything you need to know about the Sony WF-1000XM4 and AirPods Pro, including battery life, sound quality, noise cancellation, microphone quality and…

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Sony WF-1000XM4:
AirPods Pro:
Comply foam eartips:
*CNET may get a commission from these offers.

Sony and Apple make some of the best wireless earbuds you can buy. This long-term review will cover everything you need to know about the Sony WF-1000XM4 and AirPods Pro, including battery life, sound quality, noise cancellation, microphone quality and overall design.

00:00 – Sony WF-1000XM4 vs AirPods Pro
00:42 – Price and unboxing
01:11 – Design and fit
03:52 – Sound quality
06:23 – Audio vs spatial audio
06:55 – ANC and ambient sound
09:02 – Call quality
10:14 – Features
12:08 – Battery life
13:40 – Lexy’s pick

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94 Comments

94 Comments

  1. Lexy Savvides

    July 19, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    Thanks for watching! Let me know which pair you pick and why 👇

    • User

      July 19, 2021 at 4:36 pm

      Simple…do u use apple or android…done

    • Rolex

      July 19, 2021 at 5:55 pm

      Huawei Freebuds Pro 🤗🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♂️

    • CoderTube

      July 19, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      XM$, after a month of use, I stopped using my over-ear XM2s

    • ASTRALSKY

      July 19, 2021 at 9:44 pm

      Sony, do to the value and fixes necessary compared to the previous generation. Plus better value than Apple products and sound quality Sony has better experience.

    • Elias MR

      July 19, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      Nowadays I use the Sony in spite of having an Iphone as my main cellular, because of the sound quality and design. Good and funny video.

    • Wayne Brooks

      July 20, 2021 at 9:34 am

      I Love my Sony WF-1000XM3 and WF-1000XM4. My AirPod Pros are broke since they make them out of cheap plastic. All 3 have top tier Noise cancellation. Best Sound quality goes to Sony.

    • Alexander Ulv

      July 20, 2021 at 11:21 pm

      Airpods Pro, because of comfort and eco system, which just had me hooked into Apple products. I have no choice at this point 😂

    • shonen84

      July 21, 2021 at 6:57 am

      Great overview, thanks! Have been onboard Sony since their first MDR 1000X! The XM4 in ears are significantly better than the XM3 – LDAC make them sounds like high quality wired in ear monitors and also on AAC/Apple they work great. I also used the silicone tips from my XM3’s, but ended up using the hybrids after all. I’ve gotten used to them, I often forget I have them in – often falling asleep or being addressed by a coworker without me realizing it. Very happy with my XM4s!

    • ArkonArcAxe

      July 21, 2021 at 7:50 am

      i picked the AirPods Pro cause it was a freebie w/ my ipad pro 2021

    • D

      July 21, 2021 at 10:00 am

      is it just me or is the wf-1000xm4 charging case lid loose?

    • ted ted

      July 21, 2021 at 11:41 am

      I just use the regular earpods with the lightning connector that came with the iphone 11. For me, best to date. I would be worried about losing one say at the beach or when riding a bicycle without a leash to connect the left & right together. Where does Beats headphone stand in comparison to the Sony?

    • Night Rider

      July 21, 2021 at 9:12 pm

      @Kali Linux 😯😳

  2. Anay Makan

    July 19, 2021 at 5:13 pm

    I own the AirPods Pro. Amazing with apple devices. Fast multi pairing. Neutral well balanced sound. Very low latency. Small portable wireless charging case and super powerful anc with decent mics. But haven’t tried Sony’s

    • Williams Sepenu

      July 19, 2021 at 8:43 pm

      Please try sony and you’ll never go back to apple

    • mbarrera2

      July 19, 2021 at 10:29 pm

      @Williams Sepenu I’m kinda stuck i have the Sony and they are great but i do feel like i miss the multi point integration loved that about the AirPods Pro switching between iPad and iPhone… that’s keep me thinking about going back to AirPods

    • Williams Sepenu

      July 19, 2021 at 10:56 pm

      @mbarrera2 what you will do is, register your Sony in all the your devices . Any time you want to switch. Off the Bluetooth of the device you’re using, it will automatically connect to the another device

  3. Madhusudhanan Ravindran

    July 19, 2021 at 6:06 pm

    Well I can lay down on side with airpods pro and not with Sony as it has a touch input

  4. Mohammed Masudul Hoque

    July 19, 2021 at 6:19 pm

    lexy your getting old and yr reviews are getting better and better

  5. jvcex

    July 19, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    thanx for review Lexy….beautiful lady

  6. Carlo M. 21

    July 19, 2021 at 6:29 pm

    Loved the Sony’s… BUT, I had to return it for the same reason you mentioned – the FIT. I was in pain after 30 minutes. I tried the smallest tips but the ANC and the sound were compromised. It was confirmed via the fit test in the app.

    Lexy… did you stick with the XM3 tips? If so, are there setbacks when it comes to ANC and sound? Thanks.

  7. Stanley Moras

    July 19, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    I like that you compared the 🎙️ mic call quality, very through in general Thank you 🐱

  8. Hamed Al Shaibani

    July 19, 2021 at 6:46 pm

    Does the Sony 3D Audio works with the iOS movie apps like Netflix / HBO? I mean can you enable it and hear a difference?

    • Lexy Savvides

      July 19, 2021 at 6:53 pm

      Unfortunately no. Sony’s 360 audio only works with music and a limited number of apps like Tidal and Nugz

  9. Jason N. Miller

    July 19, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    Wow…the comparison of the microphones using iOS versus Android is something I hadn’t even considered. I use my XM4s almost exclusively with my iOS devices. However, hearing the difference with the microphones using Android is nice to be aware of. It also seems like the Airpods have the opposite experience, such that they’re not as clear on Android. Interesting.

  10. Nicholas Nieves

    July 19, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    Comply tips are the best ,

  11. CoderTube

    July 19, 2021 at 7:25 pm

    Good choice, XM4 is wayyyy better after using both, the airpods are inferior

  12. richard hemenway

    July 19, 2021 at 7:53 pm

    with the sony i too had to swap to silicone tips, the foam ones kept falling out. fit perfect now

    • moja moja

      July 19, 2021 at 11:12 pm

      can u share the link where u bought the silicone tips? thanks

  13. Arash Fayyaz

    July 19, 2021 at 8:22 pm

    Thanks for video, I bought AirPods Pro more than a year ago.
    It’s horrible! After 5 minutes, right AirPod pro had clicking sound issue and replaced it for free!
    Just had a same issue with left AirPod pro; it’s over one year and I can’t change it for free!
    I really regret that I bought AirPods Pro 😞

  14. Gaurav Bhardwaj

    July 19, 2021 at 8:25 pm

    Thanks for such a great comprehensive comparison Lexy. I can sense that you are an audiophile and your perspective truly hit home. Cheers.

  15. Astrolite

    July 19, 2021 at 8:48 pm

    I got my Sony today and it’s ANC SUCKS! There is NO difference bettwen anc on and off… I’m so upset cause I took your review into concideration when I were choicing them 🙁

    • Lexy Savvides

      July 19, 2021 at 9:05 pm

      Oh no! Sounds like you have a defective pair. You should 💯 be able to tell the difference between ANC on and off. Return them!

  16. Edwin Daniel Villegas

    July 19, 2021 at 9:41 pm

    I bet the intro was redone many times

  17. leonard kagiso

    July 19, 2021 at 10:19 pm

    Sony ♥

  18. Jesse N

    July 19, 2021 at 10:29 pm

    Swapped my sonys to silicon tips and I am loving life now.

    • moja moja

      July 19, 2021 at 11:13 pm

      can u share the link where u bought those silicone tips. ty

    • Jesse N

      July 19, 2021 at 11:38 pm

      @moja moja I was using my MDRXB50APB eartips, you can also get third party tips from comply (called truegrip for Sony true wireless) or buy any of the third party silicone tips designed for Sony headphones. I would be careful getting third party as you’d have to consider fitting into the case too since I don not know what size you are getting.

  19. Nelson Pelayo

    July 19, 2021 at 11:21 pm

    I love that you said X “Mark 4.”

  20. georgio Armania2

    July 19, 2021 at 11:24 pm

    Having the ear buds in for too long can be bad for ear health. All ear buds should come with antibiotic ear drops to treat any likely infection and advice to limit hours of use. Where is the FDA in all this? Excellent review however from THE CNET star!

    • 100RHK

      July 20, 2021 at 9:06 am

      X2, that’s why I prefer to use apple Airpod or Samsung buds live.

  21. dale stephens

    July 19, 2021 at 11:27 pm

    Airpods pro are currently $189 on Amazon. The sony’s might be a bit better but $90 worth? Probably not.

    • Joe Brown

      July 20, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      The Sony’s are going to come down in price just as the Airpods did.. but even at 20 to $60 difference after a year they’re so worth it especially for the extra listen time as the batteries degrade it more than pays for it self

  22. Juan Mm

    July 20, 2021 at 12:00 am

    XM4 are for music lovers and audiophile, they are just in a different category, they’re worth the price

  23. Keegan Hansel

    July 20, 2021 at 12:21 am

    Can anyone help me decide which to get?

  24. Noel Tan

    July 20, 2021 at 1:06 am

    great review!

  25. tommytqt1

    July 20, 2021 at 1:27 am

    Let forget about the headphones for a second. Man. The Samsung selfie video looked nicer than the iPhone with blur background.

  26. Wee Siong Lim

    July 20, 2021 at 1:29 am

    The wind noise rejection of XM3 was quite bad, how’s that on XM4 ?

    • Twan van de Pas

      July 20, 2021 at 9:53 pm

      The wind noise reduction on the xm4’s is amazing. I use them frequently walking and biking outside. I used the xm3’s before and there’s no comparison.

  27. Cruz N’Tech

    July 20, 2021 at 1:48 am

    Use spinfit tips for the Sony earbuds. 1000% more comfortable.

    • Lai Woh

      July 20, 2021 at 1:27 pm

      Will downgrade the bass?

    • Prakhar Shankar

      July 20, 2021 at 3:13 pm

      @Lai Woh tips don’t affect base 😉

  28. Editor XV

    July 20, 2021 at 2:17 am

    I use dolby atmos for music on spotify with LDAC codec and sound priority mode with everything maxed out , it sounds like in studio with your favorite artist , it just depends if you use neutral eq if an audiophile or prefer more classic as it is eq that is decent but not groundbreaking , dolby atmos works best with neutral sound in my opinion on my sony wh-1000xm3 on spotify premium though. Can’t wait for spotify hifi , I have the wf-1000xm3 and love them and I might upgrade in the future , the sony wh-1000xm4 are amazing

  29. Jeremy DeBose

    July 20, 2021 at 2:54 am

    If the Sony’s were out and closer in price, I’d have got them instead of the Pods. Just for the music fidelity.

  30. USConnexion

    July 20, 2021 at 3:09 am

    Sony >Apple

  31. marc zepol

    July 20, 2021 at 3:19 am

    I have the Sony XM4’s and I also use the silicone tips from the XM3’s. Those foam tips are the only negative I’ve experienced so far.

  32. Anirudh Reddy

    July 20, 2021 at 4:21 am

    Apple can’t match bose and sony interms of sound quality.

  33. RyanExx

    July 20, 2021 at 5:34 am

    This is just what I was looking for you read my mind

  34. Gilmour David

    July 20, 2021 at 9:00 am

    Thanks for sharing. Could you review Naenka or Skullcandy’s earbuds? plz

  35. Delon Serino

    July 20, 2021 at 10:08 am

    Somebody should give Lexy an Oscar Award for the most pretentious role for an earbud review. Stellar performance at 10:50.

    • Lexy Savvides

      July 20, 2021 at 3:33 pm

      😆 taking that as a compliment

    • Delon Serino

      July 21, 2021 at 12:34 am

      @Lexy Savvides AHA! You saw my comment AND REPLIED TO IT!

      Well, Jaime Rivera and iJustine couldn’t beat that acting.

  36. Vicrant Tangde

    July 20, 2021 at 2:52 pm

    If you have iPhone or any other Apple device then get airpodes pro…else go for sony.(great sound,greatest anc)

  37. spadePerfect

    July 20, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    I went with the AirPods pro.
    For both looks and the size.
    I can’t deal with the Sony Airbuds, they just look so bad. It’s a major aspect for something I plan on using basically daily. And also, the charging case is bigger compared to the AirPods Pro, right?

  38. Nikolaj Jensen

    July 20, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    I use my SONY XM4 for everyday use, and my Air Pods Pro for online meetings.

    • Nikolaj Jensen

      July 21, 2021 at 6:13 am

      @gabe itches As quiet? Do you mean if they hiss?

    • gabe itches

      July 21, 2021 at 6:15 am

      @Nikolaj Jensen yea because when I got that it felt like all the noise just disappeared I don’t got that anymore

    • Nikolaj Jensen

      July 21, 2021 at 6:20 am

      @gabe itches make sure that ANC is turned on, not ambient sound. Otherwise return them and get a new pair .

    • gabe itches

      July 21, 2021 at 6:28 am

      @Nikolaj Jensen ok yea it happened a couple times and the noise just completely drowned out I’ve had this luck with my xm3s too idk why it happens

    • gabe itches

      July 21, 2021 at 6:32 am

      @Nikolaj Jensen forgot to mention even when anc turns on it drowns out a little bit of noise but not as much as when I bought them new it could also be because I worked out with them

  39. Mack Moore

    July 20, 2021 at 8:21 pm

    Been waiting for your comparison, Lexy! My Amazon gift cards are itching to be spent on one of these two 🙂

  40. FredrikLL

    July 20, 2021 at 8:24 pm

    I love my apple pro’s but I get alergic reaktion from them, how about the Sony ones?

  41. couchpoet1

    July 20, 2021 at 8:45 pm

    Lol

  42. Vin Church

    July 20, 2021 at 9:33 pm

    I bought the Sony headphones and returned them quickly. I like some of the software but the comfort wasn’t right. I have the Bose QC and they’re lacking some software ability but the comfort is great.

    • shonen84

      July 21, 2021 at 6:59 am

      Comfort is crucial. Hope you will enjoy your Bose QCs!

  43. ycz04x02

    July 21, 2021 at 2:12 am

    Long term reviews are the best!

  44. NETVO TV

    July 21, 2021 at 2:29 am

    How about AirPods max, is it worth to get bigger headphone?

  45. Elijah Dandrich

    July 21, 2021 at 6:27 am

    Super Consumer Brunettee

  46. Bob Lee Swagger

    July 21, 2021 at 6:40 am

    This was a great video! Very helpfull (:

  47. Just a viewer_T.

    July 21, 2021 at 7:23 am

    Also huawei cheaper and better

  48. 1chi TheKilr

    July 21, 2021 at 7:32 am

    In my case I didn’t really get to pick one over the other. I pre-ordered the Xperia 1 Mark III recently and that just comes with those Sony earbuds. I wanted to check reviews and see how good they actually are and I’ve only heard exceptional reviews on them so far. I got some amazing headphones last year and I’m very curious how those stack up to these Sony ones. Either way, hey, they came with my phone FOR FREE. This will be the first time I’ve ever gotten actually GOOD headphones with the purchase of a phone. I’m excited, I can’t wait for the package to show up! 🙂

  49. Marvin A

    July 21, 2021 at 8:31 am

    The airpods will nearly always sound better than any “non-stem” earbuds when testing call quality with respect to the microphones.

  50. demon6937

    July 21, 2021 at 8:51 am

    I was about to get airpods pro I think I’ll be getting the Sony one due to more battery capacity

  51. Stuart Kuhan

    July 21, 2021 at 11:35 am

    Love the practical tips, thanks!

  52. Danish Meman

    July 21, 2021 at 12:11 pm

    I think people just don’t know how to properly insert the XM4. The Sony’s are a no brainer if you care about listening to high quality music.

  53. Seth K Johnson

    July 21, 2021 at 1:03 pm

    I will never buy anything Sony again. My wh1000m3’s don’t switch between devices and I need ear buds or headphones to do that, especially at over $200. I may even buy AirPods Max (which will not leave the house)

  54. Shawn G

    July 21, 2021 at 4:47 pm

    I picked up the AirPods Pro before I really knew about the Sony’s but honestly I can’t complain about them… with the volume turned to about 80% they honestly sound really good and have surprising bass for their size. I can literally feel the bass of some songs thumping in my ears. Music is VERY balanced and it sounds like it should. The fit is great as well. I kind of twist them into my ears in a downward swooping motion and then push the backs in. Gives a great seal! The sound isolation alone is great. I drive a box truck at work and they cancel out about 80% of the engine noise just with the sound isolation and man it’s nice! Transparency mode is also freaking awesome and I use it every day. It allows me to keep them in my ears and work and still talk to customers. The ANC, to me, is ok… it’s honestly not too much more than the sound isolation provides. If I receive a call and the engine gets especially loud while I’m on the freeway ANC is nice for that. Battery life is eh… I get about 4 to 4 1/2 hours off a charge. But it’s fine. Some days I do have ear fatigue so longer battery life really wouldn’t matter that much. Overall, for the $200 I paid, the AirPods Pro are really good earbuds and I don’t think I could work without them and maintain my sanity lmao…

    Good review 🤘🏻

  55. George h

    July 21, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    I’d be interested to know how the Sony ANC works around ultrasonic cleaners. My AirPods make an horrendous screeching noise when I’m running the ultrasonic cleaner at work.

  56. Gee Knight

    July 21, 2021 at 5:51 pm

    Just got the XM4 and dayumnnnnn! This things are the best. I have never used apple’s earpods, but I doubt they gonna have the best sound out there. Sony are big but im sure they have better internals cuz the sound is unbelievable. Thanks Sony

  57. yonda ila

    July 21, 2021 at 9:06 pm

    I guess they’ve got there Sony check

  58. Crusader1089

    July 21, 2021 at 10:11 pm

    The main to camera shots seem lit a little oddly, highlighting the naso-labial lines and making the host look a bit older. Looks ten years younger in the b-roll. Great content though

  59. Regina Lim

    July 21, 2021 at 11:25 pm

    I have small ears and my XM3 kept dropping off from my ears no matter which ear bud sizes I used. Any solution?

  60. inverse_of_zero

    July 22, 2021 at 12:32 am

    love hearing an aussie voice 😊

  61. Farich Anton Susilo

    July 22, 2021 at 12:45 am

    Yeyyy Lexy is back!

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