Not a Rip Off?! Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Bose vs AirPods Pro 2 vs Samsung 🤔

Today we’re going to compare the Sony WF-1000XM5 to some of the most popular buds in the market like the Bose QC II, Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, and AirPods Pro 2 in terms of performance, and the XM5’s pros and cons versus each competitor.

Call Quality

I think they all sound decent in quiet conditions, the XM5s, AirPods, Buds2 Pros sounded loud and clear. The Bose sounds a bit weaker but in quiet conditions that’s okay, I can still be heard quite well. In noisy conditions however is when the AirPods really shine, it kept a balance of reducing noise while keeping my voice intact. The Sonys were comparable to the Samsungs, which sounded very robotic but still intelligible because they were cutting out a lot of background noise, something that the Bose wasn’t doing too well. Listen to the samples here.

(Compared by using some really loud cafe style background noise and wind noise from a fan.)

Active Noise Canceling

The Bose is the best performer here followed by the AirPods. The Sonys did great too, and did better than the Samsungs. Listen to the samples here.

Transparency Mode

In terms of transparency, I think the AirPods Pro 2 is still the cleanest sounding. It is totally transparent, almost like not wearing earbuds at all.

The QC IIs are very close except for a bit of hiss.

The XM5s still have a bit more of an occlusion effect, and quite a bit more hiss compared to the AirPods and Bose, but still quite usable.

The Samsungs have the most hiss, but it also has zero occlusion.

Sound Quality

In terms of sound quality, frequency sweeps show that the XM5s have a more middle of the road approach when it comes to tuning. They are a lot less V-shaped than the Bose, so if you’re listening to bassy tracks you’ll feel the gravity and low end detail more on the XM5. And even vocal pitch sounds different, it’s a lot more heavy on the XM5 and brighter on the Bose. The AirPods have a flatter curve, emphasizing mids even more than the XM5, that’s why the XM5 sounds a bit more lively. But if it’s a lively sound you’re going and the XM5s don’t sound lively enough, the Samsungs deliver more sparkle and sizzle in the vocals and high frequencies. Listen to the following samples.

Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Bose QC II Earbuds

Against the Bose QC II earbuds, they are sort of in the same price range, but you are going to get a lot more value from the XM5 in a couple of areas. These are a lot more portable, and in terms of sound I do prefer the detail and dynamic range that the XM5s offer compared to the Bose, not counting the fact that the XM5s are hi-res certified and its sound can be enhanced, or tweaked in far more ways. And even if you’re not an expert, the new Find My Equalizer feature could help you set the XM5s to your preferred sound.

In terms of features, Bose is a lot weaker even compared to most earbuds now, because it doesn’t have popular features like multipoint pairing or wireless charging despite its relatively high cost.

So from a features and convenience standpoint, XM5 wins hands down. That being said, the biggest reason to choose the Bose over the XM5 is its extremely powerful noise canceling. It’s the reason why I bring this with me whenever I go on flights.

Another reason I like the Bose is that if I had to use just one earbud, the touch controls are set up in a way that I can still access all the controls like volume up and down, playback, and ambient modes. You can’t do that on the XM5, you can only set certain controls per earbud.

As far as I know, the only other buds now which is capable of full single sided use is the AirPods Pro 2. So in short, pick the XM5s for features, portability and sound, but the Bose for active noise canceling and convenience when using a single earbud.

Sony WF-1000XM5 vs AirPods Pro 2

Against the AirPods Pro 2, we talked about how it’s possible to use just one AirPod and still have all the controls as opposed to the XM5. But there are other reasons to pick the AirPods like its call quality and its amazing transparency.

Obviously if you’re a big time Apple user, you’re going to enjoy some features that are still AirPods-exclusive like Spatial audio with head tracking, switching the audio between connected Apple devices like your Mac, iPhone, iPad; and the ability to share your audio with another AirPods user, which is a feature I use a lot when I’m with my partner - watching shows together on the train and so on.

The XM5s are also great on iOS, and you still do get a lot of options to customize them through the Sony Headphones Connect app, but not the Apple-exclusive ones, and you don’t get to stream over Hi-Res audio either because iPhones don’t support anything above the standard AAC codec.

However, on devices running Android 13, you get to unlock the XM5’s potential with things like Hi-Res streaming over LDAC, spatial audio (head-tracking still in progress), and since it supports multipoint, you can connect up to two devices to it, Apple or not Apple which could be more appealing to power users.

In terms of performance, even if the tests show the AirPod’s ANC being more powerful, I do prefer the XM5’s noise canceling. They plug into my ears better so the noise canceling’s more reliable, unlike the AirPods which I have to readjust ever so often to maintain its seal.

So AirPods Pro 2 for calls, transparency and Apple-exclusive features,

WF-1000XM5 for noise canceling, sound, and versatility regardless of platforms. 

Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Galaxy Buds2 Pro

Against the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, I do prefer the Samsungs for a couple of reasons. It’s much more comfortable to wear because it feels less plugged in, and if you’re on Samsung devices, the experience you get is somewhat similar to how AirPods is for iOS. Some Samsing-exclusive features include seamless switching between different Samsungs, higher quality streams with a special codec called SSC, and custom sound options and spatial audio for Android.

But you won’t be able to get those features on Apple devices using the Buds2 Pro. There isn’t even an app for it on the App store, so it’s still very platform specific.

The XM5s are more platform blind, so even if you do use Samsung, but you also have Apple, just download the Headphones Connect app and you won’t be missing out on much in terms of features and options.

And since the XM5s also support multipoint pairing, you can pair up to two devices at the same time, even if they’re a mix of Apple and Android devices.

Furthermore, the XM5’s tuning is more V-shaped which will appeal to more people in terms of bass response. Its noise canceling is much better than the Buds2 Pro which makes it a much more compelling purchase, despite the price difference.

If you want to check the latest Amazon prices of these earbuds, click on the links below.

Sony WF-1000XM5 - https://amzn.to/3qiamkS
Bose QuietComfort II - https://amzn.to/3gHBWmq
AirPods Pro 2 - https://amzn.to/3VbAmsW
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro here - https://amzn.to/3piWy5v

Singapore Prices:

Sony WF-1000XM5 - https://s.lazada.sg/s.bsAyl?cc
Bose QuietComfort II - https://s.lazada.sg/s.bMAPm?cc
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro here - https://s.lazada.sg/s.bMAIi?cc

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