Read our full review of the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are also fantastic. If you are slightly less concerned about noise cancellation and instead prioritize audio quality, these might be better for you. These earbuds pick up on the subtleness of every lyric and beat. If you’re already in the Sony ecosystem, maybe you use the WF-1000XM5 headphones. If so, these buds are the perfect companion (especially now that they’re frequently on sale).
I like music, but the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds made me truly appreciate it. When I tucked them into my ears, I was plunged into every hit of the drum in Slipknot’s “(sic)” and the 1975’s “This Must Be My Dream.” When listening to SOPHIE’s “Faceshopping,” I heard the pop of her lips on every word. All this to say, the Sony earbuds offer distinct audio that even the pickiest of audiophiles will enjoy.
Compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, the Sony earbuds have a slightly flatter sound, not as immersive as the Bose. Despite this, I still think the Sonys were strong in capturing the subtlety of music. As Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti points out in his review, the way to get the best sound with the earbuds is through the equalizer settings. The WF-1000XM5s are a little weaker on ANC compared to Bose, but just barely. While using the earbuds indoors, I found they did an excellent job blocking out cooking noises or someone speaking. However, when I was outdoors, the bustling road seeped through in a high-traffic environment.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 were less comfortable than the Bose QC Ultras. To get a secure fit, I had to push them in, and they felt jammed in my ear. Despite the initial discomfort, they were pretty comfortable over an hour of listening. As for the listening time with ANC, you get eight hours per charge, which is good for earbuds released in 2025, and even better considering these were released in 2023.
They’re a single dollar less than the Bose earbuds at full price, so if you’re in between, go Bose. That said, they often go on sale as they are older earbuds. The Sony earbuds also fall behind with a weaker companion app. The Sony app is very technical and difficult to navigate, whereas Bose’s is straightforward and easy to use.
