Sony WH-1000XM4
Score: 92/100
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen
Score: 85/100Rankings
The Sony WH-1000XM4 remains a benchmark for premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones, offering top-tier ANC, high-resolution audio support, and a suite of smart features with excellent battery life. It is ideal for travelers, remote workers, and audiophiles seeking premium sound and comfort.
Second-generation AirPods Pro deliver top-tier ANC, adaptive transparency and spatial audio in an ultra-light package with modern USB-C charging, though they lack hi-res codec support and extensive customization.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
30 hoursbest | 6 hours | |
| ↓ lower better | 453.6 g | 5 gbest |
40 mmbest | — | |
38 hoursbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 10 minutesbest | — |
105 dB SPLbest | — | |
10 mbest | — | |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (g) | 453.6 g | 5 g |
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (ANC On) (hours) | 30 hours | 6 hours |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers hailed the WH-1000XM4 as the benchmark for noise-cancelling headphones at launch, praising its ANC, sound fidelity, comfort, battery endurance, and intelligent features.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the XM4's noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort, and quick-charge convenience, while noting occasional sensitivity of Speak-to-Chat and lack of water resistance.
“The noise cancellation is incredible-blocks out airplane engines and office chatter completely.”
“Sound is rich and balanced, especially with LDAC enabled.”
“So comfortable I forget I'm wearing them during long flights.”
Professional reviewers, notably PCMag, commend the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) for their rich, balanced sound and industry-leading active noise cancellation, highlighting Conversation Aware and the case's built-in speaker, while noting the absence of hi-res codec support and a fixed EQ as drawbacks.
Everyday users rave about the superior noise cancellation, immersive spatial audio, and convenience of stem-swipe volume control, while also noting fit issues for certain ear shapes and limited Android functionality.
