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

Sony knows about sound and photography. They mastered those two and you can't go wrong with that earbud.

When you changed the ear tips from the memory foam one to the silicone type, you have reduced the ANC capability of the xm4. And you also changed the airpod pro's into memory foam ones, which enhanced ANC capability. So your ANC experienced is totally off, compared to those who use the standard ear tips for both. Even then, the xm4 still won out in ANC capability for you. That comes to show how good the ANC for the sony's is.

Bought the XM4 after losing one of my airpod pros. Holy crap!! You have to try these! I am blown away by these Sony buds. If Sony continues to make buds like these, I will never use anything else. Very impressed.

One of the best reviews I've seen on wireless earphones. Great information. I really appreciate how it didn't sound like you were trying to be cool or over-animated.

Long term reviews are the best!

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

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

Airpods Pro, they kept falling out. However once I replaced the tips with rubber ones, they are awesome. New software update has improved stereo sound. Noise cancelling however is still poor, and transparency option just boosts background noise.

Love the practical tips, thanks!

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

Awesome comparison video! Keep up the great work!

This is an incredibly well done and helpful review, thank you!

Thank you for talking about size for small ears! I've been investigating and I couldn't find anyone that mentions sizing but you. This is a deal-breaker for me because I always struggle.

Fantastic review! Clear and precise.

Great review. Thanks so much! You really helped me to make my decision!

I bought the xm4 and i am super happy with it, soundwise, battery life, anc, ambient, voice call, features, a good buy overall. Never tried the airpods tho since i don't have an iphone and i think it only works best for apple products. I considered xm3 before but because of the size and price at that time i opted to buy jabra elite 75t active, a very decent pair for its price.

The editing in this review is phenomenal

Great summary Lexy!! 👍 I've been using the WH1000XM3's for 2 yrs now they have been the best for me so far. Better than Bose, Sennheiser, and Jabra's I've used in the past. The bud fit could be better and I've switched between the silicone and memory foam tips with memory foam feeling more comfortable for long term wear (i.e. 2 hrs continuous use). However, they don't stay in long enough and I have 'medium' sized ear canals. If you're a long distance runner or walker, then the buds will work themselves loose and you have to keep pushing them back in every 15-20 mins. Overall, the M3's have been a fairly reliable daily driver but there's been a nagging issue of Bluetooth connectivity loss. I've seen a lot of complaints posted about this. Sony has finally released a firmware upgrade (which doesn't impact audio quality at all) for the XM3's ... BUT I'm still experiencing an occasional disconnect/reconnect issue that randomly occurs. Since my smartphone uses a Bluetooth 5.1 chip, I won't be able to take advantage of the BIG improvement coming with v5.2 regarding with the release of LE Audio which should translate into even higher quality sound sound transfers (i.e. streaming Amazon UHD music) while consuming LESS power. That should translate into even better battery delivery and audio performance with the XM4s. Initially, I was very disappointed with the call quality based on feedback from the person on the other end ... but after figuring out Sony's app and tinkering with settings, I think the ANC does a fair enough job and listening transparency is good (especially when walking the dog). WRT the M4's, I'm intrigued about their more vivid soundstage along with additional audio codecs supported in this new iteration. Also the form factor tempts me to give them a try. Hard to tell if they jut out from the ear canals ... don't care for the Frankenstein bolt look. But, my hesitance in shelling out another $250 causes me to wait for some 'incentive' offer by Best Buy or even Amazon. I'll take Sony any day over Apple because I've never cared for Apple's 'closed architecture' approach to their technology and, IMHO, their products are often overhyped. For me, the long term value proposition with Sony's wireless buds influence my buying decision. Look forward to trying them out in the new year sometime.

Thanks for the test, I choose for the Sony WF-1000XM4 in ear as well. Mainly because of the better sound and the battery life time.

Thanks for the video, very helpful! I need some new earbuds and am considering the Sony xm4's as well as the galaxy pros and Beats Fit Pro. I'm slightly hearing impaired and wondered if the Sony's actually amplify the ambient noise (especially voices) a little? Thanks

One of the best reviews yet. You come across as genuine and unbiased.

This was a great video! Very helpfull (:

Crystal clear especially loved the summary at the end😊😇

I'd love to know how easy it is for the Sony ones to connect to iMac(2021), MacBook pro (2014)

Excellent review, we actually have both and I think of them exactly the same way. The sound quality on the Sony earbuds is just outstanding, but the comfort isn't the best. If they were more comfortable I would 100% choose them over the Airpods, but for the moment it is a tie for me.

The reason it feels like you're having to jam them into your ear is because you're meant to roll them between your fingers and then put them in.

Great information and review! Thank you!

That was a very detailed, neat and fantastic review of the two. Thanks to you dear Lexy.

I have watched a bunch of earbuds reviews on UKposts the last week, and this is by far, the best. Comprehensive, paying attention to details, pedagogical and entertaining. Well done! And you convinced me to go for the XM4. I was also considering earbuds from Sennheiser and Technics before I watched this review.

I use the XM4s with my OnePlus 8 and to be honest they sound amazing good job Sony

really good review! helped me decide which one to go for! thanks!

I had the Wf100Xm3 ear buds with my iPhone 11 but I found the connectivity to be awful and the call quality was really bad. Do you know if the connectivity is better with these versions?

Crazy to think how far Wireless Earbuds have come in such a short time. I am curious now, is there any more room for Audio Quality to get better over Bluetooth? Or is there another form of wireless communication that provides better sound in the works?

The frustration with switching between devices is the main reason I returned the Sony XM4s and you are one of the only reviewers that made that point clear! Although I did have to turn off Apple's constant insistence of automatically switching between my iphone, mac and tv, but for me, the ease of connecting is worth the drop in audio quality.

Very informative and decent review..

The ear tips of the xm4's are foam memory makimg it stretch and fit good in your ear canal

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.

Thanks Lexy, I have the XM4 Earphones and the NC is great. Sony's NC is lauded as the best out there, so it is no surprise to me that these have superior performance while offering more battery life, it's proof that they're simply more optimized.

Hi Lexi, good video. Did you say you can use the Sony with an iPhone, but have google assistant through the headphones?

Would have been nice if you compared case size too and how pocketable it is

In my opinion, even SONY's last-gen model, the Sony WF-1000XM3, is superior to the Apple AirPods Pro. For smartphone products, you have the two main competitors, Apple and Samsung. In the meantime, SONY is always doing their own thing in the background. They don't care about all of the hype and fanfare. They just do it, and they do it exceptionally well. The Sony WF-1000XM3 is amazing. I am completely blown away. I could never go back to Apple AirPods. No shame in SONY's game! It is what it is. That being said, I can only imagine that the Sony WF-1000XM4 is that much better and even more of a rival for Apple.

I would never put Apple audio products at the same level of Sony’s. Choosing the XM4’s over Airpods Pro it’s pretty obvious.

returning the airpod 3s tomorrow and getting the xm4s after noticeably hearing how their a well rounded product and not a hyped up and going for the brand

I thought my airpod pro gone wrong after getting some zaps in the left so I got xm4 and it just got delivered about 2 hours ago. If the experience with the airpod was a heavy boxer keep punching your ear canals and drums, xm4 just puts a gentle smile on my face. You would feel like you feel the bass in your brain rather than the drums. I feel more comfortable with xm4 because it kinda hangs in the air once the in-ear lands on your canal. airpod sits on your ear and you can feel a bit of stress on the ear.

I am always curious about the longevity/lifecycle of these buds as they are wireless. Would be great to see it mentioned in reviews as it verymuch determines the value you get for your money

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.

Loved the video... But could we see a video on apple vs Sony vs galaxy buds 2

I just bought these sony earbuds yesterday. 6/4/2022. My left airpod pro stopped working so i went with somthing different. Glad i chose these sonys. They are amazing. I like that you can choose different equalizers or create your own custom one.

Thank you for an excellent and informative video. Is the sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds as good as the Sony WH-1000XM4 over ear headphones ?

If you really care for sound quality then go for the XM4s. The sound quality on the Airpods Pro is meh but for me switching between my iPhone, iPad Mini, and Macbook over and over and my Pods not missing a beat is priceless. I would recommend the Sony anytime of the day for someone who doesn’t own both. But if you are heavily invested in the Apple Ecosystem then definitely go for the Airpods Pro, or even the upcoming Gen 3 Airpods.

They do have multi point bluetooth connectivity but will not be able to use LDAC in this mode.

Hello do they fall off when running.. Can we use just one at a time while keeping other one in the case

As a small eared person this is a tough fit coming from the galaxy buds+ that fit so nicely in my ears. I’m going to test them in the gym this week and if they don’t stay in unfortunately i gotta return them. But the ANC and sound is gorgeous so far.

I'm in love with the 1000X series. I have both the WF and WH line Mark 4 for my Xperia 1 Mark 2.

Detailed & enjoyable 👍

great review!

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

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 🤘🏻

Can anyone comment on the latency of these things? Like is the audio "behind" video on movies, UKposts, etc.? I'd be using them on a *OnePlus 7 Pro* with Bluetooth 5.0 (has A2DP, LE, and aptX HD). Thank you 👌

Can I use all options thru taps and touches? like play/stop, next/prev, volume +/-, NC on/off, ambient sound so for example: play/stop - tap left next - 2 tap left prev - 3 tap left volume up/down - long press left / right NC on/off - 3 tap right ambient sound - 2 tap right

As usual, I loved the thoroughness of your review. My big problem with AirPods is that they fall out-not working out just walking around. It would be nice to see some comparisons on that issue.

Finally! Someone with smaller ears that understands, this is the review that I was looking for 😭

Great review. Thnx a lot!

I'm glad to learn that the Sonys have an alternative to the earbud fit.. the size S hurts my ear canals after wearing it for an hour.

Short Version of Review: Apple users, use AirPods Pro. Android users, use Sony WF-1000XM4

Xm4 are def worth it

What music app did you use to listen to your tunes? I’ve heard the quality depends on the music platform you use

Great detailed review!

I love that you said X "Mark 4."

Sony is one of the giants in music with the most patens in the world. I would always buy Sony stuff before other stuff for music.

I only have one question before convert from AirPods Pro to XM4. I’m a cyclist, so wind noise reduction matters a lot, AirPods Pro is perfect dealing with it, I wonder if XM4 is the same when the wind noise reduction is on?

Can the sony buds able to use only single bud alone (left or right side alone)?

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

Kind of odd removing the noise isolating ear buds. Your not supposed to "ram them in" like silicon buds, you roll them small the let them expand thus clamping themselves to your ear canal. They are always far superior for sound isolation which make sense on anc phones. Removing them is like removing sports wheels from a ferrari. Apart from that technical fail, the review was good, thx.

how do you re-pair with your iphone using these airpods? I clicked on forget this device from the list of bluetooth devices and now I cannot reconnect; I do not know how to do that

How comfortable is SONY in ear? Does it fit in ear? I live ear clip on bose, I am planning to switch to sony but skeptical if this will fall while running or cycling.

I have finally met the other one person who uses Tidal instead of Spotify

It seems they both have their own advantage, it is still hard to make a decision after watching this video 😂

I have the Sony WFC-500s. Bought them on sale for $75 and they work just fine! I was debating on whether to fork out much more money for like the Sony XM4s but I really only use them when I go to the gym and they have perfect noise cancellation. I mean…the noise at public gym can be very loud but my cheaper Sony earbuds work perfectly fine in that atmosphere.

Great review ma'am! Ordered one thru Amazon India today!

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.

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! :)

Hi great video 👏 I have Samsung note mobile phone which do you suggest I buy Samsung galaxy buds pro, Sony wf-1000xm4?

Is there an app to use the air pro on iOS?

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.

I love that the mad scientist lab coat is a furry jacket.

I’ve been using AirPods Pro for 2 years now. One of the pods broke a few months ago and I’ve only been using one, which sadly I lost a few days ago. Now I need new ones, which do I go with?

Great review!

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

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

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.

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

I think the biggest issue for Sony is its integration into the Apple environment. If they could improve their software integration into all Apple devices….. that would really make a difference for me… So how to make the Sonys perfect on the next update (1) make software that seamlessly integrates them into both android and Apple environments. (2) reduce the overall size (3) continue to improve the noise cancellation intelligence. (4) make case smaller and tougher. Keep long battery life.

I went from XM3 to Airpods Pro and haven't looked back. Sony's sound quality was maybe a hint better (read more bass), but overall usability lost hands down. Things that irked me with XM3: tapping the bud to pause etc, large and not very comfy fit, huge case, can't run with them. The Apples just work: stays in great & comfy and the transparency mode is like the buds aren't there. If I want great sound for music I grab my IEMs. Cheers Lexy, cool comparo!

Im watching this video with both on each ear a the same time, to keep it simple if you want a all rounder which includes looks go for the airpods if you dont care about anything but the audia quality then I think the sony would be a good option

While listening to music, Does the Sony sound just as good on iOS as they would on a google phone? I noticed you said the calls were better on the google phone with sony and weren’t very good with iOS and Sony. Just want to make sure its not the same for both. And only call quality is the difference. I mostly listen to music so i don’t want to lose any quality in the Sonys because i have an apple phone. Thank you for your help.

Given how I use TW earbuds I really value a good ambient mode, and it’s crazy how much of a difference it can make in an urban commute life. I’ve been using AirPods Pro since release and it’s not just now natural the transparency mode is, but also how they blend the ambient sounds with the music. Music can actually be fully audible and enjoyable at reasonable volumes even with transparency mode on, feeling kind of like using open back headphones. I’ve been waiting for some other brand to match or beat apple’s transparency mode (and I’ll happily switch), but unfortunately it seems like even sony hasn’t quite figured it out yet.

How about a comparison for both android earbuds galaxy buds pro vs sony wf xm4? Your thoughts?

Excellent review