Must read if anyone is considering the XM5: I have a pair of old XM4’s. A firmware update screwed up the battery of my buds because the older models of the XM4 had a different battery and the new firmware was catered to the later models of the XM4 with the newer battery. This happened just after my buds warranty expired. Sony’s customer service is rubbish and still insists I pay for the repair. I would strongly discourage anyone from giving Sony a single cent. If you spend $300++ on earbuds, I’m sure you’ll expect to last at least a couple of years until you’re ready to upgrade. Not be screwed over by the manufacturer and be forced to upgrade to a new model. If this happened to the XM4, I’m sure Sony (following Apple’s footsteps) will do that to the XM5 when the XM6 comes out.

Just a quick edit, but on the Sony's you can tap 4 times to increase volumes then continue tapping for additional volume up. No need to pause and then tap 4 times.

One thing that most reviewers don't mention with the buds 2 pro is that you can customize the audio if you have a samsung device. They come with Dolby atmos, and you can tweak the eq settings. Also, you can set your hearing preferences according to your age. The Dolby does increase the volumen and clarity in a noticeable manner. I use it always on even with none samsung buds. You even get a testing hearing option to improve your sound preferences.

Can't forget to mention that when you use the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro with a Samsung Galaxy phone, you get to use the Samsung Scalable Bluetooth codec. It's about on par with AptX HD audio quality wise, but it can adjust the bitrate like AptX adaptive

The Samsung Buds also have the functionality to pause the music when they are not in the ears. So it is not only the Airpods. About the connectivity , for both the AirPods and Samsung, they have automatic rerouting of the connection when using their own ecosystems, which for me using the same brand tablet and smartphone is important. If I am watching KZfaq on the tablet and my phone rings, It is automatically rerouting the connection to the phone, for example. And you can't beat this with anything outside the ecosystems.

main issue with the scoring system is there are certain categories that are sooo much more important than others, should be weights on anc, sound quality, call quality, and comfort

Thank you so much for this video I have been searching on KZfaq channels for the last month trying to figure out which ear bud has the best sound quality and I was so frustrated because I couldn’t make up my mind none of the videos I have seen and I have seen a lot of videos has details about the sound quality, how you put sound quality into three different categories and talked about them in depth was really really helpful, my wife wants to buy me a gift and she has asked me to tell her which ear bud I want, now finally I know which one it is, I wish you had posted that video a month ago. Lol again I really appreciate your video thank you so much

I've loved using the XM3 and now XM3 for some time now. Awesome noise cancelling and I love the sound quality. However with my iPhone I've started noticing quite a lot of connection issues (1 headphone disconnecting, reconnecting etc) and sometimes unusable microphone quality. And nowadays when I take even more and more work calls on my phone rather than my laptop, I guess it's time to move to the Airpods Pro 2.

Quick Update! With volume once you tap 4 times you can continue tapping to quickly increase or decrease. I was just doing it too slowly. Sony also advertise 8h of battery with ANC and 6h with LDAC. So this makes sense comparing to my battery tests. 👍

This is easily among the top best and most thorough reviews and comparisons I've watched on YT. And I watched quite a lot of them! You are minding all the important little details. The only thing missing from being a perfect comparison is sound samples. But I understand that you cannot make these without some special (and expensive) equipment. Overall, impressive work!

Great vid and very detailed. Would love to see a tier 2 comparison. Brands like Soundcore, Status, Soundpeats, Earfun, Edifier, LG.

I have XM4. Happy with those. Noise cancellation isn't next level but sound is clean. I have the samsung buds pro 2 as well. They are just better for movies due to spatial audio.

I've had my Galaxy Bud Pro 2 since launch. They've been perfect. My only complaint is the soft touch coating on the bottom of the charging case is wearing off around the wireless charging ring. My older JBL Live Pro + earbuds have just as much use and yet the case still looks new.

ANC is tricky depending on the activity. SONY handles wind noise very well. The airpods miss the bar a bit for me when cycling. They just aren't as good for that activity. Weirdly, the XM4s work better at noise reduction with wind than the XM5s... using the same eartips. I suspect firmware updates may help.

Thank you. Great review! The breakdown table helped confirm my choice based on priority areas. 👍🏽

Really useful review thanks! Wanting to upgrade from the Jabra 65t you've helped me avoid 1000xm5 since the lack of controls is a deal breaker if even old Jabras do it better!

Thanks Ricky I've been looking for a site which has this sort of detail about any earbuds so much appreciated lots to think about

this is actually a great review. did not expect it to be that good. would love to see an update containing huawei freebuds 2/3

Wow new to your channel and you were not kidding about being picky,like that though .Never heard the Oneplus but have all the others in past and the Bose explanation was really spot on About it being in your Brain.Wonderful work. Thanks so much for sharing.✌️💯

Nice comparison! Couple issues: I returned the XM5s because for my ear canals the tips simply did not seal well, even tried 3rd party tips. Bose has by far the best ANC of any I've tried. Comparison table is nice but it scores all the categories equally. I for example value noise cancelling far more than the case having wireless charging.

I'm with you on the latest OP Buds Pro 2 firmware update. Sound seems to have changed. Using LHDC adaptive I often hear distortion in the highs like compression artifacts. Sounds like it might be dropping to a low bitrate connection, even when the phone is right next to me. This was not an issue before. I am using an older OP 8 pro phone with bluetooth 5.1, maybe its not an issue with newer 5.2, 5.3?

Thanks for your excellent & efficient reviews, James 👍🏻

Love it, I see picky audio revie I click it, comment and like for support. Another amazing review✌️

Hell yes. A reviewer on volume. Why don’t more reviewers add this to there reviews. Thank you sir. I found that Sennheiser doesn’t get that loud. I need loud sound lol.

Great video! Wish you could have included the TOZO Golden X1’s. I would have loved to see how the X1’s stacked up. Thanks for your videos.

I have just recently bought momentum 3's on you're recommendation, they're amazing, thanks for the tip! Keep up the good work👍🏼

I got the XM5s on release. Im not as blown away by them as some people seem to be. But theyre a good pair of buds, if a bit on the expensive side.

The only reason I've steered clear of Apple for 20 years, is they STILL don't have an EQ option. I realize I'm probably in a small minority with this, but it's mind-boggling they haven't addressed this.

Great video! Do you have a recommendation for ANC that still allows you to hear voices you are in conversation?

Price determines a lot. In my region sony 260€, senn 180€, sams 95€, one+ 60€. I also have twc2 for a year and left earbud is no longer working. Therefore, the quality of the product is also important.. and there is another 150€ option - final ze3000. Is it worth considering?

Best details n indepth reviews. Thanks!

I really like, really really like the way you compare them. Very easy to watch and understand.

After the first two categories, I came away so impressed that I actually tried to look for any elements that could be improved throughout the rest of the video. I couldn't find any.

Your evaluation is very detailed and complete, it helped me to make my purchase choice. Since you are using your finger during a demo. For aesthetics, I’d like to suggest cleaning your nails. Otherwise, your reviews are great.

What phone was used to perform your tests? I've always wondered if e.g the Samsung buds sound/perform better when used with a Samsung phone vs when used with e.g a different Android phone or an iPhone. Basically, I still struggle to find a set if buds that have excellent mic quality. I'd consider the Samsung Buds2 Pro if they're fine-tunned to work with Galaxy phones (as I assume Apple pods are fine-tuned to work with iPhone).

I got Buds Pro 2 together with Fold 5. And these headphones are a total surprise for me. The way they fit in the ear. The sound quality, especially the bass, is great. I rarely completely disagree with someone's review, but this one sucks.

I had the Sony XM5, but unfortunately, the right bud did not fit my right ear and I had to return them. The tip is supposed to go into your ear canal and the right one was too short for me. I went for the Bose QC II, a real pain to use with different devices but I will get used to all the maneuvering to stop one and connect to the other. At least I have a good seal with those.

really nice raking although I would've really loved to see the Status audio between pro in this as well :D

i feel like those foam tips in the winter will get really hard XD

The video comparison i was waiting for since they annuance the launch date. Great video bro!

Question I have re call quality and noise cancellation, how do these bugs all sound in the ear with calls? Do they actively block out surrounding noises to the wearer? Or does the microphone pick up all surrounding sounds and play it back through the ear ? My current issue is during a call I cannot hear people on the other end as my surrounding noises are amplified so excessively and played into my ear that it’s impossible have a conversation.

Hey Picky- I've recently acquired Galaxy buds 2 pro to my (increasingly expensive) collection and have been told that they work best with a Samsung device, which I have (Note 20 Ultra). However I find that I get more volume with the GBP2 and my LP3 on my Xiaomi 11t phone. In all of your testing have you experienced volume deviation over a range of phone brands?

Great Video!! I just bought the momentum 3 for 150$ US and I love the sound quality and noise cancellation. I just worry about the longevity of them with all the reviews I read. I can’t decide if I want to return these and get some airpod pro 2 or something else.

just an awesome video... thaks. Have you ever tried JBL Tour Pro 2?

One of the best review I saw on KZfaq, you are really ranking all earphones in all categories.

unfortunetely some categories have not been tested properly. The airpods 2 pro for example perform really bad if there's any kind of wind with their microphone, whileas the xm5 do not struggle with that at all

James, do you think that the Liberty 4 NC is very far of those listed in this video? I'm considering investing in top notch noise cancelling earbuds, but the price difference from the 4 NC to the Bose is massive.. Not shure if it would be worth it

Really wish apple would offer the AirPods Pro in other colorways, black specifically

This is the best review I have seen on YT. Thank you, this has helped me take a decision.

Listening through Pro 2's and I just wish they had better EQ settings as I do prefer the little features it comes with.

Great video mate... You really did your home work instead of just long video of praising one brand.

May I ask why you didn't include the Soundcore Liberty 4 and 4NC earbuds?

In this league of earbuds, EQs should be no less than 5-7 bands. Anything less is archaic and needs updating (Bose). Cool comparison review and looking forward to more of these!!

How does this all compare with the soundpeats engine 4. Brilliant video by the way. Amazing.

Bruh, what a great video. So detailed and professional. Subscribed! For the next comparison, please comment on noise floor. I am sensitive to the hum some buds have when idle.

Awesome review bro wow that's a tough ranking bro. But for me just focusing on sound quality, comfort and battery life coz that's what buds we want when we buy coz a lot of buds now has ANC or Transparency features so the most important is how they sound comfortable and good battery life.

Airpods Pro 2 mic sounds better since they use AAC-ELD, but if you're able to test the OnePlus Buds Pro2 with the LC3 codec they may come out on top!

Hello! new subscriber here! Where would you put the Huawei Freebuds 2 and 3 in this top? I've been thinking about buying them but I saw the oneplus ones and they look pretty good for the price.

Is there a link for the silicone tips? I'm having a hard time finding a set with a filter.

thanx for vid! interesting to watch, very good job! have a question - choosing between these xm5 and 1+ - which could you recommend? (looking for high volume, sound quality and bass) thanks in advance for your answer!

One small correction that ultimately does have a big impact. The AirPods Pro 2s have an IPX rating of IP54 for both the buds and case. Might’ve been a typo when you’re writing the script, or maybe the original AirPods Pro IPX rating. Either way, that would probably bump up the AirPods to 1-2 on the IPX rating section, which would make it first or tied for first overall. Edit: also, dang, the AirPods really got screwed over by their lack of personalization or an actual app. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem it’s really good, but if you’re not then it’s the absolute worst.

hi man, at this time which one is best to pick from sony linkbuds s, oppo emco x2, and one plus buds pro 2.

Very good content. Wish I'd run across your channel before but again kudos sir, and thanks

I owned 4 of the 6 earbuds and I agree that the XM5 ear tips are good but not the best. I have been using AirFoams Pro Universal ear tips and all that you mentioned with the combo of memory foam and silicone and mesh, it's great since like you said there's no mesh on the XM5. I like the AirPods Pro 2 better than the Buds 2 Pro though. XM5 is the best.

The xm4 had an issues with the battery, many users reported that it died after a couple of months. Do you know if sony fixed it?

Hey there, Really love your detailed comparison. I've been following your content for a few weeks now. I'm in a bit of a fickle here to make a pick between Jabra Elite 7 pro, Oneplus Buds Pro 2 & JBL Live pro 2. Can you please suggest to me the best one for good sound balance and call quality? Love you mate. Cheers.

Nice review as always , bro help me i need to buy a ear buds around 150 us and i didn’t found something worth it So which is the best for anc , comfort, and sound quality ( oneplus pro2 , nothing ear 2) or something else ? Sorry for spelling 😅❤

Amazing comparison, thank you so much for the effort this video takes! It would be a killer if you introduce money in the equation, so we can know the best value for money. Sometimes you're ok if you spend half of the money for a slightly "worse" article

The AirPods Pro are super uncomfortable for me but the AirPods 2 fit incredibly well, taking that into account would the one plus buds pro 2 be comfy? Thank you

Can you try adding the SoundPEATS opera 5 to this comparison if not done already. I've got them and think they're brilliant

Great review!

as i am hard of hearing so i want to have loud sound earbud ?which is best for me ?presently i am using airpod pro old model of apple

Brilliant video picky. Super helpful, thank you!

I have XM4s and love them. Once these wear out I'll stay with Sony and get the XM5s. Great video!

Is that kenneth I spy? 👀 Great videos mate! Keep up the good work!

Apple also has a ‘what sounds best’ test in accessibility. I found it really helped to open up the sound stage and boost the soubd to my taste. A very much overlooked feature.

Oneplus should have the higher volume or what? The new firmware changes sound quality not the volume Or can u explain the new firmware in new video

I love your video and comparison style my only issue is that you are not really comparing the best of the best, are you? There are other earbuds that needs to be considered in this list and honestly would love to hear your thoughts on how they compare: Thecnics az80 Audio-technica ath-twx9 bang & olufsen beoplay ex

Great review! Your call quality test really highlighted how the Airpods Pro 2 outperformed the others. If call quality were my #1, that would have sold me. But ANC and sound quality are my number one. I have MX4 and Airpods Pro 1. Airpods have vastly superior call quality and controls, but MX4 have vastly superior ANC and sound. Trying to decide if I should get MX5 or Pro 2.

Need to include the Technics AZ80 in the rankings. I own it and just received the XM5 thinking Sony was still king but the Technics totally destroys it for sound quality. The Technics sound stage is amazing, as is the build quality. Also owns an AirPods Pro 2 and Galaxy Buds2 Pro, but the Technics is really the king of the hill for sound quality in this generation! And the case build quality is second to none either. And is the only one in the market with 3 device multipoint support, including maintaining LDAC while in multipoint.

Definitely you need to review the Status Pro Triple drivers

So looking at that table the best buds are really which feature is most important to you. For me the call quality is non negotiable for an everyday use bud so I will stick with the AirPods with my iPhone.

How about call quality on buds? Noise separation on calls in noisy environments? This should be measured too

I gotta say I'm surprised you didn't include anything from the Soundcore family in this comparison. I have a good number of these high-end earbuds and I'm certain that Soundcore's top models would be more than competitive in this rundown. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Fantastic review, thanks

Hi! How much far away are the soundpeats engine 4 for sound quality from these buds? Thank you!

I haven't tried the sonys yet, but last year I purchased the Apple earbuds pro 2. gen. to match my iPhone 14 pro. I am using my bicycle a lot rising the 15 km to the nearest big city and in fact everywhere I go. I needed wireless earphone that can filter the wind noise away and I listened, unfortunately, to people like you here on KZfaq. There was nothing I could do in settings to avoid the roaring of the wind, not even on a day with no wind at all cause when you bike, there's always wind resistance. I immediately went back to my Jabra Elite 7 Pro, back to ANC that actually works. I have the Samsung Galaxy 2 pro too. They are even worse than the Airpod pros. I highly recommend the Jabra Elite 7 Pro. They were on sale when I bought them for 160$ 2 years ago. They come with an app and are also much easier to control with clicks rather then touch, which is a pain on especially Samsung earbuds 2 pro. When you active this function and put them in your ears, all kinds of settings activate as soon as you touch them, which you naturally do, when inserting them into ears.

Is the difference between the Bose and the AirPods massive? I got the Bose but am considering returning them for AirPods Pro 2 as I have iPhone and iPad as main devices.

Great video!

You have to squeeze foam tips first, that makes it easier. It's not like silikon tips, which you can just put in

This is probably the most in-depth review channel for wireless earbuds. Great job!

This is High Quality and helpful , I cant thank you enough

Love the Sennheiser 3s, had the Sennheiser 1s before but after 4 months my left earbud has gone completely out and no real response from the manufacturer

can you suggest me a TWS which has best multi point connection , good volume, nice bass sound , basically my use case is multi switch between devices automatically without accessing their respective apps on phone or devices ( MacBooks , iPhones but not signed in on same apple ids ) and workouts

I just got my oneplus buds 2 pro. Thanks to your review I decided not to update the firmware. Really loving the earbuds.

can you test the pixel buds pro please? they are getting updated soon. it should make a very big difference to before the updates.

Really enjoyed this one, excellent review of all these big hitters. I have the Sennheiser M3 out of these and love them. The sound quality is next level and I find they stay in my ears perfectly no issues with security. I was really wanting the Sony XM5 but now not in a rush. Still a bit pricey but as a lover of Sony products will grab them soon.

Spinfit tips are a game changer for the Sony's

Which would anyone recommend for running? I currently have the Galaxy buds (og) looking to upgrade was thinking about xm5s, but i like walking and running and was wondering what would he recommended?

Is there any true hifi comparison like the hifiman svanar wireless? I reckon the sound quality and the clarity is much better compared to the one mentioned on the video