Apple AirPods 1st Generation

Apple AirPods 1st Generation

Apple
36 Overall Score
vs
Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony
88 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Apple AirPods 1st Generation

65 out of 100 medium confidence 10 reviews

Users generally appreciate the value for money of these refurbished AirPods, with many praising fast shipping and good sound quality. However, several reviews report issues with one earbud not charging or working, and the charging cable sometimes fails. Overall, satisfaction is mixed, with positive experiences balanced by reliability concerns.

Pros
  • Fast shipping
  • Good sound quality
  • Great value for money
  • Official packaging included
  • Compact case
Cons
  • One earbud not charging
  • Charging cable defective
  • Bluetooth connectivity issues
  • Sound imbalance at high volume
  • Battery drains quickly
👎 Charging issues 4
👍 Sound quality 4
👍 Value for money 3
👍 Shipping speed 2
👎 Earbud functionality 3
👎 Bluetooth connectivity 2

Sony WF-1000XM5

62 out of 100 high confidence 216 reviews

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds receive mixed feedback. Many users praise the excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and comfortable fit, making them great for travel and workouts. However, a significant number of complaints focus on Bluetooth connectivity issues, poor ANC compared to previous models, and fit problems that cause discomfort or earbuds falling out. Battery life and case charging also draw criticism, with some users experiencing defects. Overall, while the audio performance is often lauded, reliability and fit concerns prevent a higher rating.

Pros
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Effective noise cancellation
  • Comfortable fit
  • Great battery life
  • Customizable app
Cons
  • Bluetooth connectivity issues
  • Poor ANC compared to previous models
  • Fit problems causing discomfort
  • Earbuds fall out easily
  • Case battery drains quickly
👍 Sound quality 25
🤔 Noise cancelling 20
🤔 Fit and comfort 18
👎 Bluetooth connectivity 12
🤔 Battery life 10
👎 Charging case 8

Scores

Music
Apple
36
Sony
100
Gaming
Apple
41
Sony
100
Commute
Apple
25
Sony
100
Budget
Apple
47
Sony
96
Travel
Apple
26
Sony
96
Calls
Apple
38
Sony
93
Fitness
Apple
20
Sony
83

Specifications

Apple AirPods 1st GenerationSony WF-1000XM5
Design
Form Factorin-earin-ear
Wearing Styletrue wirelesstrue wireless
Ear Tips—XS, S, M, L
Weight—0.01 kg★
Audio
Driver Type—dynamic
Driver Size—8.399999618530273 mm★
Drivers—1★
Freq Min—20 Hz★
Freq Max—40 kHz★
Impedance32 Ω16 Ω
Sensitivity—102 dB★
Hi-Res Audio—✓★
CodecsAACAAC, LC3, LDAC, SBC
Surround—Dolby Atmos
Noise Control
ANC✗✓★
ANC Type—adaptive
Transparency✗✓★
Connectivity
Wireless✓✓
Bluetooth—5.3★
Profiles—A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
Multipoint—✓★
Wired Connector—USB Type C
Range—10 m★
Earbud Battery
Battery Life5 hrs8 hrs★
Charge Time0.25 hrs★2 hrs
Fast Chargingtrue★3 Minutes for 1 Hour
ChargingLightningUSB-C★
Case Battery
Case Battery24 hrs24 hrs
Case ChargingLightningUSB-C★
Wireless Charging✓✓
Microphone
Microphone✓✓
Mic Count26★
NC Mic✓✓
Features
Voice AssistantSiriGoogle Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Touch Controls✓✓
App—Sony Headphone Connect App
Volume Limiting—✗
Gaming Mode✗✓★
Bone Conduction✗✗
Water Resistance—IPX4

Pros & Cons

Apple AirPods 1st Generation

  • Strong social proof (99th percentile)99th %ile
  • Strong mic (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
  • Strong sound (68th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
  • Below average comfort (29th percentile)
  • Below average anc (31st percentile)
  • Below average build (34th percentile)

Sony WF-1000XM5

  • Strong connectivity (100th percentile)100th %ile
  • Strong sound (99th percentile)99th %ile
  • Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (12th percentile)12th %ile

Pricing

Apple AirPods 1st Generation

No current pricing available

Sony WF-1000XM5

Verdict

★ Winner: Sony WF-1000XM5

Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 17 of 40 specs.

Sony WF-1000XM5 Better at:

CallsMusicBudgetGamingTravelCommuteFitness

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