Sony WF-1000XM5

The Sony WF-1000XM5s are comfortable, but that's where the good news ends. Battery life is terrible, sound and ANC are mediocre, and call quality is a letdown. Only consider these if you find a deep discount and comfort is your absolute top priority.

Let's talk numbers. The sound score lands at the 31st percentile, which is underwhelming for buds that promise 'studio-quality' audio. ANC isn't much better at the 32nd percentile, so don't expect best-in-class silence. The real pain point is battery life, sitting all the way down at the 4th percentile. That's one of the worst results we've seen. Call quality is also rough at the 14th percentile, despite those three mics. On the bright side, comfort is well above average at the 74th percentile, so at least they feel good while everything else is just okay.

Stacked against the competition, the XM5s struggle. The Technics EAH-AZ100 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra will smoke these on ANC and sound quality. Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 Pro offer a more polished experience with better battery life. Even Apple's AirPods Pro 3 run circles around the Sony's call quality. The only area the XM5s hold their own is comfort, but that's not enough when the core features lag this far behind. You're basically paying for the Sony badge and a comfy fit.

Pricing on these is all over the map, with a wild spread from $129 to over $3000 depending on the seller. Since this is a refurbished unit, the lower end of that range is the only one worth considering. At around $130, you're getting a comfortable pair of earbuds with a famous name. But even at that price, the weak battery and mediocre sound make it a tough sell when you can get better-performing buds for less. If you're paying anywhere near full retail, you're getting fleeced.

Sony's WF-1000XM5 earbuds are the company's latest shot at true wireless dominance, and they pack some serious tech. You get the Integrated Processor V2, triple mics per bud for ANC, and a redesigned shape that's smaller and lighter than the last generation. On paper, it's a flagship through and through.

But here's the thing. Our database tells a different story than the marketing hype. While comfort is solid, the actual performance scores land in mediocre territory across the board. Sound, ANC, and build quality all sit in the bottom third compared to other earbuds we've tested. For a Sony flagship, that's a bit of a head-scratcher.

Skip these if you need all-day battery life or take a lot of calls. The battery drains fast, and the mic quality will frustrate anyone you're talking to. If top-tier ANC or sound quality matters to you, look at Bose or Technics instead because the XM5s just don't compete.

These are for Sony loyalists who prioritize a comfy fit above all else and can snag them at a steep discount. If you just want the Sony name in your ears and don't care about top-tier sound or all-day battery, the refurb deal might tempt you. For everyone else, there are simply better options out there.