✦ SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARE

WH-1000XM4 vs WH-1000XM5: which is better?

WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5 compared side by side across 73 specs and 9 scored categories — every winner highlighted, so the right pick is obvious.

2 PRODUCTS · 73 SPECS · 9 SCORED CATEGORIES · LIVE RE-RANKING

COMPARING

2 / 4

HEADPHONES

Add or remove products — every chart and spec row re-ranks live.

SONY

WH-1000XM4

$348

BEST VALUE

← TOP PICK

SONY

WH-1000XM5

$399

BEST OVERALL

Add product

2 AVAILABLE

⚡ COMPARZONE VERDICT

The WH-1000XM5 takes the overall win.

Highest composite at 9.0/10 — 0.3 ahead of the WH-1000XM4. Tightest race: comfort, just 0.3 apart. Scroll for the category-by-category breakdown.

View best price →

CATEGORY WINS · 9 SCOREDTIES SHOWN GREY

SOUN

NOIS

BATT

COMF

FEAT

VALU

SOUN

NOIS

BATT

WH-1000XM4×4

WH-1000XM5×5

Sony WH-1000XM4BEST VALUE

Sony WH-1000XM5BEST OVERALL

01 · SCORE RADAR

Performance profile

CLICK A PRODUCT TO ISOLATE ITS SHAPE

LARGEST GAPNoise Cancelling — WH-1000XM5 leads by 9.5

TIGHTESTComfort — only 0.3 between the top two

02 · CATEGORY BREAKDOWN

Category showdown

WH 1000XM4WH 1000XM5

Sound QualityiWH-1000XM4 · +8.6

WH 1000XM48.6

WH 1000XM50.0

Noise CancellationiWH-1000XM4 · +9.0

WH 1000XM49.0

WH 1000XM50.0

Battery LifeiWH-1000XM4 · +8.5

WH 1000XM48.5

WH 1000XM50.0

ComfortiWH-1000XM5 · +0.3

WH 1000XM48.7

WH 1000XM59.0

FeaturesiWH-1000XM5 · +0.5

WH 1000XM48.8

WH 1000XM59.3

ValueiWH-1000XM4 · +0.7

WH 1000XM49.2

WH 1000XM58.5

SoundiWH-1000XM5 · +9.2

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM59.2

Noise CancellingiWH-1000XM5 · +9.5

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM59.5

BatteryiWH-1000XM5 · +9.1

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM59.1

03 · VALUE MAP

Price vs performance

TOP-LEFT IS THE SWEET SPOT

SCORE PER $100 · RANKED

01WH-1000XM42.50BEST DEAL

02WH-1000XM52.26

Map shows current starting prices · trends show tracked street prices. Check live deals before deciding.

04 · THE FULL SHEET

Full specifications

73 SPECS · ALL SHOWN

SPECS

WH-1000XM4$3481W8.7

WH-1000XM5$3992W9.0

Typei

Over-ear

Over-ear closed-back

Driver SizeMMi

40 mm← BEST +33%

30 mm

Frequency Responsei

4 Hz - 40 kHz

4 Hz – 40 kHz

Codec Supporti

SBC, AAC, LDAC

LDAC / AAC / SBC

Hi-Res AudioiSAME

Yes

Spatial AudioiSAME

Yes

Battery Life (ANC)HRiSAME

30 hr

Quick Chargei

10 min = 5 hours

3 min = 3 hours

Has A WirediSAME

—

Has A WirelessiSAME

—

Bluetooth VersioniSAME

—

Has Aptx AdaptiveiSAME

—

Has AptxiSAME

—

Has LdaciSAME

—

Has LdhciSAME

—

Has Bluetooth Le AudioiSAME

—

Has Aptx Low LatencyiSAME

—

Has Aptx HdiSAME

—

Has Aptx LosslessiSAME

—

Has AaciSAME

—

Has AuracastiSAME

—

Audio LatencyiSAME

—

Maximum Bluetooth RangeMiSAME

—

Has Fast PairingiSAME

—

Supports Bluetooth Pairing Using NfciSAME

—

MultipointiSAME

Yes

FitiSAME

—

Has A Detachable CableiSAME

—

Is Designed for KidsiSAME

—

Can be FoldediSAME

—

Has a Tangle Free CableiSAME

—

Travel Bag is IncludediSAME

—

Has an Open-Back DesigniSAME

—

Cable LengthMiSAME

—

Has Stereo SpeakersiSAME

—

WeightGi

254 g

250 g← 2% lighter

Water ResistanceiSAME

None

Build QualityiSAME

—

Sound QualityiSAME

—

Release DateiSAME

—

Has A Noise-Canceling MicrophoneiSAME

—

Has Ambient Sound ModeiSAME

—

Has In/On-Ear DetectioniSAME

—

Number Of MicrophonesiSAME

—

Has A Mute FunctioniSAME

—

Multipoint CountiSAME

—

Has A Control Panel On The DeviceiSAME

—

Can Be Used As A HeadsetiSAME

—

Has An In-Line Control PaneliSAME

—

Value-for-MoneyiSAME

—

Warranty PeriodYEARSiSAME

—

Noise IsolationiSAME

—

ComfortiSAME

—

Active Noise CancellationiSAME

Yes

ANC Microphonesi

8← BEST +60%

Battery LifeHOURSiSAME

—

Charge TimeiSAME

—

Has Usb Type-CiSAME

—

Has A Battery Level IndicatoriSAME

—

Has Wireless ChargingiSAME

—

Battery PoweriSAME

—

Has A Solar Power BatteryiSAME

—

Has A Rechargeable BatteryiSAME

—

Has A Removable BatteryiSAME

—

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)iSAME

—

Lowest FrequencyHZiSAME

—

Highest FrequencyHZiSAME

—

Driver Unit SizeMMiSAME

—

ImpedanceOHMSiSAME

—

Supports Spatial AudioiSAME

—

Sound Pressure LevelDB/MWiSAME

—

Has A Neodymium MagnetiSAME

—

Has Passive Noise ReductioniSAME

—

ROW WINS

05 · WHICH ONE IS FOR YOU

Pick by persona

RE-RANKS LIVE AS YOU ADD OR REMOVE PRODUCTS

THE ALL-ROUNDER

Best overall

WH-1000XM5SONY9.0

ALL GROUPSEQUAL WEIGHT

Best total score across weighted category factors.

RUNNER-UP · WH-1000XM4 (8.7)

FOR VALUE SEEKERS

Best bang for buck

WH-1000XM4SONY8.7

SCORE ÷ PRICELIVE PRICES

Strongest score-to-price ratio from the available price data.

RUNNER-UP · WH-1000XM5 (2.3)

PRIORITY · NOISE CANCELLING

Best for noise cancelling

WH-1000XM5SONY9.5

NOISE CANCELLING WEIGHTEDCONF 91%

Best visible score in the noise cancelling category group.

RUNNER-UP · WH-1000XM4 (0.0)

PRIORITY · SOUND

Best for sound

WH-1000XM5SONY9.2

SOUND WEIGHTEDCONF 88%

Best visible score in the sound category group.

RUNNER-UP · WH-1000XM4 (0.0)

06 · BOTTOM LINE

Why pick each

STRENGTHS · AND ONE HONEST TRADE-OFF

#2SONY0.0

WH-1000XM4

“The still-excellent previous-gen Sony flagship, offering top-tier ANC and smart features at a now-mid-tier price.”

Value 9.2

Noise Cancellation 9.0

Wins Active Noise Cancellation

Wins Battery Life (ANC)

TRADE-OFFCall quality trails the newer XM5

BEST VALUEBest price →

#1SONY0.0

WH-1000XM5

“The all-round ANC benchmark: class-leading noise cancelling, rich tunable sound, and excellent call clarity.”

Noise Cancelling 9.5

Features 9.3

Wins ANC Microphones

Wins Weight

TRADE-OFFNo longer folds flat

BEST OVERALLBest price →

Still deciding? The WH-1000XM5 is the safest pick.

COMPOSITE 9.0/10 · WINS 5 OF 9 CATEGORIES

Buy the winner →

Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: which is better?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is our overall pick, scoring 9.0/10 against 8.7/10 for the Sony WH-1000XM4 — a 3% edge. Current starting prices span $348–$399. The score weighs category-specific headphones attributes, spec wins, price signals, and data confidence — not sponsorships.

Sony WH-1000XM5 leads overall with a 9.0 total score.
Sony WH-1000XM4 wins 6 comparable specs with a 8% weighted win rate.
Sony WH-1000XM5 has the strongest high-impact advantage in ANC Microphones.
Sony WH-1000XM4 has the best visible score-to-price balance based on available starting price.

Sony WH-1000XM48.7/10

The still-excellent previous-gen Sony flagship, offering top-tier ANC and smart features at a now-mid-tier price.

Pros

+ Excellent, class-leading-for-its-era ANC
+ Folds flat for compact travel
+ Rich feature set with Speak-to-Chat and adaptive control
+ Great value at current discounted prices

Cons

− Call quality trails the newer XM5
− No aptX support, LDAC only on Android
− Touch controls less reliable in cold weather

Best for: Bargain hunters wanting flagship ANC · Travelers who need foldable headphones · Android users who want LDAC

“The XM4 is one of the best value propositions in audio: near-flagship ANC and a rich feature set at a price that now sits well below newer rivals. It lacks the XM5's improved mics and the latest LDAC refinements feel marginal, but for most listeners it…”

Sony WH-1000XM5WINNER 9.0/10

The all-round ANC benchmark: class-leading noise cancelling, rich tunable sound, and excellent call clarity.

Pros

+ Class-leading noise cancellation
+ Rich, customizable sound with LDAC
+ Excellent call clarity
+ 30-hour battery with quick charge

Cons

− No longer folds flat
− Premium price
− Not water resistant

Best for: Frequent travelers · Office and focus work · Hi-res music listeners

“The best all-rounder for most people: superb ANC, customizable sound, and the clearest calls in the class. It no longer folds flat and the price stays premium.”

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM4 or Sony WH-1000XM5?

By ComparZone's weighted scoring of category-specific headphones specs, the Sony WH-1000XM5 scores highest overall (9.0/10, 0.3 points ahead of the Sony WH-1000XM4). It is the better all-round pick, but the right choice depends on your priorities — the spec table above shows exactly where each one wins.

What are the main differences between Sony WH-1000XM4 and Sony WH-1000XM5?

The biggest measurable differences are Codec Support, Type, Frequency Response. The grouped spec sheet above marks the winner of every comparable spec.

Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 better value than the Sony WH-1000XM4?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 starts around $399 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 around $348. Weigh the score gap against the price gap: a small score lead rarely justifies a large premium unless it comes from the specs you personally care about.

Can I compare other headphones on ComparZone?

Yes — ComparZone supports dynamic comparison pages for any 2 to 4 headphones from the same category, with verified specs, transparent scores, and live prices. See the related comparisons below or build your own from the category page.

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