Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Sony WF-1000XM4: a duel at the top, a victory on the wire

A true reference, the WF-1000XM4 have brilliantly replaced the WF-1000XM3, proving that Sony is not usurping its place at the top of our comparison. For its part, Apple intends to put an end to this hegemony by releasing a second iteration of its AirPods Pro that has come to reshuffle the cards. After having defeated its elders, are the AirPods Pro 2 sufficiently armed to face Sony?

Two philosophies

Impossible to be mistaken, the AirPods remain faithful to their recipe with a “branch” and semi-in-ear design. On the other side of the arena, Sony opts for a “buds” and in-ear format. More universal, the AirPods Pro 2 adapt without difficulty to most ears. The WF-1000XM4, more intrusive, will thus be acclaimed by intra enthusiasts who will benefit from the memory foam of the tips providing good comfort.

Feature-rich, our duelists deliver a complete and intuitive experience. Still, Apple, true to itself, reserves many features for users of the brand’s ecosystem, while Sony is much more versatile and complete for everyone.

In terms of autonomy, on the other hand, the WF-1000XM4 are well ahead of Apple headphones by offering between 2 and 4 hours of additional listening time depending on the activation of noise reduction.

Exceptional sound reproduction

As expected, it is difficult to separate the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) from the WF-1000XM4 and clearly identify a winner. The AirPods Pro thus boast of a beautiful sound and a very marked clarity; for their part, the WF-1000XM4 are also flattering but more measured, with a softer sound.

Sony headphones, kings of active noise reduction, must therefore come up against newcomers also presenting mind-blowing performance. Apple scores points with its “Transparent Adaptive” mode, while Sony headphones take advantage of their in-ear design to passively attenuate surrounding sounds, especially the highs.

Ultimate advantage for Sony?

Apple and Sony are therefore almost equal as the benefits are high-flying. The user’s preferences will be decisive when it comes to opting for the smoothness of the Sonys or the clarity of the AirPods. In the same way, the choice between the more comfortable wearing of the semi in-ears or the maintenance of the in-ears will again depend on preferences and use.

However, with their significantly longer battery life and more universal use, we would tend to recommend the Sony-WF-1000XM4s. On the other hand, users of the apple brand will find their account with the AirPods Pro 2. There remains the question of the price, an area in which the true-wireless from Sony mark one last point, which could turn out to be decisive.