Listen to the verdict
Live in the Apple ecosystem + value portability? AirPods Pro 2. Want the best ANC + call quality + music sound? Sony WH-1000XM5.
These are different form factors solving the same problem from opposite ends. AirPods Pro 2 are earbuds: portable, light, ecosystem-integrated, single-tap to switch between iPhone / Mac / iPad. Sony WH-1000XM5 are over-ears: better isolation, better sound staging, better mics, but 30g in your pocket vs 250g in a carry bag. Pick the form factor first; the audio quality is in the same tier for both.
€279 · Earbuds with H2 chip, ANC, transparency
See AirPods Pro 2 buying options on Amazon →€349 · Over-ear with the best mid-frequency ANC + best call quality
Check Sony XM5 on Amazon →The Sony clip below is that manufacturer’s own product video — marketing by one of the two parties this page compares, not independent evidence. The verdict here is ours.
MKBHD review
MKBHD's AirPods Pro 2 review covering the H2 chip, the new transparency mode, and the spatial audio that bridges to Apple TV+ and Vision Pro content.
Official Sony product video
Sony's own walkthrough of the WH-1000XM5 — noise cancelling, call handling, and the redesigned fit.
| Metric | AirPods Pro 2 | Sony XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | True wireless earbuds | Over-ear circumaural |
| Portability | 30g + 50g case = pocket | 250g + 100g case = backpack |
| ANC strength (planes) | Excellent | Best-in-class |
| ANC strength (office chatter) | Good | Best-in-class |
| Call quality | Good | Best-in-class (12 mics) |
| Battery (single charge) | 6h / 24h with case | 30h |
| Apple ecosystem switching | Instant (Continuity) | Manual Bluetooth pairing |
| Codecs (Android) | AAC only | LDAC hi-res |
| Repair / longevity | Battery sealed, full replacement | Replaceable earpads + headband |
| Price | €279 | €349 (+€70) |
If your life is iPhone + Mac + iPad + AppleTV, the instant-switching is hard to give up once you have it. Pick up the iPhone after a Mac call and the AirPods reroute audio automatically. Walk into a Spatial Audio movie on AppleTV+ and head-tracking just works. None of this requires app setup or paired-device gymnastics.
Plus the form factor: AirPods Pro 2 weigh 30g total and fit in any pocket. The XM5 over-ears weigh 250g and need a dedicated case.
Over-ears physically isolate better than earbuds. The Sony's foam-padded cups create a passive seal that earbud tips can't match, so the active noise cancelling has less work to do. Result: in a noisy office, the XM5 stays effective at lower ANC settings (less compression artifacts).
The 12-microphone beamforming array on the XM5 also genuinely outperforms the AirPods Pro 2 on calls - both reviewers and reviewers' interlocutors notice it. If you take calls in noisy environments (cafe, train, open-plan), the XM5 makes you sound clearer.
| If you... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Use iPhone + Mac + iPad daily | AirPods Pro 2 (ecosystem switching) |
| Use Android primarily | Sony WH-1000XM5 (LDAC codec, full app features) |
| Travel weekly, value pocket-portability | AirPods Pro 2 |
| Work from cafes / open offices | Sony WH-1000XM5 (best ANC + isolation) |
| Take 4+ calls a day from headphones | Sony WH-1000XM5 (12-mic call quality) |
| Music listening is the primary use | Sony WH-1000XM5 (LDAC, better drivers) |
| Workout / running with earphones | AirPods Pro 2 (open form factor for awareness) |
| Cannot tolerate over-ear pressure | AirPods Pro 2 |
| Have small ear canals (find tips uncomfortable) | Sony WH-1000XM5 (over-ear, no in-ear contact) |
This is fundamentally a form-factor decision, not an audio-quality decision. Both are flagship products in their categories and both will sound great. Pick AirPods Pro 2 if you live in the Apple ecosystem and value portability. Pick Sony WH-1000XM5 if you spend hours wearing them and the form factor is acceptable - the ANC + call-quality margins genuinely matter when you wear something for 6+ hours.
If you can afford both: they genuinely complement each other (AirPods for travel + workouts, XM5 for desk work + flights).
Read our full reviews: Apple AirPods Pro 2 review · Sony WH-1000XM5 review
FutureFavs earns a commission when you buy via these links at no extra cost to you. We never accept payment for verdicts. Full affiliate disclosure.
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