Sony WF-1000XM5 Challengers: AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, More

Sony WF-1000XM5 is priced at Rs 24,999.

Sony WF-1000XM5 is powered by Dynamic Driver X with support for high-resolution audio via LDAC.

Source : Sony

Sony recently released its new flagship truly wireless earbuds (TWS), the Sony WF-1000XM5. Sony's 1000X series has become synonymous with high-quality audio and active noise cancellation (ANC), be it in earbuds, headphones or TWS, and by all accounts, the WF-1000XM5 carry this tradition forward. Sony claims that the TWS are made "exclusively for the music," and has packed them with high-end features. 

Each of the buds in the WF-1000XM5 comes with three microphones for delivering excellent ANC, aided by a new integrated V2 processor. Even the earbud tips come with a "unique polyurethane foam material" that is said to cut down high-frequency noise. On the audio quality side, the buds come with a specially designed Dynamic Driver X with support for high-resolution audio via LDAC and also have 360 Reality Audio as well as head tracking technology (which adjusts the audio as per your head movements), for a more immersive experience. 

The result is great audio within the buds with very little disturbance from outside. The buds can even tailor sound settings based on your location. Call quality has been significantly improved as well. The buds come with IPX4 water splash resistance, and a battery life of eight hours, with another 16 hours from the case, as well as support for wireless charging. 

All of this for Rs 24,999 makes the Sony WF-1000XM5 a considerable proposition for anyone looking for a premium TWS. 

That price, however, also places it in a very competitive zone against some formidable TWS flagships, including the pro side of the AirPods. 

Here are five TWS that can give the latest TWS on the Sony 1000X block a run for their money:

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation): The Pro Boss

Price: Rs 24,900

The second generation of the AirPods Pro remains THE premium TWS to beat. And that is because they bring a lot to the table, especially in terms of smarts. From control gestures that work smoothly to spatial audio for an immersive experience to the best head tracking we have seen on any TWS, to conversation awareness and a very effective transparency mode, as well as perhaps the best TWS calling experience there is — the AirPods Pro pretty much have it all. So much so that their audio quality (which is also very good) tends to get a little overshadowed at times by all the 'intelligence' surrounding it.  

The TWS comes with IP54 dust and water resistance, and the buds last for six hours on a single charge and 30 hours with the case. The design might have got a little predictable over time and the fact that it is available only in white might put off some, but on the flip side, these remain the most consistent high-end TWS performers, especially if you use your TWS for a lot of calling and switch between different Apple devices. 

They now come with Type-C charging too. The catch? You need an iPhone or iPad to get the most out of them, although they play nice with Android too.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: The Comfort Masters 

Price: Rs 25,900

Bose's initial experiments in TWS land were a little large and odd-looking, making the wearer look as if they had stepped off a UFO.  

The QuietComfort Earbuds II are a much more refined product and come with a very unobtrusive design. They combine this with a  comfortable fit and the slightly warm, pleasant audio quality that Bose's QuietComfort range is legendary for. 

Unlike many audio brands, Bose does not talk of specs, but the features in the QuietComfort Earbuds II are formidable — an aware mode that adjusts itself to carry on a conversation, with ActiveSense tweaking background sound levels automatically. Both ANC and call quality are good, but for us, the biggest reason for getting these buds is their sound quality. The Bose QuietComfort sound is perhaps the best of all the TWS in this list if you are looking for a mainstream sound signature with just a touch of bass. 

Call quality and ANC are just a notch below the gold standard of the AirPods Pro. 

This is for those who love to listen to music without any wires at all. You also get six hours battery life on the buds and 24 hours with the case. An IPX4 splash resistance means you can use them in the gym too, although not in a swimming pool. 

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: For The Pure Sound Of Music 

Price: Rs 19,990

If you are one of those who want close to audiophile-level sound, with bass, treble and mids all very clearly defined, then these are the TWS to go for. Their distinct canvas-style case also makes them the most unique of this list in terms of design, but make no mistake about it, it is the sound of the Momentum True Wireless 3 that makes them special. 

You get clear, balanced audio right out of the box — bass heads will not like it, but those who love the clarity and great instrument separation will nod their heads in appreciation when they hear the notes flowing out of these. They do have a very quirky interface, though, and both call quality and ANC are decent, rather than exceptional, but then these are mainly about high-quality audio. 

They also pack in a very good battery life of seven hours with the case adding another 21, and come with IPX4 splash resistance, making them very good workout buds. 

Google Pixel Buds Pro: Android's Pro TWS

Price: Rs 18,990

Google's Pixel Buds range is seen by many as Android's answer to the mighty AirPods. And while they might not have the same sort of market share, they certainly try to match Cupertino's best and do a pretty good job too. The Pixel Buds Pro have a very distinct oval case, which is the easiest to carry, and comes with very good call quality, a slightly bass-heavy sound signature and very useful ANC. 

But just like the AirPods Pro, the Pixel Buds Pro are actually notable for the smart features they bring to the table, or rather, your ears. The integration with Google's smart assistance is next-level, and you can even translate live conversations with an ‘Ok, Google.’ 

Switching between devices is very smooth and you get very good battery life — close to ten hours on the buds, and almost 30 hours with the case. You also get workout-friendly IPX4 splash resistance.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: The All-Rounders

Price: Rs 17,990

Hands-down perhaps the best value for money premium TWS around, Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro packs in a lot of specs for their price. They also come in a squarish oval (squoval) case and have an interesting purple colour option. Some might find their shape a little odd and find them a trifle too large for buds with no stems, but they are comfortable fits and deliver very good, bass-flavoured hi-fi audio. 

They are also comfortably the loudest of the TWS on this list, which makes them great for those who love their music at higher volumes. ANC is close to AirPod Pro levels and Voice Detect stops audio when the TWS detects that you are speaking. They also come with support for 360-degree audio, head tracking, the ability to even record audio using them (with some devices) and IPX7 water resistance. 

Some of their features work best with Samsung devices, though, and while the battery life of eight hours on the buds is impressive, the case does not take an overall life beyond 20 hours, which is a little low. Still, we think their rich feature set makes them the perfect all-rounders for those who want premium TWS that do a lot, often for not too much (their prices often dip to below Rs 15,000).