As someone shopping around for premium Sony headphones, I‘m sure you‘ve had the Sony WH-1000XM5 catch your eye. As Sony‘s shiny new flagship headphone model with a $400 price tag, it must sound pretty appealing.
But you might also be wondering whether to save some money by opting for 2020‘s Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones instead, especially since you can find them discounted to around $275 these days.
It‘s a common dilemma – go big on the latest and greatest or take a small step back in time for better value.
Well, as an avid tech reviewer and audiophile myself, I‘ve taken a deep dive into the differences between the Sony XM5 and XM4 to help guide your decision. Keep reading for the key discoveries from my in-depth face-off!
At a High Level
Before examining specific features and performance metrics, let‘s briefly recap what each headphone model brings to the table:
Sony WH-1000XM5
- Latest 2022 flagship release
- Revamped slimmer, sleeker aesthetic
- Improved audio and noise-cancelling
- New connectivity and smart features
- 30-hour battery life
Sony WH-1000XM4
- 2020 predecessor model
- Classic Sony design and comfort
- Great sound with effective noise cancelling
- Solid smart feature set
- 30-hour battery life
Looking at these high-level descriptions, the XM5 seems to edge out the XM4 as Sony‘s most advanced headphones available. But let‘s analyze that assumption further.
Here are five key factors I evaluated to determine whether the XM5‘s higher price justifies the upgrade over the venerable XM4 or if you can save money by going with the previous Sony flagship instead.
Price – Can You Swing $400 or Is $275 More Reasonable?
As with any new iterations of existing product lines, the latest Sony WH-1000XM5 model debuts at a higher cost than its predecessor. Specifically, the XM5 retails around $400 while the XM4 originally sold for $350 back in 2020.
Of course, since the XM4 has already gone through discounts over its two year lifespan, you can now readily find it on sale between $270 to $300. I just spotted a retailer selling the black XM4 version for $278 earlier today even.
That creates over a $100 price gap currently between the XM5 and XM4, which is substantial. While you may have the budget to afford the latest and greatest XM5 at full price, you could also allocate those savings from the XM4 to other tech gear instead.
Ultimately, $400 is still reasonable for the XM5 given all its cutting-edge components and Sony‘s typical premium pricing. And if your budget accommodates it, you‘ll secure Sony‘s new pinnacle of audio engineering.
But the discounted previous generation XM4 gives you an opportunity for some serious value too. The cost savings here put more money back in your pocket without significantly sacrificing performance.
We‘ll examine what exactly that performance difference looks like next. But if budget is a primary concern, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is easily the better buy.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM4 for affordability
Design and Build Quality – Sleek or Sturdy?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 sports a completely refreshed design compared to previous models for a lighter, slimmer look.
Gone are the folding joints and swivel arms that allow the earcups to fold inwards like its predecessors. Instead, the arm now seamlessly connects to the headband in a singular piece, only allowing the earcups to lay flat.
This updated aesthetic looks incredibly sleek and modern. However, the lack of foldability does sacrifice some durability. Without the ability to tuck in the earcups, the materials are more exposed and prone to scratches in your bag.
By contrast, the WH-1000XM4 maintains that iconic flexible Sony headband and folding construction for durability, albeit with a slightly bulkier form.
Both models utilize high-quality padding on the headband and earcups though for comfortable long-term wearing. The XM5 uses synthetic protein leather along the headband and soft fit leather on the earcups that feel great. Similarly, the XM4 has a smooth leather and soft foam texture.
So in terms of aesthetics and materials, the XM5 looks nicer with its slimmed-down modern profile but loses out on the ruggedness of the previous generation. Ultimately it comes down to your personal style and use case.
The XM5‘s sleeker, more delicate exposed design necessitates using the included hard carrying case during transport or storage to prevent scratches. Whereas the XM4 can safely be tossed into a bag sans case. So that‘s a small downside of the XM5‘s revamped styling as well.
Winner: Toss up depending on priorities
Here‘s a helpful comparison chart summarizing the key design differences:
| Design Attribute | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Foldable Style | Lay Flat Only | Full Inward Fold |
| Weight | 250g | 254g |
| Headband Padding | Synthetic protein leather | Soft Leather |
| Earcup Padding | Soft fit leather | Soft Foam |
| Included Case | Yes (required) | Yes (optional) |
Sound Quality – An Audible Improvement?
With each generation change, companies love to tout dramatic improvements in audio quality. But in reality, the sound profile changes are often quite subtle.
So how does the listening experience actually compare between the XM5 and XM4?
Well Sony equipped the XM5 with a fresh 30mm headphone driver unit, replacing the 40mm drivers used previously. And they added a new eight microphone setup for noise cancellation duties rather than the six mics in older models.
These hardware changes do enable improved audio reproduction overall, especially in the higher frequencies. Treble detail stands out a bit more while the bass response also gets a nice tightening effect.
I‘d characterize the enhancements as similar to increasing soundtrack quality settings in media players. The same song flows seamlessly with a little extra clarity and dynamics rather than being hugely altered.
But the XM4 hardly sounds deficient either. Its well-balanced sound signature has pleasing warmth across vocals, guitars, and drums that keeps music engaging. Most people will remain highly satisfied with the detail and range offered as is.
Unless you‘re critically listening to lossless tunes side-by-side, the XM5‘s sound improvements really only become evident during complex passages on certain tracks. For casual listening, that boost in fidelity fades into the background. And the XM4 already produces fantastic, emotive audio quality few others can match in its price category.
So while credit to Sony for eeking out some better peak performance in the XM5, don‘t expect revolutionary changes. Ultimately, they both sound wonderful.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5 pulls ahead slightly
Features and Connectivity – Minor Convenience Upgrades
Sony WH series headphones have long boasted best-in-class noise cancellation for blocking unwanted ambient noises during music playback and calls.
The new Sony WH-1000XM5 model builds upon its predecessors with even faster responding ANC microphones and an added Auto NC Optimizer algorithm.
This automated feature tunes noise cancelling performance directly based on detecting your individual head and ear anatomy for a more tailored listening experience. Sony says it reduces an extra 20% more noise over just standard ANC mode alone. Pretty impressive!
For smart features, the XM5 newly offers always-listening access to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. You can voice control music, ask questions, set reminders, interact with smart home devices, and more completely hands-free.
The XM5 also introduces multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, allowing simultaneous pairing with two audio sources at once. That means you could have a laptop and phone connected to the headphones, easily switching between video meetings and Spotify streams for example.
Otherwise, core functionality remains similar between models. You‘re still getting excellent touch controls, wearing detection, Sony‘s LDAC codec support for hi-res wireless audio, and Speak-to-Chat for quick conversations without removing the headphones.
While not game changing additions, the XM5‘s extra assistant integration, automated ANC, and multipoint connectivity provide nice quality-of-life improvements over previous options.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5 pulls ahead here too
Battery Life – Still Going the Distance
The Sony WH-1000XM5 retain the same impressive 30 hours of playback per charge as the WH-1000XM4. It‘s an outstanding number that sets the high bar for headphones currently.
Having 30 hours means you could use the headphones around 2 hours per day for over two weeks on a single charge! For most travelers or commuters, that basically means you only need to top them up a couple times per month without worry.
And when you do need a battery boost, quick charging via USB-C gives you roughly 3 hours of listening time from just 3 minutes plugged in. I recorded a 2% charge after a mere 40 seconds in the wall outlet earlier.
It‘s awesome Sony managed to maintain this stellar battery life benchmark amidst the XM5‘s newer components and improved internals. Both models even match that long runtime while using ANC constantly as well.
When it comes to power longevity, you really can‘t go wrong either way. Unless you stream music 24/7, expect at least a few weeks of regular use before considering finding a charging cable.
Winner: It‘s an Battery Draw
The Verdict – XM5 Justifies Its Price for Maximum Performance
We‘ve covered a lot of territory examining Sony‘s WH-1000XM5 versus WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones. Where do we ultimately land?
Well, as you‘d expect from such a globally renowned electronics giant, both models deliver phenomenal audio quality, smart features, and design. You‘ll be wowed wearing either pair.
However, thelatest Sony WH-1000XM5 builds upon its predecessor‘s technology in some small but meaningful ways:
- Refined aesthetics with a slimmer, more modern profile
- Slight audio quality and noise-cancelling improvements
- Extra smart functionality like multipoint Bluetooth and auto-ANC
- New padded materials and driver components
Thanks to these updates, the XM5 claims Sony‘s new pinnacle for headphone engineering. And for early adopters who demand the best Sony has to offer, the XM5 validates its higher $400 price tag.
That said, since the XM4 remains an outstanding pair of headphones itself, is it worth spending $100+ extra to upgrade? Or does the XM4 represent a better value buy?
Ultimately, I think it depends on your budget flexibility. The Sony WH-1000XM4 delivers tremendous wireless sound and effectiveness at noise blocking for hundreds less. If maximizing value is your goal, choosing last generation‘s headphones saves you serious money.
However, the XM5 unlocks marginal improvements across the board for a more polished and advanced overall performer. So if you appreciate small feature conveniences and want the best Sony engineering available, dive right in.
Personally, I don‘t think you can make a wrong decision here either way. Both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 are phenomenal headphones that compete head and shoulders above rivals. And they‘ll provide awesome audio experiences for years to come.
Hopefully mapping out their key similarities and differences helps narrow your buying decision between these two Sony juggernauts! Feel free to reach out if any other questions come up.
