Comparison · Earbuds · Desk research
AirPods Pro 2 vs Sony WF-1000XM5
Quick Answer
AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 are leftover sealed ANC buds. Apple Support 111851 lists Lightning MagSafe, H2 + U1, IPX4, up to 6 hours (5.5 with Spatial + head tracking), 30 hours with case, Hearing Test / Hearing Aid / Hearing Protection. USB-C Pro 2 is Support 111834. Sony’s WF-1000XM5 Support specifications (USA page plus Canada millimeter/gram rows, accessed 19 September 2026) list a closed dynamic 8.4 mm driver, IPX4 equivalent, Bluetooth 5.3, SBC / AAC / LDAC /.
The verdict
AirPods Pro 2 for Apple switching and Hearing rows; WF-1000XM5 for LDAC / LC3, multipoint on Sony’s spec sheet, and the 8h NC-on listening claim
Why: Original leftover ANC cross-shop. AirPods Pro 2 is two Support SKUs (Lightning 111851 / USB-C 111834): H2, up to 6h (5.5h Spatial + head tracking) / 30h with case, Hearing Test / Hearing Aid / Hearing Protection. Sony Support (USA/Canada specifications): 8.4 mm driver, IPX4 equivalent, Bluetooth 5.3, SBC / AAC / LDAC / LC3, multipoint, max 8h NC ON / 12h NC OFF music, 6h / 7h communication, 5.9 g ×2 including M tips, 39 g case, USB + wireless charge. Sony product-page marketing also says up to 24-hour total battery life — Support does not print a single case-total hours row.
Buy AirPods Pro 2 if
You live in iPhone / Mac / Apple Watch and want one-tap pairing, Find My, and the Hearing Test / Hearing Aid rows Apple already lists on Pro 2.
Buy Sony WF-1000XM5 if
You use Android primarily, or you want Sony’s codec list (LDAC / LC3), Headphones Connect multipoint, and Sony’s 8-hour NC-on music claim.
Spec comparison
Pro 2 from 111851 and 111834. Sony from USA Support, Canada Support for metric rows, and the US product page where a marketing name is cited.
| Spec | AirPods Pro 2 | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Sealed silicone tips | Closed, dynamic; Noise Isolation Earbud Tips |
| Chip / processors | H2; U1 in the MagSafe case | Product page: HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e + Integrated Processor V2 |
| Driver | Not published as mm on Support | 8.4 mm (Canada Support) |
| ANC / ambient | ANC; Transparency / Adaptive Transparency or Adaptive Audio (SKU) | Noise canceling; Ambient Sound; Quick Attention |
| Codecs | Apple AAC / system stack (Support does not print LDAC) | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint | Apple automatic switching (not a Sony-style two-device Support row) | Yes (Support) |
| Bluetooth | As printed on each Pro 2 page | Bluetooth Specification Version 5.3 |
| Water | IPX4 Lightning; IP54 USB-C. Cases not sweat/water resistant | IPX4 equivalent (buds). Case water resistance: not published as IP on Support |
| Battery — music | Up to 6h (5.5h Spatial + head tracking) | Max 8h NC ON / 12h NC OFF |
| Battery — calls | Not a separate Support hour row we cite | Max 6h NC ON / 7h NC OFF |
| Battery — with case | Up to 30h | Product-page marketing: up to 24-hour total. Support: not a printed case-total hours row |
| Charge | MagSafe / Qi / Lightning or USB-C | USB charger; wireless charger with case; buds ≈ 1.5h; case USB ≈ 2h |
| Weight | Re-open Support if you need grams | 5.9 g ×2 including M tips; case ≈ 39 g |
| Hearing Test / Hearing Aid | Listed on 111851 | Not an Apple Hearing Aid row |
| ANC dB | Not published | Not published |
Ecosystem and codecs
AirPods Pro 2 are the leftover Apple sealed Pro. XM5 is the leftover Sony ANC bud with LDAC and LC3 on Support. That codec list is the Android-first reason this seed stayed.
Battery caption
Do not mash Sony’s 8-hour NC-on Support row into Apple’s 30-hour-with-case row. Different mode names. The 24-hour Sony total is product-page marketing.
Frequently asked questions
Which has better ANC?
This page does not publish a lab decibel number. Apple names ANC / Adaptive Audio. Sony names noise canceling with QN2e / V2 on the product page and Ambient Sound / Quick Attention on Support. Fit dominates.
Do AirPods Pro 2 work on Android?
Yes for basic Bluetooth audio. You lose Apple switching, Spatial Audio, and hearing features that Apple gates to iOS. Sony lists SBC / AAC / LDAC / LC3 on Support.
What hours does Sony print?
Support: max 8 hours music NC ON / 12 hours NC OFF; max 6 / 7 hours communication. Product-page marketing adds an up-to-24-hour total line. Support does not print that total as a specification row.
Is this XM6 or over-ear XM5?
Neither. This slug is WF-1000XM5 truly wireless earbuds. WH-1000XM5 over-ears and WF-1000XM6 are other URLs.