Released back in June 2021, the Sony WF-1000xM4 is one of the best true wireless earbuds on the market. They offer great sound quality, advanced features like noise cancellation and ambient sound mode, and solid battery life. But they’re not the only game in town anymore.
Almost 1 year later, Google entered the ring with its own Pixel Buds Pro, and these earbuds are giving Sony a run for their money. So, what sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart from the competition?
In this comparison, we will do a Sony WF-1000xM4 vs Google Pixel Buds Pro comparison and see which one comes out on top.
Price & Value: Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Sony wf-1000xm4
When it comes to deciding between the Sony wf-1000xm4 and Google Pixel Buds Pro, it often boils down to a question of price and value.
The Sony earbuds cost $280 but are often on discount, while the Google pixel buds are priced at $200 so there are few chances you would get a discount on these.
For starters, the Pixel Buds Pro is significantly cheaper than the Sony earbuds, making them a more attractive option for budget-minded shoppers.
However, this choice can’t be made without taking into account the design, features, and sound quality of each product, so let’s move on to those next.
Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro
Specs Comparison: Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Sony wf-1000xm4
| Google Pixel Buds Pro | Sony wf-1000xm4 | |
| Price | $199 | $280 |
| Wireless Charging Case | Yes | Yes |
| Chip | Google six-core processor | Sony Integrated Processor V1 |
| Battery Life (Rated) | 7 hours (ANC on), 11 hours (ANC off), 20 hours (charging case with ANC on), 31 hours (charging case with ANC off) | 8 hours (ANC on), 12 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (with charging case) |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Size | 0.88 x 0.87 x 0.93 inches (per bud); 0.98 x 1.97 x 2.49 inches (charging case) | 1 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches (per bud); 2.4 x 1.5 x 1.1 inches (charging case) |
| Weight | 6.2 Grams (per bud); 62 grams (charging case) | 5.6 Garms (per bud); 56 Garms (charging case) |
| Special features | Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, Volume EQ, Google Translate, Notifications, Eartip Seal, spatial audio, audio switching, Google Assistant voice activation, Check, Find My Device, Bluetooth multipoint | Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, adaptive EQ, spatial audio, automatic switching, Ear Tip Fit Test, Enhanced Find My, “Hey Google” or “Alexa” voice-activated assistance, MagSafe charging case, Speak-to-Chat, Quick Attention mode |
Design: Sony wf-1000xm4 vs Google Pixel Buds Pro
Both earbuds have a quite chunky design and protrude a little out of your ear. However, the Pixels buds are slightly smaller and lighter in comparison to the WF-1000XM4. People with small ears may find Sony earbuds a little uncomfortable.
Sony features memory foam tips, whereas Google uses a more traditional silicone (each offers three tips for better fit). Google’s ear tips are not as comfortable as Sony’s, but they do provide a better seal and block out more noise.
The water resistance on both devices (IPX4) is good enough for sweating and light rain but not for swimming. The same goes for workouts where they don’t feature wings or fins.
Google Pixel buds have 3 mics in each bud, whereas Sony has 2 mics. This means that the Pixel Buds Pro will do a better job at canceling out background noise during phone calls and recording audio. Well, hardware is not all that matter. We will see how effective the noise cancellation feature is for each device later in the article.
There are no physical buttons on both buds. All controls are touch-based. However, Pixel buds offer more options. You can activate the voice assistant, play/pause, skip, switch between ANC and transparency, and control the volume of the earbuds.
In terms of the overall aesthetic, both earbuds look good and modern. There are multiple color options for both devices.
if we had to pick a winner in this category, it would be the Google Pixel Buds Pro.
Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro
Features: Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Sony wf-1000xm4
Now we will move on and compare some important features of both devices.
1. Noise Cancellation
When it comes to noise cancellation, both devices do a great job. However, despite having three mics, Pixel Buds Pro lags far behind Sony WF-1000XM4 for background noise cancelation during phone calls and recording audio.
As Pixel Buds Pro is Google’s first ANC earbuds, we can expect the company to improve this feature with future firmware updates.
The same goes for transparency modes which let you hear your surroundings. Both devices do a good job but, once again, Sony’s earbuds are better.
If we had to choose a winner in this category, it would be the Sony WF-1000XM4.
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2. Voice Assistant
Both devices support voice assistants. However, Pixel Buds Pro offers a better experience as they are designed to work with Google Assistant.
You can activate the assistant by touching and holding either earbud. You can also give commands such as “Hey Google, play music from Spotify” or “Hey Google, what’s the weather like today?”.
The Sony WF-1000XM4, on the other hand, works with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa as well as the smartphone’s native voice assistant.
3. Bluetooth Connectivity
Google Pixel Buds Pro supports Bluetooth 5.0 and multipoint connectivity. This means that you can connect both earbuds to two different devices at the same time and switch between them seamlessly. The technology is solid and we didn’t experience any dropouts or audio lag.
Sony WF-1000XM4, on the other hand, uses Bluetooth 5.2 and doesn’t support multipoint connectivity. This means that you can only use one earbud at a time as they will be connected to the same device.
4. Bluetooth Codecs
Both earbuds support AAC and SBC audio codecs, however, the Sony WF-1000XM4 also supports LDAC which is a high-quality audio codec.
This means that you will get better sound quality when using Sony earbuds with LDAC-compatible services such as Amazon Music HD, Qobuz, and Tidal.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound Quality: Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Sony wf-1000xm4
The XM4 earbuds sound great. They have a well-balanced sound signature with clear vocals, strong and warm mids, and detailed and precise highs. There is a decent separation of instruments and can deal with complex tracks easily. The earbuds can produce full and powerful bass without becoming boomy or muddy.
The Pixel Buds Pro also sounds great. They are base-heavy and yet produce clear audio with a solid separation of tones. The highs are detailed, the mids are well-rounded, and the vocals sound natural.
Sony earbuds offer a full equalizer with the companion app which you can use to adjust the sound to your liking. Google has also promised a full equalizer and spatial audio support to be added later this year, but these features might be locked to Google Pixel Phones only.
Overall, the sound quality of both devices is very good. However, we feel that the Sony WF-1000XM4 has a slight edge over the Pixel Buds Pro.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
Battery Performance: Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Sony wf-1000xm4
When it comes to battery performance and charging, there are some clear differences between these earbuds.
The Pixel Buds Pro is rated for 7 hours of battery life with noise cancellation switched on, or up to 11 hours in the opposite case. Whereas, Sony earbuds offer your 1 additional hour of battery in both modes: 8 and 12 hours respectively.
Both earbuds support wireless charging and come with a charging case that can extend their battery life. The Pixel Buds Pro case can give you an extra 13 hours of use, while the Sony earbuds case will give you an additional 24 hours.
Another common feature of these earbuds is fast charging. You get almost 60 minutes of playtime in both earbuds with only 5 minutes of charging.
In other words, if you’re looking for earbuds that will last you all day long, the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are a better option.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
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Conclusion
Both the Google Pixel Buds Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4 are great earbuds. They both offer great sound quality, feature-rich companion apps, and solid build quality.
However, we feel that the Sony WF-1000XM4 is still the better choice as they offer better noise cancelation, longer battery life, and support for the LDAC codecs. Voice assistant support is also better on the Sony earbuds as it support both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
If you are looking for the best true wireless earbuds, we would recommend the Sony WF-1000XM4. If you are looking for great earbuds specifically for use with a Pixel phone, then the Pixel Buds Pro might be a better choice for you.