Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

Sennheiser

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

$200

4.1★ (2,200)

vs
Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony

Sony WF-1000XM5

$248

4.3★ (19,000)

Quick take: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 costs $48 less; the Sony WF-1000XM5 lasts longer per charge (8 hrs).

SpecSennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4Sony WF-1000XM5
Price$200$248
Rating4.1★ (2,200)4.3★ (19,000)
TypeWireless EarbudsWireless Earbuds
Noise CancellingAdaptive ANCANC
Battery (single charge)7 hrs8 hrs
Battery (with case)30 hrs24 hrs
Quick Charge8 min = 1 hr3 min = 1 hr
CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
Bluetooth5.45.3
MultipointYesYes
Driver Size7 mm8.4 mm
Weight6.2 g5.9 g
Water ResistanceIP54IPX4
Wireless ChargingYesYes
Transparency ModeYesYes
Spatial AudioNoYes
App EQYesYes

Pros & cons

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

  • aptX Lossless plays CD-quality on Snapdragon flagships
  • Refined, spacious TrueResponse 7mm driver tuning
  • 30 hours total with the case
  • Proper multi-band EQ in the Smart Control app
  • Multipoint plus Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio
  • Frequent sub-$200 sales well below the $300 list
  • Chunky 6.2g housings fit smaller ears badly
  • Owner threads full of connection-drop and pairing complaints
  • Adaptive ANC noticeably behind Bose and Sony
  • No spatial audio at all
  • Call quality unremarkable for $200 flagships

Sony WF-1000XM5

  • LDAC delivers genuine hi-res from any Android phone
  • Rich warm 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X sound out of box
  • 8 hours with ANC on beats Bose Ultra by two
  • Foam tips seal so well ANC feels stronger than measured
  • 3-minute quick charge buys an hour
  • XM6 launch keeps pushing street prices down
  • Call quality falls apart in wind
  • Polished case scratches almost immediately
  • Some owners report uneven bud drain after a year
  • Enabling multipoint silently disables LDAC hi-res
  • App buries EQ settings three menus deep