Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5
Quick take: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 costs $48 less; the Sony WF-1000XM5 lasts longer per charge (8 hrs).
Which one to buy
These are the two audio-first Android flagships, and the right one depends heavily on your phone's chip. The Momentum True Wireless 4 supports aptX Lossless, which on a recent Snapdragon Sound phone means genuinely CD-quality wireless audio; everywhere else it falls back to aptX Adaptive or AAC. The WF-1000XM5 bets on LDAC instead, which works across far more Android phones. Owners describe the sound difference as refined and spacious on the Sennheiser versus warm and bass-forward on the Sony, and both take EQ well — the MTW4's app EQ is one of the deepest going.
The Sony is the better all-rounder once you look past sound. Its ANC lands near the top of the class while the Sennheiser's is comfortably mid-tier, noticeably behind on engine rumble. It's also the easier fit: 5.9g and smaller than the XM4, while the MTW4's 6.2g housings are among the chunkiest in the flagship class and a known problem for small ears, with a suction-tight seal that can pull tips inside-out. Neither is a calling headset; the Sony's mics fall apart in wind and the Sennheiser's are unremarkable everywhere.
The longevity picture is a quiet point in the Sennheiser's favour. A minority of XM5 owners report one bud draining faster than the other after a year, while the MTW4 offers a Battery Protection Mode that slows charging and stops short of 100% — rare in earbuds. On raw numbers the Sennheiser gets 7 hours with ANC and 30 total against the Sony's 8 and 24. Software cuts the other way: the MTW4 has a history of connection drops and a bloated app that firmware only partly fixed, and it has no spatial audio at all.
On an iPhone, the decision changes. Neither codec does anything there, so you'd be choosing between Sony's warmer tuning with stronger ANC and Sennheiser's smoother sound with a bigger case reserve. Sony owners point iPhone users toward the AirPods Pro 3 instead, and Sennheiser owners on iPhone often steer elsewhere too.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
Worth it if you own a Snapdragon flagship that can run aptX Lossless, you care more about detail than about silence, and you've confirmed the chunky shells fit your ears.
Sony WF-1000XM5
If you want stronger ANC, a smaller bud and LDAC that works on most Android phones. It's the safer pick if you're not sure your ears or your phone suit the Sennheiser.
| Spec | Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$200 | ~$248 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 7 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 30 hrs | 24 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 8 min = 1 hr | 3 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 7 mm | 8.4 mm |
| Weight | 6.2 g | 5.9 g |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | No | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
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
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: common questions
Will I hear the aptX Lossless difference over Sony's LDAC?▾
Only if your phone supports it — that means a recent Snapdragon Sound flagship. On those phones owners describe better micro-detail on lossless sources, but the bigger audible difference is tuning: Sennheiser smooth and spacious, Sony warm and bassy. On an iPhone the codec question disappears.
Does the MTW4 or the XM5 fit smaller ears better?▾
The Sony. The MTW4's 6.2g housings are among the chunkiest in the flagship class, and small-eared owners report soreness and an overly tight suction. The XM5 slimmed down a lot from the XM4, though its glossy buds can be slippery to pull out of the case.
Is the XM5 or the MTW4 better on a long flight?▾
The Sony, mainly because its ANC is noticeably stronger on engine drone. The Sennheiser's bigger case reserve (30 hours vs 24) helps on multi-leg trips, but per charge the Sony runs an hour longer with ANC on. Frequent flyers who prize silence pick the XM5.
Are the Sennheiser's connection problems still a thing?▾
Mostly fixed, not entirely. Early firmware drew lots of dropout and pairing complaints, especially on iPhone, and updates helped a lot; one long-term owner even found them more stable than Sony in packed rail stations. The XM5 has its own occasional quirk of the right bud needing a trip to the case to reconnect.