The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you frequently engage in calls or meetings, travel by air, or value the convenience of wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 would be a better fit for you despite the higher price; they also offer good sound quality for music and have a wealth of features optimized for Apple devices. However, if you are on a budget and primarily need headphones for casual listening or TV without requiring portability or noise isolation, the Sony MDR-ZX110 may suffice despite having lower overall sound quality and comfort. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods Pro 2
Good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDR-ZX110
The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the Apple Airpods Pro 2.
Key differences
Music
7.0/10
7.6/10
The Sony MDR-ZX110 and Apple Airpods Pro 2 are both good for music, though the Sony MDR-ZX110 is somewhat better.
Gaming
8.4/10
5.9/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Phone Calls
7.8/10
3.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for phone calls, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8/10
4.3/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
6.9/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
5.3/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Sony MDR-ZX110 does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$10
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has a price of $199 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
9.0/10
6.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
"Apple's upgraded H2 chip begets better active noise canceling (ANC) and battery life, while the case's U1 chip and integrated speaker lets you precisely locate it from the Find My app. If you own an iPhone, the new AirPods Pro is an obvious choice."
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro 2 or the Sony MDR-ZX110
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.