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What we think
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Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize call quality and desire a pair of earbuds that excel for TV and gaming, the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX would be a better choice for you; they also support AptX Adaptive codec, which reduces latency making them suitable for videos and games. However, if music is your primary concern and you're seeking exceptional sound, the Sony WF1000XM4 may serve you better, particularly with support for Sony's 360 Reality Audio, but note that they are not ideal for gaming due to higher latency. Both options are premium and offer active noise cancelling, but Sony has a slightly longer battery life and offers wireless charging, which the Bang and Olufsen do not. Consider also the fit and comfort, as the sizes are listed as large for both, and if you plan to use them during exercise or travel, both are rated very good but differ in features such as optimized app controls and audio customizations. 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 Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.9
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is good.
Gaming
9.3
5.6
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is excellent for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.3
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.1
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is only fair.
TV and Video
8.9
6.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$399
$220
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has a price of $399 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
Build Quality
10.0
8.9
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has best in class build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
8.3
8.3
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and Sony WF1000XM4 are both very good for noise reduction.
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How the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bang and Olufsen | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.4/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 9/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
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Dig into reviews and images
Leaf and Core
Danielle | January 2023
"If you’ve wanted truly wireless headphones, but couldn’t pick them up because they sound terrible, these will be the headphones that win you over. If you’re the kind of person who would consider spending $400 on headphones, these are the right truly wireless headphones for you."
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX or the Sony WF1000XM4
About Bang and Olufsen
Bang and Olufsen is an almost century-old electronic goods manufacturer based in Denmark with a very special focus on design. Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen created the first AC radio in 1925 and went on to develop televisions, telephones and, of course, headphones and loudspeakers. Today, they are partnered with several companies, like Audi, BMW and Aston Martin, to provide very high-quality audio solutions.
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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