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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize portability and use during exercise, the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX earbuds are suitable, offering a good fit for physical activities and are sweatproof. However, if active noise cancelling and battery life are more important for activities like air travel, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are the better choice, with superior noise cancellation and a much longer battery life. The Sony headphones also have a microphone that scores higher, making them a compelling option for calls. On the other hand, if you're looking for earbuds that perform well for gaming and TV, the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX with low latency could fit your needs better. Keep in mind though, the Sony headphones have a feature uniquely benefiting music enthusiasts interested in high-quality audio reproduction—Sony's 360 Reality Audio—yet this requires using supported apps. 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 WH-1000XM5
- Very good for music
Key differences
Gaming
9.3
5.6
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is excellent for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
8.9
5.8
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
9.1
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good.
Battery
6.5 Hours
40.3 Hours
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
10.0
8.8
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has best in class build quality, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.9
8.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WH-1000XM5 to be very good for music, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is good.
Phone Calls
5.3
5.5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.1
6.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and Sony WH-1000XM5 are both only fair for podcasts and audiobooks.
Cost
$399
$398
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has a price of $399 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
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How the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $398 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bang and Olufsen | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 9/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 40.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6 Grams | 249.4 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 WH-1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | February 2023
"The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best Sony Bluetooth headphones so far and one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth headphones around. Look no further if you need class-leading ANC with a mostly inoffensive sound signature. Just be ready to pony up the price premium."
Get a great deal on the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX or the Sony WH-1000XM5
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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