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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and looking for earbuds that offer good overall sound quality, comfort, and excellent build quality, the Creative Labs Zen Air may suit your needs. They also have a notably good battery life with a case that supports wireless charging, though they are not the best choice for calls, meetings or media consumption like gaming and TV. On the other hand, the Sony WF1000XM4, while often significantly more expensive, offers a step up with very good sound quality, active noise cancelling, and features like an app equalizer and controls customization, optimized for both Android and Apple devices. They also have ear and head detection and a longer battery life without the case. If you prioritize top-notch audio performance for music and books or need effective noise isolation for travel, and are willing to invest more, the WF1000XM4 could be the better choice despite the higher price. 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 Creative Labs Zen Air
- The Creative Labs Zen Air has no clear advantages over the Sony WF1000XM4.
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.8
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
5.6
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Creative Labs Zen Air are both poor for gaming, though the Sony WF1000XM4 is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
5.1
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$220
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $30 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
5.6
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WF1000XM4 to be only fair for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Build Quality
9.0
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Creative Labs Zen Air to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | 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 | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
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 Creative Labs Zen Air or the Sony WF1000XM4
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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.
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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.
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