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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If budget is a concern and you're looking for a more affordable option that still offers very good overall sound and mic quality, the Jabra Elite 4 would be a suitable choice, especially if you need earbuds that are sweatproof and dustproof for exercise. However, if you prioritize the best noise cancellation, higher build quality, and longer battery life for activities like air travel, and are willing to invest in a premium option, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones may be worth the extra cost. Note that while the Sony has better active noise cancellation, they might not be as convenient for exercise due to their size and lack of sweatproof certification. 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 Jabra Elite 4
- Very good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WH-1000XM5
- Very good for music
Key differences
Music
6.6
8.2
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Jabra Elite 4 is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.8
5.5
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for phone calls, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.6
6.0
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
7.0
9.1
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Jabra Elite 4 is good.
Battery
5.5 Hours
40.3 Hours
The Jabra Elite 4 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$398
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Jabra Elite 4 has a price of $100 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.4
5.6
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Jabra Elite 4 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
6.0
5.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Jabra Elite 4 to be only fair for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Build Quality
9.0
8.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Jabra Elite 4 to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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How the Jabra Elite 4 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Jabra Elite 4 | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $398 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Jabra | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.6/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.8/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5.5 Hours | 40.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3.5 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 21 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 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 | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.6 Grams | 249.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Jabra Elite 4
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Jasper Lastoria | September 2023
"The Jabra Elite 4 is a good midrange option with solid isolation and aptX codec for Android. It sounds consumer friendly from the box and the app has some EQ to adjust to taste. Some included luxuries include multipoint, sidetone, and Spotify Tap"
Sony WH-1000XM5
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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 Jabra Elite 4 or the Sony WH-1000XM5
About Jabra
Jabra is a subsidiary of GN Store Nord, a 150-year-old Danish company that specializes in the manufacturing of hearing aids, headsets and earphones. Jabra has a focus on fit and comfort and quality control over everything else. According to Peter Karstromer, Jabras CEO, they “design and engineer technology that frees people to work, live and communicate how and where they want to, equipping them with the tools to live their life to a new rhythm”.
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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Why trust us
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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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