A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and comfort for home use, especially for music and TV, the Philips Fidelio X2HR will be a good, cost-effective choice; however, they don't have a microphone or active noise canceling, which limits their versatility. The Sony WF1000XM4, though more expensive, offers a highly portable closed-ear design, active noise canceling for travel and noisy environments, and better call quality. They're also modern with features like wireless operation, an app equalizer, and touch controls, ideal for on-the-go use and exercise, but their sound quality for home leisure like TV might not match the Philips. 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 Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
7.0
5.6
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.0
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
TV and Video
8.8
6.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$148
$220
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has a price of $148 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
Music
9.3
9.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Sony WF1000XM4 are both excellent for music.
Build Quality
9.0
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips Fidelio X2HR to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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How the Philips Fidelio X2HR and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips Fidelio X2HR | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$148 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2014 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 390 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Dig into reviews and images
Liquid Audio
Stefan | May 2022
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
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 Philips Fidelio X2HR or the Sony WF1000XM4
About Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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