The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds offer good sound quality, comfort, and are specifically optimized for gaming with their low latency game mode. They are a great choice for an immersive gaming experience and are sweatproof, making them suitable for exercise as well. On the other hand, the Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones provide superior noise isolation and active noise canceling, making them ideal for air travel and environments where you want to block out background noise. They also have a longer battery life and support for LDAC, which delivers high-resolution audio. The Sony's have a higher build quality and are foldable for easy transport, but they're also significantly pricier. If budget is a concern and gaming is a priority, the Razer earbuds may be the more suitable choice, whereas if you're looking for the best noise cancellation and sound quality for a wider range of listening environments, including travel, the Sony headphones would be the better option. 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 Razer Hammerhead True Wireless
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Good for exercise
Advantages of the Sony WH-1000XM5
Very good for music
Key differences
Music
6.6/10
8.2/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
8.6/10
5.6/10
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is very good for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
7.9/10
5.8/10
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.1/10
9.1/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is very good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
40.3 Hours
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless has 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 Razer Hammerhead True Wireless has a price of $100 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Razer Hammerhead True Wireless are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6/10
6.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WH-1000XM5 to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is poor.
Build Quality
8.7/10
8.8/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Razer Hammerhead True Wireless both have very good build quality.
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How the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
"This latest set is more “Pro” than not in both looks and features: they offer active noise cancellation, a low-latency gaming mode, and have switched to a in-ear design with silicone tips. Just like many of the company’s laptops and gaming accessories, the 2021 Hammerhead True Wireless include Razer’s full Chroma RGB system. It makes for what Razer calls “the ultimate wireless earbud flex.”"
"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 Razer Hammerhead True Wireless or the Sony WH-1000XM5
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean hardware manufacturer aimed specifically toward the gaming market. They manufacture a very wide array of gaming laptops, tablets, phones, peripherals and, of course, headphones and earbuds both wired and wireless. Since 2016, Razer has owned the THX suite, aimed at quality assurance of audiovisual systems such as speaker sets, video game consoles and even movie theaters.
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.