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WF1000XM5
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P20i
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What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

Choosing between the Sony WF1000XM5 and the Soundcore P20i involves considering their strengths in different areas. If you prioritize superior overall sound quality, more natural soundstage, and better construction, the Sonys are the better selection but come at a higher cost. On the other hand, the Soundcore P20i offers good value with decent sound quality, longer battery life, and sweat and dust resistance, making them suitable for exercise and outdoor use. For those who need active noise cancelling for travel or noisy environments, the Sony earbuds provide this feature while Soundcore does not. However, the higher price of the Sony might not justify the improvements in audio and ANC if you're on a stricter budget or primarily need earbuds for casual listening and physical activities. Additionally, the Soundcore P20i is more suitable for gaming and watching TV due to its lower latency. Both models offer app customization and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, ensuring a good degree of versatility and user personalization. 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 Sony WF1000XM5
  • Very good for music
Advantages of the Soundcore P20i
  • Good for gaming
  • Good for TV and video

Key differences

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Music

8.0
WF1000XM5
P20i
6.4
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Soundcore P20i is only fair.

Gaming

5.1
WF1000XM5
P20i
7.3
The Soundcore P20i is good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

TV and Video

5.4
WF1000XM5
P20i
7.0
The Soundcore P20i is good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

Noise Reduction

8.7
WF1000XM5
P20i
6.5
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Soundcore P20i is only fair.

Cost

$298
WF1000XM5
P20i
$30
Product image
Product image

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

The Sony WF1000XM5 has a price of $298 and the Soundcore P20i costs $30.

Build Quality

8.5
WF1000XM5
P20i
9.0
The Soundcore P20i has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities

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Phone Calls

5.0
WF1000XM5
P20i
5.0
The Soundcore P20i and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for phone calls.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

4.9
WF1000XM5
P20i
4.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Soundcore P20i are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.

Battery

9.0 Hours
WF1000XM5
P20i
9.0 Hours
The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life. The Soundcore P20i has 9 hours of battery life.

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How the Sony WF1000XM5 and the Soundcore P20i compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Sony WF1000XM5Soundcore P20i
Sony WF1000XM5Soundcore P20i

GENERAL

Price
$298
$30
Brand
SonySoundcore
Release Date
July 1, 2023May 1, 2023
Form Factor
EarbudsEarbuds
Connectivity
WirelessWireless

SOUND

Music Score
8.1/106.5/10
Phone Calls Score
5/105.1/10
Gaming Score
5.2/107.4/10
TV and Video Score
5.5/107/10
Exercise Score
6.2/106.3/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
9 Hours9 Hours
Wireless charging
YesYes
Charging time
1.5 Hours2 Hours
Bluetooth version
5.35.3
Case Battery Life
1820

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
YesYes
Noise Reduction Score
8.8/106.5/10
Virtual Surround
YesNo
Android App
YesYes
iOS App
YesYes
Mic Quality
6.5/107/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.5/109/10
Comfort score
7.6/107/10
Size
MediumSmall
Weight (headset or single earbud)
6 Grams4.5 Grams
Microphone style
IntegratedIntegrated

Shopping

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Sony WF1000XM5

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Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."

Soundcore P20i

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Dig into reviews and images

Critic Reviewer

Ranbir Sen | May 2023
"I would recommend the Soundcore P20i Earbuds to everyone who loves music and would like to own comfortable pair of earbuds with a great range of sound quality. I would recommend users who buy this device use the right comfortable ear tips as per your ear design."

Get a great deal on the Sony WF1000XM5 or the Soundcore P20i

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.

About Soundcore

Soundcore is a sub-brand belonging to Anker Innovations. Starting in 2014, initially marketing wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, Anker now offers an array of, budget-friendly, wireless earbuds and headphones that directly compete, especially in the Active Noise Canceling field, with other brands several times as expensive.

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Why trust us

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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.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
Consumer hours saved

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.

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