Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Apple AirPods 4 ANC
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Shokz OpenFit 2KSh 25,000.00
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Shokz OpenDots OneKSh 24,000.00
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At a glance
Key specifications and important differences. Full details follow below.
| Feature |  Sony WH-1000XM4 |  Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | KSh 25,000.00 | KSh 25,000.00 |
| Drivers | 1.57 ", dome type (CCAW Voice coil) | Custom high-excursion Apple driver |
| Connection | Bluetooth + Stereo Mini Jack | Bluetooth |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (ANC on), 38 hours (ANC off); talk time up to 30 hours | Up to 4 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled; Up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge with noise control off |
| Water & Dust Resistance | — | Dust, sweat, and water resistant (IP54) |
| Weight | 254g (headphones only) | 4.3 grams |
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Full specifications
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General
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sony | Apple |
| Model | WH-1000XM4 | AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation |
| Announced | 2020 | 2024 |
| Type | Over-Ear Wireless Headphones | True Wireless In-Ear Earbuds |
| Color | Black, Silver | White |
Design
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 254g (headphones only) | 4.3 grams |
| Dimensions | Headphones: 9.94 x 8.03 x 2.85 inches (252 x 204 x 72 mm); Folded: 7.87 x 6.69 x 2.85 inches | 30.2 mm x 18.3 mm x 18.1 mm |
Battery & Charging
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 30 hours (ANC on), 38 hours (ANC off); talk time up to 30 hours | Up to 4 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled; Up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge with noise control off |
| Charging Time | Approx. 3 Hours (Full charge) | — |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | No | Yes |
| Fast Charging | — | 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time |
Connectivity
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Bluetooth + Stereo Mini Jack | Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Range | Line of sight approx. 30 ft (10 m) | — |
| Connector | Gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug | N/A - wireless audio connection |
| Cable Length | Headphone cable (approx. 3.94 ft, OFC strands, gold-plated stereo mini plug) | N/A - no audio cable included |
| App Support | Sony | Sound Connect | Built into supported Apple operating systems; no separate app |
Features
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Wear detection, touch controls, proximity/acceleration sensors | Optical in-ear sensor; Motion-detecting accelerometer; Speech-detecting accelerometer; Force sensor |
| Special Features | Atmospheric Pressure Optimizing; Personal Nc Optimizer; Passive Operation | Live Translation for communicating across languages |
| Voice Assistant | — | Siri |
Audio
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1.57 ", dome type (CCAW Voice coil) | Custom high-excursion Apple driver |
| Frequency Response | 4 Hz-40,000 Hz | — |
| Audio Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | — |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency / Ambient Mode | Ambient Sound, Quick Attention | Adaptive Audio; Transparency mode; Conversation Awareness |
| Microphones | Built-in microphones | Dual beamforming microphones; Inward-facing microphone |
| Audio Features | Dsee Extreme; Passive Operation; Magnet: Neodymium | Custom high dynamic range amplifier; Adaptive Audio; Conversation Awareness; Voice Isolation; Adaptive EQ; Vent system for pressure equalization; H2 headphone chip |
| Spatial Audio | — | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking |
Charging Case
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Case Type | N/A - no charging case | Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker |
| Case Battery Life | N/A - no charging case | Up to 20 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled; Up to 30 hours of listening time with noise control off |
| Case Charging | N/A - no charging case | Works with USB-C connector, Apple Watch charger, or Qi-certified chargers |
| Case Charging Port | N/A - no charging case | USB-C |
| Case Wireless Charging | N/A - no charging case | Yes |
| Case Dimensions | N/A - no charging case | 46.2 mm x 50.1 mm x 21.2 mm |
| Case Weight | N/A - no charging case | 34.7 grams |
| Case Water & Dust Resistance | N/A - no charging case | — |
| Case Features | N/A - no charging case | Includes a speaker for use with Find My proximity view |
Design & Controls
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Quick Attention | Press once to play or pause media; Press once to answer a call or mute or unmute; Press once for camera remote; Press twice to end a call; Press twice to skip forward; Press three times to skip back; Press and hold for Siri; Say "Hey Siri" or just "Siri"to do things like play a song, make a call, or get directions |
| Ear Tips / Ear Cushions | Cushioned earcups | N/A - open-fit design |
| Water & Dust Resistance | — | Dust, sweat, and water resistant (IP54) |
What's in the Box
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Apple AirPods 4 ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones / Earbuds | WH-1000XM4 headphones | AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation |
| Charging Case | N/A - no charging case | Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker |
| Charging Cable | USB Cable: Type-C TM (approx. 7.87") | N/A - USB-C charge cable sold separately |
| Audio Cable | N/A - not included | N/A - not included |
| Ear Tips / Accessories | N/A - over-ear design | N/A - open-fit design |
| Documentation | Quick start and safety documentation | Documentation |
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