Beats Studio Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Get the XM5. Better quiet, better sound, longer battery, and they connect to your phone and laptop at once. The Beats Studio Pro are cheaper and fold smaller, and that's their whole case.
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Which one is for you?
Beats Studio Pro
A deep discount, both iPhone and Android in the house, the Beats look? Then it's the Studio Pro.
Is the Beats Studio Pro worth it?Sony XM5
Get the XM5 if this sounds like you: better sound and more quiet, phone plus laptop, long sessions.
Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 worth it?Key differences
Noise cancelling
Battery
Multipoint
Folding
What owners say
Verified buyers only; every 1–3 star review read by us. How we do this
Beats Studio Pro
Most owners like the sound and the look, and they pair easily with an iPhone. The main complaint is a tight fit that makes ears or heads sore, especially on bigger heads.
- Good sound
- Comfortable
- Good noise cancelling
- Too tight: ears or head hurt after a while
Sony XM5
Owners love the noise cancelling, the sound and the comfort. The main complaint is noise cancelling that falls short of the hype, and the plastic hinge cracking comes up again and again.
- Excellent noise cancelling
- Great sound
- Comfortable for long wear
- Unreliable Bluetooth, random pauses or switching off, touch controls misfiring
- The hinge or headband joint cracked or snapped
Related pages
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the Beats Studio Pro: 1,486 verified buyer ratings at Currys, Takealot (South Africa), Costco (US) and Costco (Canada), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the Sony XM5: 2,044 verified buyer ratings at Currys, Target (US), LDLC (France) and Takealot (South Africa), read October 2026.