Jabra Elite 10 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Which One is Better?

By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2023

Jabra is well-known for its high-quality earbuds, but Sony is also an established brand in the audio industry, bu. How does Jabra's latest model, Jabra Elite 10 compare with Sony's latest release, the Sony WF-1000XM5? Let's take a closer look at both models and compare what they have to offer.

Specs	Jabra Elite 10	Sony WF-1000XM5
	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon
Price	$249.99	$299.99
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth Multipoint	Yes	Yes
Microphones	6	6
Speaker Size	10 mm	8.4 mm
Noise Cancellation	Yes	Yes
Ambient Sound	Yes	Yes
Spatial Sound with Head Tracking	Yes	Yes
Voice Assistant	Siri, Google Assistant	Alexa, Google Assistant
Spotify Tap	Yes	Yes
Head Gestures	No	Yes
Battery Life	Up to 6 hours	Up to 8 hours
IP Rating	IP57 (earbuds), IP54 (case)	IPX4 (earbuds)
Earbud Design	Semi-Open	Closed
Companion App	Jabra Sound+	Sony Headphones Connect

Key Takeaways

One key difference is Jabra Elite 10 is tougher with an IP57 rating compared to Sony's IPX4 rating. Jabra Elite 10 also supports Siri and Google Assistant, while Sony WF-1000XM5 supports Alexa and Google Assistant. Another difference is Sony has more sophisticated features like Speak-to-Chat, Adaptive Sound Control, and Head Gesture.

On our list

#1 Price

#2 Design & Durability

#3 Sound & Features

#4 Battery Life

#5 Connectivity

Jabra Elite 10

Earbuds for Active Lifestyle

✓ ComfortFit technolgoy
✓ Dolby Head Tracking
✓ Advanced ANC
✓ IP57 Rating

Buy on Amazon

Sony WF-1000XM5

Advanced Earbuds

✓ Noise cancellation
✓ Adaptive Sound Control
✓ Speak to Chat
✓ IPX4 Rating

Buy on Amazon

#1 Price

Jabra Elite 10

Jabra Elite 10 is more affordable at $249.99, compared to Sony WF-1000XM5 which is priced at $299.99. Even though Jabra is cheaper, such a price is still on the higher end of the spectrum for earbuds, making both models a premium purchase.

#2 Design & Durability

Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony WF-1000XM5 is beautifully designed, small, and lightweight. The case measures only 64.6 x 40.0 x 26.5 mm with a weight of 39 g, making it easy to carry around in your pocket. The earbuds come in black and silver color options and are made of recycled plastic materials for enhanced sustainability.

Jabra Elite 10 is available in more color options, including cream, titanium black, matte black, gloss black, and cocoa. The case is also small with dimensions of 40.3 x 25.3 x 69.6 mm and lightweight at 44 g. One distinctive feature of the Jabra Elite 10 is Jabra ComfortFit technology, which guarantees maximum comfort for all-day wear. With a semi-open design, the earbuds put less pressure on the ear canal compared to Sony's closed design, making them more comfortable to wear for prolonged periods.

Jabra Elite 10

The Elite 10 is also tougher and more durable, boasting an IP57 rating for a high level of protection from dust and water. This also indicates that the Elite 10 can be submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes without damage. Meanwhile, Sony WF-1000XM5 has an IPX4 rating, which indicates water resistance only at the splash level.

Another difference between both earbuds is the ear tips that come with them. Jabra Elite 10 has 4 different sizes of ear tips, including small, medium, large, and extra-large, to ensure a perfect fit for every ear size. Sony WF-1000XM5 also offers 4 sizes of ear tips, but unlike Jabra, it offers an extra-small rather than an extra-large size.

#3 Sound & Features

Sony WF-1000XM5

Both earbuds have a few similar features that help them to deliver high-quality sound, such as spatial sound with head tracking for an immersive 3D listening experience and noise cancellation to produce clear audio in noisy environments.

Noise cancellation in Sony WF-1000XM5 is achieved by combining its Integrated Processor V2 with the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e, resulting in low distortion and crystal clear audio reproduction. Meanwhile, the Jabra Elite 10 stands out with its Advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology, which uses scanning technology and in-built noise leakage detection to powerfully filter out unwanted noises wherever you are.

Both earbuds also have an excellent call performance. Sony F-1000XM5 uses an AI-based noise reduction algorithm and bone conduction sensor that picks up vibrations of your voice directly from your skull bones. Jabra Elite 10 is not losing on this, boasting carefully placed 6 microphones that distinguish the background noise and only pick up your speaking voice.

Jabra Elite 10

Jabra Elite 10 also features HearThrough, which allows you to adjust the level of ambient noises you want to hear while you're listening to music, allowing you to stay aware of your environment. Sony WF-1000XM5 also offers a similar feature called the Ambient Sound Control.

Sony WF-1000XM5 offers some additional features like Speak-to-Chat, which pauses the music automatically when you start speaking to someone. Once your chat is over, the music will start playing automatically. Sony WF-1000XM5 also offers Adaptive Sound Control, which senses your activity and adjusts the ambient sound settings accordingly.

Sony WF-1000XM5 also supports Head Gestures, allowing you to control the earbuds with simple head gestures, such as shaking your head to answer a call or nodding to play or pause music. This sophisticated feature is not available in Jabra Elite 10.

#4 Battery Life

Sony WF-1000XM5

In terms of battery life, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is winning. It allows for up to 8 hours of active headphone use, and up to 24 hours with the charging case. Quick charging also allows you to get up to 1 hour of listening in just 3 minutes.

Jabra Elite 10, on the other hand, offers 6 hours of battery life with ANC on and 8 hours with ANC off. With the charging case, you can get a total of 27 hours of playtime. It also supports fast charging, allowing you to get up to 1 hour of playback with just 5 minutes of charging.

#5 Connectivity

Jabra Elite 10

Both Jabra Elite 10 and Sony WF-1000XM5 support Bluetooth 5.3 with Multipoint Connection, allowing you to pair the earbuds to 2 devices simultaneously for quick, seamless switching between them.

One difference between the two models when it comes to connectivity is voice assistant compatibility. Jabra Elite 10 is compatible with Siri and Google Assistant, while Sony WF-1000XM5 is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.