15/03/2026 6:11 am
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Ive used Sony for years and my XM3s finally died right before a 14-hour flight to Tokyo next month. Im stuck between the XM4 and XM5. I know the XM5s have better ANC but I'm worried about the headband comfort for that long of a stretch. Plus they dont fold which is a pain for my small tech bag.
- Budget: $350-400ish
- Priority: ANC that blocks out crying babies and engines
- Needs: good battery life for the whole trip
Is the auto-NC optimizer on the 5s actually better or should I just save some cash and grab the 4s for the portability? I wear glasses too so clamping force is a big deal...
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15/03/2026 6:22 am
ngl if you wear glasses and want to save cash, check out the Bose QuietComfort Headphones. Ive tried many pairs over the years and their comfort is still the gold standard... way less clamping force than the newer Sonys. They fold up tiny too. You can usually find them under $300 which leaves plenty of extra budget for the trip. The auto-NC on the XM5s is kinda finicky anyway.
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15/03/2026 6:11 am
Seriously, go with the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones! I've spent hundreds of hours on planes with these and they're amazing for long hauls. Since you're worried about the bag space and wearing glasses, the 4s are a much better practical choice than the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. Heres why I think they win for your Tokyo trip:
- Portability is huge. The fact that the XM4s fold into a tight little package is a lifesaver for small tech bags. The XM5 case is weirdly flat but super wide, so it's a total pain to fit into a seatback pocket or a crowded backpack.
- Clamping force and glasses. I wear glasses too and the XM4 ear cups are super plush. They dont squeeze my frames against my skull even on 10 hour flights. The XM5 headband is thinner and I found it actually hurt the top of my head after a few hours because the weight isnt distributed as well.
- Control. The auto-optimizer on the XM5 can be so frustrating! Sometimes it thinks it should let in sound when you actually want total silence from the engines. The XM4 lets you just blast the ANC at 100% which is exactly what you need for a noisy plane. Youll save a bunch of cash and honestly, the noise canceling is still top tier. Grab the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones and dont look back!
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15/03/2026 6:52 am
Interested in this too
