Poly Voyager Free 60+ vs Sony WF-1000XM5 Comparison
Compare Poly Voyager Free 60+ vs Sony WF-1000XM5 side by side: specs, ratings, pros and cons, and which one fits your room best.
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At a Glance
The Poly Voyager Free 60+ UC are business earbuds with hybrid adaptive ANC, three microphones per bud, a BT700 USB adapter and a touchscreen charging case that controls calls and streams audio from a 3.5 mm source.
- Best For
- Travellers who take PC and phone calls
- Launch Price
- —
- IP Rating
- IP54
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX, mSBC, LC3 (with BT700)
- ANC
- Hybrid adaptive ANC
- Battery
- 8 h
- With Case
- 24 h
- Multi-pt
- Yes
The Sony WF-1000XM5 are flagship noise-cancelling earbuds with 8.4 mm Dynamic Driver X units, two processors for ANC, LDAC Hi-Res Wireless support and bone-conduction call pickup.
- Best For
- Commuters who want top ANC
- Launch Price
- $299.99
- IP Rating
- IPX4
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
- ANC
- Adaptive ANC (dual processor)
- Battery
- 8 h
- With Case
- 24 h
- Multi-pt
- Yes
Review Scores Compared
Expert Score
Voice & Call Noise Isolation
ANC & Transparency
Battery & Case Charging
Fit, Stability & Portability
Connectivity & UC Integration
Sound & Audio Quality
Editorial Reviews Comparison
Voice & Call Noise Isolation
- Poly Voyager Free 60+8.1/10
- Sony WF-1000XM59.5/10Leader
Poly Voyager Free 60+
Each bud has three microphones that steer toward your mouth, with WindSmart processing for outdoor calls. Poly also lets you set sidetone to low, medium or high, so you can hear your own voice naturally. Walking along a busy road, I would expect the voice to stay clear with traffic reduced, and WindSmart helps with gusts.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Each bud combines three microphones with a bone-conduction sensor and AI noise reduction trained on a large set of real-world sounds. That helps separate your voice from traffic or café noise. Calls sound clear in most places, with your voice held up well against background noise. Wind still reaches the mics on very gusty days.
ANC & Transparency
- Poly Voyager Free 60+9.5/10
- Sony WF-1000XM59.5/10
Poly Voyager Free 60+
Hybrid adaptive ANC uses inner and outer microphones and adjusts for how well the buds fit. A transparency mode lets surrounding sound through when you need it. On a plane or bus the cancellation is respectable for business buds, cutting steady engine noise well. It is weaker against voices and sudden sounds, where Apple and Bose are ahead.
Sony WF-1000XM5
The Integrated Processor V2 and QN2e chip drive three microphones per bud for noise cancelling. Adaptive Sound Control adjusts ANC automatically as you move between places. On trains and planes the low-frequency rumble almost disappears, and mid-range sounds like voices are well reduced. Fit matters, so try every foam tip size, because a poor seal undermines the ANC more than anything else.
Battery & Case Charging
- Poly Voyager Free 60+8.6/10
- Sony WF-1000XM59.1/10Leader
Poly Voyager Free 60+
Poly lists up to 5.5 hours of talk time per charge, or 16.5 hours with the case. With ANC on, music runs up to 8 hours, or 24 hours in total. A 15-minute charge gives about 1 hour 12 minutes of talk time, and standby lasts up to 30 days including the case.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sony quotes up to 8 hours with ANC on, or 12 hours off, and up to 24 hours with ANC including the case. Three minutes of charging gives about an hour of playback. That covers a long workday of mixed music and calls, with the case topping up over lunch.
Fit, Stability & Portability
- Poly Voyager Free 60+8.1/10
- Sony WF-1000XM58.5/10Leader
Poly Voyager Free 60+
Each bud weighs 5.8 g and measures about 16 x 26 x 38 mm, with a short stem. Poly includes S, M and L ear tips and a pressure-relief design. The shape takes some experimenting before it sits securely, and smaller ears may feel the stem touching. Once settled they are fine for a long afternoon of calls, though not as invisible as stem-free designs.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Each bud weighs about 5.9 g and is noticeably smaller than the XM4. Sony includes foam tips in four sizes, XS to L. For most people the fit is comfortable for several hours, and the small shape does not press on the ear. Some find foam tips warm or tight over a long day, and silicone tips are a common swap.
Connectivity & UC Integration
- Poly Voyager Free 60+9.9/10Leader
- Sony WF-1000XM57.0/10
Poly Voyager Free 60+
The buds use Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint to two devices and remember up to eight. The BT700 adapter extends range to about 30 m and supports Microsoft Swift Pair on Windows. The touchscreen case shows battery, mute state and volume, and lets you switch between the two active devices. Plug the included cable into a seatback socket, and the case streams that audio to the buds at up to about 3 m.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sony pairs Bluetooth 5.3 with two-device multipoint and has added LE Audio support through firmware. Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair make the first connection to a phone or Windows laptop quick. Multipoint means a phone and laptop can stay connected together, although using LDAC can limit it on some devices.
Sound & Audio Quality
- Poly Voyager Free 60+8.6/10
- Sony WF-1000XM59.2/10Leader
Poly Voyager Free 60+
Each bud has a 10 mm speaker, larger than most business earbuds use. Poly applies a dynamic EQ that switches between wideband voice, up to 7 kHz on PC calls, and a full 20 Hz to 20 kHz media mode. In media mode they have more bass punch than the Jabra Evolve2 Buds, and music sounds fuller.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Each bud uses an 8.4 mm Dynamic Driver X, and Sony supports LDAC for Hi-Res Wireless on Android, plus AAC and SBC. DSEE Extreme upscales compressed music. The sound is rich and detailed, with deep bass that never swamps vocals. Next to the AirPods Pro 3, the Sony has more bass weight and a wider-feeling stage, especially with LDAC on Android.
Why Poly Voyager Free 60+ Beats Sony WF-1000XM5 (and Vice Versa)
Why Poly Voyager Free 60+ beats Sony WF-1000XM5
- Better connectivity & uc integration: 9.9 vs 7.0 out of 10
- Bud Weight: 5.8 g vs 5.9 g
- Dust/Water Rating: IP54 vs IPX4
- Water Resistance: IP54 splash and dust resistant vs IPX4 equivalent
- Driver Size: 10 mm vs 8.4 mm
- Wireless Range: 30 m vs 10 m
Why Sony WF-1000XM5 beats Poly Voyager Free 60+
- Better voice & call noise isolation: 9.5 vs 8.1 out of 10
- Better sound & audio quality: 9.2 vs 8.6 out of 10
- Better battery & case charging: 9.1 vs 8.6 out of 10
- Case Weight: 39 g vs 80 g
- Bluetooth Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 vs SBC, AAC, aptX, mSBC, LC3 (with BT700)
- Call Noise Reduction: AI noise reduction vs Noise-blocking algorithms
Review-score leads of 0.5+ points out of 10 first, then specs where only one comes out ahead.
Full Specifications
General
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Travellers who take PC and phone calls | Commuters who want top ANC |
| Fit Type | True wireless in-ear | True wireless in-ear |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2023 |
| Launch Price | — | $299.99 |
Design & Build
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bud Weight | 5.8 g Better | 5.9 g |
| Case Weight | 80 g | 39 g Better |
| Dust/Water Rating | IP54 Better | IPX4 |
| Water Resistance | IP54 splash and dust resistant Better | IPX4 equivalent |
| Ear Tip Sizes | S, M, L | Foam, four sizes (XS, S, M, L) |
| Colors | Carbon Black, White Sand | Black, Platinum Silver |
| Bud Style | Short stem | Stem-free |
| Ear Hooks / Wings | No | — |
| Case Dimensions | 54.5 x 72 x 33.1 mm | 64.5 x 39.9 x 26.4 mm |
Audio
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Size | 10 mm Better | 8.4 mm |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic Driver X |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz (media); up to 7 kHz (PC voice) | 20-20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz); 20-40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz / 990 kbps) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, mSBC, LC3 (with BT700) | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 Better |
| Spatial Audio | — | Yes (360 Reality Audio) |
| Custom EQ | — | Yes |
| Hi-Res Certified | — | Yes (Hi-Res Audio Wireless) |
| Hearing Health Features | SoundGuard Digital (G616) | — |
Noise Cancelling
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Noise Cancelling | Hybrid adaptive ANC | Adaptive ANC (dual processor) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes (Ambient Sound) |
| Adaptive ANC | Yes | Yes |
| Wind Noise Reduction | Yes (WindSmart) | — |
Microphone
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Microphones | 6 | 6 |
| Microphone Setup | Three microphones per earbud | Three microphones per earbud plus bone-conduction sensor |
| Call Noise Reduction | Noise-blocking algorithms | AI noise reduction Better |
| Bone-Conduction Sensor | — | Yes |
Battery & Charging
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (Buds) | 8 h | 8 h |
| Battery (With Case) | 24 h | 24 h |
| Fast Charging | Yes (15 min = 1 h 12 min talk) | Yes (3 min = about 1 h) |
| Wireless Charging | Yes (Qi) | Yes (Qi) |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Battery (Buds, ANC Off) | — | 12 h |
| Charging Time | 2 h | 1.5 h Better |
| Case Battery | 580 mAh | — |
| Bud Battery | 70 mAh | — |
| Call Time | 5.5 h | 6 h Better |
Connectivity
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Range | 30 m Better | 10 m |
| LE Audio / Auracast | LC3 with the included BT700 adapter (mono and stereo telephony) | Yes |
| Google Fast Pair | — | Yes |
| Microsoft Swift Pair | Yes | Yes |
| Paired Devices | 8 | — |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP, SPP | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP |
| USB Dongle | Poly BT700 (USB-C, USB-A adapter) Better | No |
| Single-Bud Use | Yes | — |
Controls & App
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Button plus touch gestures; touchscreen case | Touch |
| Companion App | Poly Lens | Sony Sound Connect |
| Wear Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Siri, Google | — |
| Custom Controls | Yes (gesture control on the buds; touch display on the case) | — |
In the Box
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| In the Box | Earbuds, touchscreen charge case, BT700 adapter, USB-C cable, 3.5 mm audio cable, S/M/L ear tips | Earbuds, charging case, foam tips (XS, S, M, L), USB-C cable |
| Warranty | 2-year limited | 1-year limited |
Identifiers
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Model Number | Voyager Free 60+ UC | WF-1000XM5 |
Compatibility
| Poly Voyager Free 60+ | Sony WF-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| OS Compatibility | Windows 10/11, macOS, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
| Works With | Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other UC apps | — |
Takeaways
- It's a tie on our rating (4.5/5) between Poly Voyager Free 60+ and Sony WF-1000XM5, so choose on the rows that matter most to you.
- Choose Poly Voyager Free 60+ for travellers who take PC and phone calls.
- Choose Sony WF-1000XM5 for commuters who want top ANC.
Pros and Cons
Poly Voyager Free 60+
PROS
- Touchscreen charging case
- Three mics per bud with WindSmart
- Adaptive ANC
- BT700 USB adapter and Qi charging
CONS
- Per-charge talk time is still earbud-class
- Larger case than minimalist buds
- Premium price versus simpler UC buds
Sony WF-1000XM5
PROS
- Excellent noise cancelling
- Detailed, punchy sound with LDAC
- Small, light buds
- Multipoint and wireless charging
CONS
- Foam tips do not suit every ear
- IPX4 only
- No USB dongle for PC calls
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Quick Verdict
- Poly Voyager Free 60+ 8.7Leads in Connectivity & UC Integration
- Sony WF-1000XM5 9.0Best overallLeads in Voice & Call Noise Isolation, Battery & Case Charging, Fit, Stability & Portability




