Honestly I would do #1 or #2. No-one is going to know or care how much the airpods retail for so if you want them go for it. I would probably go for the xm5s just to avoid apple not playing nice with non apple but I haven’t tried them (I have Bose QC at home / whenever I need full on noise cancellation and pixel buds everywhere else). The Sony’s have a good name.
I don’t suppose you can try them both at JB Hi-fi like for over ear ones?
Honestly I would do #1 or #2. No-one is going to know or care how much the airpods retail for so if you want them go for it. I would probably go for the xm5s just to avoid apple not playing nice with non apple but I haven’t tried them (I have Bose QC at home / whenever I need full on noise cancellation and pixel buds everywhere else). The Sony’s have a good name.
I don’t suppose you can try them both at JB Hi-fi like for over ear ones?