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The Sony WF-1000XM6 and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are two of the best wireless earbuds on the market right now, and picking between them is trickier than you'd think. Sony's latest pair comes with a fresh design, new drivers, and the same chip that powers the stellar noise cancellation in the WH-1000XM6 over-ears.
Also: My simple tweaks that bring dead-sounding headphones back to life - Sony and Bose included
Apple's AirPods Pro 3, on the other hand, have taken what was already a really solid product and pushed it further with better ANC, a comfortable stem design, and the kind of deep ecosystem integration that Apple does better than anyone.
These are both premium earbuds with premium price tags, and both do a whole lot right. But they also offer different strengths. The Sony WF-1000XM6 have the edge in audio quality and give you way more control through their companion app, while the AirPods Pro 3 boast better noise cancellation, a more comfortable fit, and a bunch of Apple-only features you just can't get anywhere else.
So which ones should you actually buy? Here's a look.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3 Sony WF-1000XM6 Battery life 8 hours (up to 24 hours with charging case) 8 hours (up to 24 hours with charging case) Charging USB-C, Qi, MagSafe, Apple Watch USB-C, Qi Audio modes ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Mode ANC, Transparency Mode IP rating IP57 (earbuds only) IPX4 Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 Additional features Hearing aid mode, live translation, Automatic Switching, Spatial Audio, heart rate monitor Spatial Audio, LDAC support, Bluetooth Multipoint Price $249 $330
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