Versus Engine
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM6
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Apple AirPods Pro 3 against Sony WF-1000XM6, side by side.
Cheaper to start
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Starts about $80.99 lower.
Rated higher
Sony WF-1000XM6
9.3 vs 9.2 on our design scale.
Standout
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Custom high-excursion Apple driver and high dynamic range amplifier.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Apple's in-ear earbuds at $249, adding heart-rate sensing and an IP57 rating.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Offers up to 24 hours of listening time with the charging case.
- Includes advanced audio technologies like personalized spatial audio and adaptive EQ.
- Dust, sweat, and water-resistant (IP57).
Cons
- High price point of $249.
- Requires an Apple device with the latest iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS.
- Limited appeal to users outside of the Apple ecosystem.
Specifications
- battery_with_case24 hours
- AccessibilityHearing Test 6, Hearing Aid 6, Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature 7, Hearing Protection 8, Live Listen audio 23
- Accessibility / Features include / Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid featureAutomatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing AidHearing Aid
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing ProtectionHearing Protection
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing TestHearing Test
- Accessibility / Features include / Live Listen audioLive Listen audio
- audio_processing—
- BatteryUp to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled (up to 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled) 17, Up to 6.5 hours of listening time on a single charge with heart rate sensing during workouts 18, Up to 10 hours of listening time on a single charge in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature 19, Up to 24 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled 21, 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time 22
- battery_anc_on8 hours
- battery_buds_anc—
- battery_transparency10 hours
- bodyCopy—
- case_chargingUSB-C, Qi wireless, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger
- catchCopy—
- ChipApple H2 headphone chip, Apple second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in MagSafe Charging Case
- ConnectivityBluetooth 5.3 wireless technology
- ControlsPress once to play or pause media, Press once to answer a call or mute or unmute 11, Press once for camera remote 12, Press twice to end a call, Press twice to skip forward, Press three times to skip back, Press and hold to switch between listening modes, Swipe up or down to adjust volume, Say just “Siri” 13 or “Hey Siri” to do things like play a song, make a call, or get directions, Siri interactions 4
- driver—
- Dust, Sweat, and Water ResistantDust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57): AirPods Pro and charging case
- equalizer_bands—
- Hearing HealthHearing Test 6, Hearing Aid 6, Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature 7, Hearing Protection 8, Live Translation for communicating across languages 9
- In the BoxAirPods Pro 3, MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop, Silicone ear tips (five sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L), Documentation
- In the Box / AirPods Pro 3AirPods Pro 3
- In the Box / DocumentationDocumentation
- In the Box / USB-C Charge CableUSB-C Charge Cable sold separately
- microphones—
- processor—
- SensorsDual beamforming microphones, Inward-facing microphone, Skin-detect sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Heart rate sensor for workouts 10
- Size and Weight (Charging Case)Height: 1.86 inches (47.2 mm), Width: 2.45 inches (62.2 mm), Depth: 0.86 inch (21.8 mm), Weight: 1.55 ounces (43.99 grams)
- Size and Weight (Each)Height: 1.22 inches (30.9 mm), Width: 0.76 inch (19.2 mm), Depth: 1.06 inches (27.0 mm), Weight: 0.20 ounce (5.55 grams)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Depth1.06 inches (27.0 mm)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Height1.22 inches (30.9 mm)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Weight0.20 ounce (5.55 grams)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Width0.76 inch (19.2 mm)
- Size and Weight / Charging CaseWorks with MagSafe charger, Apple Watch charger, Qi-certified chargers, or USB-C connector
- System RequirementsiPhone models with the latest version of iOS, iPad models with the latest version of iPadOS, Apple Watch models with the latest version of watchOS
- water_resistanceIP57
Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony's flagship earbuds at $329.99, with a redesigned driver and eight-microphone cancellation.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Bone-conduction voice sensing gives unusually clean call audio in noise
- Strong cancellation for the form factor
- Gemini Live integrated rather than bolted on
Cons
- Assistant features assume Google's ecosystem
- Isolation still trails over-ear models
- Fit is tip-dependent and fatiguing over long sessions
Specifications
- battery_with_case24 hours
- Accessibility—
- Accessibility / Features include / Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature—
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing Aid—
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing Protection—
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing Test—
- Accessibility / Features include / Live Listen audio—
- audio_processing32-bit
- Battery—
- battery_anc_on—
- battery_buds_anc8 hours
- battery_transparency—
- bodyCopyCrafted with mastering-engineer insight and advanced noise-cancelling technology, the WF-1000XM6 delivers faithful, detailed sound. The refined ergonomic design keeps the fit natural for listening that lasts.
- case_charging—
- catchCopySound mastered. Noise cancelled.
- Chip—
- Connectivity—
- Controls—
- driver8.4mm
- Dust, Sweat, and Water Resistant—
- equalizer_bands10
- Hearing Health—
- In the Box—
- In the Box / AirPods Pro 3—
- In the Box / Documentation—
- In the Box / USB-C Charge Cable—
- microphones8
- processorQN3e
- Sensors—
- Size and Weight (Charging Case)—
- Size and Weight (Each)—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Depth—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Height—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Weight—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Width—
- Size and Weight / Charging Case—
- System Requirements—
- water_resistance—