Versus Engine
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WH-1000XM6
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Apple AirPods Pro 3 against Sony WH-1000XM6, side by side.
Cheaper to start
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Starts about $200.99 lower.
Rated higher
Sony WH-1000XM6
9.5 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_anc_on8 hours
- WEIGHT0.20 ounce (5.55 grams)
- 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
- AMBIENT SOUND—
- AMBIENT SOUND MODE—
- ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OPTIMIZING—
- AUTO AMBIENT SOUND—
- 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 CHARGE METHOD—
- BATTERY CHARGE TIME—
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION TIME)—
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS MUSIC PLAYBACK TIME)—
- battery_anc_off—
- battery_transparency10 hours
- battery_with_case24 hours
- BLUETOOTH™ VERSION—
- case_chargingUSB-C, Qi wireless, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger
- 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
- CORD LENGTH—
- CORD TYPE—
- DIRECTION OF MICROPHONE—
- DRIVER UNIT—
- DSEE Extreme—
- Dust, Sweat, and Water ResistantDust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57): AirPods Pro and charging case
- EFFECTIVE RANGE—
- form_factor—
- FREQUENCY RANGE—
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE—
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE (BLUETOOTH™ COMMUNICATION)—
- HEADPHONE TYPE—
- 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
- IMPEDANCE (OHM)—
- 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
- INPUT(S)—
- MAGNET—
- microphones—
- MULTIPOINT CONNECTION—
- PASSIVE OPERATION—
- PERSONAL NC OPTIMIZER—
- PLUG—
- processor—
- PROFILE—
- QUICK ATTENTION—
- 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) / Width0.76 inch (19.2 mm)
- Size and Weight / Charging CaseWorks with MagSafe charger, Apple Watch charger, Qi-certified chargers, or USB-C connector
- SUPPORTED AUDIO FORMAT(S)—
- SUPPORTED CONTENT PROTECTION—
- 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
- UNIT OF MICROPHONE—
- water_resistanceIP57
- WEARING STYLE—
Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony's flagship over-ears at $449.99, prioritising soundstage and fidelity over portability.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Soundstage and low end no in-ear can match
- Cancellation competitive with the category leaders
- More neutral tuning than the warm alternatives
Cons
- Comfort trails Bose on very long sessions
- Bulky to pack compared with earbuds
- Premium price in a crowded tier
Specifications
- battery_anc_on30 hours
- WEIGHTApprox. 8.96 oz
- 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—
- AMBIENT SOUNDYes
- AMBIENT SOUND MODEYes
- ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OPTIMIZINGYes
- AUTO AMBIENT SOUNDYes
- Battery—
- BATTERY CHARGE METHODUSB
- BATTERY CHARGE TIMEApprox. 3.5 hrs
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION TIME)Max. 24 hrs (NC ON), Max. 28 hrs (NC OFF)
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS MUSIC PLAYBACK TIME)Max. 30 hrs (NC ON), Max. 40 hrs (NC OFF)
- battery_anc_off40 hours
- battery_transparency—
- battery_with_case—
- BLUETOOTH™ VERSIONBluetooth Specification Version 5.3
- case_charging—
- Chip—
- Connectivity—
- Controls—
- CORD LENGTHApprox. 3.94 ft
- CORD TYPESingle-sided (detachable)
- DIRECTION OF MICROPHONEOmni directional
- DRIVER UNIT1.18 in
- DSEE ExtremeYes
- Dust, Sweat, and Water Resistant—
- EFFECTIVE RANGEApprox. 32.81 ft
- form_factorOver-ear, closed back
- FREQUENCY RANGE2.4 GHz band (2.400 0 GHz - 2.483 5 GHz)
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE4–40,000 Hz (JEITA)
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE (BLUETOOTH™ COMMUNICATION)20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz sampling) 20–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz sampling 990 kbps)
- HEADPHONE TYPEClosed
- Hearing Health—
- IMPEDANCE (OHM)48 ohm (1 kHz) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned on), 16 ohm (1 kHz) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned off)
- In the Box—
- In the Box / AirPods Pro 3—
- In the Box / Documentation—
- In the Box / USB-C Charge Cable—
- INPUT(S)Stereo Mini Jack
- MAGNETNeodymium
- microphones12
- MULTIPOINT CONNECTIONYes
- PASSIVE OPERATIONYes
- PERSONAL NC OPTIMIZERAdaptive NC Optimizer
- PLUGGold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug
- processorQN3 HD Noise Cancelling
- PROFILEA2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP, PBP, GMAP, A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP
- QUICK ATTENTIONYes
- 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) / Width—
- Size and Weight / Charging Case—
- SUPPORTED AUDIO FORMAT(S)SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
- SUPPORTED CONTENT PROTECTIONSCMS-T
- System Requirements—
- UNIT OF MICROPHONEMEMS
- water_resistance—
- WEARING STYLEOver Ear