AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: which earbuds fit your phone?
For anyone stuck between Apple's and Sony's top noise-cancelling earbuds. Battery life is a tie, so the deciding difference is the phone in your pocket and the extras you will use.
The short answer
iPhone owners should get the AirPods Pro 3: they add a hearing aid feature, heart rate sensing and a tougher IP57 rating, and they only reach full features on Apple devices. Android owners should get the Sony WF-1000XM6, which supports the LDAC hi-res codec and multipoint pairing.
Get this one if
Apple AirPods Pro 3Get the AirPods Pro 3 if you use an iPhone, want the FDA-authorized hearing aid and hearing test features, or want heart rate tracking during workouts. They also suit smaller ears, with five tip sizes down to XXS.
Check price on Amazon
Get this one if
Sony WF-1000XM6Get the Sony WF-1000XM6 if you use an Android phone and want LDAC hi-res audio, or you switch between two devices like a phone and a laptop. The Sony Sound Connect app gives you sound and ambient controls without Apple gear.
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate Aliteq earns from qualifying purchases. The commission is the same either way, so it never decides the pick. Prices change often, so we don't print them. Product photos are the brands' own.
Side by side
| Feature | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Sony WF-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Best phone match | iPhone; limited features on non-Apple devices | Any phone; Sony Sound Connect app |
| Battery, earbuds (ANC on) | Up to 8 hours | Up to 8 hours (12 with ANC off) |
| Total with case | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Hi-res codec | No LDAC listed | LDAC, plus AAC, SBC and LC3 |
| Water rating | IP57, earbuds and case | IPX4 earbuds; case not water resistant |
| Health features | Heart rate sensor, hearing aid, hearing test | None listed |
| Ear tip sizes | Five (XXS to L) | Four sizes in the box |
| Wireless charging | MagSafe, Qi and Apple Watch charger | Yes, case charges wirelessly |
Questions people ask before buying
- Do AirPods Pro 3 work with Android?
- Yes, as regular Bluetooth earbuds. Apple says non-Apple devices get limited functionality, so features like the hearing aid, heart rate sensing and Live Translation need an iPhone.
- Do the Sony WF-1000XM6 work with iPhone?
- Yes, they pair over Bluetooth and support AAC. LDAC, Sony's hi-res codec, is mainly an Android feature, so iPhone users miss the main sound-quality extra.
- Which one lasts longer on a charge?
- It is a tie with noise cancelling on: both are rated for up to 8 hours on the earbuds and up to 24 hours with the case. Sony rates 12 hours with noise cancelling off, and both give about 1 hour from a 5-minute charge.
- Can I wear them for workouts or in the rain?
- Both handle sweat. The AirPods Pro 3 and their case are rated IP57, while the Sony earbuds are IPX4 and the case is not water resistant. Neither is meant for swimming.
- Can AirPods Pro 3 work as hearing aids?
- Apple offers an FDA-authorized Hearing Aid feature for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, plus a Hearing Test. It needs a compatible iPhone with the latest software.
Sources
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