Sony WF-1000XM3 Review – Better Than Airpods? [Compared]

The predecessor of Sony's WF-1000XM3 couldn't stand out among the competition when introduced in 2017 due to major issues with connectivity and synchronization. However, Sony is back with another true wireless earbud which is significantly improved in major sectors no matter its the battery, connectivity or the design its all set up to challenge the Airpod, Powerbeats Pro and IconX. What can you expect from this headset and how can it make your life easier and is it worth to spend nearly $250 on this? To answer all your questions, we are dividing this review into three major sections, which include in-depth design analysis, performance breakdown, and lastly the specifications the earbud comes with.

Design

The XM3 has professional, sleeker, and brand new design. The earphones are not bulky as well as not dainty, so they've got a balanced structure and are available in two different colors, which include Black and Platinum Silver. Moreover, the earpieces are made of smooth plastic and contain circular patchy surface. These surfaces act as control pads and can perform various functions depending on the action you perform. The left earbud allows you to adjust noise cancellation as well as ambient noise isolation, and the left earbud will enable you to have control over the audio playback. How the taping works and whats more to it? Let's find out.

By default, the noise cancellation is on, and the left earbud allows you to turn it off or on. Moreover, you can also switch between noise cancellation and ambient sound mode as this mode allows a bit more noise. Furthermore, Sony has also introduced a Quick Attention mode, in which you can temporarily activate ambient noise for as long as you want. All you have to do is hold it for the span you want to let ambient sound in, once you let it go the earbud will go right back to noise cancellation mode. This feature is beneficial in case you want to listen to emergency announcements in flight or a coffee shop. Additionally, the right earbud has the track controls. If you tap the circular control scheme once, the track will pause or play, if you press it twice, it'll skip to the next song, and if you touch it thrice, it'll take you back. Unfortunately, there is no volume controller, to adjust the volume you'll have to either do it using the device or else using the voice assistant which can be accessed by tapping and holding right earbud.

Another significant improvement made by Sony is the charging case, although it seems slightly bulky but it's worth it. The battery of the earbud could last for six hours in one go. However, the charging case can juice it up for 24 hours, which means you can charge the buds three times. Moreover, quick charge allows you to have charging of about 90 minutes in just 10 minutes of charge time. Furthermore, both the earbuds are not linked together so you can manage calls or music using one earpiece and can charge the other one at the same time. Unlike the predecessor of WF-1000XM3, these buds won't create any sync problems. Lastly, the noise cancellation feature impacts the battery. Unfortunately, the earbuds are not water or sweat proof. However, Sony, claims that the users never experienced any sort of problem while using the predecessors during the gym sessions, so there's nothing to worry about.

The branding of the company is visible on both pieces and its in rose gold/copper accents. Moreover, in the box along with the earbuds, you will get a charging case, tripe comfort earbuds (Small, Medium, Large), long hybrid silicone rubber earbuds (SS, Small, Medium, Large), a card, a manual and a USB Type-C cable of approximately 20cm length.

Performance

The buds are powered by Sony QN1e HD noise-canceling processor which is almost similar to award-winning Sony over-ear headsets. Moreover, the company claims that the chip has the power to deliver a 40 percent increase in noise-canceling quality as compared to WF-1000x (the predecessor launched in 2017). It uses 24-bit processing and Digital Sound Enhancement Engine HX, which enhances efficiency and battery life. Additionally, the chip handles the DAC and amplification, but there's no aptX. Due to the new Bluetooth chipset inside both buds can make a simultaneous connection to your phone. It's better to set Sound Quality Mode to prioritize sound quality instead of Bluetooth Connection. The headphones connect app for Android and iOS lets you have better control over your earbuds as you can manage the settings and adjust sound levels without any complication. These earphones have flawless touch controls and don't impact the performance in any manner.

Sony has put together all the ingredients required to reproduce an incredible sound. There is no boost, and the instruments sound natural. Moreover, the bass is punchy, deep, and consistent along with excellently balanced midrange, which never gets muddy. The vocals are prominent and clear as well as don't, which enhances the sense of music and balance. Furthermore, the frequency response consistency and total harmonic distortion are tremendous. Additionally, the mic is excellent with excellent noise handling and call quality. Indeed, this time the company has pulled something exceptional out of the bag with the introduction of these earbuds and they worth the money.

ProsCons

Excellent Noise-Cancelling
Excellent Battery Life
Comfortable Design
Excellent Fit
Flawless Controls
Charging Case
Extra Ear Tips

No Volume Control
No aptX HD

Specifications

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Note: In case you are looking for cheap alternatives then you can checkout these 13 Best Earbuds Under 30