Apple AirPods Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM3 - Noise-cancelling showdown - Android

Apple caught plenty of flak for ditching the headphone jack and made audio enthusiasts livid with the first and second-generation AirPods design. The Apple AirPods Pro is what happens when a company yields to customers’ priorities. They’re a massive upgrade from the original design. There’s no doubt that the AirPods Pro is great for iPhone users, but what about the rest of us?

We’re pitting Apple against the Sony WF-1000XM3 to settle which true wireless earbuds command the noise-cancelling market.

Read the in-depth Apple AirPods Pro vs. Sony WF-1000XM3 breakdown by SoundGuys

Fit and hardware

SoundGuys Touch controls are customizable via Sony’s Headphone Connect app.

First thing’s first, how does the AirPods Pro construction contrast the Sony WF-1000XM3? Well, the former features an all-white exterior with a minimalist design philosophy. Sony takes a more sophisticated swing at total wireless earbuds: black dominates the earbuds and case, and is complemented by copper accents. Both are plastic but only Apple went the extra mile by getting the AirPods Pro IPX4-certified, which gives users the option to exercise in them without worrying about voiding the warranty.

The AirPods Pro has been completely overhauled from the original and sophomore AirPods, meaning the case is shorter, stouter, and the earbuds are outfitted with nozzles that create an honest seal to the ear canal. Not only does this passively isolate you from noisy surroundings, but it’s the reason noise-cancelling functions at all. The nozzles aren’t angled as aggressively as the Sony WF-1000XM3, but whether this is a pro or con depends on your ear anatomy. Apple designers certainly did their homework when creating the silicone ear tips: rather than sliding each earbud collar over a plastic nozzle, you slide it into a moat-live divot surrounding the nozzle. This makes for a more secure hold while also making it easier to remove and re-place ear tips.

If you intend to use your earbuds during intense workouts, play it safe by getting the AirPods Pro.

Sony does have Apple beat on the diverse ear tip array it provides listeners. While Apple provides standard small, medium, and large ear tips, Sony supplies an array of options that vary in size, density, and material (e.g. memory foam and silicone). You’re more likely to find a proper fit with Sony’s earbuds.

On-board controls

Both headsets offer touch controls, but operation is different. The Apple AirPods Pro use force-sensitive stems to register stem squeezes. Sony’s true wireless earbuds sport glossy panels that require a combination of taps to control playback or cycle through listening modes. Both noise-cancelling units house proximity sensors for auto-ear detection. The AirPods Pro automatic ear detection functionality is confined to iOS devices, while Sony’s works across the board.

The AirPods Pro case supports wireless charging

SoundGuys The Apple AirPods Pro case can be wirelessly charged from any Qi-certified power mat.

Despite the whole Apple AirPower debacle, the AirPods Pro supports wireless charging with Qi-certified mats and includes a wireless charging case to boot. That’s right: you don’t have to choose which AirPods package you’re going to get, nor do you have to pay an extra $40 for a feature we’ve seen baked into cheaper options, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds. If you don’t care for wireless charging, you’re limited to Apple’s Lightning cable; the Sony WF-1000XM3 charge by USB-C cable only.

This is one of the more subjective portions of the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3 comparison, so many of you are bound to feel differently about our decision. Since the Sony total wireless earbuds feature an elegant color palette, more natural control mechanism, and vast assemblage of ear tips, we’re giving the first round to Sony.

Winner: Sony WF-1000XM3

Microphone quality

Apple has repeatedly impressed us with its headset microphone quality and the Apple AirPods Pro microphones are something to be proud of. Voices are reproduced slightly more accurately across the frequency range of the human voice when compared to Sony’s integrated mics. Apple’s beam-forming microphones work in conjunction with a speech-detecting accelerometer to filter out ambient noise more effectively than most earbuds.

Just because Apple’s mics are great doesn’t prevent Sony from also having great microphone quality. In fact, the Sony WF-1000XM3 are great for personal and professional calls alike, but the AirPods Pro are better equipped to neutralize background noise and accurately relay your voice to the person on the other line. Either mic system is better than a standard phone but the AirPods Pro outdo the Sony WF-1000XM3 here.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro

Connection strength and Bluetooth codecs

SoundGuys You can alternate listening modes on the AirPods Pro directly from an iPhone.

Both headsets use Bluetooth 5.0 firmware and support one high-quality Bluetooth codec: AAC, which is great for iPhone owners, not so great for us Android fans. It makes sense that the AirPods Pro don’t support aptX, but remains frustrating that Sony’s don’t. They do, however, have a QN1e chip and DSEE HX processing, which allow for 24-bit audio signal processing, which benefits any platform. Apple uses its proprietary H1 chip, limiting benefits to iOS users like hands-free Siri access, instantaneous autoconnect, and energy efficiency.

Winner: Draw

Battery life

This category is the easiest to measure. The Apple AirPods Pro supplies 5.1125 hours of listening from a single charge (noise-cancelling on), while the Sony WF-1000XM3 provides just 4.76 hours of listening (noise-cancelling on). Both are impressive given how tiny the battery cells are but the AirPods Pro is the clear winner. Plus, Apple’s charging case affords more battery life when out and about: 24 hours total compared to Sony’s 19 hours total. If you need to recharge in a pinch, you can do so with either charging case

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro

The Sony WF-1000XM3 have the best noise canceling

The Apple AirPods Pro are undoubtedly the best AirPods to date, but they still can’t outshine the Sony WF-1000XM3 when considering noise-cancelling effectiveness.

Each chart depicts the frequency response of either the Apple or Sony true wireless earbuds. The higher up a line, the more that certain frequency range is cancelled out. By juxtaposing the charts, it’s obvious how well the Sony earbuds attenuate low-frequency noises like airplane engines and distracting street traffic. When flying from Atlanta to San Francisco, the Sony WF-1000XM3 made my two-legged trip a quiet one: extremely low (sub-60Hz) frequencies are rendered one-quarter as loud with Sony’s ANC technology as opposed to without it.

Both earbuds offer different listening modes: noise-cancelling, Ambient Aware (or Transparency for Apple), and off. Ambient aware is useful for when you’re awaiting a train announcement or need to quickly respond to something. Regardless of which earbuds you go with, noise-cancelling protects our ears from noise-induced hearing loss by making us less inclined to increase volume as a means of drowning out background noise. If you want the best of what noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds have to offer, get the Sony WF-1000XM3.

Winner: Sony WF-1000XM3

Sound quality