Home Wireless Earbuds Sony Wf 1000Xm3 Vs. Apple Airpods Pro (2Nd Gen)

A Review By Comparison of the Sony Wf 1000Xm3 Vs. Apple Airpods Pro (2Nd Gen)

Last updated on Apr 12, 2023   8 minute read
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Sony WF 1000XM3

Sony WF 1000XM3

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Reasons why you might like the Sony WF 1000XM3

Overall Score 6.6 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 8 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 4 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

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Reasons why you might like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Overall Score 6.4 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 6 hours
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

A summary of the review by feature comparison

Category Features Sony WF 1000XM3 Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating ipX4
weight 17g 10.6g
has no wires or cables
wingtips included
sweat resistance
has an earbud foam
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 6mm 11mm
lowest frequency 20hz 20hz
highest frequency 20,000hz 20,000hz
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 8hours 6hours
battery life of charging case 24hours 24hours
charge time 3.5hours 1hours
battery power 49.7mah
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5 v5.3
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac
supports bluetooth pairing using nfc
MICROPHONE number of microphones 4only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has find earbuds feature
supports fast charging
multipoint count 2only
has a mute function
control panel placed on a device
warranty period 2years
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
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A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) ipX4

Ingress protection ratings is the rank of protection given by an enclosure, against solids and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value represents protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (sweat).

Having a value of IPX4, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s rating is read as, the first value of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second number of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.

Weight

Sony WF 1000XM3 17g
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 10.6g

The Sony WF 1000XM3 have a weight of 17g . We take in account a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to carry.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), at 10.6g weigh less than the Sony WF 1000XM3 with a difference -6.4g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

True wireless devices have no wires linking any part of the device together, Sony WF 1000XM3 are true wireless for this case since they have no wires. This is an important distinction as some wireless earbuds have wires connecting the pair of earbuds .

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also is true wireless since it has no wires connecting the two earbuds .

Wingtips Included

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 come with wingtips, these are reserved for earbuds for workouts and are usually an optional add-on to the separate silicone ear tip for a better fit.

Sweat Resistance

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) are resistant to sweat

Has An Earbud Foam

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

An earbud foam is designed to be ultracompact and lightweight, with little interference with earrings, spectacles, hats, or hairstyles. The Sony WF 1000XM3 have an earbud foam for some people it is more comfortable than the in-ear foam.

Has Stereo Speakers

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Sony WF 1000XM3's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also have stereo speakers

Sony WF 1000XM3
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Active noise cancellation uses advanced kind of tech to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. How it works, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and then generates a mirror signal to counter it. In simple terms, it's like taking +1 (noise) then adding -1 (counter sound by the device) giving zero therefore "diluting" the noise.

Sony WF 1000XM3 have ANC enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, causing less ear fatigue since you don't need to crank up the device volume to outcompete background noise.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have ANC which makes both earbuds ideal for flights and morning commutes. Each work with different noise cancellation settings, pick the noise cancellation type that suits your travel or that enhances your chill time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 sit well in place, this creates an acoustic seal that reduces background sounds well as preventing the device sound from leaking out at the same.

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which implies that they reduce ambient noise without using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Sony WF 1000XM3 6mm
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 11mm

Sony WF 1000XM3 driver unit is 6mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass. The driver unit is the component that makes sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the device.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) driver unit is 11mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Sony WF 1000XM3 by 5mm , many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yes, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not imply that they deliver better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Sony WF 1000XM3 20hz
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 20hz

The Sony WF 1000XM3's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio component generates low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that both devices produce equal bass

Highest Frequency

Sony WF 1000XM3 20,000hz
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 20,000hz

The Sony WF 1000XM3's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well an audio component generates high human frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices generate equal treble

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 have neodymium magnets, when used in earbuds produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output while using less power. They can help produce music at quite a high sound pressure level, using high magnetic flux.

Power

Battery Life

Sony WF 1000XM3 8hours
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 6hours

Sony WF 1000XM3's battery life is 8 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s battery life is less than that of Sony WF 1000XM3 by 2 hours . Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less listening time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Sony WF 1000XM3 24hours
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 24hours

This is given by the vendor, and Sony WF 1000XM3's case is said to have a charge of 24 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before recharging the case itself.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s charging case has a battery life of 24 hours, equal to that of the Sony WF 1000XM3

Charge Time

Sony WF 1000XM3 3.5hours
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 1hours

It requires 3.5 hours to fully charge the Sony WF 1000XM3's battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for long periods.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) takes 1 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Sony WF 1000XM3 by 2.5 hours

Battery Power

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 49.7mah

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s battery power is 49.7mAh, battery capacity, shows the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store.

Has Wireless Charging

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you just put down on a supported charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the device has a low battery. Its lights show the charging state of your device and charging case.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you to tell the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low.

Sony WF 1000XM3
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 use USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.

Bluetooth Version

Sony WF 1000XM3 v5
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) v5.3

Sony WF 1000XM3 have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) has a Bluetooth version of 5.3, newer than that of Sony WF 1000XM3 . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Sony WF 1000XM3 10meters
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 10meters

The Sony WF 1000XM3 have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Sony WF 1000XM3

Has Aac

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.

Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sony WF 1000XM3 will work well with your iPhone. If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.

Supports Bluetooth Pairing Using Nfc

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 support fast Bluetooth pairing using NFC so it can communicate with other devices over Bluetooth. You can fastly pair devices without entering a code by simply holding one device next to the device with which it is to be paired.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Sony WF 1000XM3 4only
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 6only

The Sony WF 1000XM3 have 4 microphones.

While the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) microphones are 6, more than that of Sony WF 1000XM3 by 2 . More microphones result in better sound quality and help the device to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 use a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are intended to filter out background sounds from the earbuds' sound.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too use a noise-canceling type of microphone. Especially useful in noisy environments.

Sony WF 1000XM3
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient sound so that they can still be heard even when wearing the earbuds

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of your surrounding, for example when you’re having a run but would still want to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when removed from your ears .

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

When lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, Sony WF 1000XM3 support the find earbuds feature.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have the find earbuds feature. Use the earbuds app on your phone to play an alarm from your earbuds to locate them.

Supports Fast Charging

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to fully charge the earbuds.

Also the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in thirty minutes.

Multipoint Count

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 2only

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) have a multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.

Has A Mute Function

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 have a mute function, they have the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have this function. The mute function means that you can turn off the device's microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the earbuds.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have a control panel on them.

Warranty Period

Sony WF 1000XM3 2years
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 have a warranty period of 2 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.

Has Voice Prompts

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Sony WF 1000XM3 have voice prompts. Automatically receive information via audio messages, say if there is a problem with the connection.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also have voice prompts meaning the device will notify you when the battery is low, and you need to recharge the earbuds.

Travel Bag Is Included

Sony WF 1000XM3
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

The Sony WF 1000XM3 come with a special case. Carrying earphones openly, or putting them inside your bag without a casing may easily put them at risk of getting damaged.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also have a case included, which offers safe transportation.

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