Sony WF1000XM3
Sony WF1000XM3
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MUSIC: Good—7.5/10
CALLS: Very Good—8.2/10
GAMING: Poor—5.6/10
TV: Poor—5.7/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Very Good—8.7/10
EXERCISE: Fair—6.0/10
AIR TRAVEL: Very Good—8.5/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Very Good—8.3/10
BUILD QUALITY: Excellent—9.0/10
BATTERY: Good—7.6/10
The Sony WF1000XM3 earbuds offer a midrange price and are known for their excellent noise cancellation and sound quality, making them ideal for immersive music listening in noisy environments. They're stemless with a closed design, provide good comfort, and support Sony's 360 Reality Audio for an enhanced experience with compatible apps. They also boast very good battery life with up to 24 hours of total playtime including the charging case. However, they may not be the best choice for watching TV or gaming due to their poor latency performance. If you need a good microphone for calls, note that these earbuds offer fair call quality. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Good overall sound quality
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Very good microphone quality
- Comprehensive app controls
- Supports AAC codec
Cons
- Not suitable for gaming
- Poor performance for TV/video
- No sweat or dust resistance
- No wireless charging
Ratings by Category
Air Travel:4.6
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
Podcasts & Audiobooks:4.6
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Calls:4.5
This evaluates the product when used solely to make and receive calls. It takes into account how well the products are able to clearly reproduce the human voice, the quality of the integrated microphones and the battery life, when available, to be able to use them for longer sessions or conferences.
Battery Life:4.3
The Battery Life rating is based on hours of typical, actual usage.
Music:4.2
This evaluates the product when used solely to listen to music. It takes into account the sound quality, whether or not they support high quality codecs, their ability to reproduce soundstage, and whether or not it has any virtual surround capabilities.
Portability:4.1
The Portability score is based on an overall assessment that includes volume and maximum dimension of the product (and case, if relevant), and its weight. Special features like foldability for headphones are also taken into account.
Exercise:3.0
This score evaluates the product when used for exercise and physical activity. It mainly takes into account comfort, whether or not the products are sweatproof and how secure are the earbuds or headphones while wearing them. We also consider products with wireless capabilities to be more suitable for this particular scenario
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $180 | ||
Brand | Sony | ||
Release Date | August 1, 2019 | ||
Form Factor | Earbuds | ||
Connectivity | Wireless | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 7.6/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 8.2/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 6/10 | ||
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 6 Hours | ||
Wireless charging | No | ||
Charging time | 3.5 Hours | ||
Bluetooth version | 5 | ||
Case Battery Life | 24 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | ||
Virtual Surround | Yes | ||
Android App | Yes | ||
iOS App | Yes | ||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 9/10 | ||
Comfort score | 7.9/10 | ||
Size | Large | ||
Weight of single earbud | 9 Grams | ||
Microphone style | Integrated | ||
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Sound Guys
Lily Katz | November 2022
"Wireless earbuds are a dime a dozen, and the Sony WF-1000XM3 makes it easy to justify the cost. The design and comfort are good, and the connection strength is consistent. While the lack of aptX or LDAC support is a big drawback, DSEE HX processing improves low-quality audio files. If you want stylish active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds, the WF-1000XM3 needs to be at the top of your list."
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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