True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
84Great
$232
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - Great overall at around $232.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM4
84Great
$199
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.5
Battery8.0
Calls8.5
Value7.5
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $232 | $199 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2025 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 10.7 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 8 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | - | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | Yes | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Voice assistant | Siri | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 10.1 g | 41.1 g |
| Case weight | 43.99 g | 41 g |
| Water resistance | IP57 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 3 | - |
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that deliver top-tier active noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a well-balanced sound profile. They offer a robust feature set including adaptive ANC, wireless charging, and IP57 water resistance, though their higher price and somewhat finicky fit may give some buyers pause. Overall, they stand out as a polished, high-performance option for iOS users willing to invest in a premium experience.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality in noisy environments
- Pro:Strong battery life with the charging case
- Con:Fit can be finicky and may lose seal easily
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Only supports AAC codec
Sony WF-1000XM4
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are high-end true wireless earbuds that excel in active noise cancellation and sound quality, with a compact 6mm driver and support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They provide about 8 hours of playback per charge, extendable to 24 hours with the case, and include handy features like multipoint connectivity and quick charging. Their IPX4 rating makes them suitable for workouts, though the overall design is a bit bulky for some ears.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Rich, detailed sound with LDAC support
- Pro:Good battery life with fast charging
- Con:Bulkier fit compared to rivals
- Con:No wireless charging on the case
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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