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Beats Studio3 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Beats Studio3 vs Sony WH-1000XM6, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Sony WH-1000XM6 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Beats Studio3
  • Sony WH-1000XM6
HearWiki score
-
89
Sound
-
9.0
Noise cancelling
-
9.6
Battery
-
8.1
Calls
-
9.6
Value
-
8.2
Price (USD)
$220
$400

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

Sony WH-1000XM6 (2025) against Beats Studio3 (2019). The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 4.0, Top codec LC3 against AAC and LE Audio (LC3). It also adds Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Wear detection and Transparency mode.

  • Studio32019
  • WH-1000XM620256 yr newer
What differsStudio3WH-1000XM6

Platform

Bluetooth
4.0
5.3
Top codec
AAC
LC3
LE Audio (LC3)
No
Yes

Everyday features

Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
USB-C
No
Yes
Wear detection
No
Yes
Transparency mode
No
Yes
Custom EQ
No
Yes
Companion app
No
Yes

Level on: ANC type.

Specifications

Studio3WH-1000XM6
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$220
$400
HearWiki score
Not scored
89
Released
2019
2025
Availability
Discontinued
Sold new
Driver
40 mm dynamic
30 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
40 mm
30 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
4 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
135.9 Ω
48 Ω
Sensitivity
-
103 dB/mW
Bluetooth
4.0
5.3
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
22 h
40 h
Battery life (ANC on)
22 h
30 h
Full charge time
-
210 min
Quick charge
10 min → 3 h
3 min → 3 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
adaptive
Transparency mode
No
Yes
Companion app
No
Yes
Custom EQ
No
Yes
Wear detection
No
Yes
Controls
both
buttons
Voice assistant
Siri
Yes
Weight
260 g
254 g
Water resistance
-
none
Detachable cable
Yes
Yes
USB-C
No
Yes
Connector
-
3.5 mm
Microphones
2
12
Microphone type
-
MEMS

What reviewers said

Beats Studio3

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are over-ear headphones equipped with adaptive active noise cancellation to help minimize background noise during use. They connect via Bluetooth and offer a battery life of up to 22 hours with ANC engaged, making them a solid choice for daily wireless listening.

  • Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
  • Pro:Long 22-hour battery life with ANC on
  • Pro:Comfortable over-ear design
  • Con:No multipoint connection
  • Con:No USB-C charging
  • Con:Limited codec support (only SBC and AAC)

Sony WH-1000XM6

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is a premium over-ear wireless headphone that combines adaptive active noise cancellation with a long-lasting battery and support for high-quality audio codecs. It features multipoint Bluetooth connectivity and a transparent mode, making it a versatile choice for both focused listening and everyday commutes. With a lightweight build and tactile controls, it balances comfort and functionality for extended use.

  • Pro:Adaptive active noise cancellation for personalized silencing
  • Pro:Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless device switching
  • Pro:Transparency mode for ambient awareness when needed
  • Con:No water resistance rating for wet conditions
  • Con:No wireless charging option
  • Con:Relies on physical buttons rather than touch controls

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonBeats Studio3Sony WH-1000XM6