
Nothing CMF Headphone Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nothing CMF Headphone Pro comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | Nothing CMF Headphone Pro | Sony WH-1000XM3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $140 | $110 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2025 | 2018 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 40mm custom nickel-plated dynamic drivers | dynamic |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 4-40000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 104.5 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No |
| Latency | 120 ms | - |
| Wireless range | 10 m | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 100 h | 38 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 50 h | 30 h |
| Full charge time | 120 min | 180 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 8 h | 10 min = 5 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | hybrid | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No |
| Wear detection | Yes | No |
| Controls | both | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | Google Assistant, Alexa |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 283 g | 255 g |
| Water resistance | IPX2 | none |
| Foldable | No | Yes |
| Detachable cable | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 5 | 4 |
| Call noise reduction | 3-mic ENC architecture | Yes |
What reviewers said
Nothing CMF Headphone Pro
The CMF Headphone Pro from Nothing is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that punches well above its price point, offering a robust feature set including hybrid ANC, LDAC support, multipoint Bluetooth, and an impressive 100-hour battery life with ANC off. Its sound is lively and well-tuned for the price, while the build and controls feel solid for the cost, though some compromises exist in water resistance and EQ customization. Overall, it's a standout value pick for anyone seeking long battery life and capable noise cancellation without spending a fortune.
- Pro:Exceptional battery life of up to 100 hours
- Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
- Pro:Supports high-quality LDAC codec
- Con:Basic IPX2 water resistance only
- Con:EQ customization is limited
- Con:Not foldable for easy portability
Sony WH-1000XM3
The Sony WH-1000XM3 is a versatile over-ear headphone with adaptive noise cancellation, delivering a balanced sound signature and impressive 30-hour battery life with ANC on. It's comfortable for long sessions and supports high-quality LDAC streaming, though its plastic build and lack of water resistance may disappoint some. Touch controls and multipoint connectivity add convenience, but no custom EQ limits sound tweaking.
- Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long 30-hour battery life with ANC
- Pro:Comfortable for extended wear
- Con:Plastic build feels less premium
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No custom EQ in app
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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