True Wireless
Nothing Ear 3
78Great
$161
Full review dataNothing Ear 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM4 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM4 - Great overall at around $199.
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.
Nothing Ear 3
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery8.0
Calls7.0
Value8.0
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Ear 3 | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $161 | $199 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2025 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 12 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | 10 m | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 10 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 5.5 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 38 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | 70 min | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 10 h | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | Yes | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 10.4 g | 41.1 g |
| Case weight | 71.4 g | 41 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | - |
What reviewers said
Nothing Ear 3
The Nothing Ear (3) brings a refined audio performance wrapped in the brand's signature transparent design, offering adaptive noise cancellation, multipoint connectivity, and strong battery life. While the sound quality and feature set impress, the microphone performance falls short of its marketing claims, and the tuning may lean bass-forward and bright for some listeners. Overall, it's a stylish, capable pair of true wireless earbuds, though the price-to-sound ratio might not convince everyone.
- Pro:Distinctive, eye-catching design
- Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode work well
- Pro:Solid battery life with wireless charging case
- Con:Sound tuning can be bass-heavy and bright
- Con:Microphone quality doesn't match the 'Super Mic' promise
- Con:Audio may not justify the price for critical listeners
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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