True Wireless
Nothing Ear 3
78Great
$161
Full review dataNothing Ear 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM5 - Outstanding overall at around $249.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$249
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-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Ear 3 | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $161 | $249 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2025 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 0.33" |
| Driver size | 12 mm | 8.4 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 102 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | 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 | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | Yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 10.4 g | 11.8 g |
| Case weight | 71.4 g | 39 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | 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-1000XM5
These are high-end true wireless earbuds that focus on adaptive noise cancellation and detailed audio, supporting LDAC for high-resolution streaming. They offer a solid battery life of up to 12 hours without ANC, plus a comfortable fit and IPX4 sweat resistance for daily use. The touch controls and companion app add convenience, though the price reflects their premium status.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long battery life (12 hours without ANC)
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:No higher water resistance rating than IPX4
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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