Over-Ear
Philips Fidelio X3
78Great
$176
Full review dataPhilips Fidelio X3 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WH-1000XM4 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 WH-1000XM4 - Outstanding overall at around $300.
Over-Ear
Sony WH-1000XM4
88Outstanding
$300
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Philips Fidelio X3
Sound8.5
Value7.0
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Philips Fidelio X3 | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $176 | $300 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2019 | 2020 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 50 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-40kHz | 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 30 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB/mW | 105 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | none | 5 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.0 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 38 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 30 h |
| Full charge time | - | 180 min |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 5 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes |
| ANC type | none | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes |
| Companion app | No | Yes |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes |
| Wear detection | No | Yes |
| Controls | none | touch |
| Voice assistant | none | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 380 g | 254 g |
| Water resistance | none | none |
| Foldable | No | - |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 2 |
What reviewers said
Philips Fidelio X3
The Philips Fidelio X3 are wired, open-back over-ears built for home listening, offering a spacious soundstage and clear, neutral mids that highlight vocals and instruments. While they excel in comfort and build quality, their uneven treble, modest bass depth, and lack of noise isolation make them unsuitable for travel or noisy environments.
- Pro:Spacious, open soundstage
- Pro:Accurate and clear midrange
- Pro:Comfortable and sturdy build
- Con:Uneven treble with possible sibilance
- Con:Weak sub-bass response
- Con:Poor noise isolation and heavy sound leakage
Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are premium wireless over-ears that blend top-tier adaptive noise cancellation with a well-balanced, detailed sound signature. They offer a lengthy 30-hour battery, LDAC support, and a comfortable, lightweight build that still holds up well against newer competitors. With handy features like multipoint pairing, touch controls, and a quick charge function, they remain a versatile choice for daily use and travel.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Detailed, accurate audio with LDAC support
- Pro:Comfortable and lightweight for long sessions
- Con:No dedicated aptX codec support
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky for some users
- Con:Plastic build feels less premium than price suggests
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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