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HearWiki

Sony WH-1000XM3

62/ 100
Average
HearWiki score

Priced about right

$110
typical price, USD
Discontinuedupdated
Buy now onAmazon

At a glance

Brand
Sony
Type
Over-Ear
Fit
-
Connection
Wireless
Noise cancelling
Yes
Released
2018

Score breakdownaverage overall

Sound7.5
Noise cancelling7.2
Battery7.3
Calls5.5

The Sony WH-1000XM3 is a well-regarded over-ear headphone with active noise cancellation, offering a balanced sound profile and long battery life. It is praised for its comfort and effective noise isolation, though some users note the build feels less premium.

The HearWiki takeAI-condensed

The Sony WH-1000XM3 is a highly capable over-ear headphone with strong active noise cancellation and a comfortable, foldable design. It delivers a balanced audio profile, impressive battery life, and a wide range of codec support, making it a solid choice for travel and daily use, though its build quality feels somewhat dated compared to newer models. Its touch controls and transparency mode add convenience, but the lack of multipoint pairing may be a drawback for some users.

What works

  • Excellent active noise cancellation
  • Long battery life (up to 30 hours with ANC)
  • Wide codec support including LDAC and aptX HD
  • Comfortable and foldable for portability
  • Effective transparency mode

What doesn't

  • Build quality feels less premium
  • No multipoint Bluetooth pairing
  • No custom EQ settings

Paraphrased from published reviews & specs - not an original hands-on test. Our AI disclosure.

Specifications

Audio - Sony WH-1000XM3
Driver40 mm dynamic
Driver typedynamic
Driver size40 mm
Drivers per side1
Frequency response4 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance16 Ω
Sensitivity104.5 dB/mW

What the reviews said

1 source(s) feeding this product's score.

versus

77

The Sony WH-1000XM3 is a well-regarded over-ear headphone with active noise cancellation, offering a balanced sound profile and long battery life. It is praised for its comfort and effective noise isolation, though some users note the build feels less premium.

Read the full review

What YouTube reviewers say

Video reviews we found, each condensed to its verdict. They do feed the HearWiki score, at a measured weight below what a published written review carries.

The consensus

Positiveacross 5 videos

Reviewers largely agree that the Sony WH-1000XM3 excels in noise cancellation, battery life, and overall comfort, making it a top pick for travel and daily use.

Reviewers liked

  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • Long battery life with fast charging
  • Comfortable and lightweight design

Reviewers flagged

  • Finicky touch controls, especially in cold weather
  • Poor call quality with ambient noise pickup
  • Heat buildup during long listening sessions
7:53

Sony WH1000XM3 Review: A New ANC King!

Marques Brownlee3.6M viewsFeb 2019

The reviewer considers the Sony WH-1000XM3 the new king of wireless noise-cancelling headphones, praising their excellent sound quality, superior noise cancellation, and comfortable design. He notes some drawbacks like finicky touch controls, lack of auto-pause, and a potential cold-weather issue, but overall he is highly impressed and recommends them as the top choice for travel and everyday use.

8:24

Sony WH1000XM3: The Final Verdict

Mark Spurrell801K viewsDec 2019

The reviewer, after a year of daily use, highly recommends the Sony WH-1000XM3, praising its top-tier noise cancellation, solid build, and consistent battery life. He notes minor drawbacks like the finicky touch controls, subpar call quality, and heat buildup, but concludes they are worth the price, especially at a discounted rate.

4:35

Sony WH-1000XM3 6 Months Later | An Honest Review

Mark Spurrell643.7K viewsMar 2019

The reviewer has used the Sony WH-1000XM3 for six months and finds them to be an excellent pair of headphones overall. They praise the build quality, sound, and battery life, but note issues with comfort during long sessions, lack of multi-point Bluetooth, and problematic touch controls, especially in cold weather. Despite these drawbacks, the reviewer strongly prefers them over the Bose QC35 II and plans to keep them until a successor is released.

17:35

Review: Sony WH-1000XM3 vs. an Audiophile

Super* Review553.1K viewsJun 2019

The reviewer, who identifies as an audiophile, spent a week with the Sony WH-1000XM3 and found its noise cancellation, battery life, and Bluetooth performance to be excellent, but was disappointed by the sound quality, which he found too bass-heavy and muddy. He notes that while the tuning can be improved with EQ, the headphone is not ideal for critical listening, though it excels as a feature-packed wireless headphone.

20:18

Sony WH1000XM3 Wireless Noise Canceling Over Ear Headphones

Flossy Carter531.7K viewsNov 2018

The reviewer was initially skeptical but was impressed by the exceptional noise cancellation, which he tested in a loud car and found to be superior to other headphones he's tried. He also praised the lightweight comfort, long battery life, and the app's extensive customization options. However, he noted the build quality feels cheap for the price and the ambient noise pickup during calls is a drawback.

Summaries are AI condensations of each video's own conclusion, not transcripts. Titles, thumbnails and view counts belong to their channels.

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Where it sits in our rankings

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