Is the Apple AirPods 3 worth the upgrade from the Sony WF-1000XM5?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Apple AirPods 3 actually scores 12.0 points below the Sony WF-1000XM5, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on sound (9.0 to 7.5) and battery (8.0 to 7.0). On paper: weight 11.8 g to 4.28 g and battery incl. case 24 h to 30 h. Worth checking: battery life goes 12 h to 6 h and active noise cancelling goes Yes to No. It is at least $165 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound9.07.5
- Battery8.07.0
- Calls8.08.0
- Value7.07.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | WF-1000XM5 | AirPods 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 12 h | 6 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC | |
| Weight | 11.8 g | 4.28 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 30 h | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No | |
| Companion app | Yes | No | |
| USB-C | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | hybrid | none | |
| Controls | touch | both | |
| Driver | 0.33" | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 0Hz-0kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "WF-1000XM5 to AirPods 3". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.