Wireless earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM3 vs AirPods Pro: which is the better duo?

Since the last century,Sonyis considered by many to be a benchmark in sound. The firm is in fact one of the flagships of the world audiovisual sector, with among others its Music label and its speakers whose reputation is well established, especially since professionals trust them in the studio. Moreover, even Apple is banking on this subcontractor: EXMOR photo sensors are installed throughout its mobile range.

The Californian company, for its part, entered this market later and chose to unveil its own pair of headphonestrue wireless premium in October 2019. More expensive, it can be recognized by its particular format and it confirms the success of the original AirPods already available in several generations since their launch. Opposite, Sony offers the WF-1000XM3: in-ear, they have been praised by international critics for their versatility. It is therefore difficult to decide between each of these products, especially since iPhone users do not always choose the same manufacturer as for their cellphone.

Design and comfort

In our complete test of the Sony WF-1000XM3, which lasted several weeks and which you can find at this address, the Japanese brand impressed us with thehandlingof its wireless headphones. Indeed, regardless of the activity carried out - running, cycling, and even a busy nap - they remain relatively stable and attached to the ears thanks to their silicone tips available in three sizes. Their bean shape is quite original, and the colors offered (silver and black) are rather all-purpose even if we regret a particularly flashy logo which can make the user look like a sandwich man.

The AirPods Pro, for their part, benefit from a major advantage: they areIPX4 certifiedand are therefore resistant to sweat (practical for sports) and splashes. But their protruding “antenna” seems to be evidence of a serious design error, which, coupled with a white color, makes them recognizable among thousands. You will therefore have difficulty going unnoticed with these earpieces, not to mention that they do not know how to stay as still as their opponents in the event of sudden or repeated movements, but this is probably the aim of the manufacturer who thus continues to be the leading seller of accessories of this type from all companies in the world.

If you want to equip yourself with wireless headphones compatible with the majority of devices on the market, then theSony WF-1000XM3are the reference you need. These in fact come with their own application, available both on the Google Play Store and on the App Store, which displays various options such as setting active noise reduction, an equalizer for music lovers or still synchronize with the voice assistant of your choice: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. You can also configure the touchpad control which is used to control them without taking your smartphone out of your pocket.

As for theAirPods Pro, they will especially convince customers who are already loyal to Apple and wish to improve their ecosystem with Continuity. Indeed, since the update to iOS 14, they have had two new features. The first, called Spatial Audio, offers three-dimensional sound which attempts to miniaturize the 3D broadcast favored by certain Berlin clubs but whose effectiveness remains to be proven given that the competition is struggling to obtain convincing results in the field. No, the real advantage of Apple AirPods Pro over the Sony WF-1000XM3 is their eligibility forHandoff. With this tool, you can start watching a video on an iPad tablet, then continue playing on a Mac or iPhone without having to disconnect and reconnect your headphones to each device. Everything is done automatically: so no more unwanted cuts during an action scene in your favorite series.

Audio: Sony wins hands down

Well they are360 Reality Audiodeveloped in partnership with the French streaming service Deezer is also no match for German speakers, Sony is still the best when it comes to comparing the sound quality of its WF-1000XM3 to that of Apple AirPods Pro includingbassesare more shy. Its know-how is almost unrivaled,except perhaps by luxury brands like the Danish Bang & Olufsen which also sells a similar pair but much more expensive.

Accessories: more choices for Apple Bluetooth headphones

Like most references with such success, AirPods are conquered by a large number of third-party manufacturers developingaccessoriesto connect to headphones to make them more efficient, more practical or simply more original.You can also discover our selection dedicated to this address.

The Sony WF-1000XM3, on the other hand, are not as popular and it is therefore difficult to find products compatible with them:fewer protective coversor hooks to hold them around the neck for example. A criterion to take into account for young audiences who appreciate personalization.

Application and connectivity

L’appHeadphones Connectfrom Sony, especially since its makeover, is very complete but overshadowed by a major bug: the WF-1000XM3 wireless headphones disconnect unexpectedly and very regularly, whether they are paired to a computer (macOS or Windows ) or to an iPhone. Which poses a serious risk in terms ofconfidentiality, notably during a private conversation broadcast without warning via the speakers of a Mac in the middle of a coworking space.

As for AirPods Pro, although they are very simple to connect with Apple products, they are however much less practical to use sinceAndroid. We will therefore primarily target them for Apple subscribers.

Autonomy

The Sony WF-1000XM3 only takes an hour and a half to recharge its batteries. They are supplied with awireless charging casewhich guarantees them eighteen hours of battery life in total, coupled with the six hours of endurance of the headphones alone. But it's on paper: you just have to turn the volume up to maximum so that the duration is reduced by one to two hours. As for recharging, it is done via a USB-C cable which does not even measure ten centimeters, which makes it impossible to use without having to suspend the device in the air with most wall sockets. Dangerous.

Apple AirPods Pro, for their part, would offer4.5 hours of listening time on a single chargebut up to thirty minutes longer by deactivating active noise reduction. And with their external battery, they could remain active until the end of the day, but again without pushing their power to its limits.

Are the Sony WF-1000XM3 better than Apple AirPods Pro?

In conclusion,the Sony WF-100XM3 are the wireless headphones most likely to seriously compete with the AirPods Proin a booming market, thanks to quality audio transcription and a less excessive price. But their success is to be qualified with the water resistance of the AirPods Pro and their ability to pair better with Apple devices which will ensure all iPhone, iPad or Mac users to opt for this version instead. than for that of Sony.

The Sony WF-1000XM3 are regularly on sale and their price starts at250 euros:

As for AirPods Pro, they are displayed from279 euros: