Sony WF-1000XM6: WF-1000XM6/B · black · in-ear
Apple AirPods Pro 3: MagSafe charging case (USB-C) with speaker
| Specification | Sony WF-1000XM6 | Apple AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Announcement / sales year | 12 February 2026 / 2026 Sony | — |
| Noise control | Adaptive ANC and ambient sound Sony | Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness Apple |
| Processors | QN3e and Integrated Processor V2 Sony | — |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC; LC3 over LE Audio Sony | — |
| AAC / SBC battery | Up to 8 hours with ANC; 12 hours without Sony | — |
| LDAC battery | Up to 5 hours with ANC; 8 hours without Sony | — |
| LC3 battery | Up to 7 hours with ANC; 11 hours without Sony | — |
| Battery conditions | EQ, DSEE Extreme and speech detection can shorten runtime Sony | — |
| Quick charge | About 1 hour of music from 5 minutes Sony | — |
| Full charge | Earbuds approximately 1.5 hours; case 2 hours Sony | — |
| Weight | Approximately 6.5 g per earbud; 47 g case Sony | — |
| Wireless charging | Qi-compatible case Sony | — |
| Multiple connections | Two-device multipoint Sony | — |
| Gaming audio | GMAP over LE Audio Sony | — |
| Tips | Four sizes of noise-isolation tips Sony | — |
| App | Sony Sound Connect; 10-band EQ Sony | — |
| Operating temperature | 0–40 °C Sony | — |
| Announcement and sale | — | Announced 9 September 2025; in stores 19 September 2025 Apple |
| Chips | — | Apple H2 in the earbuds; second-generation Ultra Wideband (U2) chip in the charging case Apple |
| Audio hardware | — | Custom high-excursion Apple driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier Apple |
| Spatial audio | — | Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Apple |
| Ear tips | — | Foam-infused silicone tips; five sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L Apple |
| Heart rate sensing | — | Optical heart rate sensor (PPG) in the earbuds; infrared pulsed 256 times per second Apple |
| Microphones and sensors | — | Dual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone; skin-detect sensor, motion- and speech-detecting accelerometers Apple |
| Hearing features | — | Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, Hearing Protection Apple |
| Live Translation | — | Live Translation (beta) with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone on iOS 26 Apple |
| Controls | — | Stem press and swipe: play/pause, calls, mode switching, volume; “Siri” voice command Apple |
| Battery (earbuds) | — | Up to 8 hours with ANC at 50% volume; 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and head tracking; 6.5 hours in workouts with heart rate; 10 hours in Hearing Aid mode Apple |
| Battery (with case) | — | Up to 24 hours total with ANC; 5 minutes in the case gives about 1 hour of listening Apple |
| Charging case | — | USB-C, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger or Qi-certified charger; speaker for Find My; lanyard loop Apple |
| Durability | — | IP57 (IEC 60529); earbuds and charging case Apple |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3 Apple |
| Compatibility | — | Latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS; basic Bluetooth headphones on other devices Apple |
| Size and weight | — | Earbud (each) 30.9 × 19.2 × 27.0 mm, 5.55 g; case 47.2 × 62.2 × 21.8 mm, 43.99 g Apple |