Apple AirPods Pro 3: MagSafe charging case (USB-C) with speaker
Sony WH-1000XM6: WH series · Over-ear
| Specification | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Sony WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2025 | 2025 |
| 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 | — |
| Noise control | Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness 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 | 5.3 Sony |
| 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 | — |
| Driver | — | 30 mm Sony |
| Bluetooth profiles | — | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP; TMAP, GMAP, PBP for LE Audio Sony |
| Codec | — | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 Sony |
| Frequency response | — | Wired and on: 4–40,000 Hz; LDAC 96 kHz: 20–40,000 Hz Sony |
| Impedance / sensitivity | — | Wired, on: 48 Ω, 103 dB/mW; off: 16 Ω, 102 dB/mW Sony |
| Rated battery life | — | Music: up to 30 hours with ANC, 40 hours without ANC Sony |
| Rated talk time | — | Up to 24 hours with ANC, 28 hours without ANC Sony |
| Charging | — | About 3.5 hours; 9 V / 2.3 A with a USB Power Delivery adapter Sony |
| Connections | — | Bluetooth; 3.5 mm audio; USB-C charging Sony |
| Weight | — | Approximately 254 g Sony |
| Gaming audio | — | GMAP support · firmware 3.1.5 Sony |
| LE Audio requirement | — | LC3; Low latency mode in Sound Connect Sony |
| Water protection | — | Not waterproof Sony |
| Earlier software fix | — | 2.1.0: recording/playback in some iPhone apps and missing call audio Sony |