Sony WF-1000XM6 / Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE (SM-R420)

Sony WF-1000XM6: WF-1000XM6/B · black · in-ear

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE (SM-R420): Galaxy Buds3 FE, SM-R420 (2025); Black and Gray. Sealed in-ear design with silicone tips. The tipless semi-open Galaxy Buds3, the Buds3 Pro and the original 2023 Galaxy Buds FE are separate models.

SpecificationSony WF-1000XM6Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE (SM-R420)
Release year20262025
Announcement / sales year12 February 2026 / 2026 Sony—
Noise controlAdaptive ANC and ambient sound SonyActive noise cancelling (ANC) and ambient sound

ANC uses microphones to detect outside sound and plays inverted sound to reduce steady noise such as engines and hum. Ambient sound lets you hear your surroundings without removing the earbuds. Adaptive ANC that adjusts to the environment is not listed for this model.

Samsung
ProcessorsQN3e and Integrated Processor V2 Sony—
CodecsSBC, AAC, LDAC; LC3 over LE Audio Sony—
AAC / SBC batteryUp to 8 hours with ANC; 12 hours without Sony—
LDAC batteryUp to 5 hours with ANC; 8 hours without Sony—
LC3 batteryUp to 7 hours with ANC; 11 hours without Sony—
Battery conditionsEQ, DSEE Extreme and speech detection can shorten runtime

These are manufacturer maximum figures.

Sony
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Quick chargeAbout 1 hour of music from 5 minutes Sony—
Full chargeEarbuds approximately 1.5 hours; case 2 hours Sony—
WeightApproximately 6.5 g per earbud; 47 g case

With medium tips.

Sony
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Wireless chargingQi-compatible case Sony—
Multiple connectionsTwo-device multipoint Sony—
Gaming audioGMAP over LE Audio

Requires a compatible phone and game; not a fixed latency guarantee.

Sony
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TipsFour sizes of noise-isolation tips Sony—
AppSony Sound Connect; 10-band EQ Sony—
Operating temperature0–40 °C Sony—
Design and fit—Sealed in-ear design, silicone tips (three sizes), stem body; earbud 18.0 × 21.1 × 33.8 mm, 5 g (with M tip); case 58.9 × 48.7 × 24.4 mm, 41.8 g

Silicone tips seal the ear canal, blocking outside sound passively and helping bass sound fuller; if the tip does not seal, noise cancelling and bass both weaken.

Samsung
Driver and microphones—1-way dynamic driver; 3 microphones per earbud Samsung
Connectivity and codecs—Bluetooth 5.4, Auto Switch; SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec), AAC, SBC

SSC is Samsung’s own codec for higher-quality audio with Galaxy devices; other phones use AAC or SBC. Auto Switch moves the connection automatically between Galaxy devices on the same account.

Samsung
Battery—Earbud 53 mAh, case 515 mAh (typical); music: 6 h / 24 h total with ANC on, 8.5 h / 30 h total with ANC off; talk: 4 h / 18 h total

Samsung’s times come from internal tests with pre-production units and default settings; rated capacity is 50 mAh per earbud and 500 mAh for the case. Real runtime depends on volume, codec and battery age.

Samsung
Sensors and controls—Proximity, Hall, touch and pressure sensors; pinch/swipe controls on the stem Samsung
Water resistance—IP54 (earbuds only)

IP54 means limited dust protection and resistance to splashing water from any direction; it is not suitable for submersion. The charging case is not protected.

Samsung
Compatibility—Android 11 or later with more than 1.5 GB of RAM

Samsung notes some features may be unavailable on non-Samsung devices. Equaliser, ANC settings and AI features are managed in the Galaxy Wearable app or One UI settings.

Samsung