Sony today introduced its latest flagship true wireless earbuds, the WF-1000XM6, positioned as a direct competitor to Apple’s AirPods Pro 3. Priced at $330, the new model delivers significantly enhanced Active Noise Cancellation—achieving a 25% greater overall noise reduction than the previous WF-1000XM5—while offering particular improvements in blocking mid-to-high frequency sounds commonly encountered in daily environments.
The earbuds use Sony’s HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3e with an adaptive noise canceling optimizer and four microphones on each earbud to detect sound to cut out. The earbuds analyze external noise and wearing conditions in real time to improve noise canceling performance.
Sony’s XM6 earbuds are smaller than the AirPods Pro 3 because there is no stem, and they include noise isolating silicone ear tips with a USB-C charging case. Sony redesigned the earbuds with a more ergonomic shape that’s meant to follow the natural curves of the inner ear to reduce discomfort, and the XM6 is 11 percent slimmer than the XM5. The updated design also reduces internal noises like footsteps and chewing sounds.
The battery in the XM6 earbuds lasts for up to eight hours, and the charging case provides an additional 24 hours.
Becky Scarrott for TechRadar:
[K]now that for sound quality alone, the Sony WF-1000XM6 are a very good set of earbuds.
Sadly, the active noise cancellation didn’t live up to my expectations in real-world testing. That said, the battery life, at eight hours from the buds and up to 24 with the case – and yes, that is with noise cancellation deployed – isn’t bad at all.
Do I love them? Having spent over two weeks with them, I like them a lot, and that new antenna does provide rock-solid connection that never falters…
Ultimately for me though, the noise cancellation isn’t the class-leading triumph it is billed as, and competing options such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen (and Apple AirPods Pro 3, if you’ve got an Apple source device) are offering better access to spatial audio formats and that cocoon of silence noise-nixing you may prioritize.
MacDailyNews Take: Good luck with that Sony. Apple’s market-dominating AirPods Pro 3 are available right now via Amazon for $209.99.
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I have used the xm3, xm4, and xm5 earbuds. There is a problem with iPhones where the Bluetooth connection gets progressively worse. Restarting the iPhone seems to be the best temporary fix. I got the airpods pro 3 because I was sick of the audio dropouts. The connection has been rock solid. The noise cancellation is great, the trail I use is next to train tracks. I can use the airpods for a phone call while a train is going by and the person on the other end doesn’t know, while the Sony earbuds are completely unusable in that situation. Sony’s capacitive buttons are infuriating while wearing a rain hood. When wearing a hood that isn’t perfectly dry, the hood constantly activates Sony’s buttons.