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Airpods (3rd generation)
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WF1000XM4
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What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

If you prioritize sound quality and noise isolation, especially for air travel, the Sony WF1000XM4 with active noise cancelling would be the superior choice. However, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that's optimized for ease of use with Apple devices and prefer something with a longer battery life in the case, then the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) may better suit your needs. The Airpods are also a bit lighter and more compact, which can be a plus for portability and exercise use, while the Sonys offer better comfort and have an app equalizer for sound customization. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods (3rd generation)
  • Good for phone calls
  • Good for exercise
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
  • Excellent for music
  • Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks

Key differences

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Music

7.1
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is good.

Phone Calls

7.6
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
6.7
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is good for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

8.6
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is very good.

Noise Reduction

2.5
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is poor.

Battery

6.0 Hours
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
9.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) has 6 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.

Cost

$179
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
$220
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The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) has a price of $179 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities

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Gaming

5.4
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
5.6
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Apple Airpods (3rd generation) are both poor for gaming.

TV and Video

5.5
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WF1000XM4 to be only fair for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is poor.

Build Quality

9.0
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM4
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Airpods (3rd generation) to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.

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How the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Apple Airpods (3rd generation)Sony WF1000XM4
Apple Airpods (3rd generation)Sony WF1000XM4

GENERAL

Price
$179
$220
Brand
AppleSony
Release Date
October 1, 2021July 1, 2021
Form Factor
EarbudsEarbuds
Connectivity
WirelessWireless

SOUND

Music Score
7.2/109.1/10
Phone Calls Score
7.6/106.7/10
Gaming Score
5.4/105.6/10
TV and Video Score
5.6/106/10
Exercise Score
7.2/106.7/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
6 Hours9 Hours
Wireless charging
YesNo
Charging time
1.5 Hours1.5 Hours
Bluetooth version
55.2
Case Battery Life
3024

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoYes
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/108.4/10
Virtual Surround
YesYes
Android App
NoYes
iOS App
YesYes
Mic Quality
7/105.4/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
9/108.9/10
Comfort score
7/108.9/10
Size
MediumLarge
Weight (headset or single earbud)
4.3 Grams6.5 Grams
Microphone style
IntegratedIntegrated

Shopping

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Apple Airpods (3rd generation)

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Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Lily Katz, Christian Thomas | February 2023
"The Apple AirPods improves upon the 2019 model with its more ergonomic, yet unsealed, fit, water-resistant build, MagSafe charging case, and advanced software features. You can enjoy a wholly immersive movie experience with the new AirPods' spatial audio with head tracking, and enjoy HD audio during FaceTime calls. Of course, most of these features are limited to Apple hardware."

Sony WF1000XM4

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Dig into reviews and images

What HiFi?

What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."

Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) or the Sony WF1000XM4

About Apple

Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.

About Sony

Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
123,500
Recommendations made
18,525
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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