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Airpods (3rd generation)
Company ProductName Specs




WF1000XM5
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What we think

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

The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) are a great choice if you're already in the Apple ecosystem and value ease of use and seamless integration with your devices. They provide good sound quality and are generally less expensive than the Sony WF1000XM5. However, the Sony WF1000XM5 offer superior noise cancellation, better sound customization through an EQ, and typically have better sound quality overall. They're a strong choice for frequent travelers or anyone in noisy environments. The choice depends on whether your priority is ease of integration with Apple products and cost savings, or premium sound quality and noise cancellation features. 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
  • Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
  • Very good for music

Key differences

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Music

7.1
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is good.

Phone Calls

7.6
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
5.0
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is good for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

8.6
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
4.9
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

Noise Reduction

2.5
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) is poor.

Battery

6.0 Hours
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
9.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) has 6 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.

Cost

$179
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
$298
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The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) has a price of $179 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.

Build Quality

9.0
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
8.5
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities

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Gaming

5.4
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
5.1
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for gaming.

TV and Video

5.5
Airpods (3rd generation)
WF1000XM5
5.4
The Apple Airpods (3rd generation) and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for TV and video.

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How the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Apple Airpods (3rd generation)Sony WF1000XM5
Apple Airpods (3rd generation)Sony WF1000XM5

GENERAL

Price
$179
$298
Brand
AppleSony
Release Date
October 1, 2021July 1, 2023
Form Factor
EarbudsEarbuds
Connectivity
WirelessWireless

SOUND

Music Score
7.2/108.1/10
Phone Calls Score
7.6/105/10
Gaming Score
5.4/105.2/10
TV and Video Score
5.6/105.5/10
Exercise Score
7.2/106.2/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
6 Hours9 Hours
Wireless charging
YesYes
Charging time
1.5 Hours1.5 Hours
Bluetooth version
55.3
Case Battery Life
3018

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoYes
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/108.8/10
Virtual Surround
YesYes
Android App
NoYes
iOS App
YesYes
Mic Quality
7/106.5/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
9/108.5/10
Comfort score
7/107.6/10
Size
MediumMedium
Weight (headset or single earbud)
4.3 Grams6 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 WF1000XM5

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Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."

Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods (3rd generation) or the Sony WF1000XM5

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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