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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 are more budget-friendly compared to the Sony WF1000XM5, which are in the premium price bracket. If price is a significant factor for you, the Outlier Air V3 would be the better choice. However, the Sony WF1000XM5 have a higher overall sound quality, better soundstage, and significantly better noise isolation which is ideal for air travel and noisy environments. Both earbuds are suitable for exercise, as they are sweatproof and offer secure fit. Sony's earbuds offer active noise cancelling and wireless charging, which the Creative Labs model lacks. If those features are important to you and you are willing to spend more, Sony's earbuds might be the better option. 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 Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for music
Key differences
Music
5.7
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
5.0
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is good for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.9
4.9
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is only fair.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$298
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has a price of $30 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.1
5.1
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.4
5.4
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 are both poor for TV and video.
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How the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.7/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 10 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 40 | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5.2 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
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Dig into reviews and images
Trusted Reviews
Kob Monney | July 2022
"The V3 present the best version of the Outlier Air series yet. The new features such as Active Noise Reduction and Ambient mode are integrated well; the performance of both is as good as you’ll get below £100. The design is less bulky and more comfortable thanks to being smaller and lighter, and the Outlier Air V3 eke out more clarity, detail and definition from music."
Sony WF1000XM5
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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 Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 or the Sony WF1000XM5
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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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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.
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