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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize excellent sound quality and comfort for home use, and don't mind using a wired connection, Philips SHP9500 would be a great choice, especially considering it is less expensive. However, if you are looking for earbuds that are portable, offer active noise canceling for travel or noisy environments, and have the convenience of wireless connectivity, then the Sony WF1000XM3 would be better, despite being more costly. Both are good for music, but the Philips is less suited for exercise and outside use, while the Sonys, with their built-in microphone, are more versatile for calls and can be used for moderate exercise. 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 Philips SHP9500
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM3
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
7.5
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for music, while the Sony WF1000XM3 is good.
Gaming
7.2
5.6
The Philips SHP9500 is good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM3 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.9
8.2
The Sony WF1000XM3 is very good for phone calls, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM3 and Philips SHP9500 are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Sony WF1000XM3 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
9.0
5.7
The Philips SHP9500 is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips SHP9500 is poor.
Battery
N/A
6.0 Hours
The Philips SHP9500 does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM3 has 6 hours of battery life.
Cost
$48
$180
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Philips SHP9500 has a price of $48 and the Sony WF1000XM3 costs $180.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM3 has excellent build quality, while the Philips SHP9500 has very good build quality.
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How the Philips SHP9500 and the Sony WF1000XM3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips SHP9500 | Sony WF1000XM3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$48 | $180 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2013 | August 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 6 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Philips SHP9500
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones Lab
Brian Stone | April 2020
"You can’t go wrong with the Philips SHP9500 for their price. Their audio quality is superb, and the fact that you can use them for just about anything you can think of makes them well worth your money"
Sony WF1000XM3
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Sound Guys
Lily Katz | November 2022
"Wireless earbuds are a dime a dozen, and the Sony WF-1000XM3 makes it easy to justify the cost. The design and comfort are good, and the connection strength is consistent. While the lack of aptX or LDAC support is a big drawback, DSEE HX processing improves low-quality audio files. If you want stylish active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds, the WF-1000XM3 needs to be at the top of your list."
Get a great deal on the Philips SHP9500 or the Sony WF1000XM3
About Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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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