The Sony WF-1000XM3 are truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. They feature USB Type-C charging, which is a great touch in terms of convenience. Just 10 minutes of charging will get you 90 minutes of playback, so if you are in a pinch and only have a little bit of time to charge them up, you will still be good to go.
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Battery Life
Battery life on these earbuds is genuinely impressive. With noise cancelling turned on, you can get around 6 hours on a full charge. If you have the case with you to recharge them, that jumps up to 24 hours total.
With noise cancelling turned off, you can get up to 8 hours on a full charge, and with the case, that extends to approximately 32 hours. As long as you have the case on you, running out of battery on the go should not be an issue at all.
Unboxing and First Look
These have already been opened, but everything was placed back in the box just for the sake of the video. As soon as you open them up, you are greeted with pairing steps right away.
The process is simple. You place the earbuds inside the charging case, download the Sony app to access all of the functions, and then take them out of the case to activate pairing mode.
Now, looking at the hardware itself, the charging case has a nice copper-colored lid with Sony branding on the front. It is a clean-looking case, though it is somewhat larger compared to other truly wireless earbuds on the market.
The lighter colorway was chosen here, but black is also available for those who prefer something more classic.
Design and Touch Controls
Looking closely at the earbuds themselves, you will notice a small circle in the middle, which serves as the microphone for the active noise cancelling. The circular region around it handles the touch controls. One tap gives you play and pause, and two taps advance the track.
One thing worth noting is that the touch sensitivity here is different from what you might be used to if you are coming from AirPods. With AirPods, everything is a quick, fast tap. With the Sony WF-1000XM3, the tap requires a slightly longer press.
It takes a little getting used to, but once you adjust, it becomes second nature. The earbuds also have left and right indicators, so you always know which one goes in which ear. When placed in the case, a red light indicates they are charging.
The Sony App and Audio Customization
To get the most out of the Sony WF-1000XM3, downloading the Sony app is essential. The app gives you full control over the earbuds’ capabilities, including noise cancellation levels and EQ settings.
One of the standout features within the app is the Adaptive Sound Control. This automatically detects the level of noise cancellation you need based on your environment.
If the earbuds pick up a lot of exterior noise, such as cars passing by or a busy street, the noise cancelling will decrease so you remain aware of your surroundings. In a quieter setting, the noise cancelling ramps up so you are fully immersed in whatever you are listening to.
The EQ settings inside the app are equally impressive. You can choose from a manual setting, a custom setting, or several presets including Bright, Excited, Mellow, Relaxed, Vocal, Treble Boost, Bass Boost, and more. This level of control means you can tailor the sound to exactly what you want.
The app also integrates with popular music services like Google Play Music and Apple Music, and it displays the charge level of each earbud so you always know where you stand on battery.
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Sound Quality
After listening to several songs across different genres, one thing became very clear. The Sony WF-1000XM3 are the best earbuds tested to date. When you first put them in and start listening, they might not immediately blow you away.
However, once you start exploring the full range and capability of these earbuds, they begin to win you over in a big way.
Once you start customizing the EQ settings and listening across different types of music, you realize just how versatile these earbuds truly are, especially for something so small. In terms of bass, these deliver the richest and most powerful low end that any earbud can reasonably offer.
There is only so much you can pack into something this compact, and the Sony WF-1000XM3 pushes that limit as far as it can go. If there is a pair of earbuds out there with richer bass, feel free to drop them in the comments, because that would be a serious recommendation worth checking out.
Call Quality and Fit
Call quality on the Sony WF-1000XM3 is excellent. The microphone handles calls well, and there are no major complaints there.
As for fit, that comes down to the individual. Every pair of ears is different, and earbuds in general can be hit or miss depending on the shape of your ears. The Sony WF-1000XM3 do come with a variety of different ear tips to help you find a more secure and comfortable fit, which is a nice addition.
For some people, earbuds simply do not stay in well no matter what, but that is not a reflection of the product itself. For those who find a good fit, these earbuds are exceptional in every way.
Price and Value
At launch, the Sony WF-1000XM3 came in at around $228. Shopping around, you may be able to find them closer to $99.
Are they worth every penny? Absolutely. The sound quality, the audio customization, the noise cancelling, the battery life, and the call quality all combine to make these earbuds a genuinely worthwhile investment.
Final Verdict
The Sony WF-1000XM3 Ultimate Truly Wireless Earbuds are outstanding earbuds that deliver in nearly every area that matters. A better name and a slightly smaller charging case would make them close to perfect, but those are minor gripes.
In terms of sound quality and overall performance, these earbuds are off the charts. A definite thumbs up and a strong recommendation for anyone in the market for premium truly wireless earbuds.
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