Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Apple AirPods Pro 3
Your phone decides. iPhone? Get the AirPods Pro 3: quieter, sweatproof, heart-rate tracking. Android? The XM5 give you LDAC and a proper EQ.
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Which one is for you?
Sony WF-1000XM5
An Android phone, sound you can tune, a good deal? Then it's the XM5.
Is the Sony WF-1000XM5 worth it?AirPods Pro 3
An iPhone, sweaty workouts, earbuds that fall out? The AirPods Pro 3.
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth it?Key differences
Noise cancelling
Fit
Sound tuning
Water resistance
What owners say
Verified buyers only; every 1–3 star review read by us. How we do this
Sony WF-1000XM5
Owners love the sound, the noise cancelling and the small, comfy buds. The main complaint is the fit: many can't get them to stay in or seal, and then the noise cancelling disappoints.
- Great sound
- Strong noise cancelling
- Small, comfortable fit
- Hard to get a secure fit: they fall out, won't seal or make ears sore
- Noise cancelling weaker than expected
AirPods Pro 3
Owners love the sound, the noise cancelling and the comfortable fit. The main complaints are units that stop working or charging within months, and a new shape that hurts or falls out of some ears.
- Great sound quality
- Excellent noise cancelling
- Comfortable, secure fit
- New shape hurts or falls out of the ear
- Stopped working or charging within weeks or months
Related pages
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the Sony WF-1000XM5: 972 verified buyer ratings at Currys, Target (US), LDLC (France), Takealot (South Africa), Boulanger (France), Costco (Canada), Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), Otto (Germany), Elgiganten (Nordics) and Expert (Netherlands), read November 2026.
Owner reports for the AirPods Pro 3: 1,867 verified buyer ratings at Currys, Target (US), Otto (Germany), LDLC (France) and Takealot (South Africa), read October 2026.