Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM6

An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide which earbuds to buy in Australia.

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Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple

#1 Apple AirPods Pro 3

Sony WF-1000XM6

Sony

#2 Sony WF-1000XM6

Price & Rating

Apple AirPods Pro 3

A$384

★ 4.6 / 5 · 2,340 reviews

Sony WF-1000XM6

A$500

★ 4.5 / 5 · 890 reviews

Apple AirPods Pro 3 is A$116 cheaper.

Scores

Sound

Apple
9
Sony
10

ANC

Apple
10
Sony
9

Comfort

Apple
9
Sony
8

Value

Apple
7
Sony
7

Pros & Cons

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Pros

  • + Best-in-class adaptive noise cancellation with H3 chip
  • + Hearing health features including clinical-grade hearing test
  • + Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
  • + Improved sound quality with wider soundstage
  • + USB-C case with built-in speaker and Find My

Cons

  • − Premium price — among the most expensive earbuds
  • − Android users miss out on most smart features
  • − Limited EQ customisation compared to Sony
  • − Incremental upgrade if you already own Pro 2s

Sony WF-1000XM6

Pros

  • + Best-in-class sound quality with new driver unit
  • + Improved ANC handles mid-frequency noise better
  • + LDAC and LE Audio support for hi-res streaming
  • + Feature-packed Sony Headphones Connect app
  • + More compact and comfortable than XM5

Cons

  • − Premium price — around A$500
  • − Foam ear tips still degrade over time
  • − Touch controls can be fiddly
  • − Battery life unchanged at 8 hours with ANC

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Check Price on Amazonon Amazon.com.au

Sony WF-1000XM6

Check Price on Amazonon Amazon.com.au

Our Verdict

Choose Apple AirPods Pro 3if…

  • ✓You value anc (scores 10/10)
  • ✓You value comfort (scores 9/10)
  • ✓You value value (scores 7/10)
  • ✓You want a lower price (A$384)

Choose Sony WF-1000XM6if…

  • ✓You value sound (scores 10/10)
  • ✓You value value (scores 7/10)

Overall average score: Apple 8.8/10 vs Sony 8.5/10. Apple AirPods Pro 3 edges ahead overall.

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