Sony
Sony WF-1000XM5
Integrated V2 · LDAC · Dual processors
91
/ 100
From $299
VS
AirPods Pro 3 wins by 2
Apple
AirPods Pro 3
H2 v2 · Heart-rate sensor · USB-C
93
/ 100
From $249
Verdex verdict
AirPods Pro 3 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Verdex score, Sony WF-1000XM5 lands at 91 and AirPods Pro 3 at 93. That puts AirPods Pro 3 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sony WF-1000XM5 if…
- ✓Excellent ANC for the size
- ✓LDAC hi-res on Android
- ✓Smaller than XM4
Pick AirPods Pro 3 if…
- ✓Apple ecosystem magic
- ✓Heart-rate monitoring
- ✓Best auto-switching
Score breakdown
Sony WF-1000XM5
91 anc 93
sound 92
comfort 88
battery 84
features 90
AirPods Pro 3
93 anc 94
sound 90
comfort 92
battery 80
features 96
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Sony WF-1000XM5
AirPods Pro 3
Drivers
8.4 mm dynamic
Custom high-excursion
Codecs
LDAC, LC3, AAC, SBC
—
Battery
8 h (ANC) / 24 h case
7 h (ANC on) / 35 h case
Water rating
IPX4
IP57
Chip
—
H2 v2
Connectivity
—
BT 5.3
Sony WF-1000XM5
Pros
- +Excellent ANC for the size
- +LDAC hi-res on Android
- +Smaller than XM4
Cons
- −Case fingerprint magnet
- −Some find them bass-heavy
- −Price pressure from rivals
AirPods Pro 3
Pros
- +Apple ecosystem magic
- +Heart-rate monitoring
- +Best auto-switching
Cons
- −Android unfriendly
- −Battery average
- −Ear-tip fit can slip
FAQ: Sony WF-1000XM5 vs AirPods Pro 3
Which is better, Sony WF-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro 3? +
AirPods Pro 3 scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony WF-1000XM5 worth the price? +
At $299, Sony WF-1000XM5 delivers a Verdex score of 91 — strongest in anc.
Is AirPods Pro 3 worth the price? +
At $249, AirPods Pro 3 delivers a Verdex score of 93 — strongest in features.
Does Sony WF-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro 3 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.