The Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless are decent mixed usage headphones with a few flaws. They have active noise cancelling and can block out a decent amount of noise around you. They have a high-end and durable design, they're stable enough for sports, and they sound decent. Unfortunately, they have one of the worse latency performances for any Bluetooth headset, and the right earbud would often drop connection regardless of range, which can be frustrating.
Our Verdict
The Sony WF-1000X are decent for mixed usage. They're good for sports and decently comfortable. They're one of the only truly wireless headphones with active noise cancellation, making them suitable for commuting. Unfortunately, they have an unreliable wireless connection which has a lot of latency. They won't be ideal for home theater and gaming but should be okay for most other uses.
- Compact and sturdy design.
- Stable fit for sports.
- Unreliable Bluetooth connection.
- High latency.
The Sony WF-1000X are decent for neutral sound. They have a decently well-balanced audio reproduction. They have a good amount of bass but can sound a bit boomy and slightly sharp due to the peak in the higher frequency range. They also don't have the best soundstage since they're closed-back in-ears.
The Sony WF-1000X are above-average for commute and travel. They have active noise cancelling, and they can block out a decent amount of ambient noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines around you. Unfortunately, they don't have the best control scheme, and they have relatively short battery life.
The Sony WF1000X are good breathable and stable headphones for sports. They're compact, truly wireless, and come with a large variety of tips to help you find a comfortable fit that stays put while you exercise. Unfortunately, they have a poor control scheme and a spotty wireless connection.
The Sony WF-1000X are okay for office use. They block a good amount of ambient noise and don't leak much, meaning you can play your music at higher volumes. However, they have relatively short battery life and a fairly typical in-ear fit which might not be ideal for really long listening sessions.
The Sony WF-1000X are poor for gaming. They have very high latency, which is a deal-breaker for this use. They also have a sub-par microphone and aren't as customizable as most gaming-oriented headsets.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 27, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Feb 25, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WF-1000X are great looking and well-built, truly wireless headphones with active noise cancellation, making them suitable for commuters. However, they have a relatively short battery life, a decently balanced but slightly sharp sound quality but a terrible latency performance, so your audio and visuals may fall out of sync.
See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200, and the best earbuds with a mic.
The Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless are better in-ear headphones than the Apple AirPods (1st generation), thanks to their closed-back design, which helps with noise isolation. The Sony audio quality is also better than that of the Apple. The Sony also support NFC for quick and easy pairing. On the other hand, the Apple have a comfortable fit for most, and their overall battery life is pretty impressive with about 24 hours. They also have noticeably better latency, which might even be lower with iOS devices. However, the Apple interface doesn't offer as much customization options like the Sony app.
The Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless are a much better wireless noise cancelling headset than the Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless. The Bose have a more comfortable earbud fit, better noise isolation performance, better sound quality, and a longer battery life and wireless range than the Sony. They also have a better latency performance, although both headphones would not be the ideal choice for watching a lot of video content. On the upside, the Sony are a lot more compact than the Bose and will more easily fit into your pocket despite their fairly large charging case. The Sony also have a slightly more premium looking truly wireless design which some will prefer over the Bose even if their wireless connection is not as stable.
The Jaybird Run Truly Wireless are a slightly better truly wireless headset than the Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless. The Jaybird have a more comfortable and stable fit for the gym than the Sonys. They also have a much more customizable sound that you can fully EQ, unlike the Sonys, which only have presets. The Jaybird also have a much better latency performance, although they won't be the best headphones for watching videos since their latency is also fairly high. On the upside, the WF-1000X have a better build quality and a more premium-looking design. They also come with a more portable and sturdy case that also supports NFC pairing. The Sony also isolate more in noisy conditions with their more typical in-ear fit and active noise cancellation, though their ANC is not that strong and should not be the defining feature for getting these headphones.
The Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless are a slightly better truly wireless option than the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless, but not by much. The Sony have an in-ear fit and isolate much better in noisy conditions which makes them a bit more versatile for commuting and different environments. The Sony also have a more polished and premium-looking design and come with a great case, but don't feel as durable as the Bose. The Sony, on the other hand, have a much better balanced sound quality that does not need an EQ for most listeners. The Bose also have a more comfortable earbud fit that you can wear much longer than the Sony. The Bose's open fit is also a bit more suitable for outdoor runners since it lets you monitor your environment for traffic and obstacles, but also blocks a lot less ambient noise.
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