The Sony WH-1000XM3 are versatile, feature-packed Bluetooth-enabled over-ear headphones. They have an excellent battery life, a great wireless range, and a remarkably effective ANC feature, along with a comfortable, sturdy design. However, their default sound can be a bit too bass-heavy for some, though that can be adjusted via an EQ in their companion app.
Our Verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are satisfactory for neutral listening. While their high-bass range is slightly overemphasized, yielding a slightly boomy quality to some tracks, their exceptionally well-balanced mid-range and good treble accuracy results in clear, present, and detailed vocals and lead instruments. Their sound profile can be adjusted in their companion app, too.
- Great active features and app support with graphic EQ.
- Closed-off soundstage.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are great for commuting. Their ANC feature does a superb job of blocking out ambient noise, especially if you have a bit of music playing in the background. They also have easy-to-use controls and a long 27-hour battery life that should be more than enough for most long flights and commutes.
- Comfortable fit.
- Exceptional noise cancellation.
- Good battery life.
- Slightly bulky design.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are decent for sports and fitness. They have a comfortable fit and an easy-to-use control scheme. Unfortunately, like most closed-back over-ears, they aren't especially breathable, and they're a bit bulky which makes them slightly unstable when running and working out.
- Comfortable fit.
- Slightly bulky design.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are good for office use. Their ANC system should filter out the chatter of coworkers and the clattering of keyboards. They're also comfortable and don't leak that much audio, so you shouldn't disturb people working nearby. Unfortunately, you can't connect to more than one device simultaneously.
- Comfortable fit.
- Exceptional noise cancellation.
- Good battery life.
- No multi-device pairing capability.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 aren't suitable for wireless gaming. They can't connect wirelessly with Xbox One or PS4 consoles and have high wireless latency when connected to Bluetooth-enabled PCs.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are good for wired gaming, as long as you don't plan on using their integrated mic since you can only receive audio on a wired connection. They're comfortable for long gaming sessions and have a decently well-balanced sound profile that delivers more than sufficient thump and rumble.
- Comfortable fit.
- Deliver audio consistently.
- No microphone usage on a wired connection.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are decent for phone calls. Their integrated microphone delivers mediocre recording quality, so your voice may sound thin and muffled. The microphone can struggle to isolate speech from loud background noise. However, they block out a lot of background noise with their ANC system enabled, so you should be able to follow what's being said, even in loud environments.
- Exceptional noise cancellation.
- Mediocre microphone recording quality.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 02, 2023: The following test groups have been updated following TB 1.6: Wired Connection, and Bluetooth Connection. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Nov 02, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Feb 07, 2022: Added Sony's 360 Reality Audio feature to Virtual Soundstage.
- Updated Jul 27, 2021: We've retested 'Android Latency'.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony WH-1000XM3 come in two variants: 'Black' and 'Silver'. We tested the 'Black' variant, but expect the other color variant to perform similarly.
If someone comes across a differently-equipped model, let us know in the discussions so that we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are versatile wireless over-ears. They're well-built and offer superb noise cancellation performance. They're also comfortable and deliver a long-lasting battery life, while their Sony | Headphones Connect companion app grants you access to a broad range of customization features. If you're looking for alternatives, see our recommendations for the best closed-back headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best travel headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless have more features than the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless. The WH-1000XM4 support multi-device pairing, have a longer continuous battery life, and offer some additional talk-through control options. However, the WH-1000XM3 offer more consistent audio delivery.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are a slightly better noise cancelling headset than the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless. The Sonys have a more premium, high-end build quality and offer better noise isolation for traveling and commuting in noisy conditions. The Sonys are also a bit more comfortable than the Sennheisers. On the other hand, the PXC 550 Wireless have more connection options, making them a great choice if you have a lot of devices that you typically use your headphones with. The PXC 550 Wireless also give you a bit more control over their active features, and they sound a bit better with their default sound profile although both headphones can be EQed fairly easily thanks to their respective apps.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are a later generation of the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless. While some aspects have stayed the same, such as their battery life and companion app support, the XM3 and XM5 have different strengths. While both headphones offer a fantastic overall isolation performance, the XM3 have the edge, particularly regarding the low rumble of bus engines. They're also more comfortable and support aptX and aptX HD codecs for high audio quality via Bluetooth. In comparison, the XM5 support multi-device pairing, and they have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you aren't using them.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are a better headset than the Sony WH-1000XM2, although not by much. The XM3 have a more comfortable over-ear fit thanks to the headband redesign and softer ear cup pads. They also have better noise cancellation, mostly due to their lower self-noise, and a better battery life performance, with a customizable auto-off timer and a quick charging USB type C connector. This makes them a bit more convenient in case you forget to charge them overnight. On the other hand, the XM2 now offer a better value for your money since they are now at a lower price point than the XM3. They also have a great noise isolation performance and a decently well-balanced sound quality that's not very different from the XM3. Their metal headband also feels slightly more unique than that of the XM3 and gives them a slightly more classy look and feel.
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