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1 / 7

In their words

@coral_otter_63 · Owner-reported

Owned over 2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted Sep 2026

Every once in a while the simple Bluetooth connection turns into a not so simple battle with technology. So far I’ve always won tho. They’re quite bulky even when folded and the soft parts started tearing after about 2 years of very careful use.

Noise cancelling in the real world · better than expected
Battery · better than expected
Mic on calls · worse than expected
Fit and build · worse than expected
Ear pads / tips · gave out

Would buy again

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Sony

Sony WH-1000XM3

Name: Sony WH-1000XM3
Brand: Sony
SKU: B07H2DBFQZ
Price: 573.88 USD

It may not be very different than its predecessor, but that's not a bad thing.

Current price · Amazon US

$573.88

Check Price on Amazon

Price last checked 10h ago

noise cancelling

6.4/ 10

ANCNoise cancelling

6.4

0.010.0

At 6.4, its noise cancelling beats 2% of over-ear headphones we've measured.

Measured on 63 of the 241 we've cataloged.

See the lab data ↓Frequency response · Isolation · Noise cancelling

Owners (1)

1of 1

Buy againOwner reported

Would buy it again and still uses it daily.

Owned over 2 years.

Comfort over long sessions1 as expected
Noise cancelling in the real world1 better
Battery in real life1 better
Mic on calls1 worse
Fit and build after months1 worse

Read the 1 owner review ↓

What gave out: Ear pads (1)

Key specs

Battery Life Wireless

30 hBelow average

30 h

11 h100 h

below average for over-ear headphones — based on 159 of 241 we've cataloged.

Charging Method

USB-CMost common

Usb-c88%Micro usb9%Others3%

Usb-c is the most common — on 88% of the 139 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 241).

Bluetooth Version

4.2

5.026%5.326%5.216%4.23%

4.2 appears on 3% of the 152 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 241).

Connection Type

Wired-3.5mm47%Bluetooth44%Wired-usb-c8%Others2%

Bluetooth appears on 44% of the 249 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 241).

Battery

Battery Life Wireless: 30 h
Charging Method: USB-C
Full Charge Minutes: 180 min
Battery: Yes
Fast Charging: Yes

Connectivity

Bluetooth Version: 4.2
Connection Type: Bluetooth wireless
Bluetooth Codec: AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC, SBC
Headphone Jack: Yes
USB Charging: Yes

Design

Weight: 255 g
Color Options: Black, champagne gold
Ear Pad Depth: 20 mm
Foldable: Yes
Headband Type: Adjustable over-head

Features

Companion App: IOS + Android
Control Type: Physical buttons, touch controls
Eq Customization: Full parametric EQ
Auto Pause: No
Voice Assistant Support: Siri and Google Assistant

Microphone

Count: 3
Microphone: Yes
Noise Reduction Type: Passive noise isolation

Sound

Acoustic Design: Closed-back
Ambient Mode: Adjustable level
Anc Modes: Off,anc,transparency
Driver Size: 40 mm
Driver Type: Dynamic
Frequency Response: 20-20000 Hz
Frequency Response High Hz: 20000 Hz
Frequency Response Low Hz: 20 Hz
Frequency Response Signature: V-shaped
Max Spl: 104.5 dB SPL
Noise Cancellation Type: Active
Sensitivity: 104.5 dB/mW

Build

Material Ear Cups: Synthetic leather
Material Headband: Synthetic leather with padding

Identity

Model Number: WH-1000XM3

Release

Date: 2018
Msrp Usd: 349 USD
Year: 2018

Lab data

How we test ›

Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.

Compare with

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0 of 4 overlay slots used

Sony WH-1000XM3SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve

Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.

Sony WH-1000XM3: frequency response, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Response (dB)
20	0.2
25	4.2
32	7.2
40	8.7
50	8.2
63	7.0
80	6.2
100	5.7
125	5.0
160	3.0
200	0.8
250	-1.1
315	-2.2
400	-2.5
500	-2.4
630	-2.1
800	-1.1
1000	-0.1
1250	-1.8
1600	0.3
2000	6.3
2500	6.3
3150	4.0
4000	3.3
5000	1.0
6300	2.2
8000	6.5
10000	5.9
12500	-3.3
16000	-24.1
20000	-72.4

Sony WH-1000XM3

Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.

Sony WH-1000XM3: passive isolation, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Attenuation (dB)
21	-2.7
26	-0.3
33	-0.8
41	-0.8
52	-0.8
65	-1.1
82	-1.1
103	-0.6
130	-2.5
163	-4.2
205	-5.8
259	-5.7
325	-1.1
410	4.0
516	6.4
613	10.4
772	12.2
972	20.6
1220	21.4
1540	23.2
1940	17.2
2440	29.5
3070	33.2
3870	24.0
4870	37.6
6130	30.4
7720	27.1
9720	25.5
12200	24.4
15400	34.7
19400	36.2

Sony WH-1000XM3

Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.

Sony WH-1000XM3: noise cancelling, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Total attenuation (dB)
21	-9.2
26	-8.8
33	-3.0
41	-2.8
52	0.3
65	5.3
82	11.0
103	15.5
130	12.4
163	16.1
205	18.1
259	19.3
325	20.0
410	20.0
516	14.9
613	15.7
772	10.6
972	15.7
1220	22.1
1540	24.1
1940	13.7
2440	25.5
3070	31.2
3870	24.3
4870	37.2
6130	31.9
7720	27.9
9720	25.5
12200	24.2
15400	34.5
19400	36.3

SoundGuys review

SOUNDGUYS rating

7.3/ 10

Recommended

Reviewed byChristian ThomasEditor-at-largeReviewed August 2024

Noise cancelling6.4

Isolation4.4

Battery life9.3

Comfort & fit8.4

Connectivity8.0

Design7.0

The verdict

Following up our pick for best wireless headphones, best noise canceling headphones, and best headphones of 2017—Sony released a slightly-upgraded monster in the WH-1000XM3. Virtually identical to the model it replaces, incremental upgrades over the best isn't exactly a bad thing.

✓Liked: Great active noise canceling, Good sound quality, Comfort, Portability

✕Could be better: User-reported durability issues, Price

Read the full SoundGuys review →

Owners (1)

How we verify owners

What a reader who owns the Sony WH-1000XM3 reports after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.

Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.

1 owner review

· · Owned over 2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted Sep 2026

Would buy again