Apple, Bose and Sony make the very best noise-canceling earbuds. So, as quickly as Sony launched its newest flagship earbuds, the WF-1000XM6, in February, individuals began asking me how they in comparison with Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). I want that had been a simple query to reply. Everybody’s ears are totally different, after all, and what could also be finest for me might not be finest for you. It’s one thing I attempt to account for in all of my critiques, although, so I do have some ideas on the strengths — and some weaknesses — of every mannequin to hopefully steer you in the correct route. Here’s a fast rundown of the three buds, all of which earned CNET Editors’ Choice awards. Read extra: Best wi-fi earbuds of 2026Apple AirPods Pro 3Since they did not get a brand new H3 chip, some people felt that the upgrades to the AirPods Pro 3 appeared fairly incremental and did not essentially assume they sounded higher than the AirPods Pro 2. However, for my part, all the important thing parts, akin to match, sound high quality and noise cancellation, had been noticeably leveled up together with a single-charge battery. The AirPods Pro 3 are about as shut as earbuds get to being full: wonderful noise cancellation, sturdy voice-calling efficiency and sound high quality that rivals the perfect. As I stated in my evaluate, few buds excel in all three areas — and the Pro 3s handle to do this whereas packing in loads of additional options, together with personalised spatial audio with head-tracking, a Hearing Aid mode and new heart-rate monitoring and Live Translation options. Price: $249 listing ($229 road). Read my evaluate.Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)As far because the {hardware} goes, the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) look precisely the identical as the unique QC Ultra Earbuds, though Bose has added new deep plum and desert gold colours to the road. There are two small modifications, although: the 2nd-gen Ultra Earbuds now help wi-fi charging (which, frankly, ought to’ve been obtainable with the originals), and the included eartips now have wax guards, a elaborate approach of claiming there is a silicone mesh that covers the holes within the ideas. That helps forestall mud and wax from clogging up the buds and degrading sound high quality and noise-canceling efficiency. The actuality is they are not a real 2.0 product. But they do supply improved adaptive noise canceling that is really spectacular, together with some sound high quality enhancements, together with a brand new spatialized immersive audio Cinema mode that widens the soundstage and makes “video content more lifelike,” with clearer dialog. The mode additionally helps with spoken-word audio content material akin to podcasts and audiobooks. Price: $299 ($269 road).New options obtainable in each the unique QC Ultra Earbuds and 2nd-gen mannequin embody:Bose SpeechClaritySpotify TapTurn capacitive controls on/offGeneral connectivity and stability improvementsFeature upgrades obtainable solely to the 2nd-gen mannequin embody:Enhanced adaptive noise cancellationReduced noise flooring (the faint hiss in noise-canceling mode)Case battery reportingCinema ModeSony WF-1000XM6At $330, Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM6 earbuds listing for $30 greater than their predecessor. However, they seem to be a noticeable improve and supply nice sound and wonderful noise canceling together with top-notch voice-calling efficiency. Aside from an exterior makeover, the XM6s are upgraded on the within with new drivers, a 3x extra highly effective QN3e chip with improved analog conversion expertise, eight microphones — up from six — and an improved bone-conduction sensor that helps with voice-calling efficiency. The “HD Noise Canceling” QN3e processor is paired with Sony’s Integrated Processor V2, which now helps 32-bit processing, up from 24-bit. Price: $330 ($330 road). Read my evaluate. Watch this: Sony WF-1000XM6 Earbuds Review: Supreme Performance, Subdued Design
07:45 DesignApple AirPods Pro 3: The lightest of the three buds, additionally they have the smallest case. The AirPods Pro 2 already match loads of ears comfortably and securely (although not all), and Apple not solely refined the Pro 3’s design, tweaking their geometry, however redesigned the buds’ eartips, infusing a bit of froth on high of the guidelines. I preferred what Apple did, and the AirPods Pro 3 match my ears barely extra securely than the AirPods Pro 2 and received me a tighter seal, however some individuals favor the AirPods Pro 2’s match (it is exhausting to please everyone). They’re IP57 water resistant (will be submerged in 3 toes of water for 30 minutes) and dust-resistant. Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen): They match my ears very well and embody a stabilizing fin, which may also help individuals get a safer match. The buds actually lock properly in my ears with a decent seal (I take advantage of the massive ideas with the default medium fin). The principal design downside of the Bose is that they are a bit of chunky, and so is their case, in comparison with the AirPods Pro 3’s case. They’re IPX4 splashproof. Sony WF-1000XM6: I like the brand new design of Sony’s XM6 buds, although the buds and the case are a bit of plain-looking (the case shouldn’t be as large because it appears to be like in sure photographs, and it is fairly compact). More intricately molded than your typical stemless buds, Sony says the brand new form (11% slimmer general than the XM5s and extra aerodynamic to cut back wind noise) conforms higher to the pure curves of your ears, and I agree with that. I additionally appreciated the little ridge alongside the highest aspect of every bud that means that you can grip every bud higher, in order that they’re much less more likely to slip out of your fingers when placing them in or taking them out. Some individuals actually like Sony’s included eartips, that are the identical agency foam ideas that had been included with the XM5s. But I needed to swap in a pair of large-size silicone ideas from one other set of buds I’d examined (I favor ideas from Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins, that are wider and extra rounded) to get a decent seal. They’re IPX4 splashproof. Winner: AirPods Pro 3. While the Bose and Sony buds match my ears comfortably and securely (as soon as I modified the XM6 ideas), I’ve to provide the nod to the AirPods Pro 3 within the design division. They’re a bit of extra compact and light-weight than the opposite two fashions and match a variety of ears nicely, with 5 sizes of eartips (XXS, XS, S, M, L) included. They even have the next water-resistance score.
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I spent a couple of hours evaluating the Sony WF-1000XM6 buds (left) to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen). David Carnoy/CNETSound high qualityApple AirPods Pro 3: Some individuals complained that the AirPods Pro 3’s sound was a bit of too aggressive (not sufficient heat) in comparison with the AirPods Pro 2’s, with extra dynamic bass and treble and barely recessed mids. I most well-liked the AirPods Pro 3’s sound; to my ears, it has a bit of extra readability and definition, and I used to be OK with the extra energetic bass. But everyone has their very own sound preferences, and you may expertise some listening fatigue should you really feel the treble has an excessive amount of sizzle or the bass kicks too exhausting within the flawed approach.Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (gen 2): The Bose QC Ultra ship sturdy sound high quality, providing clean, agreeable sound throughout quite a lot of music genres. They’re fairly well-balanced however have a barely V-shaped sound profile and a contact of bass and treble push with barely recessed mids at their default setting. There’s an Immersive mode that opens up the soundstage a bit, however it does impression battery life. Sony WF-1000XM6: The XM6’s sound is healthier and extra particular than each the AirPods Pro 3’s and QC Ultra’s sound. Music sounds extra correct and pure with higher bass extension, general readability and refinement, together with a large soundstage the place all of the devices appear well-placed. Additionally, I discovered the XM6s got here throughout barely extra dynamic and bold-sounding than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 buds, which additionally supply correct, pure sound for Bluetooth earbuds.Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6. All three fashions sound spectacular, however the tonal high quality varies a bit. While corporations typically speak about how their buds and headphones ship audio the way in which artists meant you to listen to it, some do it higher than others, residing as much as audiophile requirements — or near them anyway. Such is the case for the XM6 buds.
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The AirPodsPro 3 (proper) look much like the AirPods Pro 2 (left) on the floor, however have a barely totally different form and new eartips together with a heart-rate sensor in every bud. David Carnoy/CNETNoise-canceling efficiencyApple AirPods Pro 3: One of the largest enhancements with the AirPods Pro 3 is their noise canceling. Apple says it is twice nearly as good because the Pro 2’s. I examined their noise-cancellation capabilities on a airplane towards the AirPods Pro 2 and will positively inform a distinction. The AirPods Pro 2 did a superb job, however the Pro 3s took the noise degree down even additional. When they had been launched, Apple stated the AirPods Pro 3 provided the “world’s best in-ear active noise cancellation,” however it was unclear whether or not it examined the AirPods Pro 3 towards the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen), which had been launched on June 28 internationally and on Sept. 10 within the US. In the tremendous print, Apple says that testing was carried out in July 2025 and comparisons had been “made against the best-selling wireless in-ear headphones commercially available at the time of testing.” Meanwhile, Sony’s XM6 earbuds had been launched in February 2026. Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen): When they had been launched in June of 2025, loads of reviewers felt that the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) had the very best noise canceling, and I used to be definitely impressed by how a lot sound they muffled whereas utilizing the buds within the streets of New York. Bose did not stake a declare to its noise canceling being the world’s finest, opting as a substitute to name it world-class, which it’s. Sony WF-1000XM6: Sony says the XM6 presents 25% “further reduction in noise” than the XM5, with features made within the mid- to high-frequency vary. Based on worldwide testing requirements, Sony touts the XM6 as having the very best noise canceling for earbuds proper now. The buds are outfitted with eight microphones and an upgraded “HD Noise Canceling” QN3e processor that Sony says is 3 times extra highly effective than the QN2e chip within the XM5. It’s doable the Sony XM6s are capable of muffle a wider vary of frequencies with barely extra vigor than the AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen), however it’s exhausting to sense that in real-world testing. Note that they nonetheless cannot muffle greater frequencies in addition to decrease frequencies. That means you possibly can nonetheless hear individuals’s voices and higher-pitched noises, albeit at considerably diminished quantity ranges (the identical goes for the AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QC Ultras as nicely). Winner: No clear no. 1. All three of those earbuds embody very good noise canceling. All three are very shut, and your expertise will fluctuate with the standard of the seal you get from the eartips. I do really feel that Apple’s and Bose’s eartips have an edge over Sony’s, which may result in some individuals being much less impressed with Sony’s noise canceling.
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Sony eartip on the left, my very own eartip on the correct. Sound high quality and noise-canceling efficiency improved once I swapped in my very own ideas and received a decent seal. David Carnoy/CNETVoice-calling efficiencyApple AirPods Pro 3: AirPods have lengthy stood out for voice-calling efficiency in comparison with different true-wireless earbuds. The factor that struck me in my checks with the AirPods Pro 3 was simply how a lot background noise they eradicated. I made calls within the streets of New York City with loads of ambient noise round me, together with visitors and ambulance sirens, and callers instructed me they could not hear any of it. In loud environments, my voice would typically warble or sound a bit digitized to callers, however once I shared a recording of what I used to be truly listening to, they had been stunned — even surprised — by how a lot background noise was eliminated.Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen): In July of 2025, a firmware replace helped enhance the buds’ voice-calling efficiency. Bose launched one thing it referred to as “speech clarity voice enhancement,” which is a extra marketing-friendly approach of claiming it upgraded its algorithms to filter out background noise whereas sustaining the readability of your voice throughout calls. The replace helped push the voice-calling grade for the Ultra Earbuds from a B into B+/A- territory. Sony WF-1000XM6: Equipped with the aforementioned extra highly effective QN3e chip, eight microphones — up from six — and an improved bone-conduction sensor, the XM6’s voice-calling efficiency has improved from the XM5’s, incomes an A grade. Callers stated my voice sounded principally pure and clear, they usually did not actually hear any background noise once I wasn’t talking (and solely a bit of once I did converse). It’s additionally value noting that the buds have a side-tone characteristic, so you possibly can hear your voice within the buds whenever you’re speaking. Winner: Tie between AirPods Pro 3 and Sony XM6. Both provide you with top-tier voice-calling efficiency. The Bose Ultra has improved with firmware upgrades, however remains to be a step behind on this division.
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Testing the AirPods Pro 3 within the streets of New York. David Carnoy/CNETTransparency modeWhile Sony and Bose’s transparency modes sound fairly pure and are fairly respectable, Apple’s transparency mode remains to be the gold normal. Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 3.OptionsApple AirPods Pro 3: The AirPods Pro 3 have a wealth of options for Apple customers, together with heart-rate monitoring, personalised spatial audio, Hearing Aid mode, Live Translation, automated pairing with units logged into your iCloud account, Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio, Hearing Protection, hands-free Siri, head gestures to work together with Siri or handle calls, a Camera Remote characteristic and Precision Finding. The buds may even detect whenever you’ve fallen asleep. However, they haven’t any equalizer settings to customise the sound. Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen): The Ultras have a couple of notable additional options, together with Immersive Audio with head-tracking, a brand new Cinema spatial audio mode, help for Qualcomm’s AptX Lossless, with “special optimization” for Snapdragon Sound (for units that help it) and a smoother adaptive Aware mode (much like Apple’s Adaptive Audio mode). The sound will also be tweaked with the three-band equalizer within the Bose companion app for iOS and Android. Sony WF-1000XM6: Like earlier 1000X fashions, these have Sony’s speak-to-chat characteristic, which lowers the quantity of your audio and goes into ambient mode whenever you begin to have a dialog with somebody. As far as audio codecs go, the buds help AAC, SBC and LDAC in addition to multipoint Bluetooth pairing, which permits pairing to 2 units to the buds concurrently. Sony says the buds are “ready for LE Audio,” which implies they help the LC3 audio codec and Auracast broadcast audio (I have never tried testing these options but). You additionally get each preset and customizable equalizer settings to tweak the sound, together with a scene-based settings choice. The XM6s do characteristic a spatial audio with head-tracking choice, however for Android customers solely. Winner: AirPods Pro 3 (for Apple customers), with Sony XM6s having a slight edge over Bose QC Ultras for Android customers. Battery lifeApple AirPods Pro 3: Up to 8 hours with noise canceling on.Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen): Up to 6 hours of battery life with noise canceling on.Sony WF-1000XM6: Up to 8 hours with noise canceling.Winner: Tie between Sony XM6s and AirPods Pro 3. So, that are the very best?If somebody had been to return to me and lay all three fashions on a desk (sealed of their containers) and inform me I may take one in all them as a free present, I’d take the Sony WF-1000XM6. While I had a problem with their included eartips, as soon as I added a set of ideas that match my ears correctly, the buds felt snug and delivered nice all-around efficiency with barely higher sound than the AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen).It would get extra sophisticated if I needed to pay for them. The road worth for each the AirPods Pro 3 and QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) fluctuates, with the AirPods Pro 3 typically discounted to as little as $200 and the QC Ultras dipping to $250 or so. The reality is, for Apple customers, the AirPods Pro 3 are exhausting to beat, particularly after they’re on sale. They’re a safer wager from a match standpoint (as are the QC Ultras) in comparison with the Sony XM6s, they usually, too, supply all-around wonderful efficiency with a wealth of options for Apple customers.Although I used to be a bit of disillusioned that the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) do not seem to be a lot of an improve over the unique QC Ultra Earbuds (I’m nonetheless unsure what Bose up to date from a {hardware} standpoint), they’re wonderful earbuds and the one mannequin with stabilizing fins, making them a superb decide for somebody in search of buds that supply a really safe match.
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