47 people are comparing Sony WH-1000XM6 · Apple AirPods Pro 3 right now
ISSUE № 219 · MAY 13, 2026
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Updated April 2026 PIXLRUN · COMPARE LAB v3

Compare
anything.

A laboratory-grade side-by-side that scores phones, laptops and headphones on the things buyers actually feel — not the spec-sheet poetry manufacturers print on the box.

1,284
Devices benchmarked
38
Lab metrics per unit
94%
Reader trust score
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The duel.
Two phones, one verdict.

Lab-tested over 14 days each. Identical conditions, identical workloads, scored on a calibrated 100-point rubric.

Sony · 2026 PixlRun pick
Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony WH-1000XM6

Silence the world. Hear only what matters.

9.4/10
From
$449
Apple · 2026 Worth a look
Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Next-gen silence. Hear only what matters.

9.4/10
From
$299

Where each one wins.

Six pillars tailored to Headphones reviews — scored independently in our Victoria, BC lab. Bars animate to live values when in view.

Sound quality

Sony +0.3
Sony9.5
Apple9.2

Noise cancelling

Sony +0.1
Sony9.6
Apple9.5

Comfort

Sony9.4
Apple9.4

Battery

Sony +0.4
Sony9.2
Apple8.8

Build

Apple +0.2
Sony9.2
Apple9.4

Value

Sony9.4
Apple9.4

Six dimensions, overlaid.

Radar of normalized scores across our full rubric.

SOUND QUALITY NOISE CANCELLING COMFORT BATTERY BUILD VALUE
Sony WH-1000XM6 Apple AirPods Pro 3
Score gap
+0.0%
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WH-1000XM6 — composite lab score difference.
Battery (ANC on)
40hr (ANC on) / 50hr (ANC off) vs 8 hours (ANC on), 10 hours (ANC off)
Sony WH-1000XM6 / Apple AirPods Pro 3
Codec support
LDAC, AAC, SBC, aptX HD vs AAC, Apple Lossless (ALAC) via USB-C
Sony WH-1000XM6 / Apple AirPods Pro 3
Weight
248g vs 5.3g per earbud, 45g case
Sony WH-1000XM6 / Apple AirPods Pro 3

The full spec sheet.

Grouped by what matters to use, not by alphabet. Winners highlighted with an acid dot.

Performance
Chip
ChipApple H3 Audio Chip
Battery & Charging
Battery Life40hr (ANC on) / 50hr (ANC off)
Battery Life
Quick Charge3 min = 3hr playback (USB-C)
Quick Charge
Earbud Battery
Earbud Battery8 hours (ANC on), 10 hours (ANC off)
Total Battery
Total Battery36 hours with MagSafe charging case
Charging
ChargingUSB-C, MagSafe, Qi2 wireless
Body & Build
Weight248g
Weight5.3g per earbud, 45g case
FoldableYes, with carry case
Foldable
Water Resistance
Water ResistanceIP57 (earbuds), IP55 (case)
Connectivity
Codec SupportLDAC, AAC, SBC, aptX HD
Codec Support
BluetoothBluetooth 5.4, Multipoint (3 devices)
Bluetooth
Connectivity
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.4, Apple U2 chip (UWB)
General
Touch Controls
Touch ControlsForce sensor + touch swipe gestures

Pros & cons,
at a glance.

A bento grid of what each one nails — and where it falls short.

Sony WH-1000XM6

What you'll love

Silence the world. Hear only what matters.

  • Industry-leading ANC performance, 40-hour battery life, Premium comfort for extended wear, Hi-Res Audio with LDAC support

Watch out for

  • Premium price point, Bulky for travel, Touch controls can be oversensitive
Apple AirPods Pro 3

What you'll love

Next-gen silence. Hear only what matters.

  • Industry-leading ANC performance, Lossless audio via H3 chip, 36-hour total battery life, Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking

Watch out for

  • Premium price tag, Limited compatibility outside Apple ecosystem, No high-res audio over Bluetooth

The verdict.

After 14 days each, in real-world use — here's how we'd actually spend the money.

PixlRun verdict · May 2026

It is a coin flip. Either picks lose nothing the other has.

Sony WH-1000XM6 takes the overall win at 9.4/10. Sony WH-1000XM6: Silence the world. Hear only what matters.. Apple AirPods Pro 3: Next-gen silence. Hear only what matters..

See Sony WH-1000XM6 review See Apple AirPods Pro 3
PixlRun Lab Score
Composite · 14-day test cycle
Sony WH-1000XM69.4
Apple AirPods Pro 39.4
Margin0.0
ConfidenceClose call

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