The short verdict: iPhone owners should pick the AirPods Pro 3 — it costs less, shrugs off water better, and adds hearing-health features plus Live Translation. Android owners and anyone who wants deep sound customization should pick the Sony WF-1000XM6. Honestly, either is a safe flagship pick; the phone in your pocket decides it. (Prices below are US prices as checked November 2, 2026, and prices may vary.)
Price
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 cost $249, while the Sony WF-1000XM6 cost $329.99. That is a $80.99 price gap, making the AirPods the cheaper flagship.
Noise cancelling
Both are top-tier flagship earbuds when it comes to noise cancellation. Sony claims its new model is 25% better than its own predecessor, and Apple describes its noise cancellation as its best in-ear. No shared lab test is cited here, so I am not declaring a measured winner — both should handle commutes, flights, and offices with ease.
Battery life
This one is a tie on paper. Both give up to 8 hours of listening with noise cancellation on, and up to 24 hours of total listening time with the charging case. The Sony can also stretch to 12 hours with noise cancellation off, and its case supports USB-C and Qi wireless charging.
Water resistance
The AirPods Pro 3 are clearly ahead here. They carry an IP57 rating for dust, sweat, and water resistance on both the earbuds and the case, while the Sony WF-1000XM6 is rated IPX4 for splash resistance on the buds. Keep in mind that resistance is not permanent, and neither pair is a swim earbud.
Ecosystem and features
The AirPods Pro 3 are the pick for iPhone owners, with Siri, Find My, hearing-health features including a hearing-aid feature, and Live Translation. They are Apple’s current flagship earbuds, powered by the H2 chip with active noise cancellation and heart-rate sensing during workouts. The box includes five ear-tip sizes, including XXS.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are the pick for Android owners and customizers. Launched February 12, 2026, they are Sony’s current flagship earbuds, packing the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3e plus the Integrated Processor V2 with 32-bit processing, 8 microphones total (4 per earbud), 8.4 mm drivers, LDAC and LC3 codec support, and Bluetooth 5.3. The 10-band EQ in the Sony Sound Connect app lets you tune the sound to your taste, and multipoint works on both platforms. Note that LDAC is Android-only — iPhone owners do not get the LDAC benefit.
Verdict
iPhone owners should buy the AirPods Pro 3 — cheaper, better water resistance, hearing and translation features. Android owners and listeners who want deep sound customization should buy the Sony WF-1000XM6. Either is a safe flagship pick; the phone in your pocket decides it.
Want to see how these two stack up against the wider field? See our guide to the best wireless earbuds to buy and our best noise cancelling earbuds roundup.
FAQ
Which is better for workouts?
The AirPods Pro 3 — IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance plus heart-rate sensing during workouts. The Sony is fine for sweat at IPX4, but it is not the water-tough pick.
Does LDAC matter on an iPhone?
No. iPhones do not support LDAC, so that Sony advantage applies to Android.
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