Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 | Sony - WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver size | 11 mm | 30 mm |
| Multipoint | false | true |
Between the AirPods Pro 3 and WH-1000XM6, the AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead in several specs, while the WH-1000XM6 wins on driver size / multipoint. Overall, the AirPods Pro 3 scores 78.3 and the WH-1000XM6 scores 69.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The AirPods Pro 3 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.9 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
The AirPods Pro 3 does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the WH-1000XM6 if audio quality and feature breadth (ANC, codecs, multipoint) are the lead criteria for your purchase. Its strongest claims are driver size, multipoint. The single most decisive one: Driver size — 172.73% more. 30 mm vs 11 mm.
Both ship with comparable active noise cancellation, spatial audio, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the AirPods Pro 3 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Apple - AirPods Pro 3 or Sony - WH-1000XM6?
Apple - AirPods Pro 3 leads the current Mars Score by 8.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare driver size against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Apple - AirPods Pro 3 if…
Apple - AirPods Pro 3 does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Sony - WH-1000XM6 if…
Sony - WH-1000XM6 has the measurable edge on driver size mm, has multipoint.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Apple - AirPods Pro 3 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Sony - WH-1000XM6 wins
- ▲Driver size — 172.73% more. 30 mm vs 11 mm.
- ▲Has Multipoint.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 | Sony - WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | in-ear | — |
| Weight per bud | 5.3 g | — |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP57 | — |
Audio
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 | Sony - WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 11 mm | 30 mmlead |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 | Sony - WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 8 h | — |
| Battery — with case | 30 h | — |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | — |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 | Sony - WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecsⓘ | AAC,SBC | — |
| Multipointⓘ | false | truelead |
| In-ear detection | true | — |
Frequently asked
Do AirPods Pro 3 or WH-1000XM6 support multipoint?+
WH-1000XM6 supports multipoint pairing; AirPods Pro 3 does not.
Which has ANC, AirPods Pro 3 or WH-1000XM6?+
Both models have active noise cancellation.