Review · Earbuds ANC
Sony WF-1000XM6
The WF-1000XM6 are the all-around noise-cancelling earbuds to buy on Android, and SoundGuys ranks them best overall. You get LDAC, multipoint, and 4 mics per bud for calls, at a price that was well under the $329.99 list. iPhone owners get less from them, and MacRumors points those buyers to AirPods Pro 3.
Our take
The short version
Sony's WF-1000XM6 (Feb 2026) are SoundGuys' best earbuds overall, and MacRumors' Apr 21, 2026 head-to-head with AirPods Pro 3 calls both excellent. The tiebreaker is your phone: MacRumors says the Sonys suit Android owners or anyone who wants LDAC and EQ, while AirPods suit iPhone.
The spec sheet supports that. The QN3e processor runs the noise cancelling with 4 mics per bud, codec support covers SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3, and multipoint keeps them connected to your laptop and phone at once. Battery is rated at 8 hours with ANC (12 without) and 24 with the case, which charges on a Qi pad. IPX4 covers sweat and splashes, not a dunk.
List is $329.99, the most of any earbuds on our list, and they were around $258 on Amazon in early October 2026. That's still more than AirPods Pro 3 (~$179) or Galaxy Buds4 Pro (~$244.50). There's no aptX support; if aptX Adaptive matters to you, the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the ones to cross-shop.
Pros and cons
What we like
- SoundGuys' best earbuds overall
- SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 support
- Multipoint plus 4 mics per bud for calls
- 8 h with ANC, 12 h without; 24 h with the case
- Qi wireless charging
Trade-offs
- Highest list price of the earbuds we cover
- No aptX
- IPX4 only; AirPods Pro 3 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro are IP57
- LDAC is no help on an iPhone
Who it's for
Buy it if…
- Android owners who want LDAC and EQ
- Remote workers who take calls on two devices
- Frequent flyers who want earbuds instead of over-ears
Skip it if…
- iPhone owners: AirPods Pro 3 cost less and suit iPhone better, per MacRumors
- Galaxy owners: the Buds4 Pro get Samsung-only features
- Sweaty workouts: AirPods Pro 3 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro are rated IP57
Spec sheet
WF-1000XM6 specs
| Battery | 8 h with ANC, 12 h without; 24 h with the case |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Yes (QN3e processor) |
| Weight | ~6.5 g per bud |
| Drivers | Not specified |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 (no aptX) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
| Wired / USB-C audio | No (true wireless) |
| Microphones | 4 per bud |
| App / EQ | Not specified |
| Also notable | Qi wireless charging |
From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it.
Watch
WF-1000XM6 on video
Video by Sony Electronics on YouTube. Their views are their own.
Cross-shop
Alternatives to consider
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$179
- Sep 2025
- iPhone
The default earbuds for iPhone owners, with ANC SoundGuys ranks among the best of any earbud.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds for iPhone
- Pro: ANC that SoundGuys measured among the best of any earbud
- Pro: Heart-rate sensing plus Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No user EQ
- Trade-off: Built around the iPhone; MacRumors steers Android owners to the Sony
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Apple AirPods Pro 3Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$299
- 2025
- Any phone
The noise-cancelling earbuds to buy when silence matters more than price or battery life.
Pros
- Pro: Top-of-class earbud ANC, per PCMag and SoundGuys
- Pro: Comfortable fit, with stability bands
- Pro: Multipoint and aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Pricey, and holding at list
- Trade-off: IPX4 only
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 3 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$244.50
- Mar 2026
- Samsung Galaxy
The earbuds Galaxy owners should buy, and the ones everyone else should skip.
Pros
- Pro: Top choice for Galaxy owners, per reviewers and SoundGuys
- Pro: 24-bit/96 kHz Samsung Seamless Codec on Galaxy devices
- Pro: IP57 and a light 5.1 g per bud
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: ANC is weaker than Sony and Bose on voices
- Trade-off: Average battery: 6 h with ANC
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Related guides and comparisons
Sources
Manufacturer specs
- Sony WF-1000XM6 product page (opens in a new tab) — Official product page
- Sony WF-1000XM6 specifications — Battery, IP rating, weight, codecs, Bluetooth, multipoint, processor, and mics
- Sony press release — Launch announcement, Feb 12, 2026
Review consensus
- SoundGuys — Best earbuds: best overall
- MacRumors — WF-1000XM6 vs AirPods Pro 3, Apr 21, 2026: the Sonys suit Android, LDAC, and EQ
Published reviews and manufacturer specs, researched October 5, 2026. We didn't test these headphones ourselves; judgments credited to an outlet are that outlet's.
Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.