New Sony WF-1000XM3 are our favourite headphones reimagined as wireless earbuds

Sony has announced the WF-1000XM3, a pair of true wireless earbuds that offer the same active noise cancellation as the hugely successful WH-1000XM3 headphones. Don’t let the dry nomenclature fool you: these new earbuds are brimming with thoroughly exciting technology.

READ NEXT: Sony WH-1000XM3 review

Using four external microphones, the WF-1000XM3 earbuds funnel outside noise through to a QN1e noise-cancelling chip, where it’s promptly silenced. This is an advanced version of the technology found in the over-ear pair, and it’s smart enough to tell the difference between ambient noise and human speech. 

Holding a finger to one ear will increase the “hear-through” effect, so you can chat to people without removing an earbud – another feature that has been lifted from the WH-1000XM3.

The new Sony headphones share further similarities with their predecessors, including 24-bit digital-to-audio conversion and Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE). Cut through the jargon, and you’ll find that these earbuds ought to sound as good as their over-ear brethren.

Sony reports that the WF-1000XM3 earbuds last for a respectable seven hours on a single charge; chuck them back into their case, and you’ll gain a further two-and-a-bit charges, for a total 24-hour battery life. And if you’re in a rush, the quick-charge function will give you 1hr 30mins of playtime from a ten-minute stint inside the case.

These AirPod-slaying Sony headphones – available in black and silver – will launch later this month, for £220 ($230). We’ll undoubtedly put them through their paces in due course, so check back soon.