Gear: Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Earbuds

Previously I wrote about my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones, but technically I got my very similarly named WF-1000XM3 earbuds first as a gift from Shalee for Valentine’s Day in 2020.

Yes, she does indeed spoil me.

Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Earbuds

I love these earbuds, something Shalee realized rather quickly as she noticed me watching review after review on YouTube about them and how they were the best earbuds out there. While I’m not an audiophile, I had still not jumped onto the wireless earbuds bandwagon back in 2020, a full four years after Apple had exploded onto the scene with their Airpods.

But I had wanted to dip my toe into the wireless earbuds lake, thus the many hours of me watching reviews.

And then Shalee surprised me.

Four years later I still use them. They live within my work bag for those handful of times I need to go into the office (or when I pop them in to listen to Bandcamp Friday purchases late at night when Shalee is sleeping next to me). Without them I would be lost because I am one of those people that needs to listen to music while working. Honestly, I don’t know how one works on soulcrushing emails (like most work) without some form of music piping through one’s ears. I can’t do it.

Admittedly, these buds are getting a bit long in the tooth, and sure, I wistfully gaze upon the WF-1000XM5s on occasion, but when I find something that works, and works well, I stick with it until it no longer works.

Sure the XM4/5s may be a lot smaller, that’s to be expected with the way technology goes, but these XM3s still sound GREAT.

They’re actually pretty good for taking calls as well. When I was working remote for COVID I tried to use my Sony headphones, and while they sound amazing, its mic for phone calls leaves a lot to be desired. Not so with the WF-1000XM3s. I can’t tell you how many calls I connected to with my phone using those buds so that I could be mobile around the house while discussing work bullshit.

And while I do not use them nearly as often as I used to for work reasons, when I do use them for personal reasons I am instantly reminded every time I fire them up how good they sound.

I love these earbuds and will keep using them until they no longer work.

And then, maybe, I’ll upgrade to the XM5s or whatever else Sony has out.

But for the time being these are my ride-or-die buds four years in and I couldn’t be happier with their performance.

Gear ¹

• Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds

© 2024 Michael A. Diaz