Sony’s new wireless earbuds will kill the noise around you

Sony’s ruffled some feathers in the world of noise cancelling headphones with its latest top model, the WH-1000XM3, and now the company has shrunk the same tech to create a pair of wireless earbuds called the WF-1000XM3. 

Barring the inexplicably similar name, the new buds are very different from the WH-1000XM3, which are classic over-the-ear cans. The WF-1000XM3 are smallish earbuds which are truly wireless and come with an AirPods-style charging case. 

But the two models share a very important feature: They both have Sony’s QN1e HD noise cancelling chip, which has shown to be very good at blocking outside noise. It works together with two built-in microphones, which catch the ambient sounds around you, which the processor then cancels out with an inverted sound wave. 

With noise cancelling and Bluetooth turned on, the WF-1000XM3 earbuds offer six hours of battery life, but that can be extended to 24 hours thanks to the extra three charges from the battery case. 

The buds also have a proximity sensor that will automatically stop playback once you remove one bud from your ear, as well as touch controls for noise-cancelling and playback. 

Sony says the WF-1000XM3s will arrive this August for $230. They will be available in silver and black.