Sony WF1000XM4/S
JBL Live Buds 3
What Buyers Say
Sony WF1000XM4/S
The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds receive mixed feedback. Sound quality and noise cancellation are praised, but battery issues and fit problems are common complaints. Some users experienced severe battery drain and charging inconsistencies, while others found the earbuds uncomfortable or had connectivity issues with PCs. A few reviews mention earwax on refurbished units and wrong color delivery.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Great noise cancellation
- Good battery life
- Comfortable fit for some
- Useful tap controls
Cons
- Battery drain issues
- Charging inconsistencies
- Uncomfortable for some
- Poor PC connectivity
- Earwax on refurbished units
JBL Live Buds 3
The JBL Live Buds 3 receive praise for their excellent sound quality, effective ANC, and comfortable fit. Users appreciate the customizable case screen and useful features like ambient aware and talk-through. However, significant complaints include poor charging case battery life, random disconnections, and misleading battery life claims. Some users also report issues with connectivity to non-phone devices like Garmin watches.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Effective active noise cancellation
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Customizable case screen
- Useful ambient aware and talk-through modes
Cons
- Poor charging case battery life
- Random disconnections and connectivity issues
- Misleading battery life claims
- Ambient aware mode auto-enables
- Case battery drains quickly when idle
Scores
Specifications
| Sony WF1000XM4/S | JBL Live Buds 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | — | XS, S, M, L |
| Weight | 0.13 kg | 0.08 kg★ |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 6 mm | 10 mm★ |
| Drivers | — | 1★ |
| Freq Min | — | 20 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | — | 40 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 140 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | — | 103 dB★ |
| Max SPL | — | 97 dB★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codecs | LDAC | SBC, AAC |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | — | adaptive |
| Transparency | — | ✓★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.3★ |
| Profiles | — | A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6, HFP 1.8 |
| Multipoint | — | ✓★ |
| Wired Connector | — | Bluetooth 5 |
| Range | — | 9.100000381469727 m★ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | — | 10 hrs★ |
| Charge Time | — | 2 hrs★ |
| Fast Charging | — | 10 Minutes for 4 Hours |
| Charging | — | USB-C★ |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | — | 30 hrs★ |
| Case Charging | — | USB-C★ |
| Wireless Charging | — | ✓★ |
| Capacity | — | 60 mAh★ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | — | 6★ |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | — | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa |
| Touch Controls | — | ✓★ |
| App | — | JBL Headphones |
| Gaming Mode | — | ✗ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | — | IP55 |
Pros & Cons
Sony WF1000XM4/S
- Strong sound (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong anc (73rd percentile)
- Strong comfort (72nd percentile)
- Strong mic (67th percentile)
- Below average battery (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average build (34th percentile)
JBL Live Buds 3
- Strong connectivity (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Sony WF1000XM4/S
JBL Live Buds 3
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 81 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 20 of 40 specs.