Apple AirPods Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Sennheiser Momentum TWS 3: After Review, we pick our WINNER

In 2022, Apple continues to sell the AirPods Pro unchanged ever since its launch back in 2019. It was considered to be the gold standard of premium wireless TWS earphones, and its ANC system continues to be the best of any class. However, Sennheiser came up with its Momentum True Wireless 3 earphones a while ago while Sony’s WF-1000XM4 continues to be a popular alternative in the premium space. We reviewed all three and were left impressed by all of them, although they are vastly different in the way they are set up.

Hence, if you have almost Rs. 25,000 to spend on a pair of premium TWS earphones in 2022, which one should you choose? Luckily, we have all these three at our disposal and hence, decided to pit them against each other. After weeks of usage, we evaluated them on the basis of multiple parameters and here is our winner.

ALSO READ: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Review

Design

To be honest, earphone design is a subjective choice, as some of you may like the stem design of the AirPods Pro, while others may prefer the in-ear design of the Sony and Sennheiser earbuds. All of them are built well but it is the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 that grabs attention with its fabric-covered case, and stealthy earbuds. The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds look classy with the gold accents but the case looks bland and the build quality isn’t as great. The Apple AirPods Pro looks and feels dated with its all-white design, but is built nicely.

Comfort

In-ear comfort varies from person to person. In my case, we found the Sony WF-1000XM4 to be the most comfortable one to wear. It doesn’t dislodge easily and wearing it for long hours isn’t an issue with the Sony. The AirPods Pro fit easily but doesn’t stay in while talking. The Sennheiser earbuds are too big in size but its fin helps keep it inside the ear — it can also hurt the earlobes after a while.

Audio performance

All these three have varying styles of audio signature. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is all about natural sound with a supremely balanced setup, while the Sony WF-1000XM4 does the same with some low-end grunt, and healthy serving of bass. The Apple AirPods Pro sits in-between these two — not too balanced, and not too bass-focused. Of the three, I found it to have the least desirable audio signature.

ANC and Transparency

The AirPods Pro does the best Transparency while the Sony WF-1000XM4 does the best ANC performance. The Sennheiser does either of them decently but not with a standout performance.

Smart Features

The AirPods Pro could have won here by a mega margin; thanks to its supreme integration with all things Apple, and the overall ease of use. However, it becomes a mere Bluetooth TWS earbuds with Android. Considering that, it is the Sony WF-1000XM4 that is the smartest of the lot on both Android and iOS. From Adaptive ANC to command over codecs, you get a lot to play with. Plus, the Sony companion app is full of features to give you the most amount of information. The Sennheiser Momentum TWS 3 doesn’t have as many bells and whistles but has the best designed app, with ease of use in focus. You can do an ear-fit test, tweak the ANC and transparency levels, and so on.

Battery Life

The Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 have almost the same amount of battery life, i.e., they go on for an entire week if you use your earphones for 3-4 hours on an average, that too with ANC. The Apple AirPods Pro runs out faster in comparison. All three support wireless charging but the AirPods Pro relies on the Apple Lightning charger for wired charging — the Sony and Sennheiser come with the easy-to-find USB-C based chargers.

Price

The Sony WF-1000XM4 will set you back by Rs. 19,990, which makes it the most affordable of the lot. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 carries a mighty higher price of Rs. 21,990. This then makes the Apple AirPods Pro the most expensive one of the lot, costing Rs. 26,300.

Conclusion

The Apple AirPods Pro has always been the easy pick, considering its good audio and vast array of iPhone-locked smart features. And that is the problem with the AirPods Pro — it needs an iPhone and the Apple ecosystem to be in its elements. Additionally, its age of three years also puts it at a considerable disadvantage when you are concerned about its audio performance.

This leaves us with the Sony WF-1000XM4 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. The Sennheiser is tuned for purists who seek the ultimate balance and refinement above anything else — it appeals to a niche category of people. It looks good too, is beautifully built, and is comfortable to wear.

ALSO READ: Sony WF-1000XM4 Review: If you love music, get this now

The Sony WF-1000XM4 is the exact opposite — tuned for everyone. To a casual listener, it is the Sony WF-1000XM4 that appeals the most, especially with its low-end performance . Coupled with the vast array of smart features and the lowest price of the three, the Sony WF-1000XM4 is our winner here but only by a slight margin over the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.