Device hub · Headphones · Desk research
Sony WH-1000XM3
XM3 is the used-market QN1 original: 40 mm LCP, LDAC + aptX HD, 255 g, a 30/38-hour music table, and a real fold.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedSony WH-1000XM3
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not a Sony asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedNumeric rows come from Sony’s published specification sheet, not from a photo.
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not a Sony asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
In short
XM3 is the used-market QN1 original: 40 mm LCP, LDAC + aptX HD, 255 g, a 30/38-hour music table, and a real fold. Buy it used when fold + QN1 history is the job — not for XM4 multipoint, XM5’s 30 mm swivel-flat, or XM6’s QN3/LC3.
Who it is for
- Used-market shoppers who want the first QN1 1000X with a 40 mm LCP driver and a folding case.
- Owners already on XM3 who need an honest 2026 OEM record before an XM3 vs XM4 vs-page exists.
- Android buyers who still want LDAC plus aptX HD on a leftover Sony can.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants multipoint. Multi Device Connection arrives on XM4 — do not invent it here.
- People who think XM3 is the current 1000X. Sony’s current flagship is WH-1000XM6.
- Buyers who need Bluetooth 5.x or LC3. This sheet is Bluetooth 4.2.
Key differentiators
- This is the SKU that introduced QN1. Sony’s 2018 press called the processor ~4× the prior generation.
- 40 mm aluminum-coated LCP dome — same driver class as XM4, a generation larger than XM5/XM6’s 30 mm.
- Codec table includes aptX and aptX HD as well as LDAC. XM4 dropped the aptX pair on Sony’s later sheets.
- Folds (swivel-fold). 30 hours NC on / 38 hours NC off. 10 minutes ≈ 5 hours with the optional adapter (Sony product copy).
Caveats
- Every battery and “industry-leading ANC” line is a Sony claim. GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested XM3.
- 2026 used prices are not the 2018 $349.99 launch MSRP. Date whichever number you quote.
- Sony product photography is not hosted here.
Headphone-category specs
Same rows on every over-ear page (Sony 1000X, Bose QC Ultra, AirPods Max, Momentum, and later Px / Studio pages).
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Closed, dynamic; around-ear / circumaural | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Drivers | 40 mm dome, CCAW voice coil, neodymium magnet, aluminum-coated LCP diaphragm | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Frequency response | 4–40,000 Hz; Bluetooth 20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz) or 20–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz / 990 kbps) | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Impedance | 47 ohm (1 kHz) via cable with unit on; 16 ohm (1 kHz) with unit off | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Sensitivity / SPL | 104.5 dB/mW (1 kHz) via cable with unit on; 101 dB/mW with unit off | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Active noise cancellation | HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1; Dual Noise Sensor; atmospheric-pressure optimizing | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications; Sony US press 2018-08-30 |
| Awareness / transparency | Ambient Sound Control; Quick Attention | Sony WH-1000XM3 feature set |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC | Sony WH-1000XM3 US specificationsNo LC3. aptX/aptX HD are on this generation’s US sheet — later 1000X sheets drop them. |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth Specification Version 4.2 | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Multipoint | Not offered on this generation. Multi Device Connection arrives on WH-1000XM4 | Sony 1000X feature lineage (XM3 sheet does not list Multi Device Connection) |
| Battery — playback (OEM) | Max. 30 hours music (NC ON), max. 38 hours (NC OFF). Standby max. 30 hours (NC ON), 200 hours (NC OFF) | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Charging (OEM) | USB, approx. 3 hours full. Sony product copy: 10 minutes ≈ 5 hours with the optional AC adapter | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications / product copy |
| Wired audio | Detachable approx. 1.2 m OFC cable; gold-plated stereo mini plug; passive operation Yes | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Weight | Approx. 255 g (US sheet: 8.99 oz) | Sony WH-1000XM3 specification sheet |
| Fold / travel | Swivel foldable structure. Ear cups fold into the supplied carrying case | Sony WH-1000XM3 product / specification (swivel foldable) |
| Companion app | Sony | Sound Connect (formerly Headphones Connect) | Sony current app branding |
| Microphones / calls | Dual Noise Sensor microphones feeding QN1 (Sony product copy). Count not itemized as a single integer on the 2018 spec block | Sony WH-1000XM3 product copy |
| Voice assistant | Google Assistant (2018 press). Phone assistants via the connected device; Alexa arrived later on the 1000X line | Sony US press, 2018-08-30 |
| Water / sweat resistance | Not published | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| Finishes | Black and Silver at US launch | Sony US press / product lineage |
| Device compatibility | Bluetooth audio devices. NFC listed on regional sheets. LDAC / aptX HD need a compatible source. | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| US MSRP (launch) | $349.99 (30 August 2018). Authorized retail from September 2018 | Sony Electronics US press, 2018-08-30 |
| Price band | Legacy flagship leftover (launch $350; 2026 used often low) | Derived from $349.99 launch |
| Announced | 30 August 2018 | Sony Electronics US press |
| Availability | US retail from September 2018; used / leftover as of 19 September 2026 | Sony US press; live support specifications |
Sony WH-1000XM3 extras
Unique to this line or SKU. Other over-ears keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 | QN1 with built-in analogue amplifier — the processor XM4/XM5 also used as the XM6 contrast baseline. 2018 press: ~4× prior-generation NC processor performance (Sony claim) | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications; Sony US press 2018-08-30 |
| DSEE HX | Yes | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| NFC | Yes on sheets that print the NFC row | Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications |
| In the box | Headset; USB cable; 1.2 m audio cable; carrying case; in-flight adapter on some packs | Sony WH-1000XM3 specification / accessory list |
Overview
WH-1000XM3 is the August 2018 folding 1000X that introduced QN1. Sony’s support sheet is still the 2026 source of truth: 40 mm LCP driver, Bluetooth 4.2, SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX HD/LDAC, 255 g, 30/38-hour music table, swivel-fold case.
First table: headphones-v1. Sibling hubs: XM4, XM5, XM6.
Battery (OEM)
| Mode (Sony’s words) | XM3 claim |
|---|---|
| Music, NC ON | Max. 30 hours |
| Music, NC OFF | Max. 38 hours |
| Standby, NC OFF | Max. 200 hours |
| Full charge | Approx. 3 hours |
| Quick charge (product copy) | 10 minutes ≈ 5 hours |
Sources
- Sony USA — WH-1000XM3 specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Sony Electronics US press — WH-1000XM3 launch and $349.99 — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does XM3 fold?
Yes. Sony’s product copy marks a swivel-foldable structure. That is the leftover travel reason people still compare XM3 with later 1000X cans.
Does XM3 have multipoint?
No. Keep the headphones-v1 `multipoint` key and write that Multi Device Connection arrives on XM4.
How is Bluetooth different from XM4?
XM3’s sheet is Bluetooth 4.2 with SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX HD/LDAC. XM4 is Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC/AAC/LDAC (no aptX on Sony’s later XM4 sheet).
Is $349.99 what it costs today?
That is the 2018 US launch MSRP. Used tickets are a different number. Date whichever you cite.
Where are the later 1000X hubs?
/headphones/sony-wh-1000xm4/, /headphones/sony-wh-1000xm5/, and /headphones/sony-wh-1000xm6/. No named-pair vs-page ships in this PR.
Official product page: Sony WH-1000XM3. Tech specs: Sony WH-1000XM3 specs.