Sony WF-1000XM6 dupes and alternatives: 8 cheaper noise-cancelling earbuds, scored
The WF-1000XM6 is Sony's answer to everything above $300, and at $329.99 it lists above both AirPods Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro. Sony publishes most of what matters - 8 hours with noise cancelling on, 6.5 g per bud, multipoint, wireless charging, an 8.4 mm driver - but only IPX4, and no noise-cancelling figure for the case.
By DupeMap editorialUpdated Scored from published specs, not from testing
The premium pick
Sony WF-1000XM6 Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Of the 8 alternatives we mapped, the Soundcore Liberty 5 matches the most of what the Sony WF-1000XM6 offers (95% DupeScore). The biggest list-price saving is the EarFun Air Pro 4, $240 (73%) below the Sony WF-1000XM6.
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The dupe map
Every stop is a cheaper way to get what the Sony WF-1000XM6 does. The % on each pin is how much of the Sony WF-1000XM6’s published spec sheet it matches or beats.
What the % means: the share of the Sony WF-1000XM6’s published specs an alternative matches or beats. 85% = it equals or beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on 85% of what matters.
80%+ close match60–79% partialunder 60% looseHow we score →
The best score against the XM6 here, at $200 less: the same 8 hours with noise cancelling on, multipoint, 4.6 g per bud against 6.5, IP55 against IPX4, and a 9.2 mm driver against 8.4. It also publishes 32 hours with the case, a figure Sony does not give. Soundcore does not say whether the case charges wirelessly.
What’s the catch?
Nothing, on the specs both makers publish. It matches or beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on every one.
Not published by Soundcore, so unproven: Wireless charging case.
Beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on
Weight per earbud: 4.6 g vs 6.5 g
Water rating (IPx): 5 vs 4
Bluetooth: 5.4 vs 5.3
Driver: 9.2 mm vs 8.4 mm
Just as good on
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on
Holds two devices at once
Soundcore does not publish Wireless charging case, so that spec scores half credit instead of a full match.
For a quarter of the price: 7.5 hours with noise cancelling on against 8, multipoint, a wireless charging case, IPX5 against IPX4 and a 10 mm driver against 8.4. EarFun publishes 35 hours with the case; it does not publish a per-bud weight. $240 less.
What’s the catch?
1 thing the EarFun Air Pro 4 does worse than the Sony WF-1000XM6. Tick what you can live without.
No dealbreakers for you: it does everything else as well or better.
Not published by EarFun, so unproven: Weight per earbud.
Beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on
Water rating (IPx): 5 vs 4
Bluetooth: 5.4 vs 5.3
Driver: 10 mm vs 8.4 mm
Just as good on
Holds two devices at once
Wireless charging case
EarFun does not publish Weight per earbud, so that spec scores half credit instead of a full match.
Sony's own budget pair: half an hour more per charge with noise cancelling on, 2 g lighter per bud and the same multipoint and IPX4, for $200 less. You give up the wireless charging case, LDAC, and driver size - 5.1 mm against 8.4.
What’s the catch?
2 things the Sony WF-C710N does worse than the Sony WF-1000XM6. Tick what you can live without.
No dealbreakers for you: it does everything else as well or better.
Beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on: 8.5 hr vs 8 hr
Weight per earbud: 4.5 g vs 6.5 g
Just as good on
Holds two devices at once
Water rating (IPx)
Bluetooth
Compare every spec, side by side
Spec
Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony WF-C710N
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on
8 hr
8.5 hr
Total with case, noise cancelling on
Not listed
Not listed
Weight per earbud
6.5 g
4.5 g
Holds two devices at once
Yes
Yes
Wireless charging case
Yes
No
Water rating (IPx)
4
4
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
Driver
8.4 mm
5.1 mm
Codecs listed
SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
SBC, AAC
Spec source: www.sony.com
· list price checked Oct 5, 2026
The other $300 pair, $31 less. Same multipoint, wireless charging case, IPX4 and Bluetooth 5.3, but each charge is 6 hours with noise cancelling on against 8 and each bud is heavier, 7.3 g against 6.5. Bose publishes no driver size or case total.
What’s the catch?
2 things the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen does worse than the Sony WF-1000XM6. Tick what you can live without.
No dealbreakers for you: it does everything else as well or better.
Not published by Bose, so unproven: Driver.
Just as good on
Holds two devices at once
Wireless charging case
Water rating (IPx)
Bluetooth
Bose does not publish Driver, so that spec scores half credit instead of a full match.
Compare every spec, side by side
Spec
Sony WF-1000XM6
Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on
8 hr
6 hr
Total with case, noise cancelling on
Not listed
Not listed
Weight per earbud
6.5 g
7.3 g
Holds two devices at once
Yes
Yes
Wireless charging case
Yes
Yes
Water rating (IPx)
4
4
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
Driver
8.4 mm
Not listed
Codecs listed
SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
Not listed
Spec source: www.bose.com
· list price checked Oct 5, 2026
$249
$81 less (25%)
vs Sony WF-1000XM6Lists 73% of scored specs
86%spec matchof the Sony WF-1000XM6
Lighter at 5.55 g a bud against 6.5, rated IP57 against IPX4, the same 8 hours with noise cancelling on and the same wireless charging, for $81 less. Apple does not list Bluetooth multipoint, or a driver size.
What’s the catch?
Nothing, on the specs both makers publish. It matches or beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on every one.
Not published by Apple, so unproven: Holds two devices at once and Driver.
Beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on
Weight per earbud: 5.55 g vs 6.5 g
Water rating (IPx): 7 vs 4
Just as good on
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on
Wireless charging case
Bluetooth
Apple does not publish Holds two devices at once and Driver, so those specs score half credit instead of a full match.
Compare every spec, side by side
Spec
Sony WF-1000XM6
AirPods Pro 3
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on
8 hr
8 hr
Total with case, noise cancelling on
Not listed
24 hr
Weight per earbud
6.5 g
5.55 g
Holds two devices at once
Yes
Not listed
Wireless charging case
Yes
Yes
Water rating (IPx)
4
7
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
Driver
8.4 mm
Not listed
Codecs listed
SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
Not listed
Spec source: www.apple.com
· list price checked Oct 5, 2026
$249.99
$80 less (24%)
vs Sony WF-1000XM6Lists 73% of scored specs
80%spec matchof the Sony WF-1000XM6
Lighter at 5.1 g per bud, rated IP57 against IPX4, Bluetooth 6.1 against 5.3, and a case that charges wirelessly, for $80 less. Each charge is shorter - 6 hours with noise cancelling on against 8 - and Samsung lists Auto Switch between its own devices rather than Bluetooth multipoint.
What’s the catch?
1 thing the Galaxy Buds4 Pro does worse than the Sony WF-1000XM6. Tick what you can live without.
No dealbreakers for you: it does everything else as well or better.
Not published by Samsung, so unproven: Holds two devices at once and Driver.
Beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on
Weight per earbud: 5.1 g vs 6.5 g
Water rating (IPx): 7 vs 4
Bluetooth: 6.1 vs 5.3
Just as good on
Wireless charging case
Samsung does not publish Holds two devices at once and Driver, so those specs score half credit instead of a full match.
Compare every spec, side by side
Spec
Sony WF-1000XM6
Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on
8 hr
6 hr
Total with case, noise cancelling on
Not listed
26 hr
Weight per earbud
6.5 g
5.1 g
Holds two devices at once
Yes
Not listed
Wireless charging case
Yes
Yes
Water rating (IPx)
4
7
Bluetooth
5.3
6.1
Driver
8.4 mm
Not listed
Codecs listed
SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
AAC, SBC, SSC, SSC-UHQ, LC3
Spec source: www.samsung.com
· list price checked Oct 5, 2026
$149.99
$180 less (55%)
vs Sony WF-1000XM6Lists 64% of scored specs
75%spec matchof the Sony WF-1000XM6
Samsung's budget pair, $180 less: 1.5 g lighter per bud and Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.3, with 24 hours of noise cancelling with the case. Each charge is 6 hours against 8, and Samsung does not list multipoint, wireless charging or a driver size.
What’s the catch?
1 thing the Galaxy Buds3 FE does worse than the Sony WF-1000XM6. Tick what you can live without.
No dealbreakers for you: it does everything else as well or better.
Not published by Samsung, so unproven: Holds two devices at once, Wireless charging case and Driver.
Beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on
Weight per earbud: 5 g vs 6.5 g
Bluetooth: 5.4 vs 5.3
Just as good on
Water rating (IPx)
Samsung does not publish Holds two devices at once, Wireless charging case and Driver, so those specs score half credit instead of a full match.
Compare every spec, side by side
Spec
Sony WF-1000XM6
Galaxy Buds3 FE
Battery per charge, noise cancelling on
8 hr
6 hr
Total with case, noise cancelling on
Not listed
24 hr
Weight per earbud
6.5 g
5 g
Holds two devices at once
Yes
Not listed
Wireless charging case
Yes
Not listed
Water rating (IPx)
4
4
Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
Driver
8.4 mm
Not listed
Codecs listed
SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
AAC, SBC, SSC
Spec source: www.samsung.com
· list price checked Oct 5, 2026
$169.99
$160 less (48%)
vs Sony WF-1000XM6Lists 55% of scored specs
70%spec matchof the Sony WF-1000XM6
1.5 g lighter per bud and the same IPX4, with 24 hours of noise cancelling with the case, for $160 less. Each charge is 6 hours against 8, and Beats does not list multipoint, wireless charging, a Bluetooth version or a driver size, so much of this one is unproven.
What’s the catch?
1 thing the Beats Studio Buds + does worse than the Sony WF-1000XM6. Tick what you can live without.
No dealbreakers for you: it does everything else as well or better.
Not published by Beats, so unproven: Holds two devices at once, Wireless charging case, Bluetooth and Driver.
Beats the Sony WF-1000XM6 on
Weight per earbud: 5 g vs 6.5 g
Just as good on
Water rating (IPx)
Beats does not publish Holds two devices at once, Wireless charging case, Bluetooth and Driver, so those specs score half credit instead of a full match.
Better than the Sony WF-1000XM6 Worse Not listed by the maker
How this page was scored
Every pair here cancels noise; the differences that show up in daily use are smaller and more specific. How many hours a bud lasts with noise cancelling on before it goes back in the case, how much the case adds, whether the pair will hold your laptop and your phone at once, how much water it is rated to survive, and whether the case charges on a pad.
Specs are weighted by how much they matter for a noise-cancelling earbud. An alternative earns full credit for matching or beating the Sony WF-1000XM6 on a spec, a proportional share where it falls short, and half credit for a spec its maker does not list. Models that list too few specs to compare fairly are left off. Read the full method.
Savings use maker or named-retailer list prices on the date shown. Amazon prices, where shown, are labelled with the time they were fetched. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Rankings are computed, never soldOrder comes out of the DupeScore calculation. There is no sponsored slot, no pay-to-appear, and no brand has ever been given a say in where it lands.
Every number links to its sourceEach spec comes from the sheet the maker published, linked on the page, with the date the price was checked next to it.
We say what we do not knowA spec a maker never published is shown as not listed and scored at half credit. Nothing is estimated, guessed or filled in to make a table look complete.
Independent of every brand hereDupeMap is not owned by, funded by or affiliated with any brand on the map. No free samples, no briefings, no pre-publication review.
Questions people ask
What is the closest alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM6?
On published specs, the Soundcore Liberty 5 Noise-Cancelling Earbuds scores 95% against the Sony WF-1000XM6 Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, and beats it on weight per earbud, water rating (IPx), bluetooth and driver.
What is the cheapest Sony WF-1000XM6 alternative?
By maker list price, the EarFun Air Pro 4 Adaptive ANC True Wireless Earbuds at $89.99 against $329.99 for the Sony WF-1000XM6 (checked Oct 5, 2026). Prices change; check the current price before buying.
Which Sony WF-1000XM6 alternative has the longest battery?
The Sony WF-C710N Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, with 8.5 hr against the Sony WF-1000XM6's 8 hr.
Which Sony WF-1000XM6 alternative is the lightest?
The Sony WF-C710N Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, with 4.5 g against the Sony WF-1000XM6's 6.5 g.
How is the Sony WF-1000XM6 DupeScore calculated?
Each alternative is scored on the specs Sony publishes for the Sony WF-1000XM6, weighted by how much they matter for a noise-cancelling earbud. Matching or beating a spec earns full credit, falling short earns a proportional share, and a spec the rival does not list earns half. Total with case, noise cancelling on is not listed for the Sony WF-1000XM6, so it is left out of the score.
Are these prices from Amazon?
The prices used for savings and scores are not: they are the maker's or a named retailer's list price on the date shown. Where an Amazon button shows a price, that one is Amazon's current price, labelled with the time it was fetched.
