Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2

What separates them

Price history

• Sony WF-1000XM6: lowest $298.00 on Nov 2 at Walmart; $298.00 on Nov 3.
• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: lowest $169.00 on Oct 31 at Best Buy; $169.00 on Nov 3.

Prices at every store

Specs compared

Questions and answers

Which has better noise cancellation?

The Sony WF-1000XM6 has the edge. Its QN3e processor is 3x faster than the QN2e in the WF-1000XM5, and reviewers rate its ANC top-tier. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 uses Silent Seal 2.0 on the Tensor A1 chip and reviewers call its ANC effective.

Which lasts longer on a charge?

The Pixel Buds Pro 2. It gives up to 12 hours per charge without ANC and 48 hours total, or 8 hours and 30 hours with ANC on. The Sony gives 8 hours per charge and 24 hours total.

Is the Sony worth $51 more?

Yes if sound quality and noise cancellation come first. You get LDAC hi-res audio, a faster QN3e chip and reviewers' strongest praise for sound. If you want battery life and a lower price, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 wins.

Which is better for a Pixel or Android phone?

The Pixel Buds Pro 2. It has Fast Pair, Google Assistant and tight Pixel integration. The Sony works well on Android too, but its ecosystem features are not Google-specific.

Which is better for iPhone?

The Sony WF-1000XM6. It is listed as optimized for both Android and Apple users, and its sound and ANC strengths carry over. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 works on iOS but loses its Google-specific features.

Which is lighter and easier to carry?

The Pixel Buds Pro 2. Each earbud weighs 5.3 g and the case weighs 44 g. The Sony case is 3.3 inches deep, and buyers complain the case design is not appealing.