Beats Powerbeats Fit vs Sony WF-1000XM6 | TechTalkTown
Beats Powerbeats Fit vs Sony WF-1000XM6
Beats Powerbeats Fit
Beats
7.7
Good
Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony
8.4
Best-in-class ANC, stagnant battery
Beats Powerbeats Fit
What Reviewers Agree On
The redesigned wingtips are more flexible and comfortable — the most secure fit in any sport earbud
Smaller, lighter case with IPX4 rating is a genuine improvement over the Fit Pro
Punchy, bass-forward Beats sound signature works excellently for workout motivation
Cross-platform compatibility (iOS + Android) with consistent features on both
Deal Breakers
Uses the aging H1 chip instead of H2 — misses Conversation Awareness, Hearing Health features
Pros & Cons
Beats Powerbeats Fit
Pros
The redesigned wingtips are more flexible and comfortable — the most secure fit in any sport earbud
Smaller, lighter case with IPX4 rating is a genuine improvement over the Fit Pro
Punchy, bass-forward Beats sound signature works excellently for workout motivation
Cross-platform compatibility (iOS + Android) with consistent features on both
Cons
Detailed Comparison
Sound Quality
Beats Powerbeats Fit
Classic Beats bass-forward tuning that excels at workout motivation but may lack nuance for critical listening.
The custom 9.5mm drivers deliver punchy, energetic bass that makes workout playlists hit harder — exactly what you want during a run
Mids and treble are recessed compared to Sony and Sennheiser — vocals and acoustic instruments lack detail and presence
Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking works well for Apple Music Dolby Atmos content — adds genuine dimension
Adaptive EQ adjusts to your ear shape automatically, which helps consistency, but there is no manual EQ in the Beats app
Sony WF-1000XM6
All-new drivers plus Sony's LDAC/DSEE Extreme and a deep EQ app draw strong praise, though a vocal minority argues the tuning still trails the best-sounding rivals in the price class.
TechTalkTown may earn a commission from purchases made through links below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not influence our reviews. Learn more.
No wireless charging on the case is a surprising omission at this price in 2025
No heart rate sensor despite being positioned as workout earbuds (Powerbeats Pro 2 has one)
Sony WF-1000XM6
What Reviewers Agree On
Class-leading active noise cancellation — Sony's QN3e processor and added mics give ~88% measured loudness reduction, modestly ahead of the XM5 and only just behind the AirPods Pro 3
Excellent, customisable sound with LDAC, DSEE Extreme and one of the deepest EQ apps in the category
Much-improved comfort: the body is ~11% smaller and reshaped, with an in-app fit test, so it can be worn for hours
Significantly better call/microphone quality than previous Sony earbuds
A smaller, sleeker charging case with Qi wireless charging and ~3-5 min quick-charge for ~60 min playback
Stable multipoint Bluetooth to any two devices regardless of ecosystem
Deal Breakers
Battery life is unchanged for three generations — still 8h ANC-on / 24h with case, with real-world figures often 6-7h
Price rose to $329/$330, a $30 hike over the XM5 for incremental gains
Top ANC and sound depend heavily on getting a good ear-tip seal — a poor fit noticeably degrades both
Sony's track record of battery degradation and update-bricked older models (XM4) is a real trust concern for long-term buyers
Uses the aging H1 chip instead of H2 — misses Conversation Awareness, Hearing Health features
No wireless charging on the case is a surprising omission at this price in 2025
No heart rate sensor despite being positioned as workout earbuds (Powerbeats Pro 2 has one)
Sony WF-1000XM6
Pros
Class-leading active noise cancellation — Sony's QN3e processor and added mics give ~88% measured loudness reduction, modestly ahead of the XM5 and only just behind the AirPods Pro 3
Excellent, customisable sound with LDAC, DSEE Extreme and one of the deepest EQ apps in the category
Much-improved comfort: the body is ~11% smaller and reshaped, with an in-app fit test, so it can be worn for hours
Significantly better call/microphone quality than previous Sony earbuds
A smaller, sleeker charging case with Qi wireless charging and ~3-5 min quick-charge for ~60 min playback
Stable multipoint Bluetooth to any two devices regardless of ecosystem
Cons
Battery life is unchanged for three generations — still 8h ANC-on / 24h with case, with real-world figures often 6-7h
Price rose to $329/$330, a $30 hike over the XM5 for incremental gains
Top ANC and sound depend heavily on getting a good ear-tip seal — a poor fit noticeably degrades both
Sony's track record of battery degradation and update-bricked older models (XM4) is a real trust concern for long-term buyers
All-new drivers (a soft-edge diaphragm for deep bass, a lightweight dome for crisp highs) deliver excellent, wide-range sound.
The driver grew from 6mm to 8.4mm; sound is good though not immediately 'blown away' impressive out of the box.
Sony retains one of the best EQ/customisation suites in the category, letting you dial in a personal sound profile.
Among the best Bluetooth earbuds this reviewer has heard, on par with the latest AirPods Pro for sound and ANC.
Dissent: despite the consensus, these are not the best-sounding ANC earbuds in their price category — historically Sony's XM line has been among the weaker-sounding flagship ANC sets.
iPhone users are limited to AAC — Sony's LDAC hi-res codec only works on Android, capping the sound ceiling on iOS.
Owner view: the WF-1000XM5 already sounded excellent, so the sonic gains are subtle generation-to-generation.
