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The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 sits open on rough concrete outside.
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Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 review

Sennheiser picks up where it left off and greatly improves the noise canceling on its flagship wireless earphones.
By
May 1, 2023
SoundGuys recommended badge
8.1
Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3
The bottom line
Sennheiser proves that you can pack great sound and active noise canceling (ANC) into a sturdy built set of earbuds, but at a price. This latest flagship, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, is pretty much capable of meeting or exceeding expectations for most tasks you throw at it.
SoundGuys recommended badge

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3

Sennheiser proves that you can pack great sound and active noise canceling (ANC) into a sturdy built set of earbuds, but at a price. This latest flagship, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, is pretty much capable of meeting or exceeding expectations for most tasks you throw at it.
Release date

April 25, 2022

Price

Original: $249.95 USD

Dimensions

10mm to 15mm (ear tips)

Weight

77.6g (case and earbuds)

Model Number

509180, 509181, 700074

Waterproof
What we like
Good sound with interchangeable ear tips and ear fins
Bluetooth 5.2; aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC
Good noise canceling
Sound Zones is useful
Wireless and USB-C charging with fast charge
IPX4 rating
What we don't like
Price is high
EQ tool is only okay
Connection is not as stable as expected
Mic could be better
8.1
SoundGuys Rating
8
User Rating
Rating Metric
Our Rating
User Rating
Sound Quality
9.5
8.8
9.0
Bass
9.8
9.1
9.0
Midrange
9.8
8.7
9.0
Highs
8.8
8.8
9.0
Isolation / Attenuation
9.5
7.8
8.0
Active Noise Cancelling
8.4
7.3
7.0
Durability / Build Quality
8.2
8.0
8.0
Value
6.0
7.3
7.0
Design
7.0
8.5
9.0
Connectivity
9.0
7.2
7.0
Microphone
5.9
7.4
7.0
Portability
8.3
7.7
8.0
Battery Life
5.9
7.6
8.0
Feature
8.2
8.0
8.0
Comfort
7.7
7.4
7.0

The pressure is on when any company releases a new flagship product, and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 has a lot of expectations to live up to, from sound quality to active noise canceling (ANC). With an already strong lineup of wireless earbuds and headphones, Sennheiser adds a bunch of extras to bolster the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. We tested the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 for about a week, so here’s the rundown.

Editor’s note: this Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 review was updated on May 1, 2023, to add the Sony LinkBuds S and Google Pixel Buds Pro as alternatives, and to answer a FAQ about mono listening.

About this Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 review: We tested the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 over a period of one week. It was running firmware version 2.3.9. The company provided the unit for this review.

People with money to burn will enjoy the good sound and customization in the Sennheiser Smart Control app. Consumers who want all of the conveniences of wireless earbuds will like the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3.

What’s it like to use the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3?

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 (or MTW3) represents an iterative update to the MOMENTUM True Wireless 2. It comes in a tweed-covered case with a USB-C charging connection (and USB-C cable), and four sets of silicone ear tips, which range from 10-15mm in diameter. Like the popular Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen), the MTW3 ships with three sets of silicone wings that wrap around the outer edges of the buds to lock in the fit. I use the 11mm (size small) set of ear tips and the largest stabilizers. Pleasingly, the ear tips are the most hassle-free to swap out I’ve ever experienced: they just fit over the 7mm earbud nozzles. You don’t have to exert any force trying to get them on. The same goes for the stabilizers.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 earbuds rest on rough concrete, showing the inside and outer housings.
Our test set is the Graphite colorway, but there are White and Black options too.

The MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 is a bit chunky and the case is a bit heavier than it looks, but I suppose that’s to accommodate the thick earbuds. Everything feels solid, from the satisfying magnetic click of the buds fitting into the case, to the snap that emanates when the clamshell lid shuts. The MTW3 has a IPX4 certification, meaning you have some waterproofing. While the buds stay in my ears reasonably well, I wouldn’t go for a jog with them—they don’t quite fit well enough for that.

Fortunately, the touchpad is obviously on the flat exterior of the housing, and this makes adjustments easy and mostly free of misfires. After two hours my ears experience some discomfort from fatigue. For daily use, like going for walks, commuting, or performing office work the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 has a good enough in-ear fit.

The ear tips, case, and stabilizers included with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 displayed on mossy concrete.
It’s a decent number of ear tips, and the stabilizers make a difference in the fit.

Unlike the pair-and-go earbuds out there the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 requires some of your time to set up. Sennheiser advises performing a quick 30-second charge when you open the box to pair. Yours may require a firmware update too. This is very much designed for people who like to tinker with apps and adjust fit.

You get some new features like Sound Zones (covered more in the Software section). This allows you to set up listening preferences depending on your geographic location. You can make your office a zone where the buds automatically turn on ANC and podcast EQ, for instance. I find this handy when I’m working from home, and I have ANC on, but when I leave the buds in to walk the dog, it switches to Transparency Mode automatically. You also get conveniences like wireless charging, and a quality build.

How do you control the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3?

Two screenshots show the default controls for the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3.
These are the default settings that you can control on the MTW3. Press and hold for volume is very handy.

In an everyday capacity, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 has the right amount of touch sensitivity (Samsung, please take note.) The only time I experience misfires is when I remove the buds and have them in my hands—usually, it amounts to making paused audio start playing again. You can turn off the touch controls completely in the Smart Control app, but you lose out on some of the key features if you do that.

SINGLE TAPDOUBLE TAPTRIPLE TAPHOLD
LEFT EARBUD
SINGLE TAP
Transparency mode or answer / end call
DOUBLE TAP
Skip to previous track
TRIPLE TAP
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
HOLD
Volume down
RIGHT EARBUD
SINGLE TAP
Play/pause or answer / end call
DOUBLE TAP
Skip to next track
TRIPLE TAP
Voice assistant
HOLD
Volume up

Should you download the Smart Control app?

As mentioned already the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 requires some set up time. Sennheiser includes a QR code, or you can go to the Google Play Store or Apple Store to download the Smart Control app. Our test set immediately required a 21-minute firmware update (we’re reviewing version 2.3.9). So, yes, you should download the Smart Control app at the very least for updates.

Three screenshots of the Smart Control app show the main menu, user settings for organization, and updates.
Part of the appeal of the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 is the extensive app. Ignore the “Discover” tab, because it’s mostly just Sennheiser adverts for its own products.

In the app, you’ll see tiles pertaining to different options: your connected devices list, three-band equalizer, Sound Check (which lets you test custom EQ presets), Transparency Mode settings, Adaptive Noise Cancellation, “Sound Zones,” and Touch Controls. You can also tap the Settings tab to reorganize the tiles as you like—a very nice touch.

The included equalizer is not as detailed as we might like. It features three modifiable sliders that affect bass, mids, and treble up to 6dB in volume (up or down). Sennheiser does not specify which frequencies these bands alter, which makes it more difficult to dial in your EQ. That said, it lets you save your custom presets, which is handy. It also has Bass Boost and Podcast presets you can toggle on and off.

Image shows the main menu and equalizer in the Smart Control app with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3.
On the left is the main menu, and on the right is the truly basic equalizer. What, for instance, does Sennheiser classify as treble?

Sound Check lets you create and play with custom presets that you can add to your personal library. If the included equalizer gave more information about the frequencies affected, this would be a really great idea to truly harness the best possible sound for every listening scenario. My fingers are crossed for an update.

Adaptive Noise Cancelling

Sennheiser equips the MTW3 with a form of active noise canceling (ANC) that turns on and off, as well as an Anti Wind mode. Anecdotally, the Anti Wind mode works quite well compared to just having the Adaptive Noise Canceling turned on during those windy days.

This feature is still pretty self-explanatory, but it does more than just turn off and on. Unlike a basic transparency mode, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 lets you turn it off, on with music, and on when you pause music. It also supplies a slider to finesse how much environmental sound to let it. The discerning listener will like this feature.

What are Sound Zones?

Three screenshots of the Sennheiser Smart Control app included with Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 of the Sound Zones feature.
Sign away your location and you gain the advantage of seamless audio settings based on your preferences for different locations.

“Sound Zones” is one of the more interesting features in the app. Equipped with a map you can customize locations you frequent, like your home, or workplace and save preferred ANC and EQ settings. Once you enter the radius—as set by you on the location map—your settings will automatically change to the saved setting for that Sound Zone. You also set what happens when you leave a zone. Either the settings stay as is until you enter another Sound Zone with different ANC and EQ, or they automatically switch to your saved preferences when you leave a determined zone.

You get notifications when you enter a new Sound Zone so you shouldn’t be surprised when the settings change either. To access these settings you have to create an account (or sign in, if you have an account with Sennheiser already), and consent to more data collection, specifically location-related data. It’s a novel use of location tracking and works well.

How does the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 connect?

A man faces left wearing the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 in front of trees and grass near a parking lot.
Finding the touch control area is super easy; it’s on the Sennheiser logo.

Sennheiser kits out the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 with a suite of codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, and SBC. In the Smart Control app under “Settings,” you’ll see which codec your device uses. Our tests were all done with aptX, which yields the highest potential quality audio the MTW3 can offer. aptX Adaptive is a nice option for folks using Android devices that watch many videos or deal with patchy internet connections. This is because while aptX has the higher potential data transfer and generally low latency that’s good for video, aptX Adaptive adjusts the audio quality to prioritize low latency and maintain a strong Bluetooth connection. Without altering any settings, the earbuds default to aptX with my Samsung phone.

If you’re part of the Apple ecosystem, the aptX inclusion is a moot point, as you’ll only be using the AAC codec. However, if like a lot of people you have a Windows machine and an iPhone, you may still benefit from aptX if your PC is capable.

The connection is mostly stable over aptX to a distance of about eight meters, after which the buds began to experience connection issues. A couple connection drops can occur no more than one meter away too, which is surprising. It should not pose a problem for most users, but it’s also not as stable as it should be.

On November 2, 2022, Sennheiser released an update allowing 24-bit/96kHz streaming to the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. This “Hi-Res” mode in the app only works with aptX Adaptive and increases the bitrate to 420kbps. To get this feature, you must update the buds’ firmware to 2.10.19 or later and the app must run version 4.1.5 or later.

The MTW3 should automatically enter pairing mode when you remove both buds, indicated by a flashing red and blue LED. If this doesn’t happen automatically, place both buds in your ears and hold down on each touchpad for 3 seconds to trigger pairing mode. In use, it links back to your device very quickly after being disconnected.

How long does the battery last on the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3?

The closed battery case for the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 charges on a wireless charging pad.
The charging pad doesn’t come with the package, but if you have one already it’s handy.

According to our standardized battery testing the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 lasts 5 hours, 33 minutes on a single charge. This result is reasonably good, and the charging case has an additional three charges totaling 22 hours of battery. You can also use a wireless Qi charging pad to keep the case topped up, or the included USB-C cable.

A 10-minute quick charge provides 60 minutes of playtime to the buds.

Is the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 noise canceling any good?

A chart depicting the very good isolation and noise canceling performance of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3.
This is definitely flagship ANC performance.

Secure yourself a good in-ear fit and the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 is very capable of canceling noise. Passive isolation is impressive, managing to reach over 45dB of attenuation around 10kHz. Although, that looks good on a chart, more impressive is how comprehensive the isolation is, particularly around 1kHz (where a lot of environmental sounds are), down into the lows. Low sounds are usually the area of struggle for passive isolation, with some earbuds blocking zero lows, but not here.

Active noise canceling (ANC), which Sennheiser labels as “Adaptive Noise Cancelling” in the Smart Control app, is very good too. Besides a narrow band at 400Hz where both isolation and ANC dip down to just above 10dB of attenuation, from 1000Hz and below the ANC mainly hovers between 20dB and 30dB of cancellation. This is more than sufficient for your commute or your office to focus, or alternately, zone out. Anecdotally, it successfully mutes my very vocal cat.

How does the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 sound?

This frequency response chart compares the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 to our ideal frequency response.
The MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 (cyan) follows our target curve (pink) closely, except for the highs.

On the whole, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 has a very pleasant frequency response, though treble takes a backseat to bass and midrange sound. Compared to our headphone preference curve, the MTW3 only really deviates significantly in the highs.

From 2.5-10kHz in the treble region, there is under-emphasis relative to our preference of anywhere from a couple of decibels down to almost 10dB. Generally, this leads to hearing everything in the lows and mids very well. You may be tempted to turn up your volume, because treble might be just that bit too quiet, but please don’t do that. On the flip side, it also means you won’t experience ear fatigue from too much treble. Here’s where one can suggest using the included equalizer to turn up those frequencies, but the Smart Control app doesn’t tell you which frequencies you can adjust. Even so, you can play with it to your liking, or go with a third party equalizer.

Lows, mids, and highs

A hand holds the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 earbuds above concrete.
The new stabilizers help give the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 a more universal fit than its predecessor.

Sennheiser’s sound works with a variety of music genres. The frequency response highlights the disco-inspired bassline in the song Negroni Summer by Donny Benét, and Benét’s airy voice is audible, if just a touch too quiet. During the bridge beginning at 2:25, the saxophone solo plays in excellent comparative volume with the kick and bass. Throughout most of the track, the relative volume of keys sounds just a bit too quiet but not egregiously so.

It’s not altogether unpleasant and for some tracks, it works better than on others. Girl and the Sea by The Presets sounds just about perfect. Low vocals sit at the right volume, while bubbly sequenced synths in the intro and verse are easy to hear too. The high-pitched synths and heavily processed rhythm guitar at the chorus are tamed to the right volume, while the driving bass and kick provide a satisfying groove.

Using the limited equalizer in the app, you can crank the treble slider up by 6dB (though I tend to leave it more around +2dB most of the time). Doing that with the Donny Benét song reveals more detail in the vocals and the muted guitar in the verse than before. The drum machine’s hi-hats come through much more obviously too.

However, I don’t think this EQ fully resolves the frequency response under-emphasis in the highs. The equalizer is too limited to make informed adjustments. Sure, a lot of people don’t know which frequencies apply to which sounds, but Sennheiser could easily label a slider “treble” and the frequency affected.

Can you use the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 for phone calls?

A chart shows the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 microphone frequency response.
Voices experience some inaccurate reproduction with these buds.

You can use the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 for calls, although it’s mostly just okay. Voices are captured with some under-emphasis in both the highs and lows. When taking a call in less than ideal conditions, say in a noisy office or on the street, the MTW3 filters out the lows heavily. Your voice will still be audible, but any noises in the highs will still come through too in a kind of noise haze—think keystrokes and car sounds.

Take a listen and let us know what you think.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 microphone demo (Street conditions):

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 microphone demo (Office conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

4250 votes

Should you buy the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3?

Sennheiser is really aiming for the top tier with the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, in price and specs. For people who just want basics like good sound and serviceable ANC, this might be kind of expensive. With that said, the noise canceling is rather good, with upgraded features like anti-wind for noise canceling, and the sound is solid too.

A hand holds the open case of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 with blurred rocks in the background.
The strong case magnet hampers single-handed operation, but it also stays closed in your bag.

While the connection of our test unit isn’t always totally steady, it’s possible another update could resolve that. All the touch controls work effortlessly, as does in-ear detection. People who don’t want to sign over data like location tracking will miss out on the novel Sound Zones feature, which might mean it’s not the right choice for you. Sennheiser could take some cues from Shure or JBL and implement a more comprehensive equalizer at this tier.

By and large, the sturdy build of the case and buds, the IPX4 rating, and the two-year warranty greatly allay any durability worries. Skipping allegiances to any OS doesn’t go without saying these days as the brand specific earbuds wars continue, let’s express gratitude for Sennheiser making a product that works with Apple and Android. If you don’t want to compromise while looking for true wireless earbuds, you won’t have to make many with the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
SG recommended
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
Great sound quality • Feature-rich app with custom EQ • Broad codec support
MSRP: $249.95
These feature-rich earbuds exceed all expectations.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 show you can have great sound, great active noise-canceling, and a sturdy build all at once in a pair of true wireless earbuds.

What’s the difference between the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 and MOMENTUM True Wireless 3?

One of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 earbuds rests outside of the open charging case, while the other remains inside.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 similarly has a fabric case and chunky buds, but without additional stabilizers.

In looks, both the newer MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 have quite a lot in common, starting with a tweedy charging case. They weigh almost the same, with the MTW3 gaining an extra overall 7g. Both possess IPX4 ratings against water and sweat. Even in touch control functionality, not much is different. The ANC is controlled by default on the right earbud with the MOMENTUM True Wireless 2, as opposed to on the left with the newer version, but both use the same Smart Control app.

The real differences come down to details: while the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 has AAC, SBC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive codecs, the predecessor has the same except it’s missing aptX Adaptive, and the November 2022 update to the MTW3 now makes it capable of “Hi-Res” audio. Battery life on the MTW3 is longer than the MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 which runs 4 hours on a single charge.

An active noise canceling chart for the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 true wireless earbuds, which shows a decent degree of passive isolation and good gross attenuation.
You won’t hear much of a difference between the passive isolation and active noise canceling with these buds.

ANC and sound are where you’ll find some of the major updates with the MTW3. The MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 barely attenuates in the lows, often not even achieving 10dB in reduction. By contrast, the MTW3 all but mutes an impressive 30dB at 100Hz. It utterly blows the MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 away with noise canceling.

The frequency response on both sets of earbuds is pretty good. The MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 has a “flatter” frequency response with under-emphasis in sub-bass and between 2-7kHz. You can tweak this in the app, although only with the three-band EQ. Bass and mids in the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 more closely follow our house curve, meaning you get a little more oomph. In addition, the MTW3 also has some under-emphasis in the highs above 2kHz as well.

A chart depicts the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 (cyan) frequency response compared to the SoundGuys Consumer Curve V2.0 (pink), showing decent compliance with the target curve, but with a small under-emphasis in the highs.
With only a bit of under-emphasis on the highs, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 is an exceptionally decent set of earphones.

The MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 has gone down in price ($195 at Amazon) now that the newer model is out, and still offers good sound and functionality. If you already own the MOMENTUM True Wireless 2, unless you need improved ANC, it may not be worth the upgrade. However, if you own neither, the newer one is worth it for the noise canceling and better battery life.

Should you get the Sony WF-1000XM4 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3?

A photo showing the Sony WF-1000XM4 in its case, with the lid open.
Pairing the earphones is easy after the first time.

Both the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 are top-tier earbuds. Both will make most listeners very happy but take slightly different approaches. You get some high-quality codecs with either pair of earphones. The MTW3 uses aptX and aptX Adaptive (and AAC and SBC), as opposed to the WF-1000XM4, which has LDAC (as well as AAC and SBC). We’ll give Sennheiser the edge here, but most listeners won’t notice much difference.

Sony pushes ahead with a greater battery life per charge. The WF-1000XM4 lasts 7 hours, 43 minutes, compared to 5 hours, 33 minutes with the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. Sony also has a more detailed equalizer in the app. However, the UI/UX on the app is notably clunkier than the Sennheiser app, which could otherwise benefit from a more granular equalizer function.

This chart depicts the combined active noise canceling and isolation performances of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 and the Sony WF-1000XM4.
You can see the Sony WF-1000XM4 better isolates in the highs, while the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 cancels more low-end.

It’s safe to say that both earbuds do a great job of muting your environment. The WF-1000XM4 relies heavily on a good in-ear fit to deliver better isolation than the MTW3, but Sennheiser manages to outdo the Sony below 400Hz in ANC performance. Particularly, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 really quiets sub-bass noise and noises around 900Hz compared to the WF-1000XM4. Even so, isolation on the Sony WF-1000XM4 will go a long way in dampening high-pitched sounds.

Chart shows the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 frequency response compared to Sony WF-1000XM4 and our target curve.
From the mids down, the earbuds are barely distinguishable sounding from each other.

Neither set of earbuds sounds perfect, but they each sound good and follow our target curve reasonably well, especially in the mids and bass. Both Sony and Sennheiser under-emphasize treble, although the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 holistically reaches closer to our ideal in the highs. Fortunately, you can amend these deviations in the frequency response to some extent with the in-app EQ Sony and Sennheiser provide.

Sony might have the upper hand for folks who want surround sound, with its 360 Reality Audio, although its implementation is still quite limited. In this price range, both sets are winners. You can find the Sony WF-1000XM4 for $278 at Amazon.

What should you get instead of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3?

The Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless is held outside, sitting in its case.
Check out the family resemblance with the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless.

Check out the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless if you want very good ANC and sound without extras like Sound Zones. It has a similar shape as the MTW3 and a similar frequency response at a cheaper price. It also uses the aptX codec and AAC, so you need not compromise. It’s a wise choice, if not the most decked-out set, and costs $89 at Amazon.

Sportier listeners may instead opt for the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless which includes wing sleeves and a slightly different design. You don’t get ANC on the Sport True Wireless which is a “pro” for some and a “con” for others. The Sport True Wireless will run you $99 at Amazon.

The Sony LinkBuds S sits on a leather surface with one earbud out.
Understated is the name of the game with the LinkBuds S.

In addition to the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds, the Sony LinkBuds S is a bit of a sleeper hit. With an understated style, the matte textured buds stick to stay in-ears without using a stabilizer. Plus, if spatial audio is important to you, the Sony buds are capable of delivering. Like Sennheiser, Sony doesn’t pressure users to pick an OS, so the AAC and LDAC compatible LinkBuds S work regardless of whether you’re an Apple or Android fan. In action, both earbuds have similar battery capacities, and pretty close to the same noise canceling capabilities as well. The buds even sound rather alike, with the MTW3 having more volume above 7kHz. It’s a tight race, but if Sony is more your style pick up the LinkBuds S for $148 at Amazon.

Alternatives for exclusively Android or Apple

The open cases of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sit next to the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) on a wood surface.
When choosing between the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and AirPods Pro (2nd gen), you may need to know that the Samsung earbuds are IPX7-rated, while Apple’s earbuds (and case) have an IPX4 rating.

Android users, particularly Samsung phone owners, may want to save a few bucks with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which lacks stabilizers and Sound Zones, but feels good to wear. Its frequency response boosts more bass and treble than Sennheiser’s buds. Paired with a Samsung device, you can use the Samsung Seamless Codec and the Android-exclusive Galaxy Wearable app. Its ANC is among the best out there currently, but the battery life is a touch shorter. You only get EQ presets on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro go for ($179 at Amazon).

For productivity minded folks the Google Pixel Buds Pro has a few tricks up its sleeve, such as automatic translation. Rather than concentrating on codecs, Google gave the Pixel Buds Pro simply AAC and SBC, so you won’t get that “Hi-Res” audio present on the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. Instead, the buds are smaller, lighter, and more comfortable (albeit, less secure). When paired with a Google Pixel device you can use spatial audio with head tracking. With very good ANC in addition to a greater battery life, the Pixel Buds Pro might fit your life better if you have a Pixel device; it sells for $139 at Amazon.

Consider matching your iPhone with the new Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), which has a pretty similar frequency response as the Sennheiser buds. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) has a slightly longer battery life than the MTW3, and noise canceling is not so different either. Because it uses AAC and SBC codecs with Apple OS-specific features, only buy the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) to pair with an iOS device. The stemmed design is polarizing and may catch on face masks, but the sliding gesture for volume is neat. You’ll pay $239 at Amazon for these Apple earbuds.

Frequently asked questions about the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3

As of November 2, 2022, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 does support multipoint connectivity. To access this, the earbuds must run firmware 2.10.19 or higher, and the Smart Control App must be version 4.1.5 or higher. Multipoint switching is works over any mutually supported Bluetooth codec.

Yes, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 works in mono mode with either left or right earbud.

We recommend Samsung and Apple’s earbuds over the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for now because the QC Earbuds II cannot disable ANC and has a wonky default frequency response. Bose and Apple’s noise canceling earphones share a stem-like design, but Bose’s is more expensive at $199 at Amazon. Unlike the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and AirPods Pro (2nd gen), the Bose QC Earbuds II case lacks wireless charging. If you’re willing to throw down $200 USD or more on wireless earbuds, there are better options.