If you want stronger noise cancellation and longer listening time per charge for running, choose SONY WF-1000XM4; if you need a lighter-listening approach with multipoint connection and a longer stated total playtime, choose Sudio A3. The Sony is my pick for runners who want to focus on audio and reduce surrounding noise; Sudio makes more sense for someone who values switching between devices and a simpler everyday setup.
• SONY WF-1000XM4: Its standout is active noise cancellation paired with up to 8 hours of listening with noise canceling on; the trade-off is that the published 24-hour total includes the case.
• Sudio A3: Its appeal is Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint and up to 25 hours of total playtime; the trade-off is up to 5 hours per charge.
• Both models have IPX4 water resistance, so each is specified for sweat and splashes.
• Sony suits runners who want substantial noise reduction, sound features such as LDAC support, and longer listening between charges.
• Sudio suits listeners who want to connect two devices at once and prefer a stated total playtime of up to 25 hours.
The WF-1000XM4 is the more feature-focused choice in this matchup. Its Integrated Processor V1 supports active noise cancellation, and Sony also lists DSEE Extreme, LDAC codec support, and Quick Attention. In practical terms, those features point to a pair intended for listeners who want control over how immersed they are, along with support for higher-resolution Bluetooth audio through LDAC when their source device and listening service support it.
Battery details are worth separating carefully. Sony specifies up to 8 hours with noise canceling on, while the stated total reaches 24 hours when the case’s additional 16 hours are included. That distinction matters for a runner planning a long day away from charging: the earbuds themselves are listed for 8 hours, not 24. A quick five-minute charge is specified to provide up to 60 minutes of playback, which could help when a short top-up is all the time available.
Calls are another reason to consider Sony. The model uses beamforming microphones and a bone-conduction sensor for voice detection, and Speak-to-Chat can lower playback volume during conversation. Multipoint connection for two devices is available via firmware update. Those details make it a reasonable fit for someone who moves between a phone and another device, although buyers should note that the multipoint feature depends on that update.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
The Sudio A3 is a practical alternative for someone who puts device switching and total listening time ahead of the Sony’s more extensive audio feature set. Its Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint connection can keep two devices connected at once, such as a phone and laptop, and lets the listener switch between them. That can be useful beyond a run: for example, when moving from a work call to music on a phone without repeatedly reconnecting.
Sudio lists up to 5 hours of playtime per charge and up to 25 hours overall with the case. These are not the same kind of number: the first describes listening from the earbuds, while the second includes the extra charge available from the case. Compared with Sony’s up-to-8-hour earbud figure with noise canceling on, Sudio’s per-charge figure is shorter. Its stated overall total, however, is longer. Which figure matters more depends on whether you usually have time to put the earbuds back in the case between listening sessions.
The A3 includes active noise cancellation specified at 18 dB, enhanced microphones for calls, and IPX4 sweat and splash resistance. It is made with 20% recycled plastics and has a frosted design with geometric stems and a compact, pebble-shaped case. Those are concrete design and materials details, but they do not establish a particular fit or sound preference for every listener. Its listed audio range is 20 Hz–20,000 Hz, and it uses dynamic drivers.
For running, IPX4 protection addresses sweat and splashes, while the case-based playtime can suit someone who uses the earbuds in shorter stretches throughout the day. The product sheet does not specify an open-ear design, so I would not treat the A3 as an open-ear alternative just because a runner wants awareness of the surroundings. Its noise-canceling feature makes it a conventional in-ear option to weigh against Sony. Skip Sudio if you want the longer listed earbud session per charge or Sony’s LDAC and DSEE Extreme features.
• Best for longer listening between charges → SONY WF-1000XM4. Sony lists up to 8 hours with noise canceling on, compared with up to 5 hours per charge for Sudio.
• Best for stated total playtime with the case → Sudio A3. Sudio lists up to 25 hours overall, while Sony lists up to 24 hours including its case.
• Best for noise-reduction features → SONY WF-1000XM4. Its listed feature set includes active noise cancellation and the Integrated Processor V1; Sudio specifies ANC at 18 dB.
• Best for connecting two devices → Sudio A3 for out-of-the-box clarity. Sudio lists Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint. Sony also supports multipoint, but its sheet says the feature is available via firmware update.
• Best for audio processing options → SONY WF-1000XM4. It supports LDAC and lists DSEE Extreme, features absent from Sudio’s supplied specifications.
• Best for sweat and splash resistance → Tie. Both are specified as IPX4.
• Best for a runner who wants calls and conversation-aware playback → SONY WF-1000XM4. Its beamforming microphones, bone-conduction voice sensor, and Speak-to-Chat offer a more detailed call-and-conversation feature set.
• Best for someone who prioritizes recycled material content → Sudio A3. Sudio specifies that 20% of its plastics are recycled.
In my opinion, I would buy the SONY WF-1000XM4 for running because its up-to-8-hour earbud battery with noise canceling on gives me more room between charges, and its call and audio features are clearly specified. I would still use noise cancellation thoughtfully on routes where awareness matters. Sudio is the more compelling fit if multipoint is the deciding feature or the listed 25-hour total with the case suits your routine better.
Before choosing, decide whether you care more about a single stretch of listening or total time across multiple sessions. Sony’s 8-hour figure is for the earbuds with noise canceling on; Sudio’s 25-hour figure includes the case, while its earbud-only figure is 5 hours. Comparing like with like avoids mistaking a case-inclusive total for continuous listening time.
Think about how you want to hear your surroundings during a run, too. Both models are in-ear earbuds with noise-related features, and both carry an IPX4 rating for sweat and splashes. Neither data sheet describes an open-ear design. If your search for the best open ear headphones for running is really about staying aware of nearby activity, these two may not answer that specific need.
The same distinction applies to the phrase best noise cancelling headphones for running. Sony provides more detail about its cancellation system and includes noise-canceling battery information; Sudio specifies ANC at 18 dB. That makes Sony the more clearly documented choice for a listener focused on noise reduction, but no specification alone says whether you should block out sound on a particular route.
Finally, if you are weighing value, compare the features you will actually use rather than assuming that a longer total playtime means a better fit. Check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button, then consider whether noise cancellation, per-charge endurance, multipoint, or recycled-plastic content matters most to you.
FAQ
For a runner who wants longer listening from the earbuds between charges, Sony has the stronger listed figure: up to 8 hours with noise canceling on versus Sudio’s up to 5 hours per charge. Both models are IPX4-rated for sweat and splashes.
Sudio lists up to 25 hours including the case, while Sony lists up to 24 hours including its case. Sony’s earbud-only figure is up to 8 hours with noise canceling on; Sudio’s is up to 5 hours per charge.
Sony lists active noise cancellation with its Integrated Processor V1. Sudio specifies ANC at 18 dB. The supplied specifications do not provide a directly comparable measurement for both models, so the figures alone do not establish an exact difference in real-world cancellation.
Both support multipoint connection to two devices. Sudio lists Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint, while Sony’s multipoint feature is available via firmware update.
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