I was a bit surprised by them not having LDAC too.
I don’t know if that’s down to the need for them to be lower-power than over-ear stuff (due to much smaller batteries), a lack of horsepower in the CPU or its just something that will come along later (they are firmware updatable from the companion app).
And the form-factor makes the diminutive size of the AirPods and their charging case, seem even more impressive. Though sound-wise it’s not even close … the Sony’s are much better, even without considering the ANC. For travel purposes, which is really what I was thinking about these for, the case isn’t really any larger (volume-wise), overall, than the pouch for the QC20i I usually carry.
The ANC does, as I’ve come to expect, yield a low level hiss when no music is playing (not audible when it is). And it can be turned off, of course, if you don’t need it. Though it was not accompanied by the sense of “pressure” that I get with the WH-1000XM3 when just using them to shut out noise (and not playing music).
The real test is going to be my next plane flight. The Bose QC20i are literally all-day comfortable, since they sit in the outer each and cover the entrance to the ear-canal without actually protruding into it (no pressure there at all). I have literally worn them for the full duration of their 16-hour battery life and not removed them, and had not pressure or comfort issues at all.
The WF-1000XM3 use conventional IEM tips/fitment and sit in the ear the same way, so may not be as comfortable for long periods. The temptation to do away with the wires on the QC20i is very high, however!