Sony's new MDR-3R wired headphones cost US$59.99 (around ₱3,790) in the US, and Sony Philippines has already put up a local product page for them, though it still reads "Price unavailable." The MDR-3R is a remake of the MDR-3, the light open-ear headphones Sony sold with the first Walkman cassette player in 1979. The big change is the plug: it connects through USB-C instead of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Sony Electronics announced the MDR-3R from San Diego on November 5, 2026, together with a limited Stranger Things Edition made with Netflix.
What the Sony MDR-3R keeps from the original
Sony says the MDR-3R uses 23mm drivers (the small speakers inside each ear cup), the same size as the 1979 model, with tuning kept close to the original sound. The look also stays close to the old design:
- A lightweight headband with open-ear cups, which do not seal off outside sound.
- Blue and orange ear pads, both included in the box, so you can swap colours.
- Packaging and an instruction manual styled after the original MDR-3.
Sony notes that the model sold with the first Walkman, the TPS-L2, was technically the MDR-3L2.
Sony MDR-3R specs at a glance
The figures below come from the Sony Philippines specifications page for the silver model, MDR-3R/SC E.
| Spec | MDR-3R |
|---|---|
| Type | Open-air, on-ear |
| Driver | 23mm |
| Weight | About 38g, without cable |
| Cable | Y-type, about 1.2m |
| Plug | USB-C |
| Controls | In-line remote with volume control and built-in microphone |
| Water resistance | None |
| US price | US$59.99 (around ₱3,790) |
On its Philippine product page, Sony calls it the lightest over-head headphones in its current lineup, as of November 2026. There is no battery, no Bluetooth pairing and no app: you plug it in and it works.
Will it work with your phone?
The MDR-3R plugs into the USB-C port, so it suits phones and laptops without a 3.5mm jack. Before you buy, check three points from Sony's own footnotes:
- Your device must support USB Audio Class 1.0, the standard that lets a phone send sound to USB headphones.
- Some phones need a setting turned on. Sony says you may need to enable an option shown as "Detect USB device" or "Enable USB On-The-Go connection" in your phone's settings.
- Do not plan to use it with a Walkman. Sony's announcement says use with a Walkman music player is not recommended, so owners of a recent Walkman should stick to wired headphones with a normal jack.
Sony also warns that some functions may not work properly, or may work differently, depending on the device, operating system or app.
The Stranger Things Edition
The limited edition swaps in red and black ear pads, adds an engraved Stranger Things logo and comes in custom packaging. Sony says the design draws on the headphones worn by Max in the Netflix series. It costs US$79.99 (around ₱5,050), so by our math the collectors' version adds about ₱1,260 over the standard model, using a rate of ₱63.1 to the US dollar. In the US it is on pre-order through Sony, Netflix and Amazon. Gear Patrol's report lists the same US$60 and US$80 prices.
When can you buy the MDR-3R in the Philippines?
Not yet. The standard model is on sale in the US now through Sony, Amazon and Best Buy. In the Philippines, Sony has published the product and specification pages, but as of publication neither shows a price or a release date. The peso figures in this article are straight conversions of US prices, not local SRPs. An official local SRP can land above or below that figure. Sony Philippines has set local prices for its other recent audio launches, such as the Hello Kitty WH-1000XM6 package.
If you mainly want wireless listening with noise cancelling at a similar budget, models such as the Soundcore Space 2 are already sold here. The MDR-3R is a different kind of product: a light, simple wired pair for people who want the retro look and do not want to charge anything.
