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Our 2026 Sony WH-1000XM5 review covers comfort, ANC, sound, call quality and battery, and whether it still beats the newer XM6 on value.
The WH-1000XM5 launched as Sony's flagship over-ear, and even with the pricier WH-1000XM6 now on shelves it remains one of the most-recommended noise-cancelling headphones you can buy. The real question in 2026 is whether the older model still earns its place.
Sony moved to a fixed, non-folding design here. The arms slide rather than collapse, so the carrying case is wider than the XM4's, but the trade-off is a cleaner frame and a noticeably lighter feel on the head at around 250 grams.
This is where the XM5 made its name. Eight microphones feed Sony's V1 and QN1 processors, and the result is class-leading suppression of low-frequency drone: aircraft cabins, train rumble, bus engines and office HVAC essentially melt away.
It is less perfect against sudden high-pitched sounds such as nearby voices, where the newer XM6 pulls ahead. But for the kind of constant noise most people actually want to escape, the XM5 is still elite. Adaptive Sound Control can switch profiles based on location or activity, and Speak-to-Chat pauses playback when you start talking.
Sony fitted smaller 30mm carbon-fibre-composite drivers, down from 40mm on the XM4, and tuned them for a cleaner, more controlled presentation. Out of the box the signature is warm with a gentle bass lift and smooth, non-fatiguing treble, the kind of tuning that flatters podcasts, pop and streaming alike.
Call quality is a genuine strength. The beamforming mic array plus AI noise reduction keep your voice clear in wind and busy streets, which is not something every premium ANC headphone manages. Battery life lands around 30 hours with ANC on and roughly 40 with it off, and a three-minute quick charge over USB-C buys about three hours of playback.
| Area | What you get |
|---|---|
| Battery (ANC on) | About 30 hours |
| Quick charge | 3 min for ~3 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint to two devices |
| Controls | Touch panel, wear detection, Speak-to-Chat |
The Sony Headphones Connect app ties it together with EQ, ANC tuning, multipoint pairing and firmware updates. Multipoint and LDAC cannot run at the same time, a long-standing quirk worth knowing if you juggle a laptop and phone.
At full price the XM5 sat at 399 dollars, but it now routinely drops toward 300, while the XM6 lists higher at 449. The XM6 is the better headphone overall, with a return to folding, slightly sharper ANC and a refreshed processor. For most buyers, though, the XM5 delivers the vast majority of that experience for meaningfully less money.
If you want the flagship feel without paying flagship money, the WH-1000XM5 on sale is one of the smartest audio buys of the year.
It is no longer the outright king now that the XM6 exists, but on comfort, noise cancellation and call quality it still beats almost everything else, and the discounts make it easy to recommend.
Yes, especially on sale. With the XM6 now out, the XM5 frequently drops toward 300 dollars and still offers class-leading noise cancellation, excellent call quality and a comfortable fit, making it one of the best value premium ANC headphones.
You get around 30 hours with noise cancelling on and roughly 40 hours with it off. A quick three-minute charge over USB-C adds about three hours of playback.
No. Sony switched to a non-folding design, so the arms swivel and slide but the cups do not fold flat. The included case is therefore larger than the XM4's.
It supports SBC, AAC and Sony's high-bitrate LDAC. There is no aptX support, and LDAC cannot be used at the same time as Bluetooth multipoint.
The XM6 is the better overall headphone with sharper ANC and a folding design, but it costs more. If value matters most, the XM5 on discount gets you most of the experience for noticeably less.
Yes. Its beamforming microphone array and AI noise reduction keep your voice clear even in wind and busy environments, making it one of the stronger premium headphones for calls.
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