Sony WF-1000XM5

M Mashable Alex Bracetti · reviewer · Sept 2025

When the Sony WF-1000XM5 debuted in summer 2023, they took the industry by storm, setting standards for active noise cancellation and sound in the true wireless space. Two years later, and very little has changed.

P Picks Curated jbspicks · reviewer · Jan 2026

The WF-1000XM5 excel in noise cancellation—they’re simply the best in class. Whether on a plane, train, or busy street, the silence is remarkable. Sound quality is rich and customizable through Sony’s Headphones Connect app, with LDAC support for high-resolution streaming. The compact size makes them comfortable for hours. Battery life of 8 hours (ANC on) plus 16 from the case is solid. Call quality is outstanding, making them excellent for work calls.

W WorldofTech WorldofTech · 921K subscribers · Jan 2025

Sony WF-1000XM5 The Best Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Made from Recycled Plastic Materials, Clear Bluetooth Signal, Adaptive Sound Control with AI, Xm5 Headphones: https://geni.

The WF-1000XM5 earbuds are smaller than their predecessors but somehow better at both ANC and sound quality. LDAC support for Android, a genuinely useful companion app, and consistent fit across most ear shapes make these the default pick.

M Mike O'Brien Mike O'Brien · 659K subscribers · Jul 2023

Sony buds are warmer, more powerful, more detailed, and lively

M Major HiFi Alex Schiffer · reviewer · Feb 2026

In daily use, both models feel premium and well-constructed. The difference isn’t dramatic, but the XM5 prioritizes compactness, while the XM6 balances slightly increased size with improved performance hardware.

M Mike O'Brien Mike O'Brien · 659K subscribers · Jul 2023

These earbuds have the best ANC, fantastic transparency, audio, features, and more. There is so much to like about these!

R RecordingNOW.com Odi Productions · reviewer · Feb 2026

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is still one of the best all-arounders today on the strength of its effective noise cancelling performance, audiophile-friendly tuning, and daily practicality of its superior mic quality.

My name is Ed, and I have the brand new Sony WF-1000XM5 in my hands. These are truly amazing headphones that are packed with tons of features that few people know about, and even the official Sony website doesn't mention them often

W What Hi-Fi? Article · Oct 2022

Pairs we would recommend include the Sony WF-C710N at the affordable end of the spectrum and the Sony WF-1000XM5 , Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) and Apple AirPods Pro 2 at the more premium end.

S SoundGuys SoundGuys · 332K subscribers · Jul 2025

Sony's WF1000XM5 may be 2 years old, but the feature set has aged very well, almost like a fine wine

M Mark Ellis Reviews Mark Ellis Reviews · 304K subscribers · Sept 2023

BEST EVER noise cancelling?

J J. Williams J. Williams · 152K subscribers · Aug 2023

So, this is uh probably going to be one of Sony's best offerings. Um I appreciate Sony sending these out to me, by the way. Want to go ahead and shout that out first. But, here's the They've gone with this kind of packaging here to save the planet. So, uh yeah. Okay, we're going to save the planet. We're going to get rid of this. Uh so, same thing here uh as the other buds that you get from Sony.

On the flip side, Sony's XM5 still holds its own with a sixb EQ, 360 reality audio, and DE extreme to enhance lowquality audio. You also get clever features like speak to chat, which autopauses your music during conversation, and adaptive sound control that adjusts settings based on location. Both support multi-point Bluetooth and have easy pairing via dedicated case buttons. While Bose brings new tricks to the table, Sony still feels smarter and more intuitive in daily use

B Best Buy Canada Product Videos Best Buy Canada Product Videos · 44.2K subscribers · Jan 2024

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earphones offer exceptional audio performance, ease of use, and a newfound comfort and fit—perfect for daily listening.

M Moon Audio Moon Audio · 43.2K subscribers · Sept 2023

It just does all that better. The fact that they cram so much of the technology from the WH full sized headphone lineup into these tiny buds is astounding. The WH-1000XM5 full size headphones are our top noise canceling headphones here at Moon Audio, and you'll find a lot of the tech and sound enhancements in the WF-1000XM5 earbuds, too. Let's talk about noise canceling.

R RTINGS Audio RTINGS Audio · 23.8K subscribers · Mar 2024

They feature a balanced default sound profile and an improved noise isolation performance thanks partly to their memory foam ear tips, which help create a tight seal. They're compatible with LDAC for high-quality, lossless audio streaming, and there are many customization options for both the sound and the ANC via the companion app.

T TechCircuit TechCircuit · 5.1K subscribers · Feb 2026

Sony has officially introduced the WF1000XM6, and naturally, the big question is whether it's actually worth upgrading from the WF-1000XM5. The XM5 was already considered one of the best true wireless earbuds on the market, offering excellent active noise cancellation, impressive sound quality, strong call performance, and a compact design

I've had the pleasure of experiencing audio bliss like never before with the Sony WF-1000XM5 true wireless earbuds. These earbuds have completely redefined my expectations for what wireless audio can deliver. From exceptional sound quality to unmatched comfort and cutting-edge features, the WF-1000XM5 has truly set a new standard in the world of earbuds

U Ulmer Washington Ulmer Washington · 4.3K subscribers · Feb 2026

The battle between the Sony WF-1000XM6 and the WF-1000XM5 is less about revolutionary change and more about refinement versus maturity. The WF-1000XM5 arrived as a significant evolution over the XM4, introducing a more compact design, stronger noise cancellation, and improved microphones, quickly earning a spot as one of the top premium true wireless earbuds.

H HomeTechnologyReview Article

For most Android users, the ATH-TWX9 offers better compatibility.

M Matthew Moniz Matthew Moniz · 945K subscribers · Jul 2023

Review of the Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds. I make some comparisons to the previous Sony WF-1000XM4 and AirPods Pro. They have incredible sound but there's two things slightly holding it back.

Choose SONY if you need:

G GYMCADDY GYMCADDY · 177K subscribers · Sept 2023

But don't expect the WF-1000XM5s to block out as much noise as a pair of premium ANC headphones, like especially the Sony 1000XM5 headphones, the Bose QC 45s, AirPods Max, or the Sennheiser Momentum 4s. And when it comes to overall ranking for me, the AirPods Pro 2 and the Sony WF-1000XM5s are neck and neck for first place, closely followed by the Bose QC Earbuds 2

B Brian MacDuff Brian MacDuff · 170K subscribers · Sept 2023

Sound quality remains a strong point, benefiting from Bluetooth 5.3 and LDAC codec support but, out-of-the-box, the EQ settings aren't balanced.

Or if you're still interested, when the XM6 does come out, the XM 5 might go for a steeper discount. And yes, there are still great reasons to buy the WF000XM5. for example, it is still one of the most effective noise cancellers. Now, it may not be as effective now against the lower frequencies as something like the AirPods Pro 3 and the Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, but having foam tips means they do block the higher frequencies better, which includes the sound of screaming children and crying babies