Sony’s overhauled WF-1000XM6 earbuds are finally here, but how do they compare to the outgoing WF-1000XM5 model? If you were hoping for major changes, you’re in luck — Sony revamped the WF-1000XM6 earbuds inside and out. Notably, the new Sony earbuds are more expensive than ever, retailing for $330. That’s more than the most expensive wireless earbuds, including the AirPods Pro 3 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2.
I’m not sure any pair if earbuds can fully command that kind of price point, but if any model could, it would be the Sony WF-1000XM6. I compared Sony’s latest premium earbuds to their predecessor, and the upgrades are ones you’ll notice on a daily basis. These are all the ways Sony’s WF-1000XM6 stands out compared to the WF-1000XM5, and whether you should buy them.
Sony overhauled the WF-1000XM6 earbud and case design
The visual changes start with the charging case, as the new model’s included case takes the form of a cylindrical oval. The top, bottom, front, and back of the case are completely flat, and sides are rounded to create a futuristic-looking shape. As a result of the changes, the Sony WF-1000XM6 charging case ends up being slightly taller than the one for the WF-1000XM5. The design looks neat to me, but some might prefer the more compact and curvy WF-1000XM5 case.
The features of the charging case are identical between generations. There’s a USB-C port for charging as well as Qi wireless support. Additionally, you get an LED status light on the front and a pairing button on the back of each model. The one difference is that the WF-1000XM6’s light is tucked away behind the plastic, so it’s not visible unless it is lit up.
Battery life is consistent across models, too. Both support up to eight hours of listening time with ANC active from the earbuds, and that extends to up to 24 hours with the charging case.
The more impactful change is the earbud redesign. I didn’t love the look and feel of the WF-1000XM5 earbuds; the shape was oversized, the matte finish didn’t look right, and they didn’t sit securely or comfortably in my ears. It looks like Sony went back to the drawing board for the WF-1000XM6 earbuds, and that effort paid off. The newer model sports a pill-shaped design that Sony says is 11% smaller than the WF-1000XM5 earbud chassis.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 fit much better in my unforgiving ear canals as a result. I still won’t choose hybrid foam ear tips when given the choice — they feel uncomfortable, and I thought the same of the WF-1000XM5 and AirPods Pro 3. That said, the redesign and smaller size of the WF-1000XM6 earbuds at least make them wearable for long listening sessions. I’m never worried about these falling out of my ears, either.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 have more mics, a better chip, and new drivers
The internal hardware changes between the WF-1000XM5 and the WF-1000XM6 are perhaps the more exciting upgrades. Sony markets the newer model as being 25% better at blocking ambient noise with active noise-canceling, and that’s partly due to an extra microphone onboard each earbud.
Additionally, the newer model offers the advanced QN3e chip with Sony’s Integrated Processor V2. In addition to helping with ANC and microphone quality for calls, these chips help deliver better sound quality with improved DAC and amp performance.
Sony also redesigned the audio driver in the WF-1000XM6, and the earbuds’ diaphragm uses different materials for the dome and edge, helping them deliver excellent soundstage separation.
Put simply, the Sony WF-1000XM6 sound stellar as soon as you put them in your ears. They aren’t aggressively tuned to prioritize certain parts of the soundstage. Everything sounds exactly as you’d want it to as the listener. The right instruments or vocals seem to shine in different tracks across genres. You don’t need to use an EQ to get the WF-1000XM6 to sound excellent for your favorite genre.
If you do like tweaking your earbuds’ sound with an equalizer, you’ll be happy to learn that the WF-1000XM6 now support a 10-band EQ, up from the five-band EQ available for the WF-1000XM5. Other software highlights include LDAC support for hi-res Bluetooth audio, Bluetooth Low Energy support, and custom listening modes. According to Sony, the WF-1000XM6 have large Bluetooth antennas, enabling more reliable connections.
As for the real-world active noise-canceling performance, Sony’s claims seem to check out. The Sony WF-1000XM6 can turn a bustling coffee house into near-silence, and that’s without any music playing. Being able to quiet an environment with ANC without needing to crank up the volume of your music is amazing. The transparency mode is outstanding too — the WF-1000XM6 let me order a coffee or chat with a friend while leaving my earbuds in my ears, which is exactly what I want.
Are the Sony WF-1000XM6 worth the upgrade from the XM5s?
Sony’s outgoing WF-1000XM5 earbuds are coming up on three years old this summer. If you were an early adopter, it might be time to upgrade. The Sony WF-1000XM6 shake things up in a major way to improve comfort, sound quality, ANC performance, and reliability. That said, if you think the WF-1000XM5 are perfect, you might want to stick with them. Big changes are ahead, and not everyone likes change.
This is why the new Sony WF-1000XM6 might actually be more appealing to outsiders. If you’ve watched Sony earbuds from afar but never found them stylish or comfortable enough to buy, this is the model for you. The one hard thing to overcome is the price. They aren’t a bad deal at $330, although it’s hard to say they’re $120 better than the AirPods Pro 3, which are currently down to $210 at Best Buy.
Like almost every pair of wireless headphones, it probably makes sense to wait a few months for the WF-1000XM6 to come down in price. It’s inevitable, so if you’re patient, it will pay off.
Better than ever
Sony’s new WF-1000XM6 offer upgrades in nearly every area, from comfort to sound quality and ANC performance. If you can live with the modest price hike, these are an excellent pair of truly-wireless earbuds.
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