Sony WH-1000XM5 review: still the best, six years on
The WH-1000XM5 is the most expensive headphone we recommend without hesitation. After eighteen months of daily use across two pairs and three reviewers, here's why we keep buying them.
The verdict
Sony's flagship still wins on the only categories that matter at this price: ANC depth, sound quality, and call clarity. The XM5 isn't perfect — battery life trails the field, the earcups are slightly less comfortable than the XM4, and the price has crept up — but nothing beats it across the board.
- Best ANC we've tested across transit, office, and outdoor scenarios
- Voice call clarity is in a class of its own — beam-forming mics actually work
- Sound is well-balanced out of the box and tunable in the app
- Multipoint, fast pair, and wear detection all reliable
- Premium build with metal hinges that don't creak
What we liked
- 30-hour battery life trails $200 competitors that get 50+
- No longer fold flat — the case is paperback-novel-sized
- Touch controls are still occasionally finicky in winter gloves
- Premium price ($399 MSRP, often $349)
What we didn't
Key specs
- Driver
- 30 mm carbon fiber
- Battery (ANC on)
- 30 hours
- Charging
- USB-C, 3 min = 3 hours
- Weight
- 250 g
- Bluetooth
- 5.2, multipoint
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Wired
- 3.5 mm only
- Warranty
- 1 year
Who this is for
The XM5 is the right buy for anyone who'll keep a flagship headphone for 3+ years and uses it daily — for commutes, long flights, or open-plan office work. If you're cost-sensitive, the Anker Q45 gets you 90% of the way for a third of the price. If you want true wireless, see our AirPods Pro 2 review.
ANC
This is still the single best ANC implementation we've tested. In transit it removes more low-frequency noise than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and in voice-heavy environments (open offices, coffee shops) it's roughly tied with Bose for top spot. The XM5's ANC is also more "transparent" — there's less of the slight pressure sensation some people get from heavy ANC.
Sound
Out of the box, the XM5's tuning is well-balanced with a slight warm tilt — pleasant for most genres without being fatiguing. The Sony Headphones Connect app's EQ has improved, and LDAC over Bluetooth is genuinely audible if your source supports it.
Calls
The standout feature. Sony's beam-forming mic array picks up your voice and aggressively rejects everything else. We tested calls from a busy street, a coffee shop, and a windy beach — the XM5 was clearer than the Anker Q45 and notably clearer than AirPods Max in all three.
Bottom line
If you can spend $349–$399 and want the best, get the XM5. For $130, the Anker Q45 is the smarter buy for most people. To see how it stacks up against its closest premium rival, see our XM5 vs Bose QC Ultra comparison. For more options, see our best wireless earbuds and headphones list.