The Sony WF-1000XM6 could be one of the biggest headphone launches of the year. Ever since the XM5 launched in 2023, they've been riding high in our list of best wireless earbuds, so to say a sequel is eagerly anticipated would be putting it mildly.
The rumours have been building, and now a launch looks set for this week. So what can we expect?
Sony's XM range of true wireless earbuds have continually set the standard of what's possible. The brand has brought some of this magic to its cheaper pairs too, like the Award-winning WF-C510 and WF-C710N. Meanwhile, the WH-1000XM6 over-ears earned a five-star review and a place on our list of best wireless headphones. So expectations are high.
Here's what we expect to see.
Sony WF-1000XM6: release date rumours
The XM6 look set to launch this week. The official Sony Electronics account posted this video to YouTube providing a glimpse of a new pair of earbuds in their charging case with the launch date of 12th February.
While they're not described as the XM6, a previous rumour listed the launch date as 12th February, with an on-sale date of 23rd February.
We also saw a recent leak from a retailer, who seemed to have accidentally set the product page live early. Which also suggests a launch is very close indeed.
A February launch is out of keeping with Sony's XM range of wireless earbuds – they usually launch in the summer. The WF-1000XM3 were released in August 2019, followed by the WF-1000XM4 in June 2021 and the XM5 in July 2023.
An import filing from June suggested that Sony was in the final testing phase of the WF-1000XM6. So they might have been delayed for some reason, or maybe Sony decided to hold them back, possibly to create more space between them and the WH-1000XM6 over-ears which launched last summer.
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Sony WF-1000XM6: price prediction
At launch, the WF-1000XM5 set you back £259 / $299 / AU$419. Those prices have come down as time has gone by – it isn't unusual to see them widely available around the £200 / $250 / AU$350 – and the lowest they have dropped to is £149 / $198.
Their launch price was a little higher than that of their predecessors, the WF-1000XM4, which arrived in mid-2021 for £250 / $280 / AU$450, while the preceding WF-1000XM3 were tested at £220 / $230.
Prices have steadily risen, then – as they have for seemingly everything – though not by so much as to make this flagship range utterly unaffordable. The recent rumours point a price of around £278 / $329 / €299 (around AU$540) for the XM6, which would be a price rise in the UK and US, but a slight decrease in Europe.
It's going to be interesting to see whether Sony does hike prices. If it does, Sony will have to make sure the quality and features the next buds offer match up to the price point.
Sure, we would still say that the XM5 are the market's best-value proposition at this premium level, but they certainly face tough competition today – not least from the similarly priced and five-star Apple AirPods Pro 3, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).
If Sony is going to go for a more ambitious next-gen model with a more ambitious price to match, it better make sure they fare better than formidable newcomers like the Technics EAH-AZ100 and Bowers & Wilkins Pi8.
Sony WF-1000XM6: design rumours
The XM6 look to have a different design to the XM5. Leaked pictures show larger earbuds with a more ovular shape.
We've only seen the black and silver models leak – no sign of the dusty pink finish of the XM5. Though Sony often releases new colours at a later date, so we could see this finish down the line.
Of course while these images look official, there's no way of verifying whether they're legit until the earbuds actually launch.
There's more. A recent post from Dealabs details what it says are the official specs. These include a new QN3e processor which is three times faster than the QN2e found inside the XM5, four mics per earbud (up from three on the XM5) for more consistent noise cancellation, and an upgraded speaker, DAC and amplifier.
The XM6 are also said to have better airflow management, a more intelligent Ambient Mode with three automatic profiles, and more comprehensive integration with LE Audio and Auracast. The Sound Connect app is also said to have a refresh, with five more EQ bands (making 10 in total) and a fitting guide.
The battery life should be the same 16 hours as its predecessor, while the carry case will support fast charging and wireless charging.
Sony WF-1000XM6: 6 things we'd like to see
There weren't many what we would call "disappointments" with the Sony WF-1000XM5 – they arrived as a pretty compelling package and haven't lost their shine since. Our headphones guru, Andy Madden, has recently speculated whether there will be revamped audio architecture within the XM6, based on what the Sony LinkBuds Fit earbuds bring. And there are a handful of other areas that could be improved upon too...
1. A slightly better fit
Despite a lighter build and smaller profile (which offers more comfort than the XM4), one of our main quibbles with the XM5 is the way they fit.
This varies from person to person, yet enough members of our expert review team feel that the premium buds don't quite sit in their ears as snugly as they would like, especially when compared to the lighter, and better-fitting, mid-range Sony WF-C710N.
Whether it's a case of using a different material for the eartips themselves or a different mechanism for locking the fit in, or offering an even larger eartip size, we think these are subtle ways the XM6 could improve to give a better fit for all.
2. Dynamic head tracking for Apple users
The XM5 were the first Sony buds to support dynamic head tracking on Sony's 360 Reality Audio immersive tracks, via Tidal and Amazon Music. This only works on Android devices, however, and Tidal has since ditched Sony's immersive format.
We would love to see Sony make more of spatial audio technology, for both Android and iOS devices, not least as nearly all other headphone implementations, by Bose for example, haven't quite hit the spot yet.
Apple's spatial audio tracks on Apple Music and its dynamic-head-tracking AirPods are the immersive headphones experience to beat here. Let's see if Sony can give them a run for their money.
3. Boost the battery life
The battery life of the XM5 was – and is – by no means a disgrace, but we think it can be improved for the next iteration.
The XM5 buds themselves offer eight hours of life with Bluetooth and ANC, with 24 hours in total including the charging case. Those are the same figures boasted by the previous XM4, and while those aren't bad numbers at all, remaining competitive today, we hope Sony takes the XM6's battery life to the next level.
After all, the XM5's total battery figure is bettered by more than a handful of earbuds both cheaper and pricier, including the original Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (29.5 hours), Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (30 hours) and Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 (46 hours).
And two subsequent generations without a change would seem a little like stagnation.
4. Bring back the fun
Okay, this really is the definition of "have your cake and eat it", we accept. Not only are the Sony XM5 a stunning-sounding pair of buds, but they're also a surprising break from the sonic signature of the XM4 (and XM3 before it).
While they deliver plenty in terms of punch, dynamism and energy, the XM5 focus more heavily on clarity, space and detail to a quite mindblowing degree.
We do love how the XM5 sound, especially after getting used to the change, but a request to inject a bit more fun and fluid musicality back for the XM6 alongside the newfound clarity and analytical approach really is asking for the best of all worlds.
In the immortal words of Tony Stark, though, "Is it too much to ask for both?" We don't think so, especially as new (aforementioned) earbuds from Bowers & Wilkins and Technics have recently raised the sound performance bar (and price level) somewhat.
Again, considering the developments made for the company's new LinkFit model, could we perhaps see a new driver, new processor and new sound engine here?
5. Support for aptX Bluetooth codecs
Sony's headphones and earbuds support one of the highest-quality and best-sounding Bluetooth codecs out there – the company's very own LDAC – but that aside it only tends to offer the standard SBC and AAC ones.
It overlooks Qualcomm's aptX HD (good), aptX Adaptive (better) and aptX Lossless (best) codecs, which are also some of the best quality, not to mention widely supported, codecs in audio hardware.
We get why Sony doesn't feel the need to offer aptX when it has its own solid offering, but if the WF-1000XM6 did have it onboard, it would be a win for customers who own devices supporting aptX but not LDAC.
6. Better colours and aesthetics
Our favourite part of using the Sony WF-1000XM5 is, obviously, listening to them. That said, we are a little underwhelmed with how the new pair look, especially concerning the limited colour scheme of black and 'silver'.
The latter is closer to a grey that hovers somewhere between what various members of the What Hi-Fi? team have dubbed either "hearing aid beige" or "aeroplane in-flight entertainment grey".
While the buds themselves feel premium in build quality, we would like to see these flagship Sony pairs available in more luxurious, stylish hues. We love the Glass Blue finish of the Sony WF-C710N, for example, so something like that would really help set the XM6 apart.
Will the Sony WF-1000XM6 be class-leaders?
We aren't gambling types, but based on the track record of Sony's WF-1000XM line, we think it's a rather safe bet that Sony's next instalment will be right up there, if not at the very top.
After all, its XM5 are already there, and we are talking about an improved version here.
You can tell how excited we are when thinking about where Sony could go next with its acclaimed top-tier wireless earbuds. The XM5 felt like they had altered the paradigm, overhauling Sony's sound profile while delivering new levels of detail and precision. That, in itself, makes the next step for the XM6 intriguing.
And considering the increasing competition they are up against, they will need to fight hard to keep Sony at the top of the tree.
All eyes on Thursday. We'll bring you the news as soon as it's official.
MORE:
Here are the best wireless earbuds in the world, tried and tested
5 sound settings you shouldn't ignore on the Sony WF-1000XM5
I spoke to Sony's audio experts about how they tune the WF-1000XM5 earbuds' stunning sound
