The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds boast excellent sound quality, customizable EQ, and great battery life. The noise cancellation excels, offering complete silence even in loud situations. The design is great, despite the slightly larger charging case. These are a highly recommended upgrade for superior quiet and sound control.
Pros
- Well-balanced, crisp sound
- Great battery life
- Awesome ANC
- Good codec support
- Comfortable earbud design
Cons
- Odd case design
- price hike from previous model
The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds are one of the most well-rounded wireless earbud packages I've experienced, with best-in-class sound, great noise cancelation, and a small, light design.
Pros
- Outstanding sound quality
- Strong noise cancelation
- Exceptional functionality
- Excellent level of control
Cons
- Smaller earbud size affects eartip seal and fit
- Battery life remains the same as predecessor
- Flaky 360 Reality Audio personalization set up
I’m always looking for the best new audio gear, and after a three-year wait, Sony has finally announced the successor to the WF-1000XM5: The Sony WF-1000XM6.
I’ve been using both models of the earbuds and putting them up against each other through rigorous testing to find out if newer is better. And, quick spoiler — in this case, it does.
The new model announced by Sony features upgrades to design, active noise cancellation, and sound. In three years, we have a lot of audio advancements that Sony can make the most of, but is it worth splashing your cash on the new model? I put the XM5 and XM6 head-to-head so you know which model is going to get you your money’s worth.
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Specs
WF-1000XM6 |
WF-1000XM5 |
|
Price |
||
Charging case dimensions |
2.4 x 1.6 x 1 inches |
2.5 x 1.6 x 1 inches |
Charging case weight |
1.66 ounces |
1.4 ounces |
Weight (per bud) |
0.23 ounces |
0.21 ounces |
Color availability |
Black, Platinum Silver |
Smoky Pink, Black, Platinum Silver |
Durability |
IPX4 |
IPX4 |
Multipoint connection |
Yes |
Yes |
Battery life (NC on) |
8 hours |
8 hours |
Battery life (NC off) |
12 hours |
12 hours |
Battery life with case |
24 hours |
24 hours |
Bluetooth |
5.3 |
5.3 |
Bluetooth range |
10m |
10m |
Supported codecs |
LDAC, AAC/SBC with DSEE Extreme, LC3 |
LDAC, AAC/SBC with DSEE Extreme, LC3 |
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Price & availability
The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are available for $329/£250 from Sony’s online website. The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are available for $329/£219 at Amazon. Both sets of buds see a price hike in the U.S. thanks to imposed tariffs, but the XM5s are on sale at Amazon U.S. for $248, given the release of the new model.
With all the upgrades, you certainly get more for your money with the WF-1000XM6 buds, but the XM5s are worth considering when they’re on sale.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM5
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Design
I'm used to earbud upgrades looking like identical twins, but the XM5 and XM6 look more like distant cousins than siblings. For me, though, this is a good thing.
I struggled a little with the design of the XM5 earbuds. I found them on the heavier side, and they’re quite large and protrude out of the ear. The XM6 completely resolves that issue with a 11% width reduction and a lighter design despite the extra microphones.
The XM6 earbuds are far more comfortable, and I was able to wear them all day long. Despite being very slightly heavier than the XM5 buds, I found them to be more secure and less noticeable.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Controls
Both sets of earbuds use touch-sensitive controls that can be customized in the Sony Connect app up to four taps. Both earbuds are easy to use and very responsive, and there’s not much difference in how they behave.
There is refined accuracy on the controls, but the XM5s were pretty good to begin with.
Winner: Tie
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Sound quality
Sound quality is vastly improved with the XM6 earbuds. From the second I first tried them, it was clear that this is where the majority of the work has been done on the buds from the previous model. The sound profile on the new buds is a lot more neutral to make way for their higher-resolution capabilities.
The XM6 buds can support 32-bit processing, whereas the XM5s support 24-bit only. But both sets of buds offer the same streaming codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3.
There’s also more room for customization to get your perfect sound with the XM6s, as they have 10 bands of EQ customization with the Sony Connect app, whereas the XM5s only offered five bands. This makes the personalized EQ test on the XM6 buds even more accurate, and delivers me the best sound that complements the genres of music I listen to the most.
Casual listeners may not notice much of a difference between the two sets of earbuds, but music nerds like myself will appreciate the enhanced detail and vocal clarity.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Active noise cancelation
I spend a lot of my time commuting. This is sometimes on the train, bus, or even on a plane if I have to go on a trip. Thanks to my traveling, I am uniquely qualified to speak on ANC — because I rely on it so heavily. The train specifically can be a noisy experience, between the whirring of the train and the screams of nearby children. But with the WF-1000XM6 earbuds, I couldn’t hear a thing.
The new buds have two extra microphones and a new QN3e chip for processing the sound, creating a virtually silent listening experience. You can also check the fit of the earbuds in the Sony Connect app. Here, you can also adjust the levels of ambient sound let in around you, so you can be aware of your surroundings if needed.
This option is also available on the XM5 buds, but it’s far more effective on the XM6s. I tested both sets of buds out on a flight, and the difference was seriously night and day. The WF-1000XM6 earbuds totally blocked out the sound of the engines and everyone around me. If complete silence isn’t as important to you, you can make do with the XM5s, but the XM6s are far superior in my opinion.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Battery life
Both sets of earbuds offer the same amount of battery life. Eight hours with ANC, which extends to 24 hours with the charging case. So it may seem like there haven’t been any upgrades made, but with all the extra power needed for the upgraded ANC processing, it’s pretty impressive that the battery life has stayed the same.
But the XM5 earbuds get points for the charging case design. The case is much easier to move around and fits into the pockets of my jeans much more easily, thanks to the curved shape. The case of the XM6 earbuds, on the other hand, is a little boxy, with a straight edge that makes it a little trickier to just put in your pocket.
Winner: Tie
Sony WF-1000XM6 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: Which should you buy?
The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are the clear winner here. From vastly improved sound quality to killer ANC, there’s no denying that the upgrades are totally worth it. For audiophiles in particular, the upgrade is a no-brainer.
Sony WF-1000XM6 |
Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|
Price (5) |
3 |
4 |
Design (15) |
10 |
12 |
Controls (10) |
9 |
8 |
Sound quality (30) |
28 |
20 |
ANC (30) |
28 |
24 |
Battery life (10) |
9 |
9 |
Total score (100) |
87 |
77 |
But, if you’re not someone who needs the latest gadgets and you’re not too fussed on hearing every detail in your music, then the WF-1000XM5s are still an excellent option, as their price will drop in sales since there’s a new model available.
