We've spent enough time testing and living with the Sony WH-1000XM5 to conclude that they may be the best wireless headphones around. With an extensive feature set, superb sound quality and regular price cuts tempting prospective buyers, they've been the noise-cancelling headphones to beat for the last couple of years.
That's despite the emergence of five-star models from some of Sony's key rivals. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless have all thrown their hats into the ring, all looking to chip away at Sony's dominance. Yet, the Sony's have remained, in our opinion, the best all-rounders.
So what does the future hold? Can we expect to see a replacement WH-1000XM6 model any time soon?
And if they are on the way, where would we like improvements made? Our years of testing have taught us there's no such thing as a perfect pair of headphones and even the Sony's aren't immune from some minor criticism.
Below, you'll find some of our predictions for when a potential successor to the XM5 might launch, how much we think the headphones might cost and what improvements we'd like to see from a potential replacement...
- The Sony WH-1000XM6 are this year’s most anticipated headphones – but I'm waiting for something else
Sony WH-1000XM6: release date speculation
Surprisingly, we haven't seen any major leaks yet regarding a possible release date even though Sony's recent history suggests a new pair could arrive at some point this year...
Sony's Award-winning run started in August 2018, with the launch of the WH-1000XM3. They were followed by the XM4 in August 2020, then the XM5 landed in May 2022. Seeing a pattern yet?
If Sony was going to continue with this cycle, releasing an updated version every two years, the XM6 should have launched in the summer of 2024 – around August.
However, at the time of writing, we are now well into September and are still to hear any major rumblings about a new model. Could we have to wait a little longer than we originally planned? A respected tipster by the name of zackbucks, who has dropped eerily accurate information about previous Sony launches, says the follow-up model to the WH-1000XM5 will now arrive in 2025 together with a new pair of premium wireless earbuds.
Sony WH-1000XM6: price predictions
The big question is how much could a successor to the XM5 cost? Sony's noise-cancelling over-ears are a premium offering and are priced appropriately. The WH-1000XM3 cost £330 / $350 / $500 at launch, but for subsequent models, the price has steadily crept up. The WH-1000XM4 launched at £350 / $350 / AU$550 and the WH-1000XM5 £380 / $399 / AU$550.
This is in keeping with the general trend in consumer electronics, coupled with rampant inflation in the last couple of years. Since the AirPods Max arrived in 2020, flagship/premium pairs from a lot of manufacturers seem to have crept up in price too: just look at the B&W Px7 S2e (£379 / $399 / AU$599), and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (£449 / $429 / AU$649).
Will this mean a higher price for the XM6? We think Sony will still endeavour to keep it below £400 / $450 / AU$600 unless the new model justifies a significant jump through a more premium design, the use of more premium materials and a more advanced feature set.
Sony WH-1000XM6: 5 things we'd like to see
1. A more premium design
For the XM5, Sony overhauled the headphones' look and feel. It was a bold move, diverging from a multi-Award-winning design that had won plaudits across the board. And largely, it paid off.
But while we praise Sony's comfortable fit and "noiseless" design that cuts down on the number of joints and hinges – not to mention its use of recycled materials – there's no getting away from the headphones' plasticky feel. Put them next to the B&W Px7 S2e, and they feel positively cheap.
2. The ability to fold away
Once upon a time (well, earlier this century) most noise-cancelling over-ears folded away. That was a big part of their appeal: they're designed for use on planes, and as such, would fold down to fit in your hand baggage more easily. Not any more.
Now, the trend at this level is to have swivelling ear cups that fold flat, but that's it. Instead of folding up, they come with a carry case to keep them safe. Which is fine, except these cases can take up quite a bit of space.
While we like the XM5's "noiseless" design, we miss the folding design of their predecessors, the WF-1000XM4. It's unlikely Sony will go back to the drawing board for their successors, but who knows what their design team is thinking.
3. Next-gen noise cancelling
The XM5 are among the best noise-cancelling headphones money can buy, but the competition is fierce at this level. Bose is never too far away and neither are B&W and Sennheiser. Apple's AirPods Max are also very good in this regard. So how can Sony stay one step ahead?
With a new noise-cancelling chip, that's how. The XM5 use Sony's Integrated Processor V1, to very good effect. But that made its debut in the WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds in 2021. For now, the WH-1000XM5 are the best all-rounders available, but we'd like them to silence an even wider range of frequencies and to deal with variable sounds like traffic noise a little better.
4. Longer battery life
When the XM5 were just a glint in Sony's eye, rumours abounded that the battery life would top 40 hours. That turned out to be only partly true – the XM5 can last for 40 hours, but with noise cancelling switched on they'll run out of juice after 30.
That's still very respectable (and 10 hours more than the AirPods Max). But it hasn't changed since the Sony WH-1000XM2 launched back in 2017.
Compare this with some rivals that have upped their game significantly. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, for example, offer a mammoth 60 hours of runtime between charges.
5. aptX support
Sony's never been one to support aptX through all generations of its WH-1000 series headphones and, to be honest, we doubt it will change with a new model. It seems to be happy with SBC, AAC and support for its own LDAC codec which offers higher data rates than traditional Bluetooth (when paired with a compatible source).
However, rival pairs from B&W, Bose, and Sennheiser now support aptX Adaptive, the latest variant of the tech which promises improved latency with supported mobile devices. Is it a box you want Sony to tick?
6. IP rating
The XM5 aren't waterproof nor are they sweat-resistant, features that have also been absent in older generations. Some key rivals tick at least one of these boxes and we'd like to see the new generation of Sony's headphones have a suitable IP rating too.
MORE:
Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review
Sony WH-1000XM5 tips: how to connect to two devices, use wired and more
Decide which is best for you: Sony WH-1000XM5 or WH-1000XM4
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5: which ANC headphones are better?
