The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are the next generation of the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. Released in mid-2022, these over-ears have a new look that stands apart from their predecessor, thanks to their mostly recycled (and recyclable) design. Beyond appearance, Sony has also tweaked elements of their performance, like fine-tuning their XM4's boomy sound profile, improving their integrated mic's performance, and optimizing their active noise cancelling (ANC) system.
Our Verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are decent for sports and fitness, though not everyone will like using over-ears for this purpose. They have 27 hours of continuous playtime, and their combination of physical and touch control schemes is easy to use. However, they lack an IP rating, which is the norm for over-ears headphones, and they can shift in positioning during intense movements like sprints or cutting drills. If you have a small head, you may also experience a bit of pressure from their headband, which can become uncomfortable.
- Fantastic ANC performance.
- If you have a small head, you may not find their fit comfortable.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are great for travel. They have roughly 27 hours of continuous playback time, which will last through long days on the road or intercontinental flights. Also, they're well-built and come with a sturdy carrying case to protect them when you're on the go. Their headband puts pressure on the top of smaller heads, which may be uncomfortable for prolonged periods. They have a fantastic ANC performance, so they can cut down sounds like the rumble of bus engines and passenger chatter.
27-hour battery life with ANC.
- Fantastic ANC performance.
- If you have a small head, you may not find their fit comfortable.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are impressive for the office. They have an outstanding ANC system that can block out ambient chatter, but as soon as you start talking, the headphones enter 'Speak-to-Chat' mode, which increases their ANC transparency without taking off your headphones; that said, you can turn this feature off in the companion app if you find the feature annoying. They also last 27 hours continuously, which will get you through a few days, even if you forget to charge them. However, if you have a small head, you may not find their fit comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time.
Ecosystem-agnostic multi-device pairing.
27-hour battery life with ANC.
- Fantastic ANC performance.
- If you have a small head, you may not find their fit comfortable.
Potential build quality issues.
The Sony WH1000XM5 aren't ideal for wireless gaming. While you can use them with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their latency is too high to be suitable for gaming, as your audio and visuals won't be in sync.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are good for wired gaming. They come with a 1/8" TRS cable that you can plug into your PlayStation or Xbox controller's AUX port, but the mic won't work this way. If this isn't a deal-breaker, they have a warm sound profile that helps emphasize sound effects like footsteps in gameplay. However, their fit can become uncomfortable over time, especially if you have a small head, as the headband creates pressure on the top of your head. You can also power the headphones on while wired and cycle through ANC modes, though their EQ won't be applied.
ANC works when wired.
Near zero latency when wired.
Mic doesn't work when wired.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 have very good audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response closely follows their warm sound profile; small fluctuations in the mids likely won't be audible, while treble fluctuations can cause sibilants to alternate from dull to harsh. Overall, the headphones' L/R drivers are very well-matched, rendering instruments positionally accurate in the stereo image. They also have low harmonic distortion across the frequency range, even at high levels, so you won't notice any unintended timbral coloration. Though the over-ears excite your outer ear, they don't mimic the properties of an angled reference speaker, limiting their ability to contribute to immersiveness.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 have outstanding noise isolation performance, handily tackling noise from the bass to the treble range. In practice, they greatly mitigate sounds from office chatter to bus engines. They also have good leakage performance, rarely exceeding the noise floor of a quiet room.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 have good microphone performance. Your voice captured by the microphone will sound clear, but will lack in fullness. The mic also separates your voice from background noise, though loud sustained noises like the arrival of a subway can cause your voice to be cut out. Additionally, noise handling performance was worse when tested on a phone.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 have good frequency response consistency. Regardless of your physical attributes, you'll experience consistent sound if you take the time to seat the headphones. That said, your listening experience may diverge from our measured frequency response if you wear glasses, as they can disrupt the integrity of the headphones' seal.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 12, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Mar 12, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
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Updated Jan 05, 2026:
The Virtual Soundstage section was updated to test the head-tracking feature.
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Updated Sep 23, 2025:
After noticing an error in some target deviation calculations, we updated this review's Bass, Mid-Range, and Treble Target Compliance scores, as well as its Peaks and Dips score. As a result, some Usages and side-by-side text may also have changed.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony WH-1000XM5 come in four color variants: 'Smoky Pink,' 'Platinum Silver,' 'Midnight Blue,' and 'Black.' We tested the 'Black' model, and you can view our model's label.
If you come across another variant of these headphones that doesn't match what we have, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the next generation of the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless with an updated design that's sleek and made of recyclable plastics. Like most of Sony's high-end models, they also have an automatic adaptive ANC system. It excels at tackling mid and treble sounds like ambient chatter, which is beneficial if you work in a noisy office. While it doesn't block out quite as much bass-range noise as the XM4 or other premium ANC headphones like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless or the Apple AirPods Max, it'll be enough to get you from point A to B without an issue.
Some users may find the automatic ANC annoying, as the system can re-optimize itself with slight head motions (which can lead to worse noise isolation), and you can't manually adjust it. If this is a deal-breaker, you may want to check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones for more options. You can also check out our recommendations for the best headphones and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are over-ears with different strengths. The Sony have a virtual soundstage feature, which can create a more immersive-sounding audio experience; their ANC system does a better job of blocking out background noise, and they support LDAC codec for Hi-Res audio. However, the Sennheiser are more comfortable, are better built, and have a significantly longer continuous playback time at 62.3 hours compared to the Sony's 27 hours.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless have the edge over the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable and better built. They also have a slight edge in noise isolation, but the difference is minor; both choices are still well-suited for noisy environments. The Bose also support aptX Adaptive for high-quality audio. Meanwhile, the Sony headphones support the LDAC codec, which is nice if you want to stream high-quality audio, and you can use them passively when wired. If you want to use the Bose wired, you'll have to turn them on.
Depending on your preferences, you may enjoy either the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless or the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless. The Sony have a less bassy sound profile, although they're still warm-sounding, a virtual soundstage feature, and a better performing ANC system. They're also more customizable. In contrast, the Bowers & Wilkins are more comfortable and better built. They can also receive audio via USB-C, which some users may prefer. However, you can't EQ them as extensively as the Sony headphones if you like to tweak sound profiles.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are the successor to the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. While they address many of the concerns raised about the previous model—making them a stronger all-around choice—the XM5 still hold their own, especially if you're aiming to get the most for your money. The XM6 introduce a redesigned hinge and flatter headband that offer a more comfortable fit and a sturdier build. However, they make tradeoffs elsewhere; their softer pads are more prone to seal interruptions from physical factors like glasses or slight shifts in positioning. This can lead to inconsistent sound delivery, which may be a dealbreaker if you wear glasses. On the upside, the XM6 show marked improvements in noise attenuation—especially in the mid-range—making them more effective at cutting out office chatter and the clack of keyboards. Ultimately, the decision between the XM5 and XM6 comes down to whether you prioritize the XM6's performance gains and extra features, or prefer the more consistent fit and lower price of the XM5.
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Test Results
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