Every generation of the Sony WH-1000X series has reset the standard for active noise cancelling, and the WH-1000XM5 arrived with a design that divided opinion before a single song played. Sony threw out the folding frame of the XM4, softened every line, and packed a new two processor architecture under the hood. I have lived with the black WH-1000XM5 for several weeks now, wearing them on flights, in busy offices, and through long editing sessions, and this review collects everything those hours taught me. The short version is that Sony still owns this category, but it wins on a different set of terms than it used to.
Before I get into the details, the usual note about money. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission never influences what I test or what I recommend, and the headphones I reviewed here were treated exactly as I would treat any product bought with my own money.
Design and Build
The WH-1000XM5 look nothing like their predecessor, and that is the point. Sony abandoned the folding mechanism entirely, replacing it with a one piece headband and swiveling earcups that lie flat but do not collapse. The result is a cleaner silhouette with softer angles, fewer visible seams, and a matte finish that resists fingerprints far better than the glossy plastic of older models. It is also a lighter design on paper, though the weight difference is barely noticeable in daily use.
Comfort is where the redesign pays off most. The XM5 use plush, larger earpads that wrap the ear completely instead of pressing against it, and the headband distributes pressure evenly across the crown. I wore them for five hour sessions without the sore spots that the XM4 developed on longer flights. The clamp force is gentle but secure enough to survive a brisk walk, and the swiveling cups let the headphones rest flat around the neck or inside the included hard shell case. That case is a genuine improvement over the soft pouch of the XM4, and it protects the non-folding design during travel.
Key Features
The WH-1000XM5 run on a dual processor system that separates noise cancelling from audio processing. The V1 processor handles the fine work of cancelling noise, while the QN1 chip continues to drive sound quality, and together they remove dramatically more high frequency noise than the previous model. Voices, air conditioning hum, and the chatter of a crowded cafe all dissolve to a surprising degree, which is the XM5 signature improvement.
Battery life matches the class leader. Sony rates the XM5 for up to 30 hours of playback with noise cancelling on, and up to 40 hours with it off, which is enough for even the longest haul flights. A three minute quick charge adds about three hours of listening, and the USB-C port charges the headphones fully in under three and a half hours. The battery endurance has not changed from the XM4, but it did not need to.
Wireless features are complete. The XM5 support LDAC for high resolution wireless audio, DSEE Extreme upscaling for compressed files, and 360 Reality Audio for spatial tracks. Multipoint connection lets the headphones pair to two devices at once, so a call on your phone can interrupt music from your laptop without any reconnecting. Touch controls on the right earcup handle playback, volume, and calls, and Speak to Chat pauses music automatically when you start talking, then resumes when you stop.
Real-World Performance
The noise cancelling is the headline, and it delivers. On a recent flight the XM5 removed the roar of the engines almost completely, leaving only the faintest cabin noise at full throttle. In a busy open plan office, conversations that once pulled my attention became a distant murmur. The XM4 had excellent cancelling of low frequency rumble, but the XM5 add meaningful reduction of the mid and high frequencies that make voices and clatter so distracting, and that is the real step forward.
Sound quality is refined, though it has changed character. The XM5 tune is more neutral and detailed than the bass heavy XM4, with a wide soundstage and clear treble that suits vocals and acoustic instruments beautifully. Bass is still present and deep, but it is better controlled. For my taste the XM5 are the better sounding headphones, though listeners who loved the XM4 warmth may find the new tuning a little less energetic.
Call quality is where Sony made the largest hidden improvement. The XM5 use four microphones in each earcup with AI based noise reduction, and in wind and street noise the person on the other end could hear me clearly, which was never true of the XM4. Wind reduction mode tames outdoor breezes that used to ruin calls entirely.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Best in class noise cancelling that removes voices and mid frequencies
- Comfortable for many hours thanks to the softer earcups and headband
- Up to 30 Hours of Battery life with a quick charge option
- Excellent call quality with AI voice isolation
- Complete wireless feature set: LDAC, multipoint, touch controls, Speak to Chat
Cons:
- No folding mechanism, which hurts travel compactness
- Sound is more neutral than the warmer, bassier XM4
- Premium price that sits above most competitors
- Plastic construction does not feel as premium as rivals
How It Compares
The WH-1000XM5 compete most directly with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and the previous XM4, and each one makes a different trade. The comparison below summarizes what separates them.
| Feature | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Class leading, removes voices | Excellent low frequency | Excellent, slightly less mid range |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours | Up to 30 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Folding | No, lies flat | Yes, folds compact | No, lies flat |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Call quality | Excellent with AI isolation | Average | Very good |
| Typical price | Highest | Lower | Mid |
The XM4 still win for travelers who need a compact fold, and Bose offers slightly stronger bass and its own take on spatial audio. But the XM5 lead on raw noise cancelling, call clarity, and battery endurance, which are the three things most buyers care about most in this category. For a deeper look at how the XM5 compare to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the coverage from The Verge on this generation of flagships is worth reading.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the WH-1000XM5 if your life involves noise you need to escape. Frequent flyers, open plan office workers, students in busy libraries, and anyone who takes calls from loud environments will feel the improvement immediately. The call quality alone is reason to upgrade if you have struggled with muffled conversations on older headphones.
You can check the current price and configurations of the Sony WH-1000XM5 on Amazon when you are ready.
Skip them if you need a headphone that folds small enough for a tight travel case, if your budget is better spent on the still excellent XM4, or if you prefer the warmer bass tuning of previous Sony generations. Nobody in this category is wrong for a listener with strong preferences.
How We Test
I tested the WH-1000XM5 as my primary headphones for over three weeks across the environments that matter most: long flights, a noisy open plan office, busy streets, and quiet late night listening sessions. I measured battery life through repeated full discharges, tested call quality by recording calls in wind and traffic, and compared the noise cancelling directly against the XM4 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra using the same music and the same noisy spaces.
I evaluated comfort through long sessions without removal, judged sound across genres from classical to hip hop, and confirmed the quick charge figures with a timer. My verdict is consistent with the consensus of publications that have spent serious time with these headphones, including The Verge review of the WH-1000XM5, which I recommend as a cross reference.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best noise cancelling headphones I have tested, and you can find the Sony WH-1000XM5 on Amazon here if you want to see the current listing.
Sony WH-1000XM5: Questions People Ask
How long does the Sony WH-1000XM5 battery last?
Sony rates the WH-1000XM5 for up to 30 hours of playback with noise cancelling on and up to 40 hours with it off, with a three minute quick charge adding about three hours of use.
Is the WH-1000XM5 noise cancelling better than the WH-1000XM4?
Yes, the WH-1000XM5 use two processors and eight microphones with Auto NC Optimizer, and they remove more high frequency noise such as voices and office chatter than the XM4.
Does the WH-1000XM5 fold up for travel?
No, the XM5 no longer fold into a compact ball like the XM4, but the arms rotate to lie flat inside the included carrying case.
Can the WH-1000XM5 connect to two devices at once?
Yes, multipoint connection lets the headphones pair with two devices simultaneously, so you can answer a call from your phone while music plays from your laptop.
If the Sony WH-1000XM5 sound like the right fit, the current WH-1000XM5 price on Amazon is a good place to start.
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