- Sony WF-1000XM6 spotted in FCC certification documents
- May feature DSEE Ultimate audio upscaling, a first for earbuds
- Sony WH-1000XM6 and WF-1000XM5 just got software updates
Sony has released two important updates for its Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds and Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and at the same time it seems to be preparing to launch its next-gen WF-1000XM6 earbuds.
The improvements come via firmware updates: 6.0.0 for the XM5 earbuds and 3.0.0 for the XM6 headphones. Both updates deliver improved Bluetooth LE Audio, which is now supported in the Digital Assistant and Head Tracking features. It's also in the XM6's Find Hub, as noted by Notebookcheck.
Both the headphones and the earbuds get support for Gemini Live and for Audio Sharing via Fast Pair, plus the usual tweaks. The XM5 earbuds also get a Find Hub improvement that enables you to search for each individual earbud, and to disable the Hub without using the charging case.
While those upgrades are rolling out, it looks like the WF-1000XM6 earbuds may be rolling into shipping containers very soon.
Sony's WF-1000XM6 earbuds: when are they coming and what upgrades are expected?
The Walkman Blog has spotted that the XM6 earbuds have now been certified by the US FCC, two and a bit weeks after similar certification in China. As with that certification, Sony is disclosing as little information as possible, but the filing does confirm that the battery inside is a familiar 3.85V model and the antenna is similar to the one in the WF-1000XM5 earbuds.
The testing software is the same as for the Sony LinkBuds, which are based on a MediaTek system on a chip, and that last note maybe adds something a bit juicier to make the new Sony earbuds worth waiting for.
According to a tipster at The Walkman Blog, the WF-1000XM6 may be the first Sony headphones to support DSEE Ultimate, thanks to the built-in AI engine on the latest MediaTek chips.
DSEE is short for Digital Sound Enhancement Engine and its job is to upscale audio files, making compressed Bluetooth audio sound higher-res; according to Sony the Ultimate version "delivers even greater benefits for CD-quality (16 bit 44.1/48 kHz) lossless codec audio. Restoring acoustic subtleties and dynamic range, it provides a richer, more complete listening experience."
The FCC filing could indicate a fairly short wait for the official release: it has a confidentiality expiry date of March 2026, but as The Walkman Blog notes, Sony often launches products earlier than those dates: the WF-1000XM5's FCC filing had an expiry of late August, but the earbuds launched the month before.
So it's possible that the WF-1000XM6 could be officially revealed at or around CES in January 2026 and ship the following month – but it's also possible they could still land in time for Christmas 2025.
We thought the Sony WF-1000XM5 were a bit of a let-down – very good overall, but unusually for Sony, they weren't best-in-class among the best earbuds for noise cancellation even at launch, nor for sound quality, yet they came with a steep price increase. Here's hoping the XM6 buds can course-correct.
➡️ Read our full guide to the best earbuds
1. Best overall:
Technics EAH-AZ100
2. Best mid-range:
Cambridge Audio A100
3. Best budget:
Nothing Ear (a)
4. Best for noise-cancelling:
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2nd Gen
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