I compared the Sony WH-1000XM6 to the Sony WH-1000XM5 directly, to see which are the best-value buy

The question of the Sony WH-1000XM6 vs the Sony WH-1000XM5 will be top of mind if you're looking to buy a pair of the best noise cancelling headphones right now. The newer Sony WH-1000XM6 may seem like they're the obvious pick, but with their arrival has come widespread price cuts on their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5. So is it worth spending extra on Sony's new flagship over-ears?

I've tested both the WH-1000XM6 and WH-1000XM5 side-by-side (it's a tough job, etc), to discover which pair will get you better bang for your buck. I've spent hours upon hours listening to some of my favorite tracks on both models, as well as comparing features, noise cancellation, and elements of their design and build.

So, will it be the XM6 or XM5 that take the title of best Sony headphones for you? And is it worth upgrading to the XM6 if you already own their predecessor? I'll answer both of those questions for you below...

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: price & availability

The Sony WH-1000XM6 launched in May 2025, three years after the release of their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5. And given their significant age gap, there’s perhaps unsurprisingly, quite the difference in price between these two.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are easily among the best headphones around, but with high praise comes a high price. They'll set you back $449 / £399 / AU$699 – yep, they’re by no means cheap. That’s a touch pricier than the XM5 were at launch. Sony’s previous flagship effort had a list price of $399 / £380 / AU$649 at the point of release. But now, in 2025, you’ll rarely have to pay that much for the XM5, which are regularly on sale for closer to $300 / £250.

Both pairs of headphones are available in the Black, Midnight Blue and Platinum Silver colorways, but you can also snap the XM5 cans up in Smoky Pink. We may see the XM6 adopt this colorway later down the line, but there’s nothing official on that just yet.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: specs

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: features

Both the Sony WH-1000XM6 and their predecessor have a stunning range of features, most of which are accessible via the Sound Connect app. Let’s start by running through some key features shared by both models.

Each offers adaptive sound control, which adjusts audio output depending on your environment and movement; multi-point connectivity; extensive EQ options (though the XM6 now has a 10-band equalizer); and ambient sound mode. And I could go on – there are so many nuggets to uncover, including head-gesture monitoring for taking or rejecting calls, and voice assistant compatibility.

Of course, ANC is one of the heavy-hitting features on both the XM6 and XM5, but in terms of which does it better, there’s no contest. See, the XM6 harness 12 microphones – four more than the XM5 – alongside a much-improved QN3 noise cancelling processor to nix as much bothersome external sound as possible.

I tested the XM6 against the XM5 while vacuuming my apartment, walking near busy roads and working away in the office, and the newer model was far more adept in crushing unwanted rumblings from my surroundings.

Another department in which the XM6 has improved from the XM5 is touch controls. Things are largely the same: you can double tap to play/pause media, flick back or forward to skip or return to the previous track and cover your right earcup to activate passthrough mode.

But now, you don’t have to continually swipe up or down to adjust volume, just flick and hold. Way more efficient.

Additionally, the button controls look a little sleeker than last time out – you can even double tap the noise cancelling button to mute the mic on calls which is handy.

But perhaps one area in which there’s been a disappointing lack of improvement, is in battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are capable of dishing out 30 hours of playtime with ANC on and 40 hours with it turned off. Unfortunately, there’s no change on the XM6, though it is running a much more powerful processor.

You can now charge while streaming over Bluetooth on the XM6, something that wasn’t available on the XM5, which is a nice touch. But still, there are a lot of competitors that blow that 30 hour playtime away, including the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, which squeeze out double of that.

In terms of totally new inclusions on the XM6, you’re now getting: Auracast compatibility; Scene-based Listening, which can adjust ANC levels based on your environment; and a Cinema listening mode that up-mixes stereo sound into a more immersive, three-dimensional format.

All in all, it’s clear, the XM6 are easily the better pick when it comes to features.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: sound quality

When the Sony WH-1000XM5 launched, they were controversial for two key reasons: their non-foldable design (more on that later) and their smaller driver.

Yep, unlike the Sony WH-1000XM4’s 40mm driver, the XM5 opted for a 30mm dynamic alternative, which left some divided on their audio performance – they weren't that much of an upgrade over the Sony WH-1000XM4. But I’ll be clear, in my view these are a strong-sounding pair of over-ears, with punchy bass and vibrant treble to match.

But despite the generally positive reception of the XM5’s sonic abilities, Sony looked to shake things up a bit on the XM6, opting for a more balanced sound that it says was directly influenced by class-leading audio engineers.

When comparison testing, I found the XM6 had a little less emphasis on booming bass, with a cleaner, slightly more disciplined approach to low-end output. Similarly, I found treble sounds to be ever-so slightly rounded off to really drive home the XM6’s exceptional evenness across all frequencies.

Another difference I identified when tuning into Sasà by Oro, was that the XM6 has a wider soundstage than the XM5. When you pair that with the up-mixed immersive audio available for movies in Cinema mode, it’s undeniable that the XM6 are superior for fans of an expansive sound.

Don’t get me wrong, the Sony WH-1000XM5 still sound very good. They still plate up an exciting listen and, like the XM6, have DSEE Extreme and LDAC for getting the absolute best out of your music when streaming over Bluetooth. But when it comes down to picking a winner in the audio department, the XM6 are the clear victor.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: design

So, let’s go back to that little detail about foldability. Sony’s decision to do away with the XM4’s foldable design saw a whole host of consumers skip out on the XM5. Personally, I do think the XM5 are a bit rigid and their less flexible design is less practical when you're traveling.

But thankfully, Sony has listened to consumers and critics alike, and has revived that beloved foldable design for the XM6 headphones.

The WH-1000XM6 have more durable hinges too, so you won’t have to worry so damage after a few months of use – something people complained about with the XM5.

And they can get fairly compact. If you’re on the go, you can fold them and slide them inside a brand new magnetic case that comes with the headphones. That’s another aspect that’s been changed from the XM5, which had a larger case with a zip.

One thing that hasn't changed is that the XM6 still aren't waterproof. That's common for over-ears, but I would've loved Sony to take the lead and make these at least IPX4-rated for better protection against the elements.

But in terms of looks alone, there’s not a massive amount of difference between these two cans. The XM5 went for a slimmer look than their predecessor and I’m a fan of how they look overall. There’s also a nice amount of padding on the headband and earcups for comfortable multi-hour listening sessions.

Other than the return to folding, the differences in appearance on the XM6 are largely subtle. There’s a wider headband for even more indulgent comfort levels, less stitching for an increasingly rounded look and a new mesh over the mics for improved call clarity in windy conditions.

Ultimately, those incremental improvements and more flexible design give the XM6 the edge over the XM5. Sorry, I know this is getting a little one-sided now.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: Value

But just as the XM5 slam against the canvas and appear to be down and out, they have one last hope – value for money. As I mentioned earlier, the age of the XM5 means you can regularly find them on sale now.

I saw them floating around the $300 / £250 mark with a lot of online retailers, which is about $150 / £150 less than the XM6 right now. Quite the difference!

Yes, at $449 / £399 / AU$699 the XM6 are, simply put, very pricey. That’s more than you’ll have to pay for models like the noise-crushing Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the same amount as the sonically outstanding Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3.

And it’s probably going to be a while before we see these get a substantial price-cut too, so if you’re on a tighter budget, the XM5 might be a better fit for you.

Still, despite a substantial gap in price, this showdown has made one thing clear. The Sony WH-1000XM6 are stronger than their predecessor in almost every single way. Are they worth an extra $150 / £150? That’s hard to say. But is that extra spend going to get you an outright superior product? Absolutely. Let’s call this one a tie.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: verdict

So, you probably saw this one coming, but the winner today is none other than the Sony WH-1000XM6. With top-tier ANC, pleasingly balanced sound and an upgraded design, there’s so much to love about Sony’s new flagship model.

Right now, the XM5 are the better choice for those on a budget, but I don’t think they sound as refined as the XM6 and their lack of foldability is pretty restrictive. If you already own the XM5 and want an upgrade, Sony’s new cans are sure to hit the spot for you, thanks to a new and improved feature set, improved comfort and refined audio.

But this isn't the end of the discussion. What do you think – which model is your winner? Feel free to let us know in the comments!

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