Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best True Wireless EarbudsSony WH-1000XM6
Best Overall WirelessPrice
$200-$280
$350-$400
Summary
Best-in-class noise cancellation for earbuds with specially designed ear tips that block sounds ANC misses. Wirecutter and PCMag both call it the top true wireless option for sound and ANC combined.
Top-ranked by Wirecutter, RTINGS, and Tom's Guide for combining best-in-class ANC with superb sound and all-day comfort. The new benchmark for wireless over-ear headphones.
Pros
- Best noise cancellation of any earbud pair tested per Wirecutter measurements
- Specially designed ear tips block sounds that ANC misses
- Superb sound quality with high-end codec support per PCMag
- Dizzying array of features including LDAC hi-res audio
- Best combination of noise cancellation, comfort, and audio performance per Wirecutter
- Top-rated wireless over-ear on RTINGS.com across multiple categories
- Premium build quality that justifies the price
- Wide feature set including voice control and advanced EQ
Cons
- Premium price for earbuds
- Ear tips can be finicky to fit correctly for some users
- Bulky earbud housing is larger than competitors
- Mixed Reddit community sentiment — heavily discussed with some dissatisfaction
- Premium price puts it out of budget range for many buyers
- Predecessor XM5 had mixed community sentiment on Reddit — XM6 is newer and less community-tested long-term
- Plastic build feel despite premium cost
- Touch controls can be overly sensitive
Our take
For people who hate over-ear headphones but still want serious ANC and audiophile-grade sound in earbuds, the WF-1000XM5 has no real competition right now.
If you want one pair of wireless headphones that does everything well, the XM6 is the answer — it beats everything else on noise cancellation, sound, and comfort in the same price range.
Buy
