Sony WF-1000XM5

Matt Lopes, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas from RTINGS highlight the Sony WF-1000XM5 as a refined evolution of Sony’s flagship truly wireless earbuds, delivering excellent noise isolation through a combination of improved ANC and memory foam ear tips. The review praises their warm, well-balanced sound profile with tight bass and transparent treble, alongside strong Bluetooth connectivity and multi-device pairing. The earbuds’ ergonomic, lightweight design and IPX4 water resistance make them suitable for workouts and travel, though the memory foam tips may cause discomfort or fatigue for some users, especially those with smaller ear canals. While the microphone quality is noted as mediocre, the earbuds excel in battery life, app customization, and stable fit without stability fins. Unique insights include detailed frequency response analysis, latency issues on PC, and the impact of firmware updates on ANC performance. Overall, the review conveys a mostly positive but measured enthusiasm, balancing the earbuds’ premium features with practical fit and mic limitations.

Harley Maranan from SoundGuys highlights the Sony WF-1000XM5 as a top-tier noise-canceling earbud with notable improvements over its predecessor, especially in comfort, ANC performance, and battery life. The review conveys a very positive and confident tone, praising the smaller, lighter design and flexible foam ear tips that enhance fit and isolation. The earbuds excel at blocking low- and mid-frequency noise, including wind, making them ideal for commuters and gym-goers. Sound quality is described as generally excellent, with a pleasing 3D spatial effect and strong bass presence, though some listeners may find the low-end emphasis overpowering in quiet settings. The comprehensive Sony Headphones Connect app adds valuable customization options. Criticisms include the glossy finish feeling less premium and the absence of aptX codec support. While pricey, the WF-1000XM5 is recommended for those prioritizing noise cancelation and software features, though audiophiles might consider alternatives like Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 for superior sound fidelity.

David Carnoy from CNET highlights the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds as a significant refinement over their well-regarded predecessors, praising their smaller size, improved fit for a wider range of ears, and enhanced noise canceling and sound quality. While the $300 price is steep, the earbuds deliver a polished listening experience with clearer vocals, tighter bass, and a warm tonal balance that audiophiles will appreciate. Unique features like multipoint Bluetooth, spatial audio with head tracking (for Android), and innovative gesture controls add to their appeal. Voice call quality sees a notable upgrade thanks to bone conduction sensors, though some minor issues persist in very noisy environments. Battery life remains strong, and the earbuds support advanced codecs like LDAC. Criticisms include a limited variety of ear tips, occasional app instability, and missing “find my buds” functionality. Overall, Carnoy regards the WF-1000XM5 as a top-tier, well-rounded choice—especially for Android users—while acknowledging strong competition from Apple and Bose at lower price points.

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 winner What Hi-Fi? praises the Sony WF-1000XM5 as Sony’s most accomplished and analytical wireless earbuds to date, highlighting their class-leading detail, clarity, and top-notch musicality. The review emphasizes the earbuds’ comfortable, discreet design and improved noise-cancelling and call quality, noting a sleeker, lighter form factor with responsive touch controls and useful new features like head-gesture call handling and multipoint Bluetooth. While the bass is less pronounced than on the previous XM4 model and some rivals offer a more secure fit, the WF-1000XM5 deliver a balanced, open soundstage with exceptional timing and texture, growing on listeners over time. Battery life remains competitive but unchanged from the XM4. The review acknowledges strong competition but concludes that these earbuds remain a standout choice for those seeking clarity and refinement in premium wireless earbuds, as reflected in their multiple What Hi-Fi? awards.

Tim Gideon from PCMag highlights the Sony WF-1000XM5 as a standout update in the noise-cancelling true wireless earphone category, particularly praising its superior audio quality that earns it an Editors’ Choice award alongside top competitors like the AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. The review conveys a very positive and confident tone, emphasizing the earbuds’ robust lows, crisp highs, and advanced codec support (LC3 and LDAC) that future-proof the listening experience. Unique insights include the innovative hybrid foam-silicone eartips that enhance passive noise isolation and the nuanced ANC performance that excels in certain scenarios, especially with low-frequency rumble, though Bose still leads in consistent noise cancellation. The detailed app features, multipoint connectivity, and novel head gesture controls add to the earbuds’ appeal, despite some minor usability quirks. Overall, the WF-1000XM5 is recommended for audiophiles prioritizing sound quality, with balanced recognition of its strengths and a few areas for improvement.

Becky Scarrott from TechRadar highlights the Sony WF-1000XM5 as a compact, sonically impressive flagship with notable improvements in size, comfort, and sound quality, especially for bass lovers and Tidal subscribers who benefit from Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and DSEE upscaling. The earbuds deliver a fun, agile listening experience with excellent fit options, including a new extra-small ear tip, and maintain strong battery life from the previous generation. However, Scarrott points out that active noise cancellation, while good, falls short compared to rivals like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and occasional connectivity drop-outs detract from an otherwise premium experience. The Sony Headphones Connect app remains feature-rich but somewhat cluttered, and multipoint connectivity is limited to two devices, unlike some competitors. Overall, the review conveys a cautiously positive tone—Sony’s WF-1000XM5 are a compelling choice for loyal fans and bass enthusiasts but face stiff competition in 2023, making them less of a clear-cut winner than expected.

Samuel Gibbs from The Guardian highlights the Sony WF-1000XM5 as smaller, lighter, and more comfortable earbuds that deliver very effective noise-cancelling and great sound, especially when paired with Android devices supporting LDAC and spatial audio. The earbuds impress with long battery life, future-proof connectivity, and a pocketable case, making them a solid all-round choice. However, Gibbs notes that the XM5 no longer dominate the market as previous generations did, being outperformed in noise-cancelling by Bose and in sound quality by some Sennheiser models. Limitations include a lack of customizable gesture controls, no stabilizing wings for exercise, and no spatial audio support on Apple devices, which may sway iPhone users toward alternatives like AirPods Pro. Additionally, the earbuds are not repairable, and the battery is non-replaceable, raising sustainability concerns. Overall, the WF-1000XM5 remain a great pair of noise-cancelling earbuds but no longer stand head and shoulders above the competition.

Wirecutter’s Lauren Dragan highlights the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds as a standout in the crowded true wireless noise-cancelling market, praising their industry-leading active noise cancellation combined with effective passive isolation for a notably quiet listening experience. The earbuds deliver excellent sound quality right out of the box, with customizable EQ options in the Sony app, and offer convenient features like speak-to-chat, dual-device connectivity, and reliable touch controls that resist misfires. Battery life is solid, lasting up to eight hours with ANC enabled, and the compact design includes thoughtful accessibility features. However, Dragan notes the fit may challenge those with very small or sensitive ears due to the unique foam-silicone tips and lack of stabilizing wings, potentially causing discomfort or insecurity during active use. While the earbuds lack adjustable ANC intensity, their combination of noise reduction and comfort makes them a top choice for noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds, though users with specific fit needs might consider alternatives.

Prakhar Khanna from Forbes highlights the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds as a refined and highly capable upgrade, especially for Android users. He praises the significantly smaller, lighter design that improves portability without sacrificing comfort, though he notes the glossy finish can make removing the earbuds from the case tricky. The review emphasizes the earbuds’ rich, clear sound with improved clarity and controlled bass, alongside top-tier active noise cancellation that rivals or surpasses competitors like the AirPods Pro 2. Call quality and wind noise reduction receive strong commendation, as do useful features like multipoint connectivity, customizable touch controls, and adaptive sound modes. Battery life is robust, outlasting some rivals. However, Khanna points out minor inconveniences such as the learning curve for proper ear tip insertion and occasional inconsistencies with gesture controls. Overall, the WF-1000XM5 are described as the earbuds to beat in sound, ANC, and features, making them an easy recommendation at their price point.