Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony WH-1000XM6 wins — The XM6 is a meaningful upgrade for XM5 owners who found the ANC or call quality lacking; it's not worth upgrading if yo…
Scores: Sony WH-1000XM5 7.1/10 · Sony WH-1000XM6 8/10
The XM6 is a meaningful upgrade for XM5 owners who found the ANC or call quality lacking; it's not worth upgrading if you're happy with your XM5.
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Sony WH-1000XM6 |
|---|
| ANC Processor | QN1 | QN3 |
|---|
| Microphones | 5 | 8 |
|---|
| Folds Flat | No | Yes |
|---|
| Battery Life | 30 hours | 30 hours |
|---|
| Weight | 250g | 254g |
|---|
| Current Price | ~$270 | ~$349 |
|---|
Sony WH-1000XM5
What works
- Widely available at $70-100 less than XM6
- Still one of the best ANC headphones available
- Identical sound quality in practice for most listeners
What doesn't
- Doesn't fold flat — less practical for travel
- Five-mic array shows its age on phone calls in noisy environments
- Mid-frequency ANC trails XM6 and Bose QC Ultra
Sony WH-1000XM6
What works
- Improved QN3 processor closes the mid-frequency ANC gap
- Eight-mic array vs five-mic — better call quality
- Fold-flat hinge is restored — easier to travel with
What doesn't
- Costs $70-100 more than XM5 for incremental improvements
- Not a transformative upgrade for satisfied XM5 owners
- Sound quality improvement over XM5 is subtle, not dramatic
Bottom line
Our pick: Sony WH-1000XM6.
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