Sony WH-1000XM5 Review 2026: Is it worth it?
Industry-leading noise cancellation, wrapped in a lighter, smarter design.
Our take on Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony's WH-1000XM5 arrived with a bold redesign and an ambitious promise: even better noise cancellation and call quality in a lighter frame. Two years and countless firmware updates later, we retested them for 2026 to see if they still deserve the crown.
"Sony WH-1000XM5 earned a 4.8/5 in our latest round of testing β one of the strongest scores in Physical Products."
Product Overview
The WH-1000XM5 are Sony's flagship over-ear wireless noise-cancelling headphones, powered by dual processors and 8 microphones for adaptive ANC.
Key Features
Adaptive Sound Control adjusts noise cancellation based on your activity and location, while multipoint Bluetooth keeps two devices connected at once.
What we love / Watch out for
- β Best-in-class ANC
- β Comfortable for long sessions
- β 30-hour battery life
- β Multipoint Bluetooth
- β Not foldable like XM4
- β Case is bulkier
- β No IP water rating
Pricing & Value
At $349β$399 the XM5 sit at the premium end, but frequent sales and strong resale value soften the blow. For frequent flyers and remote workers, the ANC alone justifies the spend.
Support & Warranty
Sony offers a standard 1-year limited warranty, with responsive support via chat, email and phone across major regions.
Real user reviews
Frequently asked questions
The final verdict
The WH-1000XM5 are the best all-round premium ANC headphones you can buy in 2026 for travel, remote work and everyday listening. They earn our Editors' Choice for physical audio products.