Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones
Industry-leading ANC, 30-hour battery, and crystal-clear calls make the XM5 the default work-from-home headphone.
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What we like
- Best-in-class active noise cancellation for open offices and noisy homes
- 30-hour battery life with 3-minute quick charge for 3 hours of playback
- Excellent call quality thanks to 4 beamforming mics and AI voice pickup
- Multipoint Bluetooth lets you stay connected to laptop and phone simultaneously
Could be better
- Case is larger than the XM4 because the cups no longer fold flat
- No IP water resistance rating — not ideal for workouts
- Touch controls can misfire when adjusting the fit
Full Review
The WH-1000XM5 is the headphone I recommend by default when someone asks what to wear for a full day of remote work. Sony made two key upgrades over the XM4 — noise cancellation and call quality — and both matter a lot more for video calls than they do for music.
Noise Cancellation That Actually Works on Voices
Most ANC headphones handle low-frequency rumble fine but fall apart on voices. The XM5 uses two processors and eight microphones to suppress mid and high frequencies more aggressively than the XM4. A roommate talking on the phone in the next room turns into a muffled hum. A barking dog drops a full level. Auto NC Optimizer recalibrates whenever you move between rooms, so you’re not fiddling with settings.
Call Quality Is the Real Upgrade
Four beamforming mics plus AI-based voice pickup mean you sound clear on Zoom without a separate headset mic. I’ve run full days of back-to-back calls without a single complaint about audio quality. That’s the thing no one talks about — most “great” headphones sound terrible on the other end of a call.
Comfort for 8-Hour Days
The synthetic leather earpads and 250g weight make the XM5 genuinely wearable for a full workday. There’s no clamping fatigue, and the earcups are deep enough that my ears don’t touch the drivers. The main downside is the case: because the cups no longer fold flat, it’s noticeably larger than the XM4’s case and harder to toss in a backpack.
Who Should Buy This
Buy the XM5 if you work from home or a shared office and spend hours on video calls. The ANC plus mic combo is unmatched at this price. If you mostly listen to music and never take calls, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra has slightly warmer sound. If you need something that folds flat for travel, the older XM4 is still sold and is the better carry-on pick.
