Sony WF-1000XM5 review

Verdict

The WF-1000XM5 is Sony's flagship earbud, and the spec sheet explains why it costs what it does. The 8.4 mm driver is paired with LDAC support, so Android users with a compatible streaming service can send more data than a standard Bluetooth connection allows. The headline feature is noise cancellation: Sony's current processing is among the most effective in an earbud, and the practical result is that engine noise and train rumble recede rather than merely soften. The buds are lighter than the previous generation and the foam tips create a good seal, which is doing as much work as the electronics.

Battery claims are 8 hours in the buds and 24 hours with the case, with USB-C and Qi wireless charging. IPX4 covers sweat and light rain, not swimming. Multipoint pairing lets you switch between a laptop and a phone, and the companion app is genuinely useful for EQ, ANC modes and firmware updates.

The compromises are the price, the foam tips (which will need replacing) and a case that is larger than some rivals. Battery life is good but not the longest in the class. For a frequent flyer or a daily commuter, the cancellation and call quality justify the premium. For everyone else, the P20i covers the basics for a fraction of the money. This is a product you buy for a specific, repeated problem: noise. If you mainly listen in a quiet room, the extra money is better spent elsewhere; the case for the XM5 is built on noise, not on raw sound quality alone.