WH-1000XM5
SonyReleased May 1, 2022 · Analysis updated Feb 13, 2026
Wireless headphones with comfortable fit, excellent noise cancellation, high-quality sound, clear calls, and long battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 scores 88/100 based on 32 expert reviews in the headphones (wireless) category. Coverage includes reviews from Techguide, TechHive, Stuff, and Loudersound.
Critics are split: our scores run from 65 (Headphones) to 98 (Techguide) — a 33-point spread. Headphones tends to score critically across our dataset.
Average of 32 publication reviews, each normalized to a 0–100 scale. How we score
Pros
- Comfortable(19)
- Best-in-class noise cancellation(16)
- Superb sound quality(11)
- Good call quality(11)
- Long battery life(10)
Cons
- Pricey(12)
- No water resistance(6)
- Large and not compact(5)
- They don't fold(4)
32 Publication Reviews
AI summary of this review
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are still at the top of the line when it comes to premium noise cancelling headphones – they deliver stunning audio quality and excellent noise cancellation to make them...
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Sony's WH-1000XM5 delivers best-in-class active noise cancellation with virtually no compromise in sonic performance, raising the bar for noise-cancelling headphones once again.
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An unrivalled combo of great sound, noise-cancelling and comfort.
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Pound for pound, the Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones are the best wireless noise-cancelling headphones available today.
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Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones are basically perfect with stunning audio performance, immersive noise cancellation, and exceptional comfort.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones deliver outstanding sonics and ANC, with sensational clarity and punchy delivery that make them the new class-leaders at their price point.
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In the WH-1000XM5, Sony has managed to replace the best all-round wireless active noise-cancelling (ANC) over-ear headphones you can buy with, you guessed it, the best new all-round wireless ANC over-...
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 are excellent-sounding headphones with class-leading audio quality, best-in-class active noise cancellation, and exceptional comfort, making them the best pound-for-pound headphone...
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Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones offer world-class noise canceling, plush comfort, and fantastic sound, making them a tempting choice as the best wireless headphones you can buy.
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The WH-1000XM5 is another masterclass from this line of Sony headphones, pairing comfort, a fresh new design and stellar performance - both sonically and in terms of active noise cancellation.
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Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Raising the bar for ANC, ambient noise & sound quality
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After using the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for almost 67 hours over two months, the reviewer finds them to be one of the finest headphones available, praising their sound quality, comfort, and feature...
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Sony demonstrates across-the-board expertise in the XM5 with a great-sounding pair of headphones that has exceptional ANC performance and eco credentials.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 are among the very best-sounding wireless headphones you can buy, with accomplished sound in pretty much every respect.
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After spending a fair amount of time with the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's easy to say that these are the best version of these headphones so far.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones are the new gold standard in noise-canceling headphones with improved sound, comfort, and call quality.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are another success in Sony's long-running ANC headphone series, offering tight audio, industry-leading ANC, and battery life that stretches up to 30 hours with ANC on.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones offer excellent noise canceling, improved voice call quality, and a refined sound profile, making them a top choice despite some design changes and a higher price tag.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 is better than the XM4, but it's not clear cut, and there is still a case to be made to recommend the older model, which Sony says they will still be selling.
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Sony WH-1000XM5 are everything a demanding commuter wants, offering class-leading ANC, surprisingly rich sound, comfort, long battery life, and a plethora of features, though the build quality disappo...
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Still the best headphones in the world thanks to their class-leading noise-cancelling features and well-balanced audio, a steeper price point and similar functionality to earlier models make the Sony ...
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless headphones deliver exceptional noise cancellation and audio quality, making them a top choice for audiophiles and frequent travelers.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 bring useful improvements to what have long been the best over-ear headphones you can buy, with excellent audio quality, battery life and noise cancellation packed into a sleeker d...
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers industry-leading noise cancellation, excellent sound quality, and comfortable lightweight design, making them a worthy upgrade over their predecessors despite some minor d...
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Despite the less desirable redesign, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a fantastic noise-canceller that ups the ante in ANC, sound, and features.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers excellent noise cancellation and good sound quality, making it a strong contender for the best ANC wireless headphones, despite some design limitations and a high price po...
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 makes many improvements to its usability and sound quality, as long as you're up to using EQ to clean up some of the headphone's muddiness.
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Sony's latest noise-canceling headphones have a fresh look and iterative improvements but don't really do anything new.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones offer excellent sound quality, best-in-class ANC performance, and a host of smart features, making them a strong contender in the noise-cancelling headphones ma...
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 stands out above most competitors, offering vibrant, immersive sound across all genres, exceptional noise cancellation, and pristine call quality.
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The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a very good headphone for the listener it's trying to serve, but it's not trying to be an audiophile headphone.
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AI summary of this review
The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers excellent noise cancellation and features but falls short in comfort and sound quality compared to its predecessor and competitors at its $400 price point.
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