Travel light and cancel the noise: Sony WF-1000XM5 headphones review

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are the flagship in-ear offering from the Japanese multinational. Released in 2023, their maker promises they're the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market. I got my hands on a pair to put that claim to the test.

As a regular headphone wearer, I welcome any new technology which promises to deliver stellar audio in an attractive package. These headphones follow on from the commercial success of their predecessors, the WF-1000XM4, and are undoubtedly a popular choice among those who want to take their music with them wherever they go.

What do they offer for their £259 RRP? First and foremost, great sound. It's not a given, lots of budget earphones fail at the basics and even high-end options can leave much to be desired, thankfully there are no such problems here. My playlists dart between soul, rock, country, pop and more. All tracks are served well by Sony's high-resolution audio, as are a variety of podcasts, which were more immersive than usual thanks to the noise cancellation element.

Sony is keen to emphasise this feature and while it's certainly impressive it does come at a cost to battery life. It's also heavily dependent on the user's positioning of the headphones in the ears. When done correctly there's no chance of the earbuds falling out or sound escaping, but they can feel tight in the same way that conventional earplugs do. If you're willing to accept this compromise, you can look forward to noisy train journeys and hard to hear calls being a thing of the past.

Verdict: Competing alongside the likes of Bose and Apple, Sony faces the standard in-ear headphone problem – one size will not fit all. While comfort may vary according to the user, you'll still possess a small but powerful piece of audio equipment.

Fans of physical buttons and silicon earbud tips will want to look elsewhere (touch activation and foam are Sony's preference). However, if your current audio accessory leaves you straining to identify instruments, lyrics or entire conversations over the din of your environment, you'll find a suitable solution in the WF-1000XM5.

What's good?

The best headphones are nice to look at as well as the means by which you can access your favourite audio. In this respect the WF-1000XM5 are successful, even if their name might benefit from a rethink. Patience is already wearing thin as I type out the string of letters and numbers, but on to more important matters... The charging case is small and pleasingly understated while the earbuds themselves look premium thanks to a gloss finish and intricate detailing on the copper-coloured highlights. Together and separately they are lightweight and belie the technology which is at work within.

This includes larger drivers than were present in the XM4s and dual feedback microphones. They also incorporate Sony's LDAC codec, meaning the highest possible audio quality from supported sources. The noise-cancelling element shines both when listening to music and during calls, and it's simple to alternate back and forth between this and an ambient sound setting via the Sound Connect app, or by tapping on the exterior of the headphone. Given that, with ANC on, the noise of your surrounding environment is almost entirely obscured, this is a welcome feature and valuable when moving from one setting to another. Indeed, while air or bone conduction headphones arguably present benefits when it comes to health and hygiene, they're yet to offer a solution for the headphone user who wants to listen on busy commutes as well as quiet walks. The XM5s remove the need to have separate earbuds for different occasions.

This is aided by the high degree of customisation which can take place using the app. If you value the freedom to dive into the detail and tweak settings according to personal preference you'll be in your element. Options that can be incorporated include speak-to-chat (music pauses automatically when you talk), the ability to accept or reject calls using a head gesture and spatial sound optimisation for compatible services.

What's okay?

It was pleasing to discover that the packaging the headphones come in is made from 100 per cent paper materials and that recycled plastics are used in the construction of the product itself. However, there's nothing to suggest that the headphones are repairable and, likewise, the battery cannot be replaced. Fairphone has demonstrated with its Fairbuds that this isn't an idealistic aspiration, and it would be nice to see a company like Sony making greater strides in this direction.

The multi-point connection permits linking to two devices at the same time, an easy process which allowed me to switch between listening to songs from my phone and watching TV shows on my laptop. However, there are other headphones of comparable price which go one better and offer the ability to link to three devices simultaneously – Technic's EAH-AZ100E-K wireless earbuds, for instance.

When it comes to battery life, while the WF-1000XM5 may match or even better many other market leaders, I found that the use of the noise cancellation feature resulted in a significantly faster drain. Given that this element is presented as one of the primary reasons for purchase, I feel like any claims regarding time between charges should use this setting as the base line. As such, you should expect between six and eight hours of continuous use before the earbuds need returning to their case or connecting to a power source.

Finally, they're waterproof, and a rating of IPX4 meant I needn't fret about them getting slightly wet during exercise or if caught in light rain. However, I'd have even less to worry about if wearing other options like the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro which have a superior rating of IP57 for water and dust resistance.

Any negatives?

These are not inexpensive headphones and the cost justifies itself in many ways due to the superb audio. Yet, you could also pick up the previous generation and be infinitesimally poorer when it comes to quality but significantly richer in terms of the pound left in your pocket. That said, it's a while since these earbuds were launched, so they may become the 'old' version before too long. Based on Sony's history of product updates, I'd expect a new model to be released no later than 2026. It's all pointing in that direction for the successor to the popular over-ear Sony WH-1000XM5 too – importer filings with the Federal Communications Commission in the US suggest the WH-1000XM6 is on its way.

Other than price, fit and features are critical, but subjective. Touch-activated controls (increasingly common for earbuds) can be accidentally triggered. If you want to remove that possibility then you should opt for something with physical buttons. Likewise, if you find a snug fit to become somewhat claustrophobic after prolonged wear, I don't think these are the headphones for you. And, having commended the comprehensiveness of the app and associated functions, you could also be forgiven for finding it overwhelming. A simple grab-and-go accessory the WF-1000XM5 are not, at least on first wear.

Alternatives to the Sony WF-1000XM5

Here are some more options which, like the XM5s, include noise-cancelling technology.

How were the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds tested?

I tested these Sony earbuds over the course of a couple of weeks. They replaced my usual headphones and were used for listening to a variety of audio from my phone and computer. I also took calls to test mic quality. I focussed on the manufacturer's claims as well as the most-important aspects of earbud tech as determined by our expert team. These include design, build, features and value.

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David Ker is a journalist with a decade's experience in print and digital publishing. He appreciates technology made with its environmental impact in mind and which presents him a further means to pursue his love of music, reading, games, TV and film. Above all, with so many options out there, he's interested in products that display something out of the ordinary and offer value for money. Hard to please, he assures What's The Best readers that he'll be a discerning critic on their behalf.

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