Sony WF-1000XM5 Review

Testing Context

We rethe WF-1000XM5 in August 2026 against eight current earbuds, including the AirPods Pro 2, Jabra Elite 10, Galaxy Buds3 Pro, and Anker Liberty 4 NC.

The earbuds werein the same environments in the same week to ensure comparable conditions.

This review reflects how the WF-1000XM5 performs against current competition, not just its launch performance.

Design and Comfort

Sony redesigned the XM5 significantly from its predecessor.

The XM4 had large, flat ear tips that were noticeably present in the ear.

The XM5 is smaller in every dimension.

The stem is shorter, the housing is rounder, and the ear tip design uses a wider bore that requires a smaller size to achieve the same seal.

Active Noise Cancellation

This is where the WF-1000XM5 separates from every competitor.

Sony uses a dual-noise sensor system, one microphone facing outward, one facing inward, combined with their latest QN2e processor to calculate and cancel noise in real time.

The Auto NC Optimizer feature measures the acoustics of your specific ear canal and current environment when you activate ANC.

Each ear is calibrated separately.

Audio Quality and LDAC

The WF-1000XM5 supports LDAC, Sony's high-resolution Bluetooth codec.

On Android 8.0 and later, LDAC transmits at up to 990kbps, three times the bitrate of AAC.

The difference is audible on high-quality audio sources.

Streaming lossless audio from Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, or Apple Music on Android through LDAC, the treble detail is cleaner, instrument positioning is more precise, and the overall presentation has more texture than the same content through standard AAC.

Battery Life

Sony claims 8 hours per charge with ANC active.

The case provides two additional charges for 16 hours, totaling approximately 24 hours.

This is below average for premium earbuds in 2026.

Jabra Elite 10 delivers similar per-charge life.

Call Quality

The WF-1000XM5 uses a three-microphone array for voice pickup.

The performance is good but not exceptional.

In quiet environments, call quality is clear and natural.

In noisy outdoor environments, background noise pickup is noticeably higher than the Jabra Elite 10.

Multipoint and Connectivity

Multipoint allows the XM5 to maintain simultaneous Bluetooth connections to two devices.

When audio starts playing on the second device, the XM5 switches automatically.

Bluetooth 5.3 provides a stable connection up to approximately 10 meters in an open space.

Through walls in a typical home, the connection remains clean up to about 8 meters.

Should You Still Buy Them in 2026?

At full price, the ANC lead over current competitors is enough to justify the premium for people who primarily use earbuds in noisy environments.

If you use an iPhone: the AirPods Pro 2 are better integrated and have 30-hour case battery.

The WF-1000XM5 ANC advantage is real but LDAC does not work on iPhone.

For iPhone users, the AirPods are the right call.