Sony WF-1000XM5 Review: Still the Best Earbuds You Can Buy?

Sony's WF-1000XM series has been the noise-cancelling earbuds benchmark for years. The XM5 arrived promising to be smaller, lighter, and better sounding than its predecessor. After three months of daily use, here's our take.

Design and Comfort

The XM5 is noticeably smaller and lighter than the XM4 — 4.8g per earbud versus 7.3g. That doesn't sound like much on paper, but you feel the difference during long listening sessions. After 4+ hours, these still feel comfortable.

The included foam tips (three sizes) create an excellent seal, which is critical for both noise cancellation and bass response. Sony's tip fitting test in the app helps you find the right size.

The case is compact enough for any pocket and charges via USB-C or Qi wireless. A full case charge gives you about three total recharges.

Sound Quality

This is where the XM5 earns its price. The new Dynamic Driver X delivers a sound profile that's rich, detailed, and balanced. Bass is punchy without being bloated. Vocals sit clear in the mix. High-end detail is crisp without sibilance.

With LDAC-capable devices, you get hi-res audio streaming that's a genuine step up from standard Bluetooth codecs. The difference is most noticeable in well-produced acoustic and classical recordings.

The EQ in Sony's Headphones Connect app lets you tune to your preference, and the DSEE Extreme upscaling does a respectable job improving compressed audio.

Noise Cancellation

The ANC is the best we've tested in any earbuds, period. On flights, it reduces engine drone to a faint hum. In open offices, it effectively silences conversation and keyboard noise. On public transit, it takes the edge off everything.

The Ambient Sound mode is equally impressive, letting in voices and environmental sounds naturally when you need awareness. Speak-to-chat automatically pauses music when you start talking — a feature that sounds gimmicky but becomes surprisingly essential.

Battery Life

Sony rates the XM5 at 8 hours with ANC on, and that's about right in our testing (we averaged 7.5 hours). With ANC off, you'll get closer to 12. The case adds 16 hours total.

A 3-minute quick charge gives you 60 minutes of playback, which has saved us more than once.

Call Quality

Bone conduction sensors and AI-based noise reduction make calls clear on both ends. In our testing, callers reported our voice was clear even on a busy street. Wind noise handling is good but not perfect — very windy conditions still cause some interference.

What Could Be Better

The lack of multipoint when using LDAC is the biggest annoyance — you can connect to two devices simultaneously, but only with standard codecs. The foam tips are comfortable but wear out after 3-4 months and replacements cost $10.

IPX4 water resistance handles sweat and light rain, but these aren't workout earbuds for heavy exercise in the rain.

The Verdict

At $280, the Sony WF-1000XM5 delivers the best combination of sound quality and noise cancellation in any wireless earbuds. They're comfortable enough for all-day wear and sound good enough to make you rediscover your music library. If you can afford them, they're the ones to get.