Following several leaks, the announcement is finally official: the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are now available. As anticipated, they come with a host of upgrades compared to their predecessor, the WH-1000XM5. One notable addition is a new metal folding hinge designed to enhance both durability and flexibility. The XM6 is offered in three colors: black, midnight blue, and a unique platinum silver, which is more of an off-white sandy hue. The U.S. price for these headphones is set at $450, marking a $50 increase from the XM5, which seems to be influenced by tariffs, seeing as they retail for CAD 599 (approximately USD 428). Customers can purchase them online starting today at major retailers and on Sony’s website.
Sony faced some criticism with the fold-flat design of the WH-1000XM5, which many found less convenient for travel. The XM6 addresses these concerns by maintaining the sleek look of the XM5 while introducing a second axis of motion in the hinge. Additionally, the travel case has been downsized and now features a quick-release magnetic closure in lieu of a standard zipper.
The headband has been redesigned with a wider shape and an asymmetrical design, similar to the Sonos Ace. This adjustment is intended to help users easily identify the correct orientation of the headphones without relying solely on left/right labels. The ear cushions have also been upgraded for increased padding.
For the XM6, Sony has adopted a new finish for the plastic, moving away from the slightly rubberized texture of previous models to a more ceramic-like feel.
Recognizing its reputation for top-notch active noise cancellation (ANC), Sony likely took note when Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones began winning accolades over the WH-1000XM5. In response, the XM6 introduces several enhancements, starting with a new QN3 processor that reportedly measures and reacts to noise conditions seven times faster than the previous QN1 chip in the XM5. The number of microphones has increased from 8 to 12, allowing for better external sound capture. Additionally, the older Auto NC optimizer algorithm has been replaced with a newly developed Adaptive NC optimizer, which adjusts ANC based on various factors like hair or eyeglass interference with the ear cups’ seal.
When making phone calls, 6 of the 12 mics are utilized (as opposed to 4 on the XM5). Sony claims that an AI noise reduction algorithm trained on 500 million voice samples enables the XM6 to better distinguish your voice from background noise. The new model also allows users to mute the microphones during calls.
On the audio front, the XM6 features newly designed drivers, utilizing a high-rigidity carbon fiber composite dome. This enhances sound balance alongside a perforated voice coil bobbin to improve high-frequency performance. Additionally, the headphones have undergone extensive tuning by several Grammy-winning audio engineers.
The XM6 maintains the spatial audio feature, now branded as “360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema.” This enhancement is marketed as an immersive experience for movies, although it also functions with any stereo source on both iOS and Android devices. Unlike the XM5, which limited spatial sound to Sony’s proprietary format, the XM6’s spatial audio works across a wider range. Unfortunately, head tracking remains exclusive to Android users.
Battery life remains unchanged, offering 30 hours with ANC enabled and 40 hours without it. However, Sony has finally introduced the capability to charge the XM6 while in use, a feature absent in previous wireless models.
Although downplayed in their presentation, similar to the LinkBuds Open and LinkBuds Fit, the XM6 will support Bluetooth Auracast when set to LE Audio mode—assuming the smartphone runs a compatible operating system. This functionality is expected to work on most Android devices with the latest version, but not on iPhones.
A new feature called Scene-based Listening has also been added. According to Sony, this technology “automatically plays music based on the user’s activity and adjusts noise cancellation levels according to their environment and location.” This seems to expand on the existing Adaptive Sound Control feature, which currently manages ANC and transparency mode based on activity and location.
