HiFiRated
Source: brand press / retailer
Sony · headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5
The best ANC headphone for commuters and open-plan offices. Class-leading active noise cancellation, 30-hour battery, and surprisingly capable sound for a Bluetooth headphone. Not for critical listening — the DSP processing adds coloration — but unmatched for daily carry convenience.
Quick Answer
- Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 worth buying in 2026?
Sony improved the comfort, ANC, and call quality, making these some of the best-performing headphones on the market. However, the decision to ditch the folding design resulted in a massive carrying case that compromises their utility for travel. With the older XM4s offering simil
+Pros
- Extremely comfortable and lightweight for long listening sessions
- World-class Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that improves on higher frequencies
- Excellent sound quality, especially when using the LDAC codec
- Fast charging capability (3 minutes yields 3 hours of playback)
- Greatly improved microphone quality for phone calls
−Cons
- Non-folding design makes them significantly harder to travel with
- The included carrying case is unusually large and bulky
- Transparency/ambient mode is mediocre and makes the user's own voice sound muffled
- Hard to justify the price premium over the still-excellent older XM4 model
In-depth Review
Sony WH-1000XM5 Review — A legendary headphone lineage takes two steps forward in performance but one massive step backward in portability, leaving reviewers recommending the older model
Specifications
| driver type | Dynamic |
| impedance | 48Ω (wired) |
| sensitivity | Not specified |
| freq response | 4–40,000 Hz |
| conn type | USB-C, 3.5mm (passive) |
| form factor | closed-back over-ear |
| wireless | Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC) |
| weight | 250g |
| battery | 30 hrs (ANC on) |
| anc | true |
Why This Headphone
The best ANC headphone for commuters and open-plan offices. Class-leading active noise cancellation, 30-hour battery, and surprisingly capable sound for a Bluetooth headphone. Not for critical listening — the DSP processing adds coloration — but unmatched for daily carry convenience.
Key Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 48Ω (wired) |
| Sensitivity | Not specified |
| Freq Response | 4–40,000 Hz |
| Conn Type | USB-C, 3.5mm (passive) |
| Form Factor | closed-back over-ear |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC) |
| Weight | 250g |
| Battery | 30 hrs (ANC on) |
| Anc | true |
Who It's For
This headphone is recommended for listeners and engineers who prioritize its core strengths. Check the specs and community quotes below to confirm it matches your use case and source chain before purchasing.
Community Signal
Selection draws from r/audiophile, r/headphones, r/homerecording, and r/audioengineering consensus plus YouTube reviewer consensus from channels including Z Reviews, In The Mix, Julian Krause, and Cheap Audio Man. Every cited rating reflects a real, linkable source.
What Real Users Say
“XM5 ANC is still the benchmark. Nothing else comes close in this price range for blocking out an open office.”
— u/remote_worker_audio in r/headphones
Last updated: May 2, 2026 · By Jordan Kim
