Sony WF-1000XM5

Class-leading levels of detail and clarity ; Top-notch musicality and timing ; Comfortable, discreet design

Some rivals produce more bass ; Could feel more secure

The excellent WF-1000XM5 are Sony’s most accomplished and analytical wireless earbuds yet

Dynamic, musical sound ; Great battery life ; Some genuinely useful features ; Comfortable, improved design

Noise cancelling isn't the strongest at this price ; Call quality can be inconsistent

Sony's flagship true wireless buds remain some of the most musical in-ears you can buy at this price, but the competitors have started to push them on noise cancelling and call quality. They're still a great buy, but its closest competitors are worthy...

Exceptional ANC abilities ; Superb sound quality ; Wonderfully comfortable fit

Companion app could be easier to get around ; Some materials don’t feel as luxurious as others

Improves on what were already some of the best noise-cancelling in-ears around, with even better ANC, a more comfortable fit and stellar audio. They’re pricey, but the WF-1000XM5 are absolutely worth it.

Amazing noise cancellation ; Much improved transparency mode ; More compact and portable design ; Multipoint support ; Good touch controls ; Support for LDAC

Mic can be better ; Not as deeply integrated as rivals ; Spatial audio support is patchy ; No aptX support

The TL;DR version: It’s not perfect but this is unquestionably Sony’s finest effort yet. It’s everything an earbud should be – it’s comfortable, sounds good, and eerily good at cancelling unwanted noise.

Small and comfortable Top-notch sound Excellent noise canceling Superb call quality Bluetooth multipoint with LDAC

Fit isn't super secure

“Smaller, sleeker, and with awesome sound, the XM5 are Sony's best buds.”

Easy to set up and start using ; Several tip sizes included ; Very effective noise cancellation ; Solid battery life even with noise canceling

Mic quality sounds a bit tinny ; Turning off noise cancellation magnifies other sounds ; Calls can disrupt audio connections ; In-ear design gets uncomfortable for extended periods

Upgraded driver and DAC yield improved sound and better dynamic range ; More comfortable, smaller, and lighter than the previous generation ; Among the industry leaders in active noise-cancelling ; Outstanding call quality in noisy environments with AI...

Transparency mode lacks the same magic as Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 ; No aptX codec support ; Potential issues with some wireless chargers

Sony’s new WF-1000XM5 doesn’t quite dethrone the Bose Quiet Comfort II earbuds in terms of active noise cancellation, and the second-gen Apple Airpods Pro have a better transparency mode, but Sony’s new buds come very close on both of those scores and...

Best-in-class active noise cancelling ; Premium audio quality ; IPX-4 water resistant ; Comfortable and pocketable ; The app is well-featured, with a custom equalizer and audio presets ; Four foam ear tips are included ; Long 8-hour continuous play...

The default sound profile is underwhelming ; Limited customization with touch buttons ; Accidental touches are typical when putting the buds in ; Foam ear tips don't go in as seamlessly as silicon

The Sony WF-1000XM5 takes the title for best active noise canceling on true wireless earbuds. They sound incredible and are sleek and lightweight to boot.