Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Earbuds Review

Editor’s note: We held off on our Sony WF-1000XM5 review because of some confusion leading up to their release. Original review samples that were sent to us and other journalists were discovered to be prototypes and not final production models. Unsurprisingly, the prototype didn’t perform to the same level as the production model reviewed here (in particular, the ANC and sound performance were lacking) which has led to some vastly differing opinions from outlets that only reviewed the prototype.

About the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds

• Price: $299.99
• Battery life: Up to 8 hours with ANC (12 without), up to 24 hours with case
• Fast charging: 3 minutes for an hour of playback
• Colors: Black, Silver
• Ambient sound modes: Active Noise Canceling, Transparency Mode
• Speakers: 8.4mm drivers
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
• Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
• Dust/water resistance: IPX4
• Fit: Four ear tip sizes (new XS size)
• Weight: 5.9 grams per earbud, 39-gram charging case
• Extra features: Wireless charging, multi-device connection, 360 Reality Audio, Head Tracking, Amazon Alexa support

The Sony WF-1000XM5 arrive in a biodegradable box. Inside is the charging case with the earbuds inside, the obligatory legal paperwork, three additional color-coded ear tip sizes (XS, S, and L), and a short USB-C to USB-A charging cable. There’s a USB port on the back of the charging case, which can also be charged wirelessly.

What we like

Class-leading ANC

Apple and Bose released their flagship noise-canceling earbuds in the fall of 2022 less than a week apart, and the performance of both was staggering. Not only were they superior to all earbuds released until that point, their noise canceling bested the top-performing Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones that were released only a few months previous. The prevailing question was how would Sony respond.

Remarkably well, it turns out. At time this review was written, the WF-1000XM5 delivered the best overall noise canceling you can get. Activating the ANC while I sit writing these very words puts me in my own little sonic bubble, completely blocking out background noise including the air conditioner and taps from my wireless Apple keyboard.

During our back to back (to back) comparison testing against the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, the Sony let in a touch more low rumble, like you’d find during a flight, but the difference in attenuation is minute and can easily be covered by music or a movie’s soundtrack. More importantly, the WF-1000XM5 surpassed both in the midrange, putting a dull on any external chatter.

Excellent, customizable sound profile

One of Sony’s strengths is excellent sound tuning. We’ve heard it in all iterations of the 1000XM line and the WF-1000XM5 continue that legacy. Out of the box, the Sony WF-1000XM5 produce a nice, warm, and balanced sound—even more so than the WF-1000XM4, which were already excellent. The larger 8.4mm drivers (the XM4 drivers are 6mm) improve the bass and midrange response to better support the entire frequency range.

On the XM5, Ben Shepard’s driving bassline on Soundgarden’s “Spoonman” pushes the momentum of the song forward without covering or overshadowing Chris Cornell’s vocals. The various percussion elements cut through and sparkle within the thick rock texture, and the instrumental spatial placement gives the sense of a nice and wide soundstage.

Unlike the AirPods Pro 2, there’s a 5-band EQ (with additional Clear Bass settings) in the Sony Headphones app that allows for some tinkering, if desired. I tweaked the sound to add a touch more high-end sparkle and put Clear Bass up a notch. There are eight preset EQ curves—with names like Excited, Mellow, Treble Boost, and Bass Boost—but to my ear, none of them improved on the default curve or what I accomplished with my own adjustments.

A Find Your Equalizer tool in the app guides you through a selection of different EQ options, slowly whittling them down as you choose your favorite from each grouping. It’s an interesting process, but it never landed on an option that I found to be distinctly better than where I started. Best to keep with the default or do your own tweaks if you’re so inclined.

Smaller and sleeker design

The WF-1000XM5 are thankfully about 25% smaller and, at 5.9 grams per earbud, 20% lighter than the XM4. They feel comfortable in the ear and during the testing process I regularly wore them for hours at a time without any fatigue.

The curved design is sleeker and more flattering than the XM4, which had the copper-colored external mic protrude from the body of the earbud. Overall, they are more compact than the AirPods Pro or Bose QCEII, as both of those earbuds have a stem design. The XM5 fit within the ear’s concha.

The XM5 charging case is smaller than the Bose case, and while a little wider, it’s squatter than the AirPods case. Its flat bottom also allows it to stand up instead of lay on its back.

Extensive features and cross-platform compatibility

The Sony Headphones Connect app that’s available both on iOS and Android devices, has a plethora of features available—which might edge on too many for some. Included is Adaptive Sound Control (which adjusts settings based on actions or locations), Ambient Sound Control with the option to suppress surrounding noises while allow voices to pass through, and the adjustable equalizer mentioned above.

Playback and quick action controls can be switched from left to right earbud and vice versa, but there’s no need to choose one over the other as all controls are accessible on the earbuds. There’s even an option to use head gestures to answer or reject incoming calls that works well.

Perhaps the most important feature is the earbuds OS compatibility. The Sony WF-1000XM5 work equally well, with full functionality, on both Apple and Android devices. The majority of my testing was done with an Apple iPhone 14 Pro, but experienced the same ease of use when I switched over to a Samsung Galaxy S21. It’s one of the major benefits Sony has over Apple.

What we don’t like

Fit requires fiddling

Sony changed the internal structure of the eartips, which allows them to be more flexible. They also introduced a new XS size to accommodate those with smaller ear canals. Both excellent news, as having a solid and secure fit is vital to experiencing the best ANC and sound the XM5 have to offer.

Getting the earbuds to consistently fit well took some effort, though. I find that a medium or large tip is what generally works best with my ear shape, and the medium worked well for my left ear. But for an easy fit, my right ear needed something between a medium and large.

I could still get them to work for me after five or so seconds of twisting them into place, but when compared to the AirPods Pro 2, which I can easily pop into my ears with no effort, it gets tiring. When walking around I would also need to adjust them periodically to solidify the fit. I’d never consider using them on a run instead of my Beats Fit Pro.

Should you buy the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds?

Absolutely, they deliver top-notch ANC and sound performance

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II threw down the gauntlet at the end of 2022, and we’ve had to wait a while to hear from Sony. But what a response it is. The WF-1000XM5 meet or exceed the competition in practically every category. Noise canceling is phenomenal, sound quality rivals the competition, and they can be used with any device.

For Apple diehards, the choice will still be the AirPods Pro 2, both for their integration within the Apple ecosystem, and they’re MSRP is $50 less than the WF-1000XM5. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 offer strong performance and are still available—and at a discount due to their age—but they don’t quite stand up to the new class of wireless earbuds.

If you’re in the market for some premium earbuds and you’re not concerned with sporting Apple, there’s little reason not to buy the Sony WF-1000XM5.