Sony's new XM6 earbuds are finally here — but you'll want to brace yourself
Table of Contents
Sony's latest flagship audio product, the WF-1000XM6 earbuds, is officially here as of Feb. 12.
Just like last year's XM6 headphones, these earbuds feature better active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and an upgraded design. Also like their headphones counterpart, those updates come at a cost — Sony bumped up the starting price to $329.99, which is $30 more than the release price of the WF-1000XM5 earbuds released three years ago.
After spending a week testing out the earbuds, I can see why Sony raised the price point — they're some of the most well-rounded noise-cancelling earbuds I've ever tried. Still, $329.99 is no small chunk of change, so to help you make any purchasing decisions, I've broken down what's new, what's the same, and where to pick up Sony's latest release.
You May Also Like
Sony WF-1000XM6: The specs
So what do you get for $329.99? Here's the basic breakdown:
Processor: QN3e
Equalizer: 10-band custom equalizer with app
Battery life: 8 hours per charge, 24 hours with case
Microphones: 8 mics
IP rating: IPX4
Charging: USB-C and Qi wireless charging
Bluetooth codecs: SBC/AAC/LDAC/LC3
Ear tips: XS, S, M, L
Colors: Platinum silver, black
If you've been paying attention to the recent leaks, these specs won't be a surprise. The headline is that these buds offer a zippier performance thanks to the new QN3e chip and better noise cancellation thanks to the eight microphones, up from six on the XM5 earbuds.
Sony WF-1000XM6: What's new
An updated design
One of the bigger changes on these earbuds is also one of the more visually apparent. The case loses some of the rounded sides of the XM5 for sharper edges (with rounded ends on either side). The earbuds themselves also take on a new, more oval shape, as compared to the circular design of the XM5s. Sony made this change so the earbud could better fit the inner ear.
I was able to achieve a more flush fit with these earbuds without sacrificing comfort, which I attribute in part to their shape. It's not significantly smaller — Sony says the buds are 11 percent slimmer than the XM5 buds — but less surface area means there's slightly more of a learning curve in using the touch controls.
Better noise cancellation
These earbuds also get a noticeable upgrade in their ANC power. While some parts of the system have remained the same from their predecessor (more on that shortly), the XM6 earbuds come equipped with eight microphones (four are housed in each bud) to the XM5's six. The result is ANC that's truly incredible — so much so that I find it to be some of, if not the best, I've ever tried.
On top of that, Sony says the ANC is now so good that even if you wear the buds more loosely in your ear, they still block out the majority of sound.
Improved sound quality
Sony's best headphones and earbuds are known for their stellar sound quality, and the XM6 earbuds are no exception. When listening side-by-side to the XM5 earbuds, it's easy to hear a jump in the depth and clarity of the sound. The newer earbuds evoke a richness and attention to detail, whether you're listening to pop, rock, R&B, classical, or a podcast. (You can learn more about how they compare to other earbuds in my full review, and a more in-depth comparison to the XM5 earbuds is on its way.)
To power the improved audio features, the XM6 buds have a new processor. They also have a new driver with a high-rigidity dome and notched edges, which provides better clarity and clearer high-frequency audio.
Clearer call quality
More mics equal better call quality, and the difference is clear in the XM6 earbuds. In addition to the eight microphones, these earbuds use a new bone conduction sensor, two microphones for AI beamforming, and AI noise reduction to make sure your voice comes through as clear as possible on calls.
The price point
While the XM5 earbuds are technically priced at $329.99, they weren't released at that price. In fact, it wasn't until September 2025 that their price jumped up from its initial list price of $299.99. While not unheard of in the tariff economy, the price point makes slightly more sense on this new and improved model.
For comparison, Apple's AirPods Pro 3 were released last year at $249, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds were released at $299.
Sony WF-1000XM6: What's the same
In this era of iterative improvements, Sony didn't completely reinvent the XM6 earbuds, so naturally, they have some overlap with the XM5 earbuds. Here's what they have in common:
The same battery life: Both earbud generations come with eight hours of battery life per charge, with 24 hours in the case.
Noise isolation earbud tips: Unlike other buds that opt for super smooth silicone ear tips, Sony's noise isolation earbud tips have a more grippy, foam-like feel to help provide the best fit and passive ANC possible. Though parts of the design have changed, Sony hasn't touched the earbud tips between the XM5 and XM6 earbuds.
The same fine print: Like their predecessor, the XM6 have IPX4 water resistance and multipoint connection with two devices.
Where to buy the Sony WF-1000XM6 headphones
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are available in platinum silver and black for $329.99 at Sony's website. They'll be available for sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers as well.
Topics Gadgets
Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable.
