Sony WH-1000XM5 Review (2026): Still Worth Buying?

Top Picks for You

The Case for a Previous Flagship

The XM5 launched as Sony's flagship and has since been succeeded, which is the most useful thing about it in 2026. A displaced flagship keeps almost all of its engineering and loses a substantial share of its price — and in noise cancellation specifically, the generational improvements have been small for several years.

Cancellation

Its strongest quality and the reason to buy it. Sony's implementation removes constant noise — engines, ventilation, traffic — as completely as anything on the market, and does so without the pressure sensation that makes weaker systems tiring after an hour. On a long flight that combination is still the reason people choose it.

Against speech it does what every cancelling headphone does, which is not much. That is the technology, not the product.

Comfort

The headband spreads weight better than the model it replaced, the pads are soft without being hot, and it is light enough to forget for hours. This is the second reason it persists in recommendations.

Calls

Strong for a headphone. The microphone array holds up in rooms where cheaper models turn a voice into texture, which is why it appears on desks as often as in departure lounges. A boom headset still beats it, as one always does.

Sound

Smooth and slightly polite. It flatters most material and reveals less than a neutral-tuned alternative. For casual listening that is a feature; for critical listening it is the reason to look elsewhere.

The two real weaknesses

It does not fold. The XM4 did. The case is correspondingly larger, and frequent travellers notice it every trip. This is the most-cited complaint by a wide margin.

Its successor exists, and the price gap between them is the whole question. The generational gain in cancellation is small; the price difference usually is not.

Who Should Buy Something Else

If packing size matters: the Bose QuietComfort is the closest direct alternative, cancels within a hair of the Sony, and folds properly.

If sound quality outranks silence: the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is tuned far closer to neutral — bass present but controlled, vocals forward — while cancelling well enough for a commute.

If you mostly work at home: the Sony WH-CH720N is lighter, cancels well against constant noise, and costs a fraction of the flagship. Most of what the XM5 charges for goes unused in a quiet house.

If you want the value answer: the Soundcore Q30 delivers most of the useful quiet for roughly a fifth of the price, giving up comfort, microphone quality and build.

Our top rated over-ear headphones with ANC guide ranks the field on cancellation alone.

FAQ

Is the WH-1000XM5 still worth buying? Yes, for travellers and people who work in noise. Cancellation has improved only incrementally since it launched, so a displaced flagship at a reduced price is unusually good value in this category.

Does the WH-1000XM5 fold? No, and this is its most-cited drawback. The previous generation folded; this one does not, and its case is larger as a result.

How does it compare with the Bose QuietComfort? Very close. Sony edges outright reduction; Bose folds and suits some head shapes better. Either is defensible.

Is the newer Sony model worth the extra? Only if you want the latest — the generational gains in cancellation are small. The price difference usually buys more elsewhere.

Can I use it wired? Yes, over 3.5 mm, which also means a flat battery does not end your listening.

Is it good for calls? Among the best of any headphone. A dedicated headset with a boom microphone is still better, and cheaper.

Verdict

Our score: 8.6/10. The WH-1000XM5 remains one of the most complete noise cancelling headphones available, and being a previous flagship is now its main advantage rather than a drawback. Its cancellation and comfort still lead, and its microphone is among the best in any headphone.

The two reasons not to buy it are specific: it does not fold, and a neutral-tuned alternative sounds better if you care more about music than silence. Neither is a flaw in the engineering — both are trades you should make deliberately.