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Marques Brownlee - Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back!

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Author: Marques Brownlee
Categories: Lifestyle Psychology Technology
Tags: lifestyle, psychology, technology
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 08:10 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: The Sony WH-1000XM5 are excellent, very comfortable noise canceling headphones with improved noise cancellation and sound, but for most buyers, especially those who travel, the older Sony WH-1000XM4 (Mark 4) is the better choice because it folds down, costs less, and performs nearly as well. The XM5 are only the stronger pick for Android users who want LDAC and the full Sony app features and don't mind the bigger footprint. The reviewer calls the new design a step back for travel even though it is a step forward for comfort and noise cancellation.

Key Points

  • The XM5 no longer fold flat, so the sliding headband and bigger case make them noticeably harder to pack than the XM4.
  • Noise cancellation is stronger than the XM4, now reducing higher frequencies like voices and appliance whine in addition to low drone.
  • Comfort is a major upgrade: wider ear cups and softer vegan leather make them the most comfortable noise canceling headphones the reviewer has tried.
  • Transparency mode is good, with 20 adjustment levels and an enhanced voices toggle, but it sounds somewhat muffled compared with AirPods Max.
  • Sound quality is similar to last year's model, with a new 30 mm carbon fiber driver and LDAC support on compatible Android phones.
  • Battery life stays at 30 hours, matching the XM4 rather than the rumored 40, though a 3-minute charge gives about 3 hours of listening.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: Choose the XM5 only if you use an Android phone, have a bag large enough for the bigger case, and want LDAC and the Sony app customization. Otherwise, buy the XM4 for travel, since it folds down and is about $350 (often found for $300 to $329) versus $400 for the XM5. For quick top-ups before a trip, plug in for 3 minutes to get roughly 3 hours of listening. Wear the XM4 with the right side on the right and left on the left, and fold them down flat to rest them when you don't want to use voice features.
  • The XM5 have eight microphones total (four per side), up from four, which improves noise cancellation and voice quality for calls.
  • The reviewer's call test showed the XM5 isolate voices somewhat better than the XM4 at the same background noise level, though both are only generally good for calls.
  • The XM5 keep on/off head detection even without the plastic cutout used on the previous model.
  • The case resembles Bose's 700 design with a magnetic door over a compartment for the charging and audio cables.
  • The reviewer's main nitpick is the bigger footprint, and the reviewer also notes the product name is a weak point.

Bottom Line

The XM5 are the best-feeling and quietest Sony headphones yet, but their loss of folding makes them a worse travel companion, so the XM4 remains the smarter buy for most people.