Sony WF-1000XM5

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.”

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...

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

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.

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.

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.