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Sony · Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5

Flagship wireless noise-cancelling headphones with 8-microphone ANC system and LDAC support.

List price

$399

14 attributes tracked

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Weight

250 g (8.8 oz)

Active Noise Cancelling

Yes (Dual Processor V1 + HD QN1 with 8 microphones)

Battery life

30 hours (ANC on) / 40 hours (ANC off)

What it does well

  • Industry-leading active noise cancellation with Auto NC Optimizer
  • Exceptional 30-hour battery life with ANC enabled
  • Lightweight, pressure-relieving soft fit leather design

Where it gives ground

  • Headband does not fold into compact ball (swivels flat only)
  • Touch sensor gestures can occasionally misfire in rain

Compare it head to head

The fastest way to decide is against the product you are actually cross shopping. Showing 4 of 14 published matchups.

Headphones11 differing specs

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

$549

Sony WH-1000XM5

$399

Sony leads on 2 of 3 rankable specs and costs less.

See the breakdown
Headphones11 differing specs

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

$429

Sony WH-1000XM5

$399

Evenly split on rankable specs, so price and taste decide it.

See the breakdown
Headphones12 differing specs

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

$399

Sony WH-1000XM5

$399

Bowers & Wilkins leads on 2 of 3 rankable specs.

See the breakdown
Headphones12 differing specs

Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless

$699

Sony WH-1000XM5

$399

Focal leads on 2 of 3 rankable specs, but Sony saves $300.

See the breakdown

Full specifications

Design

Type
Over-ear, closed-back
Weight
250 g (8.8 oz)
Foldable
No (swivels flat into case)
Carrying case
Collapsible hard-shell zip travel case included
IP rating
No official IP rating

Audio

Driver
30 mm Carbon Fiber composite dome
Active Noise Cancelling
Yes (Dual Processor V1 + HD QN1 with 8 microphones)
Transparency mode
Yes (Ambient Sound mode with Quick Attention)
Supported codecs
LDAC, AAC, SBC
Microphones
4 beamforming mics with AI noise reduction

Connectivity & Battery

Multipoint Bluetooth
Yes (connects up to 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously)
Battery life
30 hours (ANC on) / 40 hours (ANC off)
Charging time
3.5 hours full charge (3 min quick charge gives 3 hours)

Ownership

Warranty
1 year
Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.Official Sony WH-1000XM5 spec sheet (opens in a new tab)

Other headphones we track

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

$399

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Sennheiser

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

$379

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Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

$429

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Sonos

Sonos Ace

$449

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Bose

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

$349

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Beats

Beats Studio Pro

$349

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Frequently asked

How much does Sony WH-1000XM5 cost?

Sony WH-1000XM5 lists at $399 (manufacturer list price snapshot as of 2026-09-01). Retail prices vary by merchant and this is not a live quote.

What are Sony WH-1000XM5’s key specs?

Key specifications for Sony WH-1000XM5 include weight (250 g (8.8 oz)), active noise cancelling (Yes (Dual Processor V1 + HD QN1 with 8 microphones)), and battery life (30 hours (ANC on) / 40 hours (ANC off)).

What does Sony WH-1000XM5 compare against?

Sony WH-1000XM5 is compared head to head against Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5, Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM5, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM5, and Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Anker Soundcore Space One Pro.