The WF-1000XM5 remain among the best-sounding noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy: SoundGuys measured over 30dB of low-frequency attenuation, the sound posts one of their highest MDAQS ratings, and real-world battery beat Sony's 8-hour claim. The foam-tip fit is the gamble -- Tom's Guide struggled to get a seal where SoundGuys found them comfortable. Check the live Amazon price.
— THE VERDICT · JUDGEANY EDITORSWhat the WF-1000XM5 are
The WF-1000XM5 are Sony's 2023 flagship true wireless earbuds, built around the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e and Integrated Processor V2 driving new 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X units. Six microphones (three per bud) feed the ANC, Sony claims AI-based noise reduction plus bone-conduction sensors for calls, and the spec sheet reads 8 hours per charge with ANC on (12 with it off), 24 hours total with the case, a 3-minute charge worth about an hour, Qi wireless charging, IPX4 on the buds, Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 (no aptX), and a body 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the XM4, per Sony. Everything below comes from published reviews and owner reports -- JudgeAny runs no lab and tested nothing here ourselves.
Sound and codecs
Measured evidence says the XM5 sound excellent with one asterisk. SoundGuys' B&K 5128 tests found an out-of-the-box bass emphasis between 30 and 300 Hz, yet their MDAQS panel scores put the XM5 among the highest-rated earbuds they have tested -- wide soundstage, clean distortion numbers, and a timbre most listeners will like. What Hi-Fi awarded them five stars, calling them refined and musical, and Tom's Guide headlined its review "Best-ever wireless earbuds". The caveats: SoundGuys notes iPhones are stuck on AAC, and Sony left aptX off the codec list entirely, so Android users with LDAC get the full experience while iPhone owners do not. A nudge of the Clear Bass slider in the Sony app tames the low-end emphasis.
Noise cancelling
This is the strongest chapter. SoundGuys measured over 30dB of low-frequency noise attenuation with ANC on, and the foam tips alone reduce up to 15dB at the low end and 50dB above 1kHz -- combined with better wind-noise handling than the XM4. The counter-evidence is real: Consumer Reports found the ANC "very similar to that of the WF-1000XM4", and XDA's review judged noise cancelling below the Bose QC Earbuds II. The measurements are the tiebreaker: SoundGuys published its conditions (B&K rig, firmware 0.9.2, one week of testing), and its numbers put the XM5 ahead of the AirPods Pro 2 in mid and high frequencies -- consistent with Tom's Guide, What Hi-Fi and Expert Reviews all naming them a top ANC pick.
Fit and comfort
Sony shrank the buds 25% and lightened them 20% versus the XM4, added extra-small tips, and SoundGuys' reviewer -- who had switched away from the XM4 because it popped out of his ears -- reports the seal is easy now. But this is the most divisive part of the product. Tom's Guide needed several attempts per wearing, especially on the right earbud, had to step up a tip size, and published a whole separate piece arguing the included tips should be replaced. XDA warns the foam can be too stiff for some ears, and Tom's Guide found them unsuitable for running: footstep thumps transfer loudly into the ear and ANC does not fix it.
Calls, battery, and the app
Sony calls this its best-ever call quality in true wireless, citing AI noise reduction and bone-conduction sensors; SoundGuys ran standardized mic samples across ideal, office, street and windy conditions, and Expert Reviews praised the call clarity. Battery is better than the box suggests: SoundGuys measured 9 hours 32 minutes with ANC on against Sony's 8-hour rating, though their 3-minute charge test returned 51 minutes rather than the claimed hour. The Sony Headphones Connect app (now Sony Sound Connect) unlocks custom EQ, Ambient Sound control, 360 Reality Audio with head tracking, Speak-to-Chat and multipoint pairing for two devices -- though XDA calls the app's look dated.
Who should buy them
Buy the WF-1000XM5 if you want the strongest ANC and the best wireless sound available to Android phones, and you can try the foam tips before committing. They suit commuters, frequent flyers and office workers first. Skip them if your ears reject foam, if you run with earbuds (footstep microphonics), or if you live on iPhone and LDAC was the draw. Don't confuse them with the cheaper XM4 still on shelves. Tom's Guide tracked holiday 2023 drops to $248 at Amazon and $239 at Walmart, so waiting for a sale has a track record. Check the live Amazon price.