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Sony WH-1000XM5 review

No. 6 of 10 in our noise-canceling headphones ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The Sony WH-1000XM5 ranks 6th of the 10 noise-canceling headphones we compare, with 8.9 out of 10.

Sony WH-1000XM5

8.9/10

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a 2022 over-ear Bluetooth headphone with adaptive noise canceling, LDAC, two-device multipoint and a 3.5 mm cable. It suits commuters and frequent flyers who want strong ANC and long battery life.

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Why it's here

  • Excellent noise canceling that owners still rate among the best
  • Light and soft on the head, so it stays comfortable through long flights
  • LDAC, multipoint pairing and a full app with EQ and adaptive controls
  • About 30 hours of battery with ANC on, plus a 3.5 mm cable for wired use

Keep in mind

  • The headband does not fold flat, so the case is bulkier than the XM6 case
  • Voices and sharp sounds get through more than on the newer model
  • Mic quality in wind and crowds trails the newest headsets

Why the Sony WH-1000XM5 scores 8.9

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 noise-canceling headphones in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are3rd of 10
  • How many rated it3rd of 10
  • How new it is9th of 10

Level with the Bose QuietComfort Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM5 score the same, so either is a safe pick. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones goes first because it is the newer design.

About the Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH-1000XM5 uses eight microphones and two processing chips for adaptive noise canceling that adjusts to your surroundings. Digital Trends calls the ANC excellent and the transparency mode very good, with Apple's AirPods Max a slight step ahead. GSMArena found the cancellation consistent across the frequency range and steadier than the XM4. The ANC adjusts automatically and can't be tuned by hand.

Each earcup holds a 30 mm carbon-fiber-based dynamic driver, smaller than the XM4's. The headphones play SBC, AAC and LDAC, and connect to two devices at once. Charging is by USB-C, and a 3.5 mm jack on the left earcup takes the supplied cable for wired use. Sony rates the battery at 30 hours with ANC on and 40 hours with it off. Both reviewers found that figure accurate, and a 3-minute quick charge gives about 3 hours of playback. The matte plastic body weighs 8.8 oz, has no water resistance, and shows smudges easily. Touch controls sit on the right earcup.

The earcups pivot flat but do not fold inward, so the carrying case is larger than the XM4's. It collapses to about half its thickness when empty. In the box are the case, the audio cable, a USB-C charging cable and the manual. Digital Trends lists the hinge as a point that may break under stress. Call quality is a strength: Digital Trends rates it very strong, and GSMArena found noise reduction in loud places very effective, though it picked up a faint constant background hiss in recordings.

What owners report about the Sony WH-1000XM5

We found too little owner feedback we could open for this exact model to report a pattern, so this page leans on the published reviews above.

Who the Sony WH-1000XM5 suits

Buy it if you want strong noise canceling and a full app with EQ at a lower cost than Sony's newest model. It fits daily commuters, flyers and office workers who value the 30-hour battery and the option of a cable. Android users can use LDAC. Call quality is good for headphones.

Look elsewhere if you need compact luggage space, since the case is bulkier than the XM6 case. Reviewers split on comfort, with one finding it very good and another calling it mediocre because of shallow earcups. Anyone who wants the best ANC against voices or in wind should consider the Sony WH-1000XM6 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). The Soundcore Space One is the budget alternative.

Questions about the Sony WH-1000XM5

When was the Sony WH-1000XM5 released?

Sony launched it in 2022. Laptop Mag published its review on June 11, 2022.

How does the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra?

Digital Trends rates the XM5's noise canceling as excellent but says the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones now lead. The same review puts the XM5 ahead on features such as LDAC and wired hi-res support.

Can the Sony WH-1000XM5 use LDAC and multipoint together?

No. Digital Trends and GSMArena both report that LDAC works only on a single connection, and multipoint falls back to SBC or AAC. Digital Trends adds that LDAC is Android only.

Does the Sony WH-1000XM5 work when the battery is dead?

No. Digital Trends reports the headphones won't play on a dead battery, even with the 3.5 mm cable plugged in.

Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 waterproof?

No. GSMArena lists no water resistance, and the matte plastic shows smudges.

Other noise-canceling headphone picks

The other badge winners in our noise-canceling headphones ranking.

All 10 noise-canceling headphones, compared

  1. 1 Soundcore Q20iBest Choice 9.2 Check Price
  2. 2 Sony WH-1000XM6Best Premium 9.0 Check Price
  3. 3 Soundcore Space One 9.0 Check Price
  4. 4 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) 9.0 Check Price
  5. 5 Bose QuietComfort Headphones 8.9 Check Price
  6. 6 Sony WH-1000XM5This review 8.9 Check Price
  7. 7 Apple AirPods Max 2 8.9 Check Price
  8. 8 Soundcore Space One Pro 8.8 Check Price
  9. 9 Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless 8.7 Check Price
  10. 10 Sonos Ace Ultra 8.6 Check Price
See the full noise-canceling headphones ranking

The Sony WH-1000XM5 on Amazon

Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a 2022 over-ear Bluetooth headphone with adaptive noise canceling, LDAC, two-device multipoint and a 3.5 mm cable. 8.9 out of 10.

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How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 18 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from