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Sony WF-1000XM5 Review: The Noise Cancelling Earbuds to Beat
The Sony WF-1000XM5 judged against mid-range buds and over-ear headphones. Here's what the smaller housing fixes, and when the cancellation premium is wasted.
By Price Review Team
Sony WF-1000XM5 Review: Small Buds, Big Silence
The Bottom Line
Buy it if noise cancelling is the reason you're buying earbuds at all. The WF-1000XM5 is Sony's flagship in-ear model: markedly smaller than the generation before it, with class-leading cancellation of the low-frequency drone that dominates trains, planes and offices. If silence is the product you want, this is close to the top of the market.
Who should buy this: Commuters and frequent flyers. Open-plan office workers. Anyone who wants deep control over EQ and behaviour through an app.
Who should NOT buy this: iPhone users who want seamless switching between Apple devices. Anyone who wants over-ear comfort for eight-hour days. People who resent configuring things — much of the value here lives in the app.
How We Assessed It
Our assessment weighs these against the mid-range earbuds below them and over-ear headphones above them, on the things that actually separate them: how well a small in-ear removes the low-frequency drone of a train or an aircraft, which is the hardest job in noise cancellation; whether the smaller housing fixes the fit problem that pushed the previous generation out of smaller ears; how much of the sound quality, the cancellation and the battery life depends on getting the ear-tip seal right; and where the Apple-ecosystem gaps and the touch controls cost you day to day.
The Good
Low-frequency cancellation is exceptional. Train and aircraft rumble is the hardest thing for a small in-ear to remove, and this is where these buds are genuinely impressive — the drone drops away almost completely. On a commute, the difference from mid-range earbuds is not subtle.
The smaller housing fixes the fit problem. The previous generation was bulky enough to work its way out of smaller ears, and that was the complaint that dominated its reviews. Shrinking the housing is the headline change here and it is aimed squarely at that: these sit flush, stay put through a run, and are comfortable enough for a long-haul flight. If earlier Sony buds fell out of your ears, try these again.
Sound quality is genuinely good, not just good-for-earbuds. Detailed, with bass that's present without swamping vocals. The app's EQ is effective enough to tune it to taste rather than fight it.
Getting the seal right transforms everything. Take five minutes with the app's fit test and try every tip size. Cancellation, bass and battery life all depend on the seal, and most disappointment with expensive earbuds traces back to people not doing this.
The Bad
They're expensive, and the last increment costs the most. Mid-range earbuds now get you most of the way. The final step in cancellation and detail is real, but it's a premium — decide honestly how much of your listening happens somewhere loud.
Battery life is fine, not remarkable. With cancellation on you'll get through a working day with case top-ups. Compared to over-ears, in-ear battery is always the compromise.
Apple ecosystem integration is limited. They work perfectly well with an iPhone, but automatic device switching and the tighter integrations belong to AirPods. If that's your priority, buy accordingly.
Touch controls are twitchy. Adjusting a bud in your ear will occasionally pause your music or change mode. You get used to it; you don't stop noticing it.
Who It's Really For
The person whose commute or office is genuinely loud and who has decided that silence is worth paying for. That's the honest test: if most of your listening is at home in a quiet room, the cancellation premium is wasted and mid-range buds will please you just as much. If you spend an hour a day on a train, this is one of the few purchases you'll notice every single time you use it.
Final Verdict
Price-Per-Value Rating: 8.8/10
The headline claim holds up: low-frequency cancellation is outstanding, and the smaller housing addresses the fit problems that dogged the previous generation. The price is the main barrier and the Apple-ecosystem gaps are real. Spend the five minutes on tip selection — everything good about these depends on it.
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Free on the App Store · iPhone, iOS 17 or later