If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones upped the ante in audio quality and noise-canceling, but the brand’s older headphones still deliver excellent performance — now, for less. Typically $400, you can pick the XM5 headphones, released in 2022, for $274. Notably, this is the lowest price for these headphones in months, even beating the Prime Day price.
The catch is that this deal only applies to the black colorway sold on Amazon, but the other colors are available for $328 on Amazon, as well as retailers like Sony and Target, for a savings of $72.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
In our testing, the XM6 headphones represented a meaningful upgrade from the XM5 — but not an enormous one. The design of the XM6 is very similar, as are many of the features. The XM6 headphones have slightly improved sound and mic quality, thanks to the redesigned driver and additional mics, and better comfort, with more cushioning on the headband. The XM6 earcups also rotate, making them more compact and packable.
But while the XM6 headphones might be the flagships to beat, the XM5 headphones are still audio champs, with excellent ANC, the same great controls, and an identical 30-hour battery life. So if you don’t want to drop $450 on a pair of headphones — and in this economy, we can’t blame you — the sub-$300 XM5 headphones are a worthwhile alternative.
And if you prefer the design of the XM4 headphones, released in 2020, Sony continues to support and sell them. The XM4 headphones feature touch controls, multi-device pairing, speak-to-chat technology, and 30 hours of battery life. That means they still have many of the same features as the current flagships, for a lot less. Right now, they’re available from Amazon, Sony, and other retailers for $200. Unlike the XM5 headphones, the earcups rotate, making the case more compact.
