In this video, Kate delivers her full Sony WH-1000XM6 review of Sony's latest-gen flagship noise-cancelling headphones. This series of headphones has long been a fan-favorite, but do the XM6 offer enough upgrades to make them the best headphones of 2025 at $449? Kate breaks down the noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort, battery life, features and more, comparing the Sony XM6 vs. XM5.
00:00Hey guys! Right here are the new Sony WH-1000XM6 flagship wireless headphones.
00:06Today, in this video, I'm putting them through the buy or skip treatment.
00:10You know the drill. Pros, cons, and whether these are worth your money.
00:14$450 of your money, to be exact. Let's go!
00:19Okay, let's check these out.
00:21Sony has kept the general design language and that lightweight feel that the previous models of the XM line are known for.
00:27But these have a wider, asymmetrical headband to help both with orientation, making it easier to tell which side is which,
00:35and it's also for distributing pressure more evenly.
00:38For me, personally, I thought that the XM5s were the most comfortable headphones ever.
00:44And maybe it's just me getting used to the new shape, but I haven't found the XM6s quite as comfortable for long sessions.
00:51But on the portability side, Sony finally gave us what we've been asking for.
00:57We're going to go back to a foldable design, which the XM5 ditched.
01:02That means that these are going to take up way less space in your bag or suitcase.
01:05Then we have the new case, which is not only smaller, it actually feels more premium with this magnetic closure on the side
01:12that's super easy to pop open and back shut.
01:15Looking a little bit closer at the XM6s, let's talk about button placement.
01:21The power button actually looks like a power button now, complete with the appropriate icon, but this also doubles as Bluetooth pairing.
01:28The second button above it here is the dedicated ANC toggle that's just easy enough to use.
01:33And you can also use this to mute or unmute your mic just by holding down that same button.
01:38Previously, you can only change that setting in the app.
01:41You've still got the capacitative touch controls here on the right ear cup for all your usual needs.
01:46Swipe up or down for volume, double tap to pause or play, swipe forward or back for tracks.
01:51But if you tap and hold, you'll instantly pause your music and switch to awareness mode.
01:56Now I can hear you trying to talk to me.
01:57I love this feature. It's super convenient, even more so than speak to chat, which basically does the same thing.
02:03But you actually have to start talking for that to kick in.
02:07The new QN3 processor is seven times faster than the chip in the XM5s, and that unlocks a new level of noise cancellation.
02:16It's not just about blocking out a plane or a subway or car.
02:19The XM6s use 12 microphones, which is four more than was on the XM5s, to precisely analyze and cancel noise based on your surroundings in real time.
02:29And that same technology also helps with weird placement variables, like whether you're wearing a hat or if your hair is down covering your ears.
02:36Like, mine isn't right now, but it often is.
02:38All that said, Sony's headphones have never had best-in-class noise cancellation.
02:42I usually recommend the equivalent Bose pair if that's your priority, but I think most people would be more than satisfied with the performance here.
02:50Then we have the new driver units, delivering richer sound, clearer vocals, and a more balanced overall mix.
02:56This comes down to a more rigid dome design right here and the extended high-frequency response.
03:03Spatial audio on supported content offers a more detailed immersive listening experience.
03:07Whether it's an orchestra with nuanced instruments or a bass-heavy track, you'll hear each element with intense clarity.
03:14Similar to what I said about these not being the best-in-class noise-canceling headphones, they're also not the best-in-class sounding headphones that I've ever tested.
03:22And I think some of this new clarity comes at the cost of the soundstage.
03:27From a listening perspective, things sound just a little bit tighter compared to the XM5s.
03:31That's just something I would keep in mind.
03:34Sony didn't mess around much with the battery life.
03:36You still get 30 hours of playback with noise-canceling on, or up to 40 hours with it off, which holds its own against all the top-tier competition.
03:44But here's where it gets better.
03:46You can now listen while charging, which kind of sounds like a small upgrade, but if your headphones die mid-flight or in a meeting, that'll come in very, very clutch.
03:55The XM5s didn't let you do this.
03:57Fast charging is also still here.
03:58Just about three minutes gives you about three hours of playback for those times where you're in a crunch.
04:04Back at the beginning of this video, I noted that the XM6s cost $450 at full retail.
04:11This is $50 more than the XM5s cost when they first launched, which is $50 more than the XM4s cost before that.
04:19To offset these price jumps, Sony is smartly keeping the XM4 and XM5 in the mix, basically giving you tiered options based on your budget.
04:28Got to respect that.
04:29Some of the key differences that I personally would be factoring into my decision, I like a collapsible design.
04:36The XM5s don't have that, but the XM6s and XM4s do.
04:40But on the other hand, the XM4s have the oldest Bluetooth codec, and the battery life isn't as good, so I'd really only go for those if I were looking for the biggest savings.
04:48If you want what most of the XM6 offers but don't care about the latest upgrades, the XM5s might be your sweet spot, especially since deals are pretty easy to find now.
04:58I'll link one below.
04:59So should you buy or skip the Sony WH-1000 XM6 headphones?
05:04If you want the most premium version of Sony's wireless headphones, better ANC, clearer sound, and the foldable design finally back in play, and you don't mind that price bump, the XM6 is a pretty easy buy.
05:15But if you're more value-focused and can live without these refinements, check out the XM5, still some of the best and most comfortable headphones you can buy.
05:24Let me know in the comments which pair you're leaning towards, or if you're waiting for the next deal drop.
05:28Hit like if this video helped you, subscribe if you want more tech reviews, and turn on notifications so you don't miss our next video.
05:35Thanks for watching, guys. I'll catch you next time.
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