Sony WF-1000XM6 Review

The WF-1000XM6 is Sony's latest flagship true wireless earbud, and the early consensus from reviewers is that it's the company's best yet. Rather than a ground-up reinvention, it reads as a focused refinement. Noise cancelling, sound quality, microphone performance and fit have all been improved, while battery life and codec support carry over from the WF-1000XM5.

These are aimed squarely at commuters, frequent flyers and anyone who takes a lot of calls on their earbuds, the people for whom ANC and mic quality matter most. Android users with LDAC-capable phones also have reason to look closely, since high-resolution wireless playback is supported alongside Bluetooth LE Audio.

The catch is that the improvements come with a physically larger design and, in the US and Australia, a noticeably higher launch price than the outgoing model. That makes the XM6 a clear choice for new buyers but a harder sell for current XM5 owners.

On the strengths that matter most for premium earbuds, the WF-1000XM6 delivers. Multiple reviewers single out its noise cancelling and call quality for praise, and SoundGuys' 8.4 overall score reflects a well-rounded package rather than a one-trick product. LDAC and LE Audio support, plus an IPX4 rating, round out a spec sheet that leaves few obvious gaps for the category.

The compromises are mostly about the physical design and value:

• Size and fit: The housing has grown compared with the XM5, likely to make room for new microphones. One reviewer found the fit a little loose with the stock foam tips. Four tip sizes are included, but What Hi-Fi? still flagged limited eartip options as a weakness, so getting a good seal may take some experimentation.
• Bulky case: What Hi-Fi? also calls out the charging case as bulky, which matters if you carry your earbuds in a pocket.
• No battery progress: Battery life is unchanged from the predecessor. We don't have independent runtime figures to judge it in absolute terms, but it's a missed opportunity for a new flagship.
• Price creep: At $329.99 in the US, it costs $30 more than the XM5 did at launch, and the jump is steeper in Australia (AU$500 vs AU$419). UK buyers actually pay slightly less (£250 vs £259).
• ANC-dependent tuning: SoundGuys notes the sound changes with ANC off, so listeners who often switch cancelling off may not get a consistent signature.

Overall, the WF-1000XM6 looks like a top-tier pick for noise cancelling and calls, and a worthy successor if you're coming from older earbuds. The larger fit, unchanged battery and higher price outside the UK keep it from a near-perfect score. If you already own the XM5 and are happy with it, the upgrade case rests mainly on whether better ANC and mics justify the cost.