Sony’s XM4 noise-cancelling over-ears have served as the benchmark pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones since their release in 2020. This status hasn’t faltered much since then, so it comes as no surprise that the manufacturer’s fifth generation in its XM line serves as an even better option, right down to its sleeker redesign.
With a slightly lighter and even more streamlined makeup, the MX5 outdoes its predecessor in virtually every category, equipped with a pair of larger ear cups to diminish any long-term listening fatigue. The new release’s battery life is also incredible, with quick charging capabilities that offer listeners a whopping three hours of playback after merely three minutes of charging. The headphones also feature eight internal microphones to pick up external frequencies and create opposing sounds to water them down.
As far as sonic prowess goes, the MX5 houses a pair of crisp 30mm drivers, which mirror those on the MX4, proving that there was only so much room for improvement between this shiny new offering and Sony’s previous model. Nevertheless, an upgrade is an upgrade, and the remaining features are surely worth it if you plan on wearing them for hours on end, or simply need to make a phone call.
With so many different headphones to buy, it’s hard to narrow down which one is truly the best, but we recommend looking no further than here. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are available to pre-order now for $398 and are slated to release on May 20.
