Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds launch: smaller earpieces, extra mics and more
The buds boast class-leading noise cancellation plus extra ear tips
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After months of rumors, leaks and speculation, the next generation ofSony’s best true wireless earbuds have today been unveiled (July 24). The Sony WF-1000XM5 will hit shelves in August, with a recommended retail price of $299.99 / £259 / AU$499.
How do you improve on theSony WF-1000XM4, thebest true wireless earbudsfor most people? Easy! You just take the existing version and improve pretty much everything.
What’s new in the Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds?
This isn’t just a minor refresh. There’s a new driver, which Sony calls Dynamic Driver X, which is up from 6mm to 8.4mm and uses a new rigid frame design to deliver what Sony promises is finer vocals and deeper bass with very low distortion. There’s also the new HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e and Integrated Processor V2, which again promises excellent sound quality with low distortion. There’s integrated head tracking for spatial audio in compatible apps.
You should sound as good as your music too. There are now three mics and two processors per earbud, up from two and one respectively, and there’s a new bone conduction sensor and improved forward mic mesh for speech. A new AI-based noise reduction algorithm is designed to focus on your voice even in noisy environments, and the buds have been designed to reduce wind noise when you’re out and about.
There are serious improvements to the fit and comfort too. There’s a new ultra-small SS ear tip option for smaller ears, and Sony says it’s redesigned the tip shapes to reduce air pressure in your ears for improved comfort.
The XM5s are 25% smaller and 20% lighter – something you’ll notice during long listening sessions. Battery life is the same as before, with a realistic 8 hours with the buds and 24 hours in the case, and you’ll get three hours' listening from a 60 minute quick charge. The Bluetooth here is 5.3 with two-device multipoint, one less than you get in theSennheiser EAH-AZ80.
I can’t wait to see what my colleagues have made of these, because Sony’s true wireless earbuds have long been the benchmark for classy build and sound quality. And as luck would have it, ourSony WF-1000XM5 reviewjust went live…
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Writer, broadcaster, musician and kitchen gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been writing about tech since 1998, contributing sage advice and odd opinions to all kinds of magazines and websites as well as writing more than a dozen books. Her memoir,Carrie Kills A Man, is on sale now and her next book, about pop music, is out in 2025. She is the singer in Glaswegian rock bandUnquiet Mind.
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