Sony teases new headphones ahead of expected ‘The ColleXion’ launch event on May 19th
Sony has started teasing a new pair of premium over-ear headphones, and all signs currently point toward the launch of the rumoured premium The ColleXion over-the-ear-headphones. The teaser briefly reveals parts of the headphones, including a curved headband, metallic hinge, and one ear cup. Like we mentioned in our render leak report, the hinge mechanism appears noticeably different from the one used on the Sony WH-1000XM6. That detail matters and we’ll tell you why.
Sony The ColleXion launch details
The company recently posted a short teaser video on its X handle in Japan with the tagline, “A masterpiece awaits…,” alongside a launch date of May 19th at 9 am PST (9.30 pm IST). It’s unclear whether the launch will be restricted to Japan or will happen elsewhere too. While Sony has not officially confirmed the product name yet, the design shown in the teaser closely matches earlier leaks tied to The ColleXion headphones. The company has not disclosed specifications yet, but leaks around the headphones have accelerated over the past few weeks. The rumoured model has also been spotted in public in Manhattan ahead of the Met Gala, adding further speculation that Sony was preparing a near-term launch.
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A masterpiece awaits…
— Sony (Japan) (@sony_jpn) May 13, 2026
2026年5月20日(水)9時 発表https://t.co/QgAsCzEw4E pic.twitter.com/q8FWWW2GKK
Leaked specifications and pricing
Leaks suggest Sony may offer The ColleXion headphones in black and white colour options. The leaked renders also point toward leather or vegan leather finishes on the outer ear cups instead of the matte plastic design used on the XM6. Internally, the headphones are rumoured to use a MediaTek MT2855 chipset paired with Sony’s custom QN3 processor. DSEE Ultimate audio enhancement support is also expected.
The renders additionally show multiple microphones and a USB Type-C port, hinting at support for active noise cancellation, voice calls, and wired charging. There’s also a metal hinge visible, which solves the durability problem that WH-1000XM6 users had raised concerns for. The name “The ColleXion” also suggests Sony may be positioning these as something more exclusive than a regular XM-series refresh.
Pricing could place these in an entirely different category from Sony’s existing XM lineup. Current leaks suggest pricing around EUR 629 or roughly USD 740, which converts to nearly Rs 55,000 to Rs 70,000 depending on the market. For context, the Sony WH-1000XM6 launched around USD 449 (available in India around Rs 40,000), while the AirPods Max retail around EUR 549 (available for around Rs 67,000 in India) in Europe.
Apple has largely focused on ecosystem integration with the AirPods Max, while Bose continues prioritising comfort and travel-friendly ANC performance. Sony has traditionally balanced strong sound quality, effective ANC, battery life, and practical usability better than most rivals. The ColleXion headphones appear to be pushing further toward premium materials and build quality alongside those strengths.
At those prices, buyers usually look beyond just sound quality and ANC. Comfort during long listening sessions, hinge durability, material quality, and long-term reliability start becoming equally important. For most users, the XM6 will probably remain the more feasible option. But if Sony has genuinely improved the physical build while retaining its audio strengths, The ColleXion could appeal strongly to enthusiasts who felt the XM-series still lacked a truly premium feel despite flagship pricing.
