Sony’s WF-1000 XM4 TWS buds made waves with their impeccable sound quality and cutting-edge Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The company has now unveiled the Sony WF-1000 XM5 as their successor, to take sound quality to even greater heights and address the areas where the XM4s fell short.
In this review, I’ll provide my insights on the Sony WF-1000 XM5 earbuds after using them extensively over the past couple of weeks.
Table of Contents
Design and fit
The Sony WF-1000 XM5 design is inspired by its predecessor the XM4, with subtle changes here and there. The case, as well as the buds inside, feels much more compact than ever before. Per Sony, the XM5s weigh 5.9 grams each, while the case tips the scale at 39 grams, making them 25 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the XM4s. Apart from this, the TWS earphones also boast a few cosmetic enhancements. The case is crafted from recyclable plastic, sporting a granite finish on top, providing a pleasing in-hand feel and excellent resistance to scratches. However, it’s worth noting that the Platinum Silver colour variant, which I received, picked up stains rather easily.
The earbuds sport a sleeker, rounded design, with the microphone’s golden ring seamlessly integrated into the surface. Additionally, the buds exhibit a dual-tone design, combining a matte finish on the outer shell with a glossy finish all around. Notably, you’ll find Sony branding elegantly etched on both buds.
Much like the XM4s, the new Sony WF-1000 XM5 also ships with polyurethane foam tips. However, Sony has expanded the offering by including XS-size tips, in addition to the customary S, M, and L-sized options, to accommodate a wider range of ear sizes. These tips may not be as comfortable as silicone ones, but they offer a reliable fit. Even though the XM5s are more of lifestyle earbuds, they can still be used during workouts. I wore the buds for a solid 10 minutes while sprinting on a treadmill. While there was a concern about them falling out, they held onto my ears remarkably well.
Features
| Driver Unit | 8.4mm |
| Noise cancellation | ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). Sony has employed a new Integrated Processor V2 that works alongside the QN2e HD Noice Cancelling processor to cancel out the background noise |
| Waterproof | IPX4 splash and sweatproof |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth v3 |
| Supported Audio format | SBS, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 |
| Multipoint connectivity | Yes, the earbuds can stay paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. The earbuds offer Google Fast Pair with Android devices and Swift Pair for Windows 10 and 11 users. The case has a pairing button as well. |
| Head tracking and Spatial Audio | The XM5s support both. The head-tracking capability of the buds provides a more immersive audio experience. |
| Transparency mode | Yes. There is a Quick Attention feature that turns on the transparency mode when you long-press the left earbud. |
| Adaptive sound control | It automatically switches between noise cancelling and ambient mode based on your activity and surroundings. |
| Wear detection | Yes, the buds stop playing audio when one or both of the buds are removed from the ears and resume playing when they are reinserted. |
| Touch controls | Yes, but they are not mappable. Four taps increase/ decrease volume; a single tap on either bud accepts/rejects calls; a single tap on the right earbud changes track and plays/pauses music; a single tap on the left bud switches between Ambient Sound Mode and Noise Cancelling. |
| Bone conduction sensor | To isolate your speech by picking up noise directly from your skull bones |
| Hands-free control | Yes, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri |
Companion app
The Sony Headphone Connect app is an essential tool for configuring the XM5s, and it’s available for download on both Android and iOS devices. I personally used it on my iPhone, and later on Pixel 8, and it functioned seamlessly. The initial setup process might seem a bit cumbersome for first-time users, but once you’ve completed the login and setup, the app reveals itself as quite user-friendly. It offers a wide range of features, including EQ adjustments, ANC modes, and gesture controls.
One noteworthy addition to the new Sony WF-1000 XM5 is the introduction of head gestures. These allow you to accept or reject calls with a nod or a shake of your head, respectively. In my experience, this feature worked reliably, particularly when your hands are occupied, and you can’t reach your earbuds or phone. Additionally, the earbuds support speech-tracking, a feature that pauses your music and deactivates ANC to facilitate interaction with others. Music resumes after 5 seconds of inactivity, with the only minor inconvenience occurring during occasional yawning or coughing.
Another notable feature is the Adaptive Sound Control, which intelligently detects your actions and activities, automatically adjusting background noise settings. It kept me aware of my surroundings by activating transparency mode while I was walking and switching to ANC when I was resting or standing still. In essence, this feature allowed me to fine-tune the ANC experience in different environments while keeping my hands and mind free.
Audio
The Sony WF-1000 XM5s truly stand out in terms of sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC). These earbuds offer an expansive soundstage that enhances your audio experience. I tested them with various devices, including an Android phone, an iPhone, and a Mac, and listened to a diverse range of tracks, including Punjabi songs, Bollywood classics, Hip Hop, and more. While the difference may not be immediately noticeable, I found the audio quality listening from an Android device was slightly fuller and richer compared to an iPhone.
You can enable LDAC for the earbuds via the app on your compatible smartphone to further enhance the overall audio experience. I’ve personally done this on my Pixel 8, and let me tell you, I’ve never experienced songs, like Same Beef, Paint The Town Red, Pehla Nasha, Zinda Banda, and many more with such immaculate details and clarity. The instruments are distinct, the vocals sound fantastic, and there’s plenty of powerful bass, providing that impactful thump when needed. That being said, the feature does consume a bit more battery, but if you’re an audiophile, you’ll truly appreciate this feature.
Moving on, the Sony WF-1000 XM5 TWS earphones offer spatial audio with head tracking for an immersive viewing experience, keeping you at the centre of the action for a more realistic audio experience. It seamlessly works on Android. However, if you’re an iPhone user, your experience is limited to stereo unless you use Sony’s 360 Reality Audio system with compatible streaming apps such as Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal.
ANC
I typically focus on active noise cancellation (ANC) when evaluating the sound quality of earbuds, but the Sony WF-1000 XM5 deserves a special mention here. This is by far the best ANC experience I have had in TWS to date. Sony has worked up a new chip and an additional microphone on each earbud this time to effectively eliminate the mid to low-level frequencies present in the background. Yet, a significant part of the credit can be attributed to the polyurethane foam tips of the buds. While these foam tips may not be as easy to clean as their silicone counterparts, they establish a robust seal that effectively blocks external noise, greatly enhancing your listening experience.
It’s worth noting that the effective noise isolation provided by these foam tips doesn’t create a claustrophobic or vacuum-like sensation when the ANC is turned off and the transparency mode is activated. Instead, they offer a natural and comfortable fit that keeps you well-attuned to your surroundings. I felt the transparency mode of Sony’s TWS as good as the first-gen AirPods Pro.
Call quality and battery life
Just like the audio, the Sony WF-1000 XM5 earbuds boast formidable call quality too. The quality is similar to the standard set by AirPods Pro, long considered the gold standard for phone calls. The Sony earbuds achieve this using a bunch of different technologies, including AI-based Deep Neural Network (DNN), Bone conduction sensors, Precise Voice Pickup technology, and advanced audio signal processing. These technologies work in harmony to efficiently isolate your voice from background noise, making the Sony WF-1000 XM5 a perfect choice for taking calls, whether you find yourself in a quiet or moderately noisy environment.
Coming to the battery life, the Sony WF-1000 XM5 is quite impressive, if not the best in its class. During my usage, the earbuds consistently delivered approximately seven and a half hours of playback time with both ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and SBC codecs activated, which is very close to the advertised eight-hour mark. If you opt for the high-res LDAC audio codec, you can expect an average of about three to four hours of battery life.
Verdict
The Sony WF-1000 XM5 earbuds come at a price, currently set at Rs 24,990. Nevertheless, the features and audio quality they offer are hard to match by any other TWS earphones out there. Some might argue that the earbuds’ ANC isn’t quite on the same level as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, available on Amazon for just under Rs 20,000 at the moment. However, until I get the chance to experience the Bose earbuds firsthand, the Sony WF-1000 XM5 remains my top choice for ANC TWS earbuds.
Additionally, the XM5s set a high standard with their top-tier sound quality, extended battery life, sleek design, and thoughtful features like head gestures, head tracking, speech tracking, and spatial audio. While I would have preferred the ability to re-map the touch controls, easier-to-clean ear tips, and a more streamlined app setup, these earbuds remain an enticing choice for audiophiles and those who seek premium sound quality and effective noise cancellation.
Editor’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Pros
- Terrific sound quality
- Impressive ANC
- Seamless multipoint connectivity
- Good battery life
Cons
- App setup is cumbersome
- Touch controls not remappable
- Pricey
