The product name might look like gibberish, but Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are kind of a big deal. These are the newest iteration of what’s widely considered the best line of wireless, noise-canceling headphones you can buy. No other company even comes close to offering the quality and comfort of these headphones at this price. The M5s, the newest model, are now up for preorder. They come in black or silver, they cost $399.99, and they ship on May 20.
Preorder Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
What features do these new headphones have that the previous version — which is available for $50 less — doesn’t have? Most obviously, Sony has updated the design for the first time in years. The headband is a single piece now. It’s a thinner band, padded with a comfortable line of memory foam. That also means it doesn’t fold up, so it’s not quite as small or portable as previous models — though it does come with a carrying case. The design of the earcups is also improved so that they fit more snugly against your head and so the microphones aren’t as prominent.
One of the biggest selling points of the WH-1000XM5 is improved noise cancellation. These headphones have eight noise canceling mics, rather than the four found in the M4. The software also offers optional smart features that can, for instance, disable noise cancellation when it detects you talking, or lessen the noise cancellation when you get up and start moving around.
Another big improvement is the battery life. Sony says — and this is borne out in our testing — that you can get 30 hours of battery life on a single charge. And if you do run the battery down, charging the headset for just three minutes will give you three hours’ worth of listening time. That’s pretty impressive.
For much more detailed information, check out our Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones review. Our reviewer Kevin Lee gave them a 9 out of 10, saying, “The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the big upgrade we’ve been waiting for from Sony’s flagship wireless headphones.”
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.