Sony WF1000XM5

Sony WF1000XM5

Sony WF1000XM5

Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
MUSIC: Very Good8.0/10
CALLS: Poor5.0/10
GAMING: Poor5.1/10
TV: Poor5.4/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Poor4.9/10
EXERCISE: Fair6.1/10
AIR TRAVEL: Very Good8.6/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Very Good8.7/10
BUILD QUALITY: Very Good8.5/10
BATTERY: Best in Class10.0/10

The Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds, released in 2023, are a premium-priced, stemless, and closed-back option with wireless connectivity. They provide very good overall sound quality and excel in noise isolation, especially useful for air travel and portable use. They feature dynamic drivers, support LDAC for better audio quality, and are sweatproof, making them suitable for exercise. However, they have a limited battery life of 9 hours that extends to 18 hours with the charging case. Mic quality is only fair, which might not be ideal for calls and meetings. They also do not perform well for gaming or TV and video due to latency issues. These earbuds offer an app with equalizer and customization options, and they are optimized for both Android and Apple devices. They come with wireless charging capabilities, and their build quality is very good, ensuring durability. If you prioritize sound quality and noise isolation in a compact, portable form and can manage with moderate battery life and mic performance, the WF1000XM5s could be the right fit for your needs. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.




Evaluation

Chevron down
Pros
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Good comfort
  • Very good build quality
  • Excellent active noise cancelling
  • Very good portability
Cons
  • Only fair microphone quality
  • Poor score for calls and meetings
  • Not suitable for gaming
  • Poor for TV and video

Ratings by Category

Battery Life:
5.0
The Battery Life rating is based on hours of typical, actual usage.
Air Travel:
4.6
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
Music:
4.4
The Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds excel in music listening due to their closed enclosure type, which helps create an intimate and private listening experience with better passive noise isolation, and their high overall sound quality. They also support Sony's 360 Reality Audio for virtual surround sound, enhancing the feeling of being at a live concert or in the studio with the musicians, though this feature requires compatible applications.
Portability:
4.4
The Portability score is based on an overall assessment that includes volume and maximum dimension of the product (and case, if relevant), and its weight. Special features like foldability for headphones are also taken into account.
Exercise:
3.2
This score evaluates the product when used for exercise and physical activity. It mainly takes into account comfort, whether or not the products are sweatproof and how secure are the earbuds or headphones while wearing them. We also consider products with wireless capabilities to be more suitable for this particular scenario

Full Specs

Chevron down

GENERAL

Price
$298
Brand
Sony
Release Date
July 1, 2023
Form Factor
Earbuds
Connectivity
Wireless

SOUND

Music Score
PerfectRec logo
8.1/10
Phone Calls Score
PerfectRec logo
5/10
Gaming Score
PerfectRec logo
5.2/10
TV and Video Score
PerfectRec logo
5.5/10
Exercise Score
PerfectRec logo
6.2/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
9 Hours
Wireless charging
Yes
Charging time
1.5 Hours
Bluetooth version
5.3
Case Battery Life
18

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
Yes
Noise Reduction Score
PerfectRec logo
8.8/10
Virtual Surround
Yes
Android App
Yes
iOS App
Yes
Mic Quality
PerfectRec logo
6.5/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
PerfectRec logo
8.5/10
Comfort score
PerfectRec logo
7.6/10
Size
Medium
Weight of single earbud
6 Grams
Microphone style
Integrated

Sony WF1000XM5

See more

Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."

Comparison charts

Chevron down

Give feedback

We're constantly perfecting our model

Earbuds or Headphones guides you may be interested in

Chevron down

FAQs

Chevron down

FAQs about Sony WF1000XM5

FAQs about earbuds and headphones

Questions about PerfectRec >

Why trust us

Chevron down
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
107,900
Recommendations made
16,185
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

Featured in

Color LTT LogoGeekwire logo9to5 Mac logoPhone Arena LogoColor Daring Fireball logo