{ "licence": { "name": "CC BY 4.0", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "attribution": "DataDesign (https://datadesign.one)" }, "url": "https://datadesign.one/wireless-earbuds/sony-wf-1000xm5/", "product": { "id": "sony-wf-1000xm5", "name": "Sony WF-1000XM5", "brand": "sony", "category": "wireless-earbuds", "aliases": [ "WF-1000XM5", "WF1000XM5" ], "lifecycle": { "status": "discontinued", "announced": { "value": "2023-07-24", "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement" }, "released": { "value": "2023-07-24", "source": "techradar-sony-wf-1000xm5", "note": "TechRadar's review states 'Released on July 24, 2023' — the same day as Sony's announcement." }, "predecessor": "sony-wf-1000xm4", "successor": "sony-wf-1000xm6" }, "msrp": [ { "currency": "USD", "amount": 299.99, "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement", "as_of": "2023-07-24", "note": "Original US launch MSRP. What Hi-Fi? says UK street price has since dropped as low as £149 in sales, and RTINGS notes the WF-1000XM5 has since been succeeded by the WF-1000XM6." } ], "specs": { "battery_life_hours": { "value": 8, "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement", "note": "Sony's rated figure with ANC and Bluetooth on (12h with ANC off). SoundGuys measured 9h32m in their own testing (ANC condition not stated); TechGearLab measured 14.0h with ANC off at 75% volume, two hours past Sony's 12h ANC-off rating." }, "battery_life_case_hours": { "value": 16, "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement", "note": "Case alone, with ANC on (24h with ANC off). Sony's quoted system totals (earbuds + case) are 24h with ANC on and 36h with ANC off." }, "weight_g": { "value": 5.9, "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-specs", "note": "Per earbud, including size-M eartip, per Sony's Help Guide. TechGearLab independently measured 5.95 g. TechRadar's own spec table instead lists 4.2g per earbud, disagreeing with Sony's figure and with TechGearLab's independent measurement of 5.95 g." }, "anc": { "value": true, "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement" }, "water_resistance": { "value": "IPX4", "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement" }, "multipoint": { "value": true, "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement" }, "wireless_charging": { "value": true, "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement" }, "driver_size_mm": { "value": 8.4, "source": "techradar-sony-wf-1000xm5", "note": "Sony's 'Dynamic Driver X', restated consistently across TechRadar, What Hi-Fi, SoundGuys and Digital Trends; not found stated numerically on Sony's own Help Guide specs page as fetched." }, "codec_support": { "value": [ "SBC", "AAC", "LDAC", "LC3" ], "source": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-specs" } }, "evidence": [ { "source": "rtings-sony-wf-1000xm5", "pros": [ "Excellent overall noise isolation.", "IPX4 certified for water resistance.", "Well-built and stable fit.", "Supports multi-device pairing." ], "cons": [ "Foam eartips may be uncomfortable for some.", "Mic has poor recording quality." ], "notes": [ "Successor of the WF-1000XM4; RTINGS says overall noise isolation is on par with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, crediting the form-fitting memory-foam ear tips more than the ANC for it.", "RTINGS calls the microphone mediocre: recordings lack depth and loud sustained noise overwhelms the mic's noise handling.", "RTINGS notes some frequency and phase-response mismatch in the high treble between the left and right drivers, though at the edge of the audible range.", "RTINGS says the WF-1000XM5 has since been replaced by the Sony WF-1000XM6, which further improves ANC and mic performance.", "Numeric scores and most measurement tables are member-only; this record cites only the openly published verdict prose and usage pros/cons text." ], "verdict_quote": "A few changes in design and performance have provided an elevated experience compared to their predecessor." }, { "source": "techradar-sony-wf-1000xm5", "pros": [ "Agile, meaty and fun listen", "Very comfortable and secure earpieces", "Battery life maintained from XM4" ], "cons": [ "ANC can be beaten", "Occasional connectivity issues", "On-ear volume control is a tad hit and miss" ], "notes": [ "TechRadar's team experienced more than one or two Bluetooth connectivity drop-outs during testing across different review units and continents, which didn't happen with their Bose and Technics control sets.", "TechRadar found ANC 'fine rather than eyebrow-raising' and says the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II beats it for noise cancellation.", "Scored by section: Features 4.5/5, Sound quality 4.5/5, Design 4/5, Value 3.5/5.", "Compared with the similarly priced Technics EAH-AZ80, TechRadar gives the Technics the edge for treble sparkle but calls the bass comparison too close to call." ], "verdict_quote": "They're still a compelling proposition, and some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market." }, { "source": "whathifi-sony-wf-1000xm5", "pros": [ "Class-leading levels of detail and clarity", "Top-notch musicality and timing", "Comfortable, discreet design" ], "cons": [ "Some rivals produce more bass", "Could feel more secure" ], "notes": [ "What Hi-Fi? says the WF-1000XM5 won What Hi-Fi? Awards in both 2023 and 2024.", "Reviewers found the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds still had the edge for noise cancellation, calling the Sony's effect 'much more subtle and a little less intrusive'.", "The review describes a change in sound character versus the WF-1000XM4 — less rich/full bass but more clarity and detail — that the team says grew on them with extended listening.", "Scored by category: Sound 5/5, Features 5/5, Comfort 5/5.", "Launch price rose versus the WF-1000XM4 (£259/$299/AU$419 vs £250/$280/AU$450), though the WF-1000XM5 has since been discounted as low as £149." ], "verdict_quote": "The excellent WF-1000XM5 are Sony's most accomplished and analytical wireless earbuds yet" }, { "source": "tomsguide-sony-wf-1000xm5", "pros": [ "Outstanding sound quality", "Strong noise cancelation", "Exceptional functionality", "Excellent level of control" ], "cons": [ "Smaller earbud size affects eartip seal and fit", "Battery life remains the same as predecessor", "Flaky 360 Reality Audio personalization set up" ], "notes": [ "The reviewer needed to size up to the largest eartip for a good seal, unlike with the WF-1000XM4 or AirPods Pro 2.", "Sound via AAC on iPhone was described as noticeably less detailed than via LDAC on an LDAC-capable Android device.", "360 Reality Audio personalization repeatedly failed to recognize the reviewer's ears during setup, which may be related to using a beta version of the companion app.", "Running felt unsuitable because footstep vibrations were audible through the earbuds even with ANC on.", "Battery life matched the WF-1000XM4's rated 8 hours with ANC on, with no generation-over-generation improvement." ], "verdict_quote": "one of the most well-rounded wireless earbud packages I've experienced" }, { "source": "soundguys-sony-wf-1000xm5", "pros": [], "cons": [], "notes": [ "SoundGuys measured 9 hours 32 minutes of continuous battery life in its own testing — over an hour longer than the WF-1000XM4 and above Sony's 8-hour rating; SoundGuys does not state the ANC condition for this test.", "A 3-minute quick charge produced about 51 minutes of playback in SoundGuys' testing, just under Sony's claimed 60 minutes.", "SoundGuys measured ANC attenuating over 30 dB of low-frequency outside noise below 1kHz.", "The updated foam ear tips reduce noise by up to 15dB in the low end and up to 50dB above 1kHz per SoundGuys' isolation testing, which the outlet compares to good earplugs.", "SoundGuys' B&K 5128-rig frequency-response measurement shows a bass and mid-bass emphasis around 30-300Hz versus their target curve.", "SoundGuys says the WF-1000XM5 reduces noise better than the Apple AirPods Pro 2, especially in the mid and high frequencies, but rates the AirPods Pro 2's out-of-the-box sound closer to their target curve." ] }, { "source": "techgearlab-sony-wf-1000xm5", "rating": { "value": 77, "scale": 100 }, "pros": [], "cons": [], "notes": [ "TechGearLab measured 14.0 hours of continuous battery life with ANC off at 75% volume, the longest of the five earbuds it tested alongside the Apple AirPods Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2), and Google Pixel Buds 2a.", "The review measured average weight at 5.95 g per earbud.", "Scored by category: Sound Quality 7.4/10, Comfort & Fit 8.0/10, Noise Cancellation 8.6/10, App Features 8.8/10, Call Quality 5.1/10 (the lowest of the five earbuds tested).", "TechGearLab found the foam ear tips comfortable but less durable than silicone, showing wear after repeated insertions and getting dirty quickly with waxy ears.", "Out-of-the-box sound was called pleasant but a little flat, with bass lacking power and warmth on EDM and hip-hop compared to other earbuds in the group.", "TechGearLab's ANC frequency-range test measured attenuation of 22.0 dB (low), 25.5 dB (mid) and 42.9 dB (high), against a group 'best' of 32.6/27.3/36.7 dB and a group 'average' of 17.9/21.7/27.4 dB.", "Call quality tested poorly: a subway-noise phone-call test produced audio the reviewer called 'terrible', one of the worst results in the group, though quiet-room and office calls fared better." ], "verdict_quote": "Comfort, noise cancellation, and extended battery life make these a compelling choice" }, { "source": "digitaltrends-sony-wf-1000xm5", "pros": [ "Small and comfortable", "Top-notch sound", "Excellent noise canceling", "Superb call quality", "Bluetooth multipoint with LDAC" ], "cons": [ "Fit isn't super secure" ], "notes": [ "Digital Trends originally reviewed prototype units, then updated the review after Sony sent final production units, having found weaknesses in noise cancellation, call quality and Bluetooth connections on the prototypes.", "The reviewer found ANC roughly 10-15% better than the WF-1000XM4 — not a radical improvement — and rated it comparable to the AirPods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for day-to-day use once the best-fitting eartip was used.", "Call-quality testing found background sounds like traffic, construction and wind masked to the point of being inaudible to the other party, with greater dynamic range on voice than the AirPods Pro.", "Head-tracked spatial audio only worked with Netflix on an Android phone that itself supports head tracking; it did not work with Dolby Atmos Music sources like Amazon Music or Apple Music." ], "verdict_quote": "Smaller, sleeker, and with awesome sound, the XM5 are Sony's best buds." }, { "source": "theverge-sony-wf-1000xm5", "rating": { "value": 8, "scale": 10 }, "pros": [ "Smaller, more comfortable design", "Upgrades to ANC and sound quality", "Much clearer voice call performance" ], "cons": [ "Glossy texture can make them harder to remove from case", "Sony's bonus features aren't as seamless as those of its competitors", "Potential battery longevity concerns" ], "notes": [ "The reviewer calls the glossy earbud finish a genuine day-to-day frustration because it's harder to grip out of the charging case than the matte WF-1000XM4, especially with sweaty or greasy fingers.", "ANC is described as right up there with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and 2nd-generation AirPods Pro in subjective testing — 'like flipping a coin' — though transparency mode is a notch behind those rivals.", "Voice-call quality was the standout improvement: colleagues on Google Meet and phone calls said the reviewer's voice came through clearly with only a small amount of echo, even against background noise.", "The Verge flags widely reported WF-1000XM4 battery-reliability complaints from a large Reddit thread and says it will be watching WF-1000XM5 battery longevity over time, since Sony had not responded to a request for comment as of publication.", "Sony lists Netflix and YouTube as head-tracking-compatible, but the reviewer could not get head tracking working in either app on a Pixel Fold, including with a spatial-audio-tagged Netflix title." ], "verdict_quote": "These are the most well-rounded execution of Sony's vision yet." } ], "consensus": { "score": 78, "confidence": "low", "n_sources": 2, "breakdown": [ { "source": "techgearlab-sony-wf-1000xm5", "normalized": 0.77, "weight": 0.4 }, { "source": "theverge-sony-wf-1000xm5", "normalized": 0.8, "weight": 0.4 } ], "computed_at": "2026-09-23" } }, "sources": [ { "id": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-announcement", "url": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-electronics-unveils-wf-1000xm5-truly-wireless-earbuds-for-the-music-the-best-noise-canceling-earbuds-301883612.html", "publisher": "sony", "type": "manufacturer", "title": "Sony Electronics Unveils WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless Earbuds \"For The Music\", The Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds", "author": null, "published": "2023-07-24", "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "Sony's own launch press release ('SOURCE Sony Electronics, Inc.'), distributed via PR Newswire since Sony's own product page (electronics.sony.com) returns 403 to fetch_page. Sony's direct site was unreachable, so this is cited as the manufacturer source instead." }, { "id": "sony-sony-wf-1000xm5-specs", "url": "https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2963/v1/en/contents/TP1000783926.html", "publisher": "sony", "type": "manufacturer", "title": "WF-1000XM5 | Help Guide | Specifications", "author": null, "published": null, "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "Sony's official living help-guide specifications page; no publish date shown. Lists mass, communication, and codec specs but not driver size. Compatible-iPhone list is marked 'As of March 2023.'" }, { "id": "techradar-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-wf-1000xm5", "publisher": "techradar", "type": "expert-review", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 review: smaller and sonically special, but rivals are gaining", "author": "Becky Scarrott", "published": null, "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "Byline states 'First reviewed: July 2023' and the body separately states the product 'Released on July 24, 2023'; no exact review-publish day is shown, so published is left null." }, { "id": "rtings-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sony/wf-1000xm5-truly-wireless", "publisher": "rtings", "type": "lab-measurement", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless Review", "author": null, "published": null, "updated": "2026-06-23", "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "Numeric test scores and most measurement tables are locked behind an RTINGS membership; only the published verdict prose, usage pros/cons text, and changelog were readable and are cited here. No overall publish date is shown; the changelog's most recent entry (Test Bench 2.3) is dated Jun 23, 2026." }, { "id": "whathifi-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wf-1000xm5", "publisher": "whathifi", "type": "expert-review", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 review", "author": null, "published": null, "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "Page footer states 'Review published: July 2023; Review updated: November 2024, October 2025' with no exact days given, so published/updated are left null." }, { "id": "tomsguide-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/sony-wf-1000xm5", "publisher": "tomsguide", "type": "expert-review", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Best-ever wireless earbuds", "author": "Lee Dunkley", "published": "2023-07-24", "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "'Originally reviewed with a Sony Xperia 1 IV phone on July 24' (2023, per surrounding context); the page also notes further updates in Sept 2023, Feb 2024 and Mar 2024 with no exact days given, so updated is left null." }, { "id": "soundguys-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.soundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm5-review-95465/", "publisher": "soundguys", "type": "lab-measurement", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 review", "author": "Harley Maranan", "published": null, "updated": "2025-07-17", "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "Page states 'July 17, 2025: We updated the article formatting and the alternatives section'; no original publish date is shown, so published is left null. Includes bench measurements (battery life, ANC attenuation, B&K 5128 frequency response, MDAQS)." }, { "id": "techgearlab-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.techgearlab.com/reviews/audio/wireless-earbuds/sony-wf-1000xm5", "publisher": "techgearlab", "type": "lab-measurement", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 Review", "author": null, "published": null, "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "No publish or update date is visible on the page as fetched. Comparison table and measurements (weight, battery life, ANC attenuation by frequency) run against the Apple AirPods Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2), and Google Pixel Buds 2a using a Brüel & Kjær Type 5128 head simulator." }, { "id": "digitaltrends-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-wf-1000xm5-review/", "publisher": "digitaltrends", "type": "expert-review", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds review: smaller is better", "author": "Simon Cohen", "published": "2023-07-24", "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "'Our original review... which we published on July 24, 2023.' The page's editor's note says the review was substantively revised after Sony sent final production units to replace early prototypes, but gives no date for that revision, so updated is left null." }, { "id": "theverge-sony-wf-1000xm5", "url": "https://www.theverge.com/23803374/sony-wf-1000xm5-earbuds-review", "publisher": "theverge", "type": "expert-review", "title": "Sony WF-1000XM5 noise-canceling earbuds review: better in every way — for now", "author": "Chris Welch", "published": null, "updated": null, "accessed": "2026-09-23", "products": [ "sony-wf-1000xm5" ], "note": "No publish date is visible in the fetched article text." } ] }