Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: One Year Later, Still the ANC Champion

After a full year of daily use across flights, commutes, and work sessions, the Sony WH-1000XM5 has proven itself as the noise-cancelling headphone to beat. Here's our long-term review covering ANC performance, comfort, sound quality, and how they compare to the AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort Ultra.

Noise Cancellation: Still the Benchmark

The XM5's ANC is simply the best in the business. With 8 microphones (double the XM4) and dual processors, these headphones create a cone of silence that makes airplane engines disappear and open-office chatter fade into a gentle whisper. The automatic ANC optimizer adjusts to your environment — whether you're on a plane, in a cafe, or walking outside. Compared to the Bose QC Ultra, the XM5 blocks slightly more low-frequency noise; the Bose edges ahead on mid-frequency voices.

Sound Quality: Refined and Engaging

The 30mm drivers (down from 40mm on the XM4, but more efficient) deliver a balanced, detailed sound with tight, controlled bass. Sony's DSEE Extreme upscaling genuinely improves compressed audio. The soundstage is wide and instrument separation is excellent. Compared to the AirPods Max, the Sony offers more bass impact; the AirPods Max sounds slightly more natural in the midrange. Both are excellent — it comes down to preference.

Comfort: All-Day Wearable

At 250g, the XM5 is lighter than both the AirPods Max (385g) and Bose QC Ultra (254g). The synthetic leather ear cushions are plush and breathable. We've worn these for 8+ hours on transatlantic flights without fatigue. The only downside: they don't fold flat like the XM4, making the case bulkier for travel.

Battery & Features

30 hours with ANC on (40 with ANC off). Quick charge: 3 hours from 3 minutes of USB-C charging. Multipoint Bluetooth connects to two devices simultaneously. Speak-to-Chat pauses music when you talk. The touch controls on the right ear cup are intuitive after a day of use.