Sony WF-1000XM6 wishlist: All the features I want to see

Few companies stand as tall as Sony in producing some of the best noise canceling earbuds on the market. Its WF-1000XM line is notorious for delivering industry-leading ANC, pleasing sound quality, and handy customization tools. The Sony WF-1000XM5 launched nearly two years ago and successfully improved upon key features of their predecessor. For example, the earbuds enjoy up to 47dB of noise canceling, superior comfort, and a comprehensive companion app. Given we expect Sony’s WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones to launch soon, fans are understandably excited about the company’s WF-1000XM6 earbuds.

However, unlike the WH-1000XM6 headphones, rumors about the WF-1000XM6 are sparse at the time of writing. While Sony has not officially announced their next-gen earbuds, they must bring a list of improvements if and when they materialize. Here is everything I want to see in the Sony WF-1000XM6.

A cheaper price tag

Many affordable earbuds bundle flagship features for a fraction of the price of more premium brands. For example, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC cost just ($99.99 at Amazon) and come equipped with an IPX4 water-resistant rating, a string of Bluetooth codecs, and up to 39dB of noise canceling. The buds are especially effective at attenuating bass and sub-bass noise below 200Hz. They also provide nearly 10 hours of ANC-enabled listening time and can fast-charge four hours of playtime from a 10-minute top-up. The company’s Soundcore app is handy for updating the earbuds and handling advanced features.

Sony’s latest WF-1000XM5 earbuds retail for $299 — three times the price of Anker’s Liberty 4 NC. Sure, the buds have more powerful noise canceling and a more pleasing sound profile. However, many shoppers will feel uneasy parting with such a large sum of cash when there are compelling and more affordable alternatives. It is also fair to question whether Sony’s feature set warrants a three-fold cost on some of the best wireless earbuds for under $100. With stiff competition from other flagship brands and cheaper rivals, I hope the Sony WF-1000XM6 will retail for less than their predecessor.

Quieter bass reproduction

We each have a personal preference regarding what constitutes an ideal frequency response. For example, bass heads reap the rewards from headphones that over-emphasize low frequencies. This can also be handy for working out, given music has been shown to influence physical performance and endurance. By comparison, audiophiles often prefer headphones that reproduce a flat frequency response.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 have excellent sound quality that most consumers will find pleasing. This is due to their superior tuning and ability to maintain a convincing illusion of 3D space with a stereo image. However, the earbuds overrepresent bass and sub-bass frequencies below 300Hz more than our target preference curve. This can lead to auditory masking of fundamentals like vocals, synths, and guitars. It also makes it harder to listen to bass-heavy songs over long periods. I am hopeful the Sony WF-1000XM6 will own a flatter frequency response when they launch.

An all-matte finish

The Sony WF-1000XM5 made notable improvements on their predecessor’s form factor. For example, Sony claims its latest earbuds are 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the WF-1000XM4. This checks out, given the XM5 measure 26 x 17 x 21 mm and weigh 6g, making them more enjoyable to wear for longer listening sessions. Sony also improved the internal structure of the WF-1000XM5’s ear tips by making them more flexible. The buds have angled nozzles which are much more comfortable and help achieve a tight seal.

Despite this, the Sony WF-1000XM5 adorn a glossy finish that feels much less premium than their predecessor. They are also more prone to dropping on the floor while inserting them inside the ear. Glossy finishes attract fingerprints and grime more easily than matte, too. What is perhaps most perplexing is that the XM5 ship with a speckled matte-coated charging case. Like the XM4’s matte exterior, this feels pleasing to the touch and looks similar to recycled paper packaging. Sony should reinstate an all-matte finish for the WF-1000XM6. This would elevate the product and return a more flagship design.

A more robust IP rating

The best workout earbuds adorn robust IP ratings to protect against sweat and dust. For example, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 wear an IP68 rating to shield the earbuds from dust and submersion in 3m of water for up to 30 minutes. That means the buds can easily endure a sweaty workout, chalky hands, or runs along the beach.

Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds wear an IPX4 water-resistant rating. While this protects against omnidirectional water splashes, it does not protect against dust or small solid particles. It also falls short of the immediate competition. For example, Apple’s updated AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) have an upgraded IP54 water- and dust-resistant rating. Similarly, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 wear an IP54-protected build. Sony needs to up its game and include a more robust IP rating when its WF-1000XM6 come to fruition.

The aptX Bluetooth codec

Bluetooth codecs are often deemed an elusive and inconsequential aspect of wireless listening for many music fans. However, they play a vital role in improving connectivity and sound quality. For example, the SBC codec is the default connection for all A2DP-enabled devices. This streams up to 320kbps, 48kHz/ 16-bit audio but is prone to significant data loss. By comparison, the aptX Bluetooth codec supports up to 352kbps, 48kHz/16-bit LPCM audio sampling, and is much more reliable.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 support wireless connectivity via LE audio and the SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs. While LE audio promises low latency and low-power audio streaming, it only works with newer devices running Bluetooth 5.2 or later. Similarly, LDAC is a variable bitrate connection developed by Sony that profits up to 990kbps, 96kHz/24-bit audio. However, aptX and SBC outperform LDAC when streaming at 330kbps, which is the default chosen by many phones. The Sony WF-1000XM6 will play nicer with a longer list of devices if they support Qualcomm’s aptX Bluetooth codec.

Will there be a Sony WF-1000XM6?

Sony owns an eclectic mix of headphones and wireless earbuds. For example, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are our top-pick over-ear headphones. These deliver best-in-class microphone quality, excellent noise canceling, and a tranche of connectivity options. However, the recent Sony ULT WEAR ($199.99 at Amazon,) were released on April 11, 2024, and are far too bassy for most listeners. Rather than building on the success of the company’s previous iterations, the cans sacrifice too many features to warrant their price tag. Thankfully, the Sony WF-1000XM5 remain some of the best wireless earbuds that money can buy.

There has been no official announcement from Sony about the WF-1000XM6 so far. However, trusted Weibo leaker Zackbucks commented in June 2024 that Sony plans to synchronize the release years of its WH-1000XM- and WF-1000XM-series products. Given we expect the Sony WH-1000XM6 to be unveiled by May this year, the accompanying WF-1000XM6 earbuds could be released imminently.

• Sony WF-1000XM3 — August 5, 2019
• Sony WF-1000XM4 — June 8, 2021
• Sony WF-1000XM5 — July 24, 2023

Looking over Sony’s previous release pattern, it is easy to surmise when the WF-1000XM6 earbuds will likely launch. The company refreshes its flagship true wireless earbuds in the summer. Sony also sticks to a strict two-year window before updating its WF-1000XM brand. For example, the company’s WF-1000XM3 came to market on August 5, 2019. Sony followed up one year and 10 months later with its WF-1000XM4 earbuds on June 8, 2021. The company’s latest WF-1000XM5 launched two years and one month later on July 24, 2023. If we apply the same release pattern from the WF-1000XM4 to the WF-1000XM5,  then the WF-1000XM6 should come to market in the summer of 2025. This tracks with Zackbucks’ leak in 2024 and recent rumors of the WH-1000XM6.

Should you wait for the Sony WF-1000XM6?

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are some of the most pleasing true wireless earbuds around. Their OS-agnostic feature set, comfortable fit, and superior app support separate them from much of the competition. However, talk of an imminent upgrade and the prevalence of cheaper feature-packed rivals raises questions about whether it is worth holding off for the WF-1000XM6.

Sony fans will find few earbuds that are as convincing as the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon). These buds play equally nicely with Android and iOS devices and benefit from Sony’s comprehensive Headphones Connect app. Downloading the companion app is handy for receiving vital firmware updates and controlling flagship features. These include custom EQ profiles, customizing touch sensor functions, and adjusting Sony’s Ambient Sound. The app is also mandatory for utilizing Sony 360 Reality Audio, Speak-to-Chat, and Sony’s DSEE Extreme upscaling feature. The last uses a proprietary algorithm to upscale lower-quality, lossy audio files. The WF-1000XM5 provide nine hours and 32 minutes of listening time on a single charge and fast charge over 51 minutes of playtime from a 3-minute top-up.

iPhone owners looking for a seamless user experience should invest in the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) ($239 at Amazon). These buds work harmoniously within Apple’s ecosystem to deliver automatic switching between iOS devices, fast pairing, and intuitive controls. The AirPods Pro 2 are also more comfortable than the Sony WF-1000XM5 owing to their ergonomic design. The earbuds control media, listening modes, and field phone calls from the pressure-sensitive stems. Under the hood, the buds use Apple’s H2 chip to power excellent noise canceling, Apple’s Adaptive Transparency mode, and spatial audio with head tracking. However, the AirPods Pro 2 do not last as long as Sony’s flagship buds, providing just five hours and 43 minutes of ANC-enabled listening time. Nevertheless, you can charge the case wirelessly atop a Qi, MagSafe, or Apple Watch charging mat.

Those seeking the best high-end audio options should consider the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 ($269.95 at Amazon). Slotting nicely among other flagship ANC buds, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 attenuate sounds by as much as 43dB. They also run Bluetooth 5.4 and support a string of Bluetooth codecs including SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3, and LE Audio. The buds can connect to Auracast and support Bluetooth Multipoint for those using multiple devices. The earbuds produce pleasing sound quality and are suitable for immersive gaming and movie content. The Sennheiser Smart Control app offers many flagship features and can self-tune the buds to your ears. There is also a five-band custom EQ, the ability to set coordinates to geofence certain behaviors, and vital firmware updates. You get nearly eight hours of battery life with ANC and receive one hour of playback time from an 8-minute top-up.

Finally, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($299 at Amazon) should be on your radar if you want Snapdragon Sound. This revamped chipset supports the aptX Lossless Bluetooth codec and provides Hi-Res audio using aptX Adaptive. Another major perk is low-latency listening and Google Fast Pair for source devices with a compatible processor. The buds are comfortable and award a robust seal to quell high-frequency sounds. ANC is excellent, attenuating bass and sub-bass frequencies by as much as 35dB. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds host above-average battery life, lasting up to six hours and 11 minutes on a single charge. You can also control many of the earbuds’ high-end features in the Bose Music app. These include Immersive Audio, gesture customizations, and a custom EQ. However, the over-accentuated bass and treble response may be too overpowering for some. They are also among some of the most expensive earbuds on the market.

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