WF-1000XM5 True Wireless Earbuds

These Earbuds Sound Absolutely Beautiful

Let me be real with you: if you care about how your music sounds, these are special. Reviewers rave about the clarity and detail you get from the WF-1000XM5. When you're listening to your favorite playlist, you'll notice things you've never heard before, like the layering in vocals or the texture of instruments. It's not bass-forward, which might disappoint some people, but it's balanced and musical in a way that makes you actually want to listen.

The Fit Situation (Be Honest With Yourself)

Here's where I need to be straight with you: these are 25% smaller than the previous model, and that's both good and annoying. Good because they sit discreetly in your ears and feel comfortable for long listening sessions. Annoying because some people need to fiddle with the eartips or adjust them regularly to get a good seal. If you're planning to wear these during a workout, you might have trouble keeping them secure. For everyday listening, working at your desk, or commuting, they're great once you find your fit.

Noise Cancellation That Works

The ANC is genuinely impressive. It's a major jump from Sony's previous generation, and while Bose still has a slight edge, the Sonys win on overall sound quality. It effectively quiets down the coffee shop chatter, airplane noise, or traffic without making everything sound hollow. Combined with the excellent sound, you get a really immersive listening experience.

Battery and Features

Eight hours of battery with ANC on gets you through a full workday, and the case adds 16 more hours. That's 24 hours total, which is solid. The quick charge is genuinely useful, too, giving you an hour of playback from just 3 minutes of charging. You get nice features like 360 Reality Audio with head tracking, Speak-to-Chat, and customizable controls. The AI-powered noise reduction is smart and actually makes a difference.

The Price Question

At $247 (current Amazon price), these are premium earbuds. They cost more than AirPods Pro 3 and sit in the same price range as Bose's flagship earbuds. If you love music and spend time listening every day, they're worth the investment. If you're looking for good earbuds on a budget, there are cheaper options that still sound solid. This is a "you know what you want" purchase.

The Paradox of Refinement Over Innovation

Sony's WF-1000XM5 are genuinely impressive earbuds that deliver some of the best sound reproduction in the true wireless category. The clarity and detail are exceptional, with balanced musicality that makes them a legitimate choice for audiophiles. The AI-driven noise reduction is effective, and the feature set is comprehensive. On paper, this looks like a slam dunk.

But here's where the business math breaks down: Sony charged $50 more than the XM4 while delivering the same 8-hour battery life. That's not an upgrade, that's margin expansion.

The fit problem is the real issue. Reviews consistently highlight that the 25% smaller design, while aesthetically pleasing, creates acoustic seal challenges. You'll need to adjust these regularly, especially the right earbud. For $299 earbuds, that's unacceptable. Bose and AirPods Pro 2 don't have this problem. At this price point, fit should be bulletproof.

The call quality is genuinely improved thanks to bone conduction sensors and AI noise reduction, and that's worth noting. The quick charge feature (1 hour from 3 minutes) is practical. The software features like 360 Reality Audio and Speak-to-Chat work, though the Reality Audio personalization is reportedly unreliable.

What Hi-Fi and Tom's Guide both gave these 9/10, which tells you the sound quality is legitimately exceptional. RTINGS scored them 8.6/10 and flagged the expense and fit issues. That's the honest take. These are excellent earbuds if you prioritize sound above all else and have ears that fit the smaller design. But they're not a generational leap, and at $299 you're paying flagship prices for an incremental refresh.

The value argument only works if you're willing to tolerate fit adjustments and accept that battery life hasn't improved. For most buyers, AirPods Pro 2 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are safer bets. For audio enthusiasts who can get a secure fit, the WF-1000XM5 are the right choice.