Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is a flagship noise-canceling headphone offering advanced adaptive sound control, enhanced noise cancellation, and immersive audio quality, paired with a sleek, lightweight design and up to 30 hours of battery life. It targets audiophiles and frequent travelers seeking premium noise isolation and seamless connectivity for both music and calls.
Jumoka Cobbs 
Sony WH-1000XM6 Review Score
20 out of 20 reviewers highly recommend this product
20
Reviews
100.0
Highest
80.0
Lowest
Battery
30 hours with ANC on
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Bluetooth
5.3
Review Sources:
| Publication | Score (100) | Review Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android Central | Aug 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"With such a strong foundation and pedigree to begin with, the Sony WH-1000XM6 live up to expectations by delivering class-leading performance and features." | |||
| Tom's Guide | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Although they're not the radical upgrade I was hoping for, the Sony WH-1000XM6 make some minor improvements to Sony's flagship noise-cancelling headphones. They lack a wide soundstage, but they deliver crystal-clear vocals for close to 30 hours witho" | |||
| PCMag | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The $449.99 Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones represent an iterative yet meaningful update to the three-year-old WH-1000XM5. For starters, they bring back the foldable design Sony skipped last generation, which makes them easier to carry. Audio quality has " | |||
| Wired | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"If you are shopping for a pair of premium over-ears for work or travel, or just to escape your neighbor’s annoying dog while you watch Netflix, these are probably the best all-around wireless headphones right now. They cost $50 more at launch than th" | |||
| TechRadar | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones that combine the best design elements of their predecessors, while levelling up the sonic and ANC capabilities of what came before." | |||
| CNET | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Over the last several years, Sony has made some of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market, so it's a big deal when the company comes out with a new flagship model like the WH-1000XM6, which arrives three years after the release of the WH-1" | |||
| Engadget | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The crown is safe once again. Sony has managed to overhaul its flagship headphones in all the right ways that keep the 1000X line atop our best headphones list." | |||
| Theguardian | Jul 9, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Sony has set a new bar for noise cancelling with its sixth-generation 1000X series headphones. The WH-1000XM6 cut out more of the difficult higher-tone noise such as background chatter better than any other rivals." | |||
| Rtings | Feb 17, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"The Sony WH-1000XM6 are the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy. They have a great sound profile and industry-leading active noise cancellation." | |||
| Soundguys | Dec 11, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Sony WH-1000XM6 is every bit a worthy successor to Sony's other ANC headphones as you'd hope. They sound very good, have excellent ANC, and are equipped to handle demanding users. However, the lack of cutting-edge connection options might be an i" | |||
| Gizmodo | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The XM6 ANC headphones don't have many flaws to speak of. Although the estimated 30 hours of battery life is solid, I'm always looking for more time off the charger. Honestly, the only downside is the hefty $450 price tag, but then again, Apple seems" | |||
| Lifehacker | May 16, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The much-anticipated Sony XM6 makes some minor tweaks, improves already excellent features like ANC and spatial audio, plus adds more mics and a better chip." | |||
| Mark Ellis Reviews | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"With unbeatable noise-cancelling, a more exciting audio profile than the XM5s and some welcome design tweaks, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones just about earn their (increasingly more common) £400 price tag." | |||
| Stuff | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Sony's legendary noise-cancelling headphones get even better, with the return of foldability, superb sound, and jaw-dropping ANC performance." | |||
| Gadgets360 | Oct 21, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Sony has come up with a number of reasons why you should choose its XM6 over everything else." | |||
| Headphonecheck | May 26, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Sony WH-1000XM6 combines class-leading ANC with balanced sound and smart features. Upgraded mics, wind resistance, foldable design, and a premium case push it (almost) to the top." | |||
| PhoneArena | Aug 8, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"These do support AAC and LDAC for high-quality audio on both Apple devices and Android / PC. Pairing is quick through Microsoft Swift Pair and Android Fast Pair, and they do support multi-point, meaning you can have two devices connected at the same " | |||
| Recording Now | Aug 13, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the best-sounding Sony ANC headphone to date, and slightly improves on world-class noise cancelling performance. There is some clamping force, but this should ease up over time like the XM5." | |||
| PCMag | May 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Sony's high-end WH-1000XM6 headphones feature foldable earcups, new driver tuning, and noise cancellation that rivals the best from Bose." | |||
| DigitalTrends | May 26, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Sony’s WH-1000XM6 are a meaningful upgrade from the company’s WH-1000XM5, and take their place as the best overall wireless headphones I’ve ever tested. They’re not perfect — no USB audio, a bizarrely awkward Auracast setup, and spatial audio that ca" | |||
| * Price represents starting price. Price can increase based on product options and selection. | |||
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📦 More from Sony
🤓 Nerd Verdict
Updated: February 17, 2026
The WH-1000XM6 are a stellar upgrade over their predecessor, the XM5, with their improved design, better sound quality, and enhanced noise cancellation making them hard to resist. However, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option or only need basic noise cancellation features, the XM5 remains an excellent choice.
✅ Strengths
- The WH-1000XM6 boast a superior design with their seamless earcups that feel premium and comfortable, backed by multiple publications like Digital Trends and Engadget.
- Their advanced noise cancellation is highly praised across reviews, offering a quieter listening experience even in noisy environments as noted by CNET.
- The sound quality is also significantly improved, providing clearer and more detailed audio compared to the XM5, according to both The Verge and Reviewed.com.
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Despite their improvements, the WH-1000XM6 are notably more expensive at $459, which may deter some buyers who find the XM5 sufficient, as noted by multiple publications.
- The battery life is still commendable but could be better; The Verge found it adequate for most daily use cases but slightly less impressive compared to the AirPods Max's longer runtime.
- While the new design and features are impressive, some users report that they are heavy and can cause discomfort after extended wear, a common issue noted by both Digital Trends and Tom’s Guide.
💡 Bottom Line
If you're willing to invest in premium noise cancellation and sound quality without worrying too much about cost, the WH-1000XM6 are an excellent choice. However, if you're on a budget or prefer a lighter headset for longer listening sessions, the XM5 offers great value with fewer drawbacks.
