Sony WF-1000XM5

Is the Sony WF-1000XM5 the same kind of no-brainer recommendation as the outgoing WF-1000XM4? No, it isn’t: It’s more expensive, the level of competition it faces has improved, and it’s not the sort of consummate all-rounder the older product was.

Sony has thrown everything it can into these much smaller earbuds, and given us an extra set of foam tips so they fit perfectly. LDAC, the firm's top-tier DSEE upscaler, and Bluetooth 5.3 are all here, battery life is competitive, and the sound is 100% bona fide Sony quality. However, for us, connectivity drop-outs, average ANC performance, and an app that looks a little busy at this flagship level add up.

The WF-1000XM5 is another excellent headphone from Sony that represents a step forward for its true wireless series. An improved design leads to better comfort levels, the noise-cancellation is better, they come with a bevy of smart features and an audio performance that’s clearer and more detailed than before.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds are one of the most well-rounded wireless earbud packages I've experienced, with best-in-class sound, improved noise cancelation, and a smaller, lighter design.

Sony's true wireless WF-1000XM5 earphones offer superb sound quality, excellent noise cancellation, and a dizzying array of high-end features.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are the best sounding wireless earbuds ever made, beating Bose and Apple in the same price range. Minor quibbles with controls and connection can’t stop me from recommending them.

If all you’re after is a great pair of noise-canceling buds that sound rich, immersive, and full-bodied, the $300 1000XM5s won’t leave you wanting for more. But if you’re Sony, the real dilemma is that there might be nowhere left to go from here.

With the WF-1000XM5, Sony improves its already formidable mix of great sound, effective ANC and handy features. These earbuds are undoubtedly the company’s best and most comfortable design in its premium model so far, which was one of the few remaining riddles Sony needed to solve. For all of the company’s ability to add so many features, many of them still need fine-tuning, but that doesn’t make them any less useful in their current state.