What you can expect from the Sony WH-1000XM5 day to day
Battery life with noise cancelling30 h
Weight250 g
Our score9.8 Rank 5 of 23
Ratings4.5 1,231 reviews
Sony WH-1000XM5
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Which robot is right for your home? Find out in 7 questions →Who it suits
Good for
- Traveling and commuting: noise cancelling
- Traffic and voices: a transparency mode lets sound in
- A phone and a laptop together: connects to two devices at once
From the facts the maker states, by the rules of our advisor.
Before you buy, compare it with 2 recommended alternatives ?
Green is the best of these 3, also when they share the lead.
| This model Sony WH-1000XM5 Best on 3 facts | Cheapest of the top 10 Soundcore Life Q30 Best on 2 facts | Highest score here Soundcore Space One Best on 4 facts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most important facts | |||
| The lowest price today at a store that ships to you, shipping included. A price with an asterisk comes from a store abroad, and its shipping cost is our own estimate. Lowest price | – | $79Soundcore (brand store) best | $99Soundcore (brand store) |
| Our own score out of 10: 60% the maker’s facts and 40% store ratings. Price does not count. Score | best | best | |
| The average of the stars buyers give at the stores, with the number of reviews behind it. We only compare it from 20 reviews. Customer rating | – | ★ 4.2 · 112 reviews | ★ 4.2 · 31 reviews |
| How the headphones cancel outside noise with microphones. Hybrid uses microphones outside and inside the cup, adaptive also adjusts to the sound around you. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| Adaptive best | Hybrid | Adaptive best |
| How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 30 h | 40 h best | 40 h best |
| What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 250 g best | 260 g | 265 g |
| The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too. In this comparisonSource
| 5.2 | 5 | 5.3 best |
| How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| yes | yes | yes |
Prices per store
Shipping included, sales tax added at checkout. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. How we read and order prices
Also at Amazon, price not shown yet: Amazon.com (black).
Sony WH-1000XM5 specifications ?
Product on the market since May 2022
Build and fit 6 facts
- Form factor
How the headphones sit: over the ear, on the ear, in the ear canal, in the outer ear, beside the ear or on the cheekbone.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- Over-ear
- True wireless
Two separate earbuds with no wire between them, charged in a case.
96 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- no
- Wireless
They play over Bluetooth, without a cable to the phone.
153 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Audio over USB-C
They play sound over a USB-C cable, straight from a phone or a laptop.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
- Weight
What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time.
Among the models we track
250 g on this model
Lowest
3.1 g Highest
451 g Middle
8.6 gHigher than 113 of the 168 models we track.
When it matters
- Wearing them for hours at a desk or on a flight.
- Running or the gym, where a heavy earbud works loose.
When it matters less
- Short listens, where comfort hardly has time to matter.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 250 g
- Remappable controls
Whether the app lets you choose what each button, tap or swipe does. With some controls, only part of them can be changed.
When it matters
- Touch controls you keep setting off by accident.
- Using the controls for the voice assistant or noise cancelling instead of the volume.
When it matters less
- If you control everything from your phone, it hardly matters.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 2
- Some controls
Sound 6 facts
- Lowest frequency
The lowest tone the maker says they play. It says little about how the bass actually sounds.
Among the models we track
4 Hz on this model
Lowest
4 Hz Highest
50 Hz Middle
20 HzLower than 99 of the 104 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 4 Hz
- Highest frequency
The highest tone the maker says they play. Adult hearing stops well below most figures.
Among the models we track
40,000 Hz on this model
Lowest
16,000 Hz Highest
80,000 Hz Middle
29,000 HzHigher than 60 of the 104 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 40,000 Hz
- Impedance
The electrical resistance. Wired headphones with a high impedance need an amplifier to play loud enough.
Among the models we track
16 Ω on this model
Lowest
15 Ω Highest
520 Ω Middle
32 ΩLower than 51 of the 75 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
How loud they play on a given signal. A higher figure plays louder from a weak source, such as a phone.
Among the models we track
100 dB SPL on this model
Lowest
91 dB SPL Highest
122 dB SPL Middle
100 dB SPLLower than 27 of the 58 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 100 dB SPL
- Equaliser in the app
You can adjust bass and treble in the maker’s app.
105 of the 106 models we track have this.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Spatial audio
Sound that seems to come from around you rather than from inside your head.
83 of the 88 models we track have this.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- yes
Noise cancelling 4 facts
- Active noise cancelling
How the headphones cancel outside noise with microphones. Hybrid uses microphones outside and inside the cup, adaptive also adjusts to the sound around you.
When it matters
- Flights, trains and open-plan offices.
- A daily commute in traffic.
When it matters less
- Listening at home in a quiet room.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- Adaptive
- Noise cancelling control
How much say you have over noise cancelling: only on or off, a few set levels, a slider, or left to the headphones alone.
When it matters
- Outside, where you want to hear some traffic but not all of it.
- Feeling pressure in your ears with full noise cancelling.
When it matters less
- If you always leave it at full, it decides nothing.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 2
- Automatic only
- Transparency mode
Lets outside sound through on purpose, so you hear traffic or a colleague without taking them off.
109 of the 119 models we track have this.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Hearing aid function
Can work as a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss, where the maker has it approved.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
Wireless 6 facts
- Bluetooth version
The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too.
Among the models we track
5.2 on this model
Lowest
5 Highest
6.1 Middle
5.3Lower than 105 of the 141 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 5.2
- Bluetooth codecs
How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them.
When it matters
- Lossless or high-resolution music from an Android phone that supports aptX or LDAC.
- An iPhone, where AAC is the codec that counts.
When it matters less
- Podcasts, calls and streaming at normal quality.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint
Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays.
115 of the 117 models we track have this.
When it matters
- Switching between a laptop for calls and a phone for music.
- Working from home with two devices on the desk.
When it matters less
- Using them with one phone only.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Devices connected at once
How many devices they stay connected to at once.
Among the models we track
2 on this model
Lowest
2 Highest
3 Middle
2Lower than 5 of the 64 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 2
- Made for
Whose phones the headphones are made for. Some features, such as one-tap pairing or spatial audio, work only with that maker’s phones.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- Any phone
- Wireless range
How far from the phone the maker says the connection holds, without walls in between.
Among the models we track
10 m on this model
Lowest
9 m Highest
40 m Middle
10 mLower than 11 of the 68 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 10 m
Battery 7 facts
- Battery life with noise cancelling
How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it.
Among the models we track
30 h on this model
Lowest
4 h Highest
75 h Middle
8 hHigher than 69 of the 108 models we track.
When it matters
- Long flights or a full working day.
- Traveling where you cannot charge.
When it matters less
- An hour of listening a day, which any model manages for a week.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 30 h
- Battery life without noise cancelling
How long they play on one charge with noise cancelling off.
Among the models we track
40 h on this model
Lowest
5 h Highest
135 h Middle
10 hHigher than 90 of the 123 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 40 h
- Fast charge time
How many minutes of charging give the playback below.
Among the models we track
3 min on this model
Lowest
3 min Highest
20 min Middle
10 minLower than 123 of the 132 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 3 min
- Playback from a fast charge
How many hours of playback a short fast charge gives.
Among the models we track
1 h on this model
Lowest
1 h Highest
15 h Middle
3 hLower than 101 of the 132 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 1 h
- Full charge time
How long a full charge takes.
Among the models we track
210 min on this model
Lowest
40 min Highest
210 min Middle
120 minHigher than 89 of the 95 models we track.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- 210 min
- Wireless charging
The case or the headphones charge on a Qi pad, without a cable.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
- Charging port
The plug the headphones or their case charge through.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- USB-C
In use 2 facts
- Wear detection
The music pauses when you take them off and plays on when you put them back.
57 of the 58 models we track have this.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- App
The name of the maker’s app.
Source: helpguide.sony.net · checked on Nov 1
- Sony | Headphones Connect
Where a row says “no (assumed)”, the maker's full product page for this model names the feature nowhere, so we take it as a no.
Sources: helpguide.sony.net
Our score
Confidence: medium. Fewer than 300 owners’ ratings at the stores. The highest score today is 9.9.
-
Owners’ ratings 40%–
Owners’ ratings, 40%: none yet at the stores that ship to the United States, so this part is left out and the score is the features part alone.
-
Features 60%9.8
74 of 74 points for the maker’s facts, the other 26 counted at the market’s average share of 91%.
- Price never countsA sale can’t lift a model. Today’s lowest price sits beside the score, checked every morning.
- Too few facts, no rankOnly headphones whose type and enough of whose facts are known are ranked. The rest get a provisional score.
- Reviewers beside, not insideReviewers’ picks are shown next to the score and do not count in it.
Ratings at the stores
Buyers rate the Sony WH-1000XM5 4.5 out of 5, from 1,231 reviews at 3 stores (Saturn DE, Coolblue NL, Kaufland.nl NL). We read the ratings on November 14, 2026.
4.5 out of 5. 1,231 reviews from 3 stores in 2 countries
By country
- Germany, 1 store 4.5 (4.5 out of 5) · 824 reviews
- Netherlands, 2 stores 4.4 (4.4 out of 5) · 407 reviews
The bar is the country's share of the reviews.
| Store | Rating | Reviews | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn DE | 4.5 (4.5 out of 5) | 824 | Nov 14 |
| Coolblue NL | 4.4 (4.4 out of 5) | 404 | Nov 14 |
| Kaufland.nl NL | 5.0 (5.0 out of 5) | 3 | Nov 14 |
How we combine them. Each store counts once, with its biggest listing of this model, and its rating weighs by its number of reviews.
Not counted: Amazon (its terms do not allow us to show its ratings).
Frequently asked questions about the Sony WH-1000XM5
What has the Sony WH-1000XM5 cost?
In our other editions it costs today: Netherlands € 239 at bol.com.
How do buyers rate the Sony WH-1000XM5?
Buyers rate the Sony WH-1000XM5 4.5 out of 5, from 1,231 reviews at 3 stores (Saturn DE, Coolblue NL and Kaufland.nl NL). We read the ratings on November 14, 2026.
How long does the battery of the Sony WH-1000XM5 last?
The maker states up to 30 hours of play with noise cancelling on, and 40 hours with it off. A 3-minute charge gives 1 hour of play.
Does the Sony WH-1000XM5 have noise cancelling?
Yes, adaptive noise cancelling, which adjusts its strength to the sound around you. It also has a transparency mode that lets the sound around you in when you want to hear it.
Can the Sony WH-1000XM5 connect to two devices at once?
Yes, it can stay connected to 2 devices at a time, such as a phone and a laptop.
Which Bluetooth codecs does the Sony WH-1000XM5 support?
It supports SBC, AAC and LDAC. With a phone that also supports LDAC, it can play in more detail than over AAC or SBC.
The maker
Sony
- Headquarters: Japan
- Founded in 1946
Sony Corporation runs the Entertainment, Technology and Services business of the Sony Group, and its head office is in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company goes back to Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo, the predecessor of Sony, which was established in 1946. Its headphones include the WH-1000XM6 and the WF-1000XM5.
