92
Alex Bracetti
Mashable
“Whatever weaknesses the WF-1000XM5s have are insignificant when compared to their strengths.”
Critical Assessment
What Critics Praise
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Rich Bass Response
- Crisp Detailed Highs
- Adjustable Five‑Band EQ
- Top‑Tier Mic Clarity
- Wireless Charging Case
Points of Contention
- Expensive Price
- App Bloat
- Slightly less battery life than AirPods Pro 2
- Glossy texture
- Memory foam tips cause fatigue
- Uncomfortable for small ear canals
Professional Reviews
9 reviews from 8 critics100 Simon Cohen 2 reviews · avg Digital Trends “Smaller, sleeker, and with awesome sound, the XM5 are Sony's best buds.”
Simon Cohen 2 reviews · avg
Digital Trends
“Smaller, sleeker, and with awesome sound, the XM5 are Sony's best buds.”
All 2 Simon Cohen reviews, aggregated above
100
Sony WF‑1000XM5 earbuds
“Smaller, sleeker, and with awesome sound, the XM5 are Sony's best buds.”
85
Updating our Sony WF‑1000XM5
“(Spoiler: The production units solved all the problems we saw with the prototypes.)”
90
Tim Gideon
PCMag
“Sony's true wireless WF‑1000XM5 earphones offer superb sound quality, excellent noise cancellation, and a dizzying array of high‑end features.”
90
Andrew Liszewski
Gizmodo
“They are astoundingly good, and their sound quality and ANC performance are more than enough to sell the earbuds without any clever branding.”
90
Jacqueline Thomas
IGN
“But while these earbuds are expensive, they offer some of the best noise canceling I’ve experienced in an earbud, paired with incredible sound quality.”
80
Chris Welch
The Verge
“Sony’s latest flagship earbuds are excellent on multiple fronts, but the lack of an ecosystem will hold them back in the not‑too‑distant future.”
80
Becky Scarrott
TechRadar
“Sony has thrown everything it can into these much smaller earbuds, and given us an extra set of foam tips so they fit perfectly.”
72
Matthew Lopes, Vanessa McCuaig, John Peroramas
RTINGS
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds deliver exceptional noise cancellation and a comfortable fit, making them ideal for gamers and commuters. However, their premium price and occasional connectivity glitches may deter budget-conscious buyers.
