If you want better Value for money
Choose 1MORE SonoFlow-Pro Headphones. It scores 4.7 vs 3.8 for Value for money, with a 3.8 overall score.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Premium Noise Canceling Headphones Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Sony WH-1000XM5 for elite ANC, strong call quality, deep app control, and comfort. Skip it if you need compact folding travel, rugged water resistance, or great stock sound without EQ.
Best for
Best for commuters, travelers, office workers, and frequent callers who want strong ANC, reliable microphones, and extensive app/EQ control. It also suits Android users who can benefit from LDAC and Fast Pair.
Not for
Not ideal for buyers who prioritize compact packing, rugged gym/rain use, lossless modern codecs beyond LDAC, or a neutral stock sound without tweaking. Small heads, large ears, or heat-sensitive listeners should be cautious about fit.
Verdict
Reviewers largely frame the Sony WH-1000XM5 as a polished flagship ANC headphone with excellent noise cancellation, comfortable lightweight wear, strong call microphones, and a powerful app that can reshape the sound with EQ. The main tradeoff is that many of its best qualities depend on priorities: it excels for travel silence and work calls, but the redesign makes the case bulkier, the stock tuning can sound bass-heavy or veiled, and several reviewers worry about hinge durability or long-term pad wear. Value also depends heavily on sale price now that newer rivals and the XM6 exist.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
67 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.024 (36%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.434 (51%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.46 (9%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.43 (4%)
Pros
-
Noise cancellation was one of the strongest points across reviews, with repeated praise for travel, offices, commuting, and loud environments.
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Call microphone quality was one of the strongest upgrades, frequently described as clear, impressive, or best-in-class.
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EQ customization was one of the most consistently praised features and often rescued or improved the sound signature.
-
Microphone noise reduction was a clear strength, with reviewers praising voice isolation and background-noise suppression.
-
Comfort was often a major strength, especially for long sessions, but fit issues appeared for smaller heads, large ears, or heat-sensitive users.
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The companion app was widely praised for depth and customization, with a few caveats around privacy or minor annoyances.
Cons
-
Water and sweat resistance was a weakness because reviewers repeatedly noted the lack of IP rating.
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Hinge durability was the most repeated build concern, with multiple reviewers calling it frail, risky, or unreliable.
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Portability was one of the biggest weaknesses because the headphones fold flat but not into a smaller shape.
-
USB-C charging was useful, but reviewers criticized the lack of USB-C digital audio playback.
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The included factory cable drew a negative comparison against upgraded aftermarket cables.
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Codec support was useful thanks to LDAC, AAC, and SBC, but reviewers criticized the limited modern codec set.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Over-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Sound leakage, Wear detection auto-pause, LDAC, near average in Bass performance, Value for money, below average in Hinge durability, USB-C, Portability/foldability.
Comparison summary
67 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher29 (43%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts27 (40%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower11 (16%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinge durability | 2.1 | 4.0 | -1.9 |
| USB-C | 2.3 | 4.0 | -1.7 |
| Sound leakage | 5.0 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
| Wear detection auto-pause | 4.6 | 3.3 | +1.3 |
| LDAC | 4.2 | 3.1 | +1.1 |
| Active noise cancellation | 4.7 | 3.9 | +0.8 |
| Auto on/off reliability | 4.7 | 3.4 | +1.3 |
| Portability/foldability | 2.7 | 3.6 | -1.0 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better USB-C
Choose Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless Headphones. It scores 4.7 vs 2.3 for USB-C, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Cable quality
Choose Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 Headphones. It scores 4.6 vs 2.8 for Cable quality, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better Battery
Choose Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Headphones. It scores 4.8 vs 4.2 for Battery, with a 3.8 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: battery life MajorHiFi says the AVENTHO 300 beats the XM5 on battery life.
- Better: audiophile sound/build priorities MajorHiFi says the AVENTHO 300 caters more to audiophile needs, while the XM5 is lighter and stronger for noise reduction.
- More expensive: price/value RecordingNow notes the XM5 costs less than AirPods Max but is still expensive.
- Better: battery, sound, ANC, comfort, features SoundGuys says the newer XM6 edges out the XM5 across several categories.
FAQ
Are the Sony WH-1000XM5 still worth buying?
Reviews generally say yes when ANC, comfort, calls, and app features matter, especially at a discount. Value is weaker at full price because newer models and alternatives now compete strongly.
How good is the noise cancellation?
ANC is one of the most praised traits across the reviews. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as excellent for planes, trains, offices, commuting, and busy streets.
Do they sound good without EQ?
Opinions are mixed. Some reviewers liked the refined sound, but several said the stock tuning is bass-heavy, muffled, or not worth the price until EQ is applied.
Are they comfortable for long sessions?
Many reviewers found them lightweight and comfortable for long listening, but comfort is not universal. Smaller heads, larger ears, heat buildup, shallow cups, and pad wear were recurring caveats.
Are they good for calls?
Yes. Call quality and microphone noise reduction were repeatedly praised, with several reviewers calling voice isolation a major upgrade over previous Sony models.
Do they fold for travel?
They fold flat but not into a smaller compact shape. Reviewers repeatedly criticized the larger case and reduced portability versus earlier XM models.
Are they waterproof or good for workouts?
No. Multiple reviews point out the lack of an IP rating and warn against rain, sweat, gym use, or wet environments.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.2
Article Reviews
whathifi.com
- Review score
- 4.5
headphones.com
- Review score
- 3.4
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