I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last two weeks testing the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds — the brand’s flagship earbuds — and they’ve earned a coveted spot in my earbuds rotation. They do everything I could possibly need. As an advocate for over-ear earphones, it takes a lot for a pair of earbuds to win me over, but the XM6s have done it with ease.

They have an improved design with 11% width reduction from the previous model for ultimate comfort (although the case design feels a little odd). The 8-hour battery life with ANC turned on also means I can use them all day long without worrying about running out of juice.

The ANC on these buds is also great, but the sound quality is what blew me away. They can accurately support any genre I listen to with effective codec support. But are they one of the best wireless earbuds releases of 2026? To find out more, keep reading this full Sony WF-1000XM6 review.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Sony’s flagship noise-canceling earbuds and successor to the WF-1000XM5s
• Who is it for? Any audiophiles who want great sound and effective noise cancellation all in one
• How much does it cost? The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are available for $329 in the U.S. and £250 in the U.K.
• What do we like? Strong ANC; well-balanced, crisp sound; great battery life; wide codec support; comfortable earbud design
• What don’t we like? Odd charging case design

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Specs

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Price & availability

The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are available to purchase from Sony for £250 in the U.K. Shipping in the U.S. is estimated to start between the 13th to the 16th of February, where the buds will cost you $329 from Sony U.S.. This is a pretty big price hike in the U.S., and we have seen. many audio brands have to increase their pricing as a direct result of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The buds are available in Black or Platinum Silver.

The price tag is on par with the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds, which are priced at $299 / £259, but the new model offers sound and design upgrades that will make any lovers of the previous model upgrade.

The features on the new WF-1000XM6 earbuds put them in direct competition with premium rivals like the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ($249), but in my opinion, the Sony earbuds offer far more user customization and far superior sound quality. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 ($299) have what our audio editor Tammy considers to be the best ANC ever, but the Sony WF-1000XM6 have come to give them a run for their money.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Design & comfort

• Lightweight earbuds
• Comfortable ear tip fit
• Odd-shaped charging case

After using the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds, I was hoping for just one thing from the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds: a scaled-down design. I literally walked up to the counter to collect them while repeating “please be smaller, please be smaller” over and over in my head. And with an 11% reduction in earbud width, the Sony fairy has granted my wishes.

Each earbud weighs just 0.23 ounces and feels super lightweight, making them comfortable to wear for long periods. This is slightly heavier than the previous model, which weighs 0.21 ounces per bud, but the difference is hardly noticeable, and with all the extra gear under the hood, I’m impressed they kept the weight and size so small.

Thanks to the width reduction, I find them more comfortable to wear. We’ve moved away from the same shape design as the Sony WF-C710N ($119) earbuds, as the XM6 buds become more oblong. They still poke out a little from my ears, but no more so than the AirPods Pro 3. As someone who wears open-earbuds like the Soundcore Aeroclip ($129) that clip around the outside of my ear, I don’t mind my earbuds poking out a little.

The charging case measures 2.4 x 1.6 x 1 inches, and I can slip it in the pocket of my jeans with ease. However, with the flat edges, the shape of the case is a little odd. It’s a bit tall, and the oblong shape makes it uncomfortable to hold, especially considering the ergonomic shape of the case of the XM5 earbuds. Crisp edges aside, the case is actually very lightweight, at just 1.66 ounces, so it didn’t feel heavy in my pocket.

I tested the Platinum Silver model, and although the name would have you believe they’re super shiny, they appear matte when in natural lighting. It’s only when put under bright light, such as the torch from my phone, that flecks of glitter appear. I like this effect, as the buds remain pretty understated, but I know there is an element of glitz when I use them. The Black version of the buds offers an even more subtle look, but I personally prefer the Silver color.

The earbuds have a durability rating of IPX4, meaning they are protected against water splashes from any direction, making them safe for getting caught out in the rain or dealing with sweat after a gym session. But if the buds do get a little wet, be sure to give them a wipe down before putting them back in the case, as the charging case isn’t water resistant.

This means that if you want to go on a run with the earbuds and the weather looks a little uncertain, you’ll need to leave the case at home. Thankfully, you can turn the buds off via the app when they’re not in the case, so the battery won’t drain.

Earbud fit

As I write this review, I have both the WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM6 earbuds in front of me, and one thing I’m glad stayed the same is the eartips. They’re unlike any eartips I’ve seen from the likes of Apple or Bose, as rather than being silicone, they’re actually spongey. This means they expand in the ear to create the perfect seal and the best noise-cancellation experience.

The earbuds come with four different ear tip sizes to get the best fit, and I ensured I had the right size by using the fit checker function in the Sound Connect app. The medium size was the best for my right ear, but was a little snug in my left. However, I solved this by simply molding the spongy material with my fingers.

There’s also a new ventilation structure for the XM6, which helps to minimize the effects of occlusion. This is essentially when you’re wearing earbuds or headphones, and you can hear the steps you take or your mouth moving, almost like an echo. I noticed that when running with the XM5s, I could hear my feet hit the ground, but this isn’t as bad while wearing the XM6s.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Connectivity

• Multipoint connectivity
• DSEE Extreme
• Prioritize quality of connection

The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds connect to your device via Bluetooth 5.3 and have hi-res audio compatibility. The earbuds can support 32-bit processing for a richer sound with compatible devices and streaming services. They support streaming with SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 audio codecs.

Much like the XM4 and the XM5 earbuds, the WF-1000XM6s have DSEE Extreme streaming. This is an AI-driven technology that essentially rebuilds the compressed AAC and SBC audio files to give them a hi-res streaming-like effect. This won’t give the same effect as streaming in LDAC, but it’s a great compromise for those with iPhones.

The XM6s also feature multipoint connectivity for pairing with two devices at once, which is one of my favorite features. The earbuds will intuitively switch between the devices I’m using, depending on which is active. I can also manage these in the Sound Connect app.

In the app, you have the option to Prioritize Sound Quality or Prioritize Stable Connection. These functions do what they say on the tin and will determine the streaming quality. I used the stable connection function when setting up the earbuds in the app, and then switched to sound quality for intent listening.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Controls & app

• Sound Connect app
• Customizable touch controls
• Personalized EQ test

Changes to the touch controls on the Sony WF-1000XM6 can be made in the Sound Connect app. You can set commands for the number of taps on both the left and right earbuds. The single tap on the left earbud is automatically set to toggle between Active Noise Cancelation and Ambient Sound. I chose to leave these as the settings on the left ear and use the right ear for pausing and skipping songs. These controls were simple to use and responsive.

The app also offers an opportunity for customization with EQ presets and custom EQ. There is an option to Find Your Equalizer too, which gave me the EQ best suited to my listening. To do this, I played my music, and the app gave me five different sound settings to choose from. From there, my choice expanded into five more similar settings, and from my choices, it created a personalized EQ for me. This is a great option as it meant I was getting the perfect sound for the type of music I listen to every time.

I Tested Sony’s WF-1000XM6... Here’s the Truth! - YouTube

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As someone who listens to music all day long when completing other tasks, a feature I appreciated in the app was the background music listening mode. With this, you can achieve the same effect as those YouTube videos from years ago that would play you music that sounded like you were in the next room at a party. You can choose from Cafe, Living room or My room, each getting increasingly louder — or less ambient, I suppose. This is perfect for having the passive, background effect that helps me work much better.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Sound quality

• Incredibly well balanced
• Complete clarity on all instruments
• Excellent bass performance

I crave perfect sound, and the audio profile of the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds is pretty much everything I look for. It’s incredibly balanced and separates individual instruments with complete ease.

Before testing out the XM6s, I had been using the XM5s for a couple of weeks, so I was immediately struck by how much more detail the XM6 earbuds supported. This was also the consensus when my colleagues listened. It was noted that even in bass-heavy tracks, the buds still put on an excellent show.

Firstly, I listened to Man I Need by Olivia Dean using the Find Your Equaliser EQ that the Sound Connect app created for me. This song has a funky, soulful drive, and the most prominent feature on this track for me is the drums. On the XM6s, these remained powerful without taking away from any other element of the song. The singer’s melodic vocals were also captured well, and her tone filled the space of the earbuds. The synth piano remained strong, and despite being a similar tone to the vocals, nothing was lost or disguised. I could hear every note of the song, and this really showcased the perfected mastering of the buds by the engineers.

I then moved on to BIRDS by Turnstile. I used the Hard EQ preset for this song, which enhances the bass and treble. The song begins with a synthwave and some percussion, which sounds totally cinematic and reminds me of Blade Runner with complete clarity. The drums were bright throughout the song, and the raspy vocals were well-balanced to complement the rest of the song. Again, this song was incredibly balanced.

I finally listened to Chains of Love by Charli XCX using the Heavy EQ preset to enhance the bass. Much like the rest of Charli XCX’s discography, it has the signature bass, but is mostly cinematic and orchestral. There wasn’t any distortion, which I experience when I listen to this song with my Beats Studio3 ($349) headphones. The vocals were incredibly clear, and I could hear every enunciation point with complete clarity.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: ANC

• Strong ANC
• Personalized ambient sound
• 8 ANC microphones

When I attended the keynote event for the Sony WF-1000XM6, Mike Sommerset, the Product Marketing Manager for Sony Europe, said that these are the “best noise-canceling earbuds available.” And while I always take these statements with a grain of salt, I can’t help but find some truth in the statement.

I’ve used both the XM5 and XM6 earbuds on flights and was impressed by both, but the XM6 takes the cake. When using the XM5s, I could still hear a slight whirring from the jet engines, but with the XM6s, I was in total silence. From take-off to landing, I was in my own little bubble, and didn’t realize I was back in London until the wheels hit the tarmac. They also kept me in silence when making my way through London Paddington train station, which is notoriously busy.

The new model of the earbuds has a total of eight microphones, two more than the previous model. They feed into the new QN3e processor, which is approximately three times faster than the QN2e chip in the XM5s, according to Sony.

You’re able to adjust the volume of the ambient sound being filtered into the earbuds on a scale from zero to 20, where 20 lets in all of the ambient sound around you, and zero is complete noise cancellation. I’ve found this feature especially useful when working out when I want to let in the ambient sound around me to remain aware of my surroundings. This gives me a safety boost and makes me feel more comfortable when out running.

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 earbuds also provide great noise cancellation. But when I have ANC switched on with the AirPods, I notice the faint hum of the frequency that is canceling out the ambient sound. For me, this ruins the experience a little. But this isn’t an issue with the XM6s, where I can simply enjoy the quiet.

However, it seems like the performance of the ANC is a personal experience that may have a lot to do with the fit of the earbuds. When the entire reviews team got our hands on the buds, Nikita and I were impressed by the ANC and couldn’t even hear ourselves typing on our keyboards. But Pete and Erin could still hear some talking and traffic on the street. Perhaps they simply have better hearing than we do, but it’s worth noting that it could differ from user to user.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Battery life

• 8 hours with ANC
• 24 hours with the charging case
• Wireless and fast charging

The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds have fast charging, meaning in just five minutes you can get one hour of listening time.

The XM6 buds give eight hours of playtime with ANC on, and this extends to 24 hours with the charging case. This is the same as the XM5 buds, which may seem like a letdown, but I’m here to tell you it’s not. Because with the addition of two noise cancellation processing microphones and the QN3e chip that requires a ton more power to create the perfect noise-canceling experience, it’s a total win that we managed to keep those 8 hours. With ANC off, the battery life increases to 12 hours.

It took me a week of using the buds before they ran out of juice, and this included a day with nine hours of travelling and then workouts lasting one to two hours each day. When they did eventually run out of juice, I popped them on charge for five minutes and had enough battery life for my hour-long walk.

Other earbuds with a similar battery life include the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which also have eight hours, and the original Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds ($179), which have nine hours.

Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Verdict

For the WF-1000XM6s earbuds, Sony has taken on board all of the criticism of the XM5s and made significant improvements, especially in design and noise cancellation. Despite my not loving the new, slightly chunkier charging case design, there’s not much else to fault these earbuds on.

They have great battery life that’s on par with other big names in the ANC earbud game, good codec support, and a comfortable earbud design. The sound quality is what wins me over. The well-balanced sound profile offers complete clarity and an excellent bass performance, which can be refined with the personalized EQ settings in the Sound Connect app.

The ANC has also been a pleasure to use on these buds. I can’t believe I was on a flight, train and bus and didn’t hear anything. They are the perfect solution for anyone who craves complete silence or more customization with ambient sound settings. It’s definitely worth upgrading to these new buds.