Buy Sony WF-1000XM5 in 2026? 🤔
It’s been almost 3 years since the Sony WF-1000XM5 was launched, and in that time, there were changes to the Sound Connect app so it’s more user-friendly, and there aren’t any reports of widespread battery issues which means it’s a stable product. Furthermore, you can often find them at a discount since they’re not new.
Nonetheless, is it worth buying it now in 2026? I’m going to do something different this time. First I’m going to try to convince you NOT to buy it, and some of the reasons why are based on user feedback. And then, I’m going to lay out some reasons why you should still buy it in 2026. So buckle up!
Earbuds Design
First, the fit is not for everybody. I’ve got no problems with the fit myself, and many others can say the same, but some people have complained that they’re not able to get a snug fit with it, no matter how much they shoved it in their ears.
They do come fitted with foam tips, but the earbuds are very small, and they have a glossy surface on a shape that doesn’t grip well. And with a looser fit, the noise canceling's not going to be as good, and the sound is not going to have much bass. Doesn’t happen to me, but there are complaints about this.
2. MIcrophone Quality
Second, its microphone pickup is barely acceptable. In most situations, you’re not going to have a problem with being heard on the phone, but in very noisy conditions, your voice will sound dirty, choppy and robotic. Yes it’s true that most earbuds have this problem, but if you’re looking to buy this because you want to be heard better over the phone, there are other choices. Basically anything Ranked A in my mic quality rankings will do.
3. A new model is coming soon
And the third reason not to buy it now is that a newer model is coming out. There are rumors that the WF-1000XM6 will be dropping in early 2026, so if you’re all about getting the latest model, you might want to pass on the XM5 for now. Or if you’re still interested, when the XM6 does come out, the XM5 might go for a steeper discount.
So why should you still buy it? Read on…
Active Noise Cancelling
And there still are great reasons to buy the WF-1000XM5. For example, it’s still one of the most effective noise cancelers. It may not be as effective now against lower frequency noise as something like the AirPods Pro 3, and Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, but having foam tips means they do block the higher frequencies better, which includes the sound of screaming children and crying babies. That served me very well on a recent flight. I would have gone bananas otherwise.
2. Portability
The second reason to buy is that it’s still one of the smallest, most portable earbuds, with a case that’s just a little thicker than the AirPods Pro 3, the volume’s about 68.5 cubic centimeters which is very portable. But what I like about it is that it doesn’t scratch easily, so I don’t have to baby it all the time like I would with the AirPods. Just grab and go.
3. Features
Third reason. It is still one of the most feature rich earbuds. Granted, I don’t use all the features myself, for example, I don’t care much for Adaptive Sound Control. Yes it’s very high-tech, it automatically changes your noise canceling presets based on your actions and your location.
But as someone who prefers manual input, I’ve never used it. Instead, I’m all about features that appeal to audiophiles like Hi-Res codec support, the EQ presets and settings, and DSEE Extreme upscaling.
That is a powerful feature for wireless audio because it patches in the missing bits of detail that could have been lost over Bluetooth compression, so audio sounds crisper, more airy.
But even without those audiophile features, they still sound pretty good. They’re not the best sounding earbuds, but they more than satisfy in terms of clarity, richness in the midrange, and bass performance..
Check latest price:
Sony WF-1000XM5 - https://amzn.to/3JGI1uN
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