Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: The Overpriced King of Noise Cancelling?
A deep dive into Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones.
The Truth: You're Paying a 30% Premium for Sony's Brand Name
Let's cut the crap. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the most hyped noise-cancelling headphones on the planet, but are they worth $400 when you can get 90% of the performance for $250? I've tested these against the Bose QC45, Apple AirPods Max, and Sennheiser Momentum 4 for six months straight. The XM5s are brilliant at noise cancelling, but Sony's software and some design choices are borderline infuriating.
The Meat: Where Sony Wins and Where They Screw You
1. Noise Cancelling: Still Unbeatable, But Barely
The XM5s have the best noise cancelling I've ever tested. On a flight from NYC to LA, they completely erased the engine roar. But here's the kicker: the Bose QC45 are maybe 5% worse for $150 less. Sony's "Auto NC Optimizer" is supposed to be smart, but it constantly adjusts when you're in a quiet room, creating this subtle pressure change that makes my ears pop. It's like the headphones are trying too hard to justify their AI features.
2. The Touch Controls Are Trash
This is my biggest rant. The touch panel on the right earcup is supposed to be intuitive, but it's laggy as hell. Swipe up for volume? Sometimes it works, sometimes it registers as a tap and pauses your music. In the middle of a critical client call, I tried to lower the volume and instead hung up. I had to apologize for "technical difficulties" when really it was Sony's garbage touch implementation. For $400, give me physical buttons that WORK every time.
💡 Pro Tip: Turn OFF "Adaptive Sound Control" in the Sony Headphones app immediately. It constantly changes noise cancellation levels based on your location, which sounds smart but just annoys you when walking from your living room to kitchen. Set it manually and save yourself the headache.
3. Battery Life: The Real Killer Feature
30 hours with noise cancelling on is no joke. I forgot to charge them for a full week of commuting and they still had juice. The Bose QC45 get 24 hours, the AirPods Max get 20. This is where Sony justifies their price for power users. The quick charge (3 hours of playback from a 3-minute charge) saved me when rushing to the airport with dead headphones.
The Data: Raw Numbers Don't Lie
| Feature | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Bose QC45 | Apple AirPods Max | Sennheiser Momentum 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.99 | $329.00 | $549.00 | $349.95 |
| Noise Cancelling | Best in class | Excellent (95% as good) | Excellent (different profile) | Very Good |
| Battery Life (ANC on) | 30 hours | 24 hours | 20 hours | 60 hours (beast!) |
| Weight | 250g | 240g | 385g (heavy!) | 293g |
| Touch Controls | Yes (laggy) | Physical buttons | Digital Crown (excellent) | Touch & physical |
| Case Included | Yes (flimsy) | Yes (hard case) | Yes (bra case, terrible) | Yes (hard case) |
The Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy These?
Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 if: You travel constantly and need the absolute best noise cancelling money can buy, and you value battery life over everything else. The 30-hour battery is the real deal.
Avoid the XM5s if: You're on a budget or hate finicky touch controls. Get the Bose QC45 instead—they're $70 cheaper, have physical buttons, and the noise cancelling difference is minimal for most people. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 are a dark horse with 60-hour battery life if you can live with slightly worse ANC.
I use the XM5s daily because I fly twice a month and that noise cancelling is addictive. But I curse the touch controls every single time.
