Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: The Overpriced King That's Still Worth It (For Some)
A deep dive into Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones.
The Hard Truth: You're Paying $400 for a Plastic Headband That Feels Like It'll Snap
Let's cut the crap. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the most overhyped, overpriced headphones on the market. For $400, you get a flimsy plastic headband that creaks like a haunted house door, earcups that don't fold (seriously, Sony?), and a carrying case that's bigger than my lunchbox. I almost threw them at a wall when I realized I couldn't shove them in my backpack without looking like I was carrying a small turtle. But here's the kicker: despite all that, they're still the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy right now. It's infuriating.
The Meat: Where Sony Actually Earns Its Money
1. Noise Cancellation: The Unbeatable Beast
The XM5's ANC is a monster. It doesn't just block out airplane engines—it murders them. I tested these on a cross-country flight, and the constant hum of a Boeing 737 disappeared like magic. Compared to the Bose QC45 (which sounds like you're in a slightly quieter tin can) or the AirPods Max (which are heavier and cost $150 more), Sony's tech is in another league. The dual-processor chip actually works, adapting to different environments without that annoying pressure feeling.
2. Battery Life: The Silent Killer
30 hours with ANC on. Let that sink in. The Bose QC45 claims 24 hours, but real-world testing shows it's more like 20. The AirPods Max? A pathetic 20 hours if you're lucky. Sony's battery is the real deal—I forgot to charge these for a week of daily commutes and they still had juice. The quick charge is legit too: 3 minutes for 3 hours of playback saved me during a last-minute airport sprint.
3. That Godawful Touch Control Panel
Here's my rant: The touch controls on the right earcup are TRASH. Trying to adjust volume during a workout? You'll either skip the track or pause everything. The swipe sensitivity is all over the place—sometimes it registers, sometimes it doesn't. I was on a crowded subway trying to lower the volume and ended up calling my mom. Twice. For $400, give me physical buttons that WORK.
💡 Pro Tip: Disable the "Speak-to-Chat" feature IMMEDIATELY. It's supposed to pause music when you talk, but it triggers if you cough, sneeze, or breathe too loudly. Go to the Sony Headphones app → System → Speak-to-Chat → OFF. Your sanity will thank you.
The Data: Cold, Hard Specs
| Feature | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Bose QuietComfort 45 | Apple AirPods Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.99 | $329.00 | $549.00 |
| Noise Cancellation | Best-in-class (Adaptive ANC) | Very Good (Constant ANC) | Excellent (Computational Audio) |
| Battery Life (ANC On) | 30 hours | 24 hours (claimed) | 20 hours |
| Weight | 250g | 240g | 385g |
| Foldable? | NO (Dealbreaker for travel) | YES | NO |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC | AAC |
The Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy These?
BUY THE SONY WH-1000XM5 IF: You're a frequent flyer who needs absolute silence, you prioritize battery life over everything, and you don't care about portability. The ANC and battery are worth the premium.
AVOID THEM IF: You travel light (the non-folding design is a joke), you're on a budget (the Bose QC45 is 80% as good for 20% less), or you're deep in the Apple ecosystem (just get the AirPods Max and suffer the weight).
Personally, I keep coming back to the XM5s because nothing else kills noise like they do. But every time I hear that plastic creak, I die a little inside.
