Sony has officially lifted the curtain on the WH-1000XM6, the long-awaited successor to its widely acclaimed WH-1000XM5 headphones. As one of the most anticipated audio launches of the year, the XM6 arrives with notable upgrades aimed at delivering an even more refined listening experience—backed by a next-gen processor, improved noise cancellation, smarter call quality, and a sleeker, foldable design.
What’s New in the WH-1000XM6
At the heart of the new headphones is Sony’s all-new QN3 processor, which Sony claims is seven times faster than the chip used in the XM5. Combined with 12 microphones and a newly enhanced Adaptive Noise Canceling Optimizer, the XM6 promises class-leading ANC performance in a variety of environments.
Call quality also sees a significant upgrade thanks to AI-powered noise reduction and a new beamforming mic system using six microphones for clearer voice pickup—even in noisy settings.
From a design standpoint, Sony has made a series of thoughtful tweaks. The XM6 now features a more compact, foldable form factor with a smaller magnetic carrying case, an asymmetrical headband for improved comfort, and redesigned buttons including a dedicated mic mute/unmute switch.
Tuned by the Pros
Sony says the sound tuning of the WH-1000XM6 was done in collaboration with professional mastering engineers in New York City. The result is said to be a more balanced sonic profile with richer detail, clearer vocals, and improved overall fidelity, helped along by upgraded driver units. The headphones also introduce new spatial audio up-mixing technology to enhance immersion.
Pricing and Availability
The WH-1000XM6 is available now at a retail price of $449.99 USD, both directly from Sony and via major retailers like Amazon. That’s a $50 increase over the XM5’s launch price—continuing the pricing trend seen in previous generations. At this price point, the XM6 sits closer to Apple’s AirPods Max, rivals the newly launched Sonos Ace, and slightly edges out Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra (which frequently goes on sale).
Here in the Philippines, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is available for pre-order from May 16 to June 20, 2025. Pre-orders come with a free 10,000mAh power bank and a chance to win a trip for two to Coron, Palawan. More details on this promotion can be found here.