Sony's WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth headphones have consistently been among the best on the market since their release in 2020, thanks to their long-lasting battery and excellent noise cancellation capabilities. It appears that the company is planning a major upgrade. TechnikNews, a German-language publication, shared details on what to expect from the WH-1000XM5 in a leak spotted by Gizmodo.
Sony's next flagship noise cancelling headphones, according to the outlet, will have a battery life of up to 40 hours. If correct, that would be a significant improvement over the XM4's already impressive 30 hours on a single charge. The new model will reportedly take three and a half hours to fully charge via USB-C, which is about 30 minutes longer than the XM4. A new set of drivers and an additional processing chip for ANC are also said to be included in the new model.
The most noticeable difference between the WH-1000XM4 and its alleged successor, as seen in the renders shared by TechnikNews, is an entirely new design. The XM5 does not appear to fold in like Sony's current flagship Bluetooth headphones, but it does appear that they will have more padding on the earcups and a lighter band as a tradeoff. Many people praise the WH4 for its comfort, and it will be interesting to see if the new model's design makes it even more comfortable to wear during long listening sessions.
The WH-1000XM5 has yet to be given a release date or a price, according to TechnikNews. The current model costs $350 outside of sales. Due to the addition of features like Qi charging and LDAC support, Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds ended up costing more than their predecessor.