Sony's flagship WF-1000XM6 wireless earbuds arrived in February 2026, nearly three years after their predecessor, the WF-1000XM5, and prospective buyers now face a choice between the newer model and the still-capable older one. The decision largely comes down to priorities such as noise cancellation, call quality and sound performance, with each model having distinct strengths, plus a price gap that may make the older buds the more sensible pick for some.

Both earbuds carry a full retail price of $330, but the WF-1000XM6 currently costs $298 on Amazon against $248 for the WF-1000XM5. The M6 has a redesigned, smaller pill-shaped housing but suffers from ear tip fit issues that can weaken active noise cancellation, giving the M5 the edge there and for call quality thanks to better background noise suppression. The M6 wins on sound thanks to Sony's new QN3e audio chip, while battery life is identical at eight hours per charge and 24 hours with the case; the M6 also adds extras like Auto Power Save, Battery Care, a 10-band EQ and Bluetooth 5.4 support.