Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Apple AirPods 5
Buy the Sony WH-1000XM6 if you want the best noise cancelling, long battery life and over-ear comfort for flights, offices and long listening sessions. Buy the Apple AirPods 5 if you live in the Apple ecosystem, want a pocketable in-ear bud for workouts and calls, and value Siri, Live Translation and IP57 water resistance. On price, the XM6 is $189.90 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026, while the AirPods 5 is $129.00 at Apple as of the same date.
Today the Apple AirPods 5 costs $60.90 less at its best price.
Ask our shopping agent
Sony WH-1000XM6
3.1Choose the Sony WH-1000XM6 if you want maximum noise cancelling, 30 hours of battery and over-ear comfort for travel, work or long listening.
- Best-in-class noise cancelling with the QN3 processor and 12 microphones
- Up to 30 hours with ANC on and 40 hours off, plus a 3-minute quick charge for 3 hours
- LDAC, LC3, LE Audio, Auracast and multipoint for flexible wireless use
What separates them
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Apple AirPods 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit style | Over-ear, 1.5 lb with case | In-ear open design, 0.28 lb with case |
| Battery life | Up to 30 h with ANC on, 40 h off; 3-min charge gives 3 h | About 4 h per charge, plus case recharges |
| Noise cancelling | QN3 processor, 12 mics, adaptive NC optimizer | ANC up to 50% better than previous generation, Adaptive Audio blends ANC and Transparency |
| Water and dust resistance | Not rated for water or dust | IP57 rated for sweat, rain and dust |
| Codecs and connectivity | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3, multipoint, LE Audio, Auracast | Bluetooth with Apple H-chip pairing; no LDAC or Auracast listed |
| Ecosystem and assistant | Works with phones broadly; no Siri integration | Instant pairing with iPhone, iPad and Mac; Siri AI and Live Translation |
| Calls |
Price history
- Sony WH-1000XM6: lowest $189.90 on Nov 3 at Walmart; $189.90 on Nov 4.
- Apple AirPods 5: lowest $114.99 on Nov 2 at Walmart; $129.00 on Nov 4.
Prices at every store
Sony WH-1000XM6
- WalmartNew
In stockSold by Seller
$189.90Free shippingObserved at 10:34 PM - Teds ElectronicsNew
In stockReturn policy
$354.99Observed at 10:33 PM - Audio AdviceNew
In stockReturn policy
$378.00Observed at 10:33 PM - AVC photo video storeNew
In stockReturn policy
$378.00Observed at 10:33 PM
Also available at
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- Office DepotCheck price at Office Depot
- Electronic ExpressCheck price at Electronic Express
Specs compared
| Spec | Sony WH-1000XM6 | Apple AirPods 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3, Multipoint, LE Audio, Aura… | true |
| Noise Canceling | Yes | Yes |
| With Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Color | Black, Midnight Blue, Platinum Silver, Olive Gr… | White |
| Style | On-ear | In-ear |
| Wireless Type | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Width | 7″ wide | 3.23″ wide |
| Depth | 4″ deep | 3.23″ deep |
| Battery life | 30 h | 4 hours |
| Headphone style | Over-Ear | In-Ear |
What reviewers say
Sony WH-1000XM6
Reviewers describe the WH-1000XM6 as comfortable headphones with good sound quality, including strong bass, and excellent call quality on both ends. Noise canceling is also singled out as a strength.
- Comfort
- Sound quality
- Bass response
- Noise canceling and call quality
Apple AirPods 5
Reviewers rate the AirPods 5 well overall, praising sound, comfort and noise cancellation. The open design is a trade-off: it keeps you aware of your surroundings but lets noise in, and one shopper found the fit insecure. Views on whether it is worth upgrading from AirPods 4 are split.
- Sound quality
- Comfortable fit
- Active noise cancellation
- Open-ear design keeps you aware of surroundings
Questions and answers
- Which is better for flights and noisy offices?
- The Sony WH-1000XM6. Its over-ear cups, QN3 processor and 12 microphones give stronger isolation than the open in-ear AirPods 5, and 30 hours of ANC battery covers long trips.
- Which is better for running and gym workouts?
- The Apple AirPods 5. It is IP57 rated for sweat and rain and weighs 0.28 lb with the case. The XM6 has no water resistance rating and is much bulkier.
- Is the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth the extra money?
- At $189.90 at Walmart versus $129.00 at Apple as of November 3, 2026, the XM6 costs about $60 more. You get far better noise cancelling, 30 hours of battery and LDAC, so it is worth it for travel and long listening.
- Which has better battery life?
- The Sony WH-1000XM6 by a wide margin: up to 30 hours with ANC on and 40 hours off, versus about 4 hours per charge for the AirPods 5 plus case recharges.
- Do the AirPods 5 work with Android phones?
- They pair over Bluetooth, but Siri, Live Translation, instant pairing and Spatial Audio are built for Apple devices. On Android you lose most of the smart features.
- Which is better for phone calls?
- Both are strong. The XM6 uses six-mic AI beamforming with tap-to-mute, and reviewers single out AirPods 5 call quality. Pick the XM6 for long calls and the AirPods 5 for quick calls on the go.
More comparisons
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Apple AirPods 5
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- MOMENTUM 4 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM6
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Apple AirPods 5 vs Apple AirPods 4th Gen
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
