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Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones

Both are Sony noise-canceling over-ear headphones, and the XM5SA is the safer buy for most shoppers: it rates 4.6/5 from 8 ratings against 3.1/5 from 7 for the XM6, and it carries the same 30-hour battery claim. The XM6 is the newer design with the QN3 processor, 12 microphones, LDAC, LE Audio and Auracast, so pick it only if you want the latest connectivity and can confirm the price. The XM6's best new price is $189.90 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026, but its daily price swung from $189.90 to $378.00 within a week, so check the current price before buying.

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Sony
Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony WH-1000XM6

3.1· 7 ratings
$189.90at WalmartObserved at 10:34 PM
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Choose the Sony WH-1000XM6 if you want the newest Sony platform with LDAC, LE Audio, Auracast and a 12-microphone QN3 noise-canceling system, and you can get it near its $189.90 low.

Pros
  • Newest Sony platform: QN3 processor and 12 microphones for adaptive noise canceling
  • LDAC, LC3, LE Audio and Auracast for higher-quality and low-latency wireless
  • 30 h with NC on and 40 h with NC off; 3-minute charge gives 3 hours
  • Six-mic AI beamforming for calls, with tap-to-mute
  • Folds into a compact magnetic-closure case
Cons
  • Weak owner rating: 3.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings
  • Price is volatile: $189.90 low vs $378.00 high within a week
  • Heavier than many rivals at 1.5 lb
  • No Google Assistant or Alexa listed
Sony
Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones

Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones

4.6· 8 ratings

Choose the Sony WH 1000XM5SA if you want proven noise canceling and comfort with a much stronger owner rating and a simpler, cheaper buy.

Pros
  • Strong owner rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings
  • Active noise canceling with microphone for calls
  • Up to 30 hours of battery life
  • Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
  • Simple single-color buy in Black
Cons
  • Older platform with no LDAC, LE Audio or Auracast listed
  • Only one color: Black
  • No weight, codec or charge-time figures given
  • No price given, so value is hard to judge

What separates them

Sony WH-1000XM6Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones
Owner rating3.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings
Noise-canceling processorHD QN3, 7x faster than QN1, tunes 12 mics in real timeNot specified
Bluetooth codecsSBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3, plus LE Audio and AuracastBluetooth, codecs not specified
Battery life30 h with NC on, 40 h with NC off; 3-min charge gives 3 hUp to 30 h
Voice assistantsNot listedGoogle Assistant and Amazon Alexa
Weight1.5 lbNot specified
FinishesBlack, Silver, Midnight Blue (listing also lists Olive Gray, Sandstone, Sand Pink)Black
Price$189.90 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026No price given

Price history

$378.00$99.99
Oct 27Nov 4
  • Sony WH-1000XM6: lowest $189.90 on Nov 3 at Walmart; $189.90 on Nov 4.
  • Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones: lowest $99.99 on Oct 30 at eBay.

Prices at every store

Sony WH-1000XM6

  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Seller

    $189.90Free shippingObserved at 10:34 PM
    Visit store
  • Teds ElectronicsNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $354.99Verified
    Visit store
  • Audio AdviceNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $378.00Verified
    Visit store
  • AVC photo video storeNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $378.00Verified
    Visit store

Also available at

  • PC Richard & SonCheck price at PC Richard & Son
  • UCLA StoreCheck price at UCLA Store
  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
All 16 stores and price history →

Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones

  • eBayCheck price at eBay
Prices and history →

Specs compared

SpecSony WH-1000XM6Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones
Noise CancelingYesYes
ConnectivityWirelessWireless
With MicrophoneYesYes
ColorBlack, Midnight Blue, Platinum Silver, Olive Gr…Black
StyleOn-earOn-ear
Wireless TypeBluetoothBluetooth
Max Battery Life30 hours30 hours
BluetoothSBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3, Multipoint, LE Audio, Aura…—
FinishesBlack, Silver, Midnight Blue—
Over-EarYes—
Height10.11″ tall—
Width7″ wide—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecSony WH-1000XM6Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones
Depth4″ deep—
Battery life30 h—
Headphone styleOver-Ear—
Noise control technologyActive Noise Cancellation—
WirelessY—
BrandSony—
Rec. useCasual Listening—
In/Out typeWireless—
Power typeBattery—
Headphone type

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.

Pros
  • Comfort
  • Sound quality
  • Bass response
  • Noise canceling and call quality

Sony WH 1000XM5SA Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones

Owners and reviewers rate it among the best noise-cancelling headphones available, praising the quiet, the light fit and call clarity. Complaints center on the larger case, fiddly touch controls and the price gap over the older XM4.

Pros
  • Noise cancelling that silences plane and office noise
  • Light weight and comfortable earcups for long wear
  • Clear voice on calls and video meetings
  • Long battery life and fast charging
Cons
  • Case is bigger because the headphones no longer fold
  • Touch panel can be too sensitive
  • Price is high next to the WH-1000XM4
Reviews
  • Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2026
  • Best wireless headphones for 2026 - Engadget
  • The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for 2026
  • Best Headphones to Buy in 2026, Tested and Reviewed
  • Best Headphones to Buy in 2026, Tested and Reviewed - Skip to content
  • Best Headphones We've Tested - CNET

Questions and answers

Which has better noise canceling, the XM6 or the XM5SA?
On paper the XM6, with its QN3 processor and 12 microphones tuned in real time. The XM5SA lists active noise canceling but no processor detail. Neither listing gives measured attenuation figures.
Is the XM6 worth the extra over the XM5SA?
Only if you want LDAC, LE Audio, Auracast and the newer noise-canceling hardware. The XM5SA has the far better owner rating, 4.6 versus 3.1. No XM5SA price was given, so compare at checkout.
Which lasts longer on a charge?
The XM6 claims 30 hours with noise canceling on and 40 hours with it off, plus 3 hours from a 3-minute charge. The XM5SA claims up to 30 hours. Real-world results depend on volume and codec.
Which is better for calls?
The XM6 lists a six-microphone AI beamforming system and tap-to-mute. The XM5SA has a microphone but no call detail. Shoppers who take many calls should favor the XM6 on specs.
Does either work with Alexa or Google Assistant?
The XM5SA lists both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The XM6 listing does not list either, so check before relying on voice assistants.
Which is better for iPhone users?
Both use AAC over Bluetooth, so sound quality is close on iPhone. LDAC and LE Audio on the XM6 only help with Android or LE Audio sources. The XM5SA's higher owner rating makes it the safer pick.

More comparisons

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  • Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
  • Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Apple AirPods Max 2

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Headphones
—
Model nameWH-1000XM6—
Wireless technologyBluetooth—
Works withCellphones—
Assembled product weight1.5 lb—
Inputs/OutputsBluetooth—
AccessoriesCarrying Case, Headphone Cable, USB Charging Ca…—
Battery consumption typeIntegrated Rechargeable Battery—
Maximum transmission range32.8 ft—
Compatible smart control systemsGoogle Assistant—
Virtual assistantGoogle Assistant—
Ear pad materialSynthetic Leather—
Cord length47 in—
Generation6—
MaterialPlastic—
Video game platformMobile, PC—
Use With Mobile PhonesYes—
With Touch ControlsYes—
Colour NameBlack—