Sony’s 1000X family just got a major refresh on the in‑ear side. The new WF‑1000XM6 true wireless earbuds are Sony’s latest flagship buds, and they’re clearly designed to push the brand ahead again on noise cancelling, sound quality, and smart features, rather than just iterate with a new model number.

At the heart of the pitch is noise cancelling, and Sony isn’t being shy about it. The company claims the WF‑1000XM6 delivers its “best noise cancelling” yet, with up to 25 percent more noise reduction than the WF‑1000XM5 they replace, particularly in the mid‑to‑high frequencies you’ll hear on planes, in trains, or in a chatty café. That leap comes from a new HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3e, which works alongside Sony’s Integrated Processor V2 and a beefed‑up mic array: four microphones on each earbud instead of three, continuously listening to your surroundings and tailoring the ANC in real time. Sony is also using redesigned noise‑isolating ear tips in four sizes, with better sealing to reduce the small gaps that typically let sound leak in around the canal.

Audio performance has had just as much attention as silence. Sony is leaning on a dual‑processor architecture here, with the QN3e handling enhanced DAC duties while the Integrated Processor V2 steps up to 32‑bit processing (the XM5 topped out at 24‑bit), aiming for cleaner, more detailed reproduction. Inside each bud is a newly developed 8.4mm driver that combines a soft edge for deep, controlled bass with a rigid dome for crisp highs, plus subtle notches around the driver edge to tame resonances and smooth out the overall sound. As you’d expect from a Sony flagship, there’s support for Hi‑Res Audio Wireless and LDAC, DSEE Extreme upscaling for compressed tracks, a 10‑band EQ in the companion app, 360 Reality Audio, and head‑tracking tricks for more immersive listening.

Sony hasn’t done this tuning in isolation, either. The company brought in a roster of Grammy‑winning and Grammy‑nominated mastering engineers from studios like Sterling Sound, Battery Studios and Coast Mastering to refine how the WF‑1000XM6 are voiced. Names include Randy Merrill, Chris Gehringer, Mike Piacentini and Michael Romanowski, all of whom regularly work on chart‑topping records and iconic soundtracks, and the result is a sound profile that’s meant to land closer to “what the artist intended” than a bass‑boosted consumer preset. Early impressions from reviewers echo that direction, calling out an open, dynamic mid‑range and a more mature tuning than older Sony buds, while still delivering the punchy low end fans expect.

Call quality is another big upgrade area, and one that matters more than ever as earbuds double as daily work gear. Each WF‑1000XM6 earbud carries two microphones plus a bone‑conduction sensor, and Sony layers on an AI beamforming algorithm that focuses on your voice and suppresses ambient noise around you. In practice, that combination aims to keep your speech clear on busy streets or in office chatter, with the bone‑conduction sensor helping to lock onto the vibrations of your jaw even when wind or background noise might otherwise swamp the mics. Several early reviews suggest that these are among the better true wireless options right now if you’re constantly hopping on calls from noisy environments.

Physically, the WF‑1000XM6 looks like a considered redesign rather than a radical departure. Sony has slimmed down each bud by roughly 11 percent compared to the XM5, following the natural curves of the inner ear for a more stable, less intrusive fit. There’s a new internal ventilation structure, too, which helps bleed off pressure and reduce the dull thud of your own footsteps or chewing that some sealed earbuds can amplify. The case has been refreshed with better materials, a smoother finish, and a lid that’s easier to open one‑handed; the buds themselves are easier to grab as well, which sounds small but matters if you’re constantly in and out of them during a commute or workday. Colour options at launch are familiar—Black and Platinum Silver—but with more refined textures and metallic accents that feel a bit more grown‑up than earlier generations.

On the connectivity front, Sony is ticking most of the modern boxes. Bluetooth 5.3 is on board, with support for SBC, AAC, LDAC and the low‑power LC3 codec, and the internal antennas are 1.5 times larger than before to reduce drop‑outs. The buds are ready for LE Audio and Auracast, which opens the door to lower latency and new broadcast‑style use cases—useful if you’re gaming or watching a lot of video on your phone. Multipoint connectivity lets you stay paired to, say, your laptop and phone simultaneously, and there’s Fast Pair and Swift Pair support to make setup less of a chore on Android and Windows devices. An IPX4 rating means the WF‑1000XM6 should shrug off sweat and the occasional rain shower, positioning them as gym‑friendly rather than delicate hi‑fi jewellery.

Battery life lands where you’d expect for a high‑end pair in 2026, but with some thoughtful extras. Sony rates the buds at up to eight hours of continuous playback with noise cancelling switched on, stretching to around 24 hours when you factor in two full recharges from the case. Switch ANC off and you can push closer to 12 hours from the earbuds alone. There’s quick charging if you’re in a rush—five minutes of top‑up gives roughly an hour of listening—and the case supports Qi wireless charging alongside USB‑C. Some markets are also getting a battery‑care feature that limits charging to 80 percent to help preserve long‑term health, which frequent flyers will appreciate.

Software and smarts are very much part of the story. Sony’s usual feature set returns, including Adaptive Sound Control that automatically tweaks ANC and ambient levels based on where you are and what you’re doing, and Auto Play for scene‑based listening. There’s Quick Access to launch music without pulling out your phone and support for voice assistants. New this generation is a deeper tie‑in with Google Gemini: you can call up Gemini hands‑free with “Hey Google” to get help with messages, navigation, or information, and Gemini Live aims to enable more natural back‑and‑forth conversations, from brainstorming ideas to dropping items into Google Keep or scheduling in Google Calendar. These integrations are limited to compatible Android devices and regions, but they do underline how earbuds are increasingly becoming a primary interface to your digital assistant, not just a passive listening device.​

Sustainability is slowly moving from bullet point to baseline, and Sony is at least making some progress on that front with the WF‑1000XM6. Around 25 percent of the plastic used in the product is classed as circular material, including biomass‑based renewable plastic allocated via a mass‑balance approach, reducing dependence on virgin fossil‑based plastics. The retail packaging is also plastic‑free, which aligns with broader industry shifts toward more recyclable boxes and less single‑use material. It’s not a fully modular or repair‑first design, but it does show that even in the premium audio segment, brands are being forced to bake in some level of environmental consideration.

Pricing positions the WF‑1000XM6 firmly in the top tier. In Europe, Sony lists a suggested retail price of €300, while markets like the US are seeing price tags around $329, putting them up against the latest AirPods Pro and Bose’s flagship in‑ears. For that money, you’re getting arguably the strongest ANC package in true wireless earbuds right now, a notably more refined design, and a feature set that’s clearly tuned for people who live with buds in their ears all day—whether that’s on planes, in open offices, or bouncing between calls and playlists.

Alongside the earbuds, Sony is also giving its over‑ear champ a fashion‑forward twist. The WH-1000XM6 line is adding a new Sand Pink colourway, a light, pastel finish that’s meant to read more as a neutral accessory than a bold statement, joining the existing Black, Platinum Silver and Midnight Blue options. Hardware‑wise, nothing changes—you’re still getting Sony’s full‑fat ANC over‑ears—with pricing in Europe set at €450 and markets like the US listing it at around $460. It’s a small update on paper, but a reminder that headphones have become as much a style choice as a tech purchase, especially at this end of the market.

Taken together, the WF‑1000XM6 earbuds and the refreshed WH‑1000XM6 lineup underline Sony’s strategy for 2026: keep its 1000X series at the top of the noise‑cancelling pile, while nudging the design, tuning, and software to feel more like everyday companions than specialist gear. For frequent travellers, hybrid workers, and anyone who treats audio gear as both a tool and a personal accessory, these new XM6 buds are likely to become the default recommendation—provided you’re comfortable paying premium‑flagship prices.