Sony WF-1000XM6
Published date: 24/Sept/2026
Published date: 24/Sept/2026
Colour
Currently unavailable
Key Features
Sony WF-1000XM6
Key Features
Colour
Currently unavailable
What Customers Say
Reviewers were unanimous that these are the best-sounding earbuds Sony has made, describing a natural, detailed and balanced presentation, and most rated the noise cancelling among the very best available and a clear step up from the previous model. Calls were widely found to be much improved, with voices coming through clearly in busy places, and the app's extensive customisation, from the equaliser to the attention and ambient-sound features, was praised across the board. Several testers found them comfortable over long sessions, reported a stable connection and said the battery met or beat Sony's own figures.
The most repeated drawbacks concern fit: getting a reliable seal can be fiddly, the earbuds are chunkier and stick out more than before, the ear tips divide opinion and the case is bulkier. Several reviewers also noted that battery life is unchanged from the previous model and that the upgrade over it is incremental.
Reviewers widely regard these as one of the best all-round noise-cancelling earbuds available, particularly for listeners who can use LDAC, as long as the fit suits your ears.
Who Should Buy This
- Commuters and frequent flyers who want strong active noise cancelling,
- Listeners who want LDAC and Hi-Res Audio certified wireless sound,
- Home and office workers who want multipoint and clear call pickup,
- Long-listening buyers who want plenty of spare charges in the case,
- Wireless-charging users who want a case that tops up on a Qi pad.
Who Should Skip It
- Runners and gym-goers who want a rating beyond basic splash resistance,
- Side sleepers who want slim earbuds designed to be worn in bed,
- Open-ear fans who want to stay fully aware of their surroundings.
What Experts Says
Overall Assessment and Positioning
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are Sony's flagship in-ear true wireless earbuds, built around active noise cancelling for travel, commuting and office use. They sit at the premium end of the market alongside other flagship noise-cancelling earbuds, and unlike platform-specific rivals they are designed to serve iPhone and Android owners alike, with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa all supported.
Key Strengths and Standout Features
Sony quotes up to 12 hours per charge with noise cancelling off and 8 hours with it on, and the case is listed as extending that to 36 hours in total, so long trips need few top-ups. Sound comes from 8.4 mm drivers with SBC, AAC, LC3 and LDAC support and Hi-Res Audio certification, which gives listeners with LDAC-capable phones a higher-quality wireless connection, while DSEE Extreme upscales compressed streams. For calls, the earbuds are listed with noise reduction, a voice pickup sensor and wind noise reduction, and multipoint keeps them connected to more than one device, which suits anyone switching between a phone and a laptop. The 47 g case charges over USB-C or Qi wireless, and the earbuds carry an IPX4 splash rating.
Value Proposition and Who It's Best Suited For
These suit frequent travellers, commuters and home workers who want strong noise cancelling, high-quality wireless sound and dependable call features in one pair, whichever phone they use. Buyers who need more than splash resistance for hard training, or who want very small earbuds for sleeping, should look at alternatives, and as with any in-ear design it is worth checking the fit, because the seal underpins both the sound and the noise cancelling.
Similar Reviews
Video Reviews
ChoiceWise Scores: 81 Out Of 100
The ChoiceWise Score is calculated using a defined methodology based on the features and factors that matter most in this category. Read our full scoring methodology: choicewise.app/methodology#score
Frequently Asked Questions
Sony quotes up to 12 hours of playback from the earbuds with noise cancelling off and 8 hours with it on. The charging case is listed as taking the total to 36 hours, or 24 hours with noise cancelling on.
Yes, the charging case is listed as charging over USB-C or Qi wireless. A full charge of the earbuds takes around 90 minutes, and a 5-minute quick charge is listed as adding about an hour of playback.
The earbuds are rated IPX4, the code for resistance to splashing water, so light rain and splashes are fine but they are not built to be submerged.
Yes, it has active noise cancellation, plus a transparency mode, Sony's Ambient Sound Mode, for hearing your surroundings.
It supports SBC, AAC, LC3 and LDAC over Bluetooth 5.3, and the earbuds are Hi-Res Audio certified, with DSEE Extreme upscaling for compressed music.
Yes, multipoint keeps the earbuds connected to more than one device at a time, such as a phone and a laptop.
The earbuds are listed with call noise reduction, a voice pickup sensor and wind noise reduction, all aimed at keeping your voice clear on calls.
It uses the Sony Sound Connect app and supports Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa.
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ChoiceWise does not perform hands-on product testing for this page. The expert opinion and recommendations are based on third-party reviews and sources, which we analyze and summarize using our editorial process.
ChoiceWise does not perform hands-on product testing for this page. The expert opinion and recommendations are based on third-party reviews and sources, which we analyze and summarize using our editorial process.