REVIEW: Sony WH-1000XM5: The gold standard for headphones

Some of the best headphones around, says Alex Hughes, but they don't come cheap

- Alex Hughes

Let's get this bit out of the way, Sony's new flagship headphones, the WH-1000XM5, cost £379. By any measure that is expensive, even when compared to the likes of Apple and Bang & Olufsen who scoff at the idea of affordable. And with headphone tech improving to the point where you can buy a decent pair for under £100, there's no sane reason to spend nearly £400. Or is there?

If you're not familiar with these headphones, they have a bit of a history. Over the last five years they've scooped up every award in the business, becoming the go-to for anyone looking for noise-cancelling wireless headphones. But with so many competitors now, is this upgrade worth the new, bigger price tag?

A COMPLETE REDESIGN

Since the first iteration of these headphones back in 2016, Sony has relied on a singular design, only making small upgrades here and there. This time, Sony has gone for a complete redesign. The result is a sleek and slim pair of headphones, with minimal lines and uniform materials. It's a design that's reminiscent of the WH-1000XM5's biggest competitor, the Apple AirPods Max.

While the redesign gives the headphones a modern look and feel, the main benefit is the comfort. They are seriously light and can be worn for hours without really noticing them - a feat many over-ears don't manage.

Sony has also added a section of memory foam in the middle of the headband, and the headphones seem to apply just the right amount of clamping so your head doesn't feel like it's being squeezed.

There is one major downside. Unlike previous versions, these cannot be folded up. Instead, the earcups can be rotated to make the headphones flat. They do come with a case to store them, but chucking them in a bag without the case is more of a challenge.