The Sony WH-1000XM4 noise canceling headphones have been one of the best options since they debuted in 2020, but the company seems to be preparing to release the next generation. The German technical news site TechnikNews has published some images and specifications of the successor, at first glance called the WH-1000XM5 (via Gizmodo).
The first thing you may notice is the sleek new design, especially the thinner headband. The 1000XM3s and 1000XM4s were almost identical, but Sony could change the way things look for the new 1000XM5s.
Instead of a swivel arm that rotates, the arm is open, with one point of contact replacing the XM4’s larger folding hinge above the ear cups. This also changes the design of the ear cups, but suggests that there is a little more space available for things that affect what you hear.
This shoulder looks thinner than the previous design and can contribute to a lighter weight, which we hope will not give up strength and durability. As Gizmodo points out (via Notebookcheck and The Walkman Blog), requests for the FCC and other regulators outlining a new model were spotted in February. One key element revealed is that the FCC label has shifted from the headband itself to the ear pad, which The Walkman Blog has suggested may mean that the band is now made of metal instead of plastic.
Image: TechnikNews
Photos of expired models in their carrying case show a design that removes the folding folding of the XM4 that tucked one cup inside the other. However, in these photos it seems doubtful that they will take up much more space on the desk, stand or in your bag.
According to a TechnikNews retail source, the WH-1000XM5 will have an expected battery life of up to 40 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled, 10 hours longer than the XM4, with a total charging time of 3.5 hours via USB-C. about 30 minutes longer than XM4. They also say they will use two ANC processors instead of one, and the sound will be produced by a new driver, although there are no details on what has changed. They still have three microphones that pick up your voice and detect noise to cancel it out, but the positioning has changed.
The button, formerly labeled “Optional,” is in the same place as before, but is now marked NC / Ambient, which probably reflects what most people use it for, not integrated voice assistants or anything else.
Last year’s model repeated its award-winning predecessor with Speak to Chat, which mutes music if it hears you’re trying to talk to someone, and multi-point Bluetooth audio that stays connected to more than one device at a time. The latter feature was much more useful, although there were some startup issues. Software updates have helped it work better, but any improvements in helping the headset decide which device to connect to and when would be welcome.
There’s no word on pricing or release date, but the WH-1000XM4 costs $ 349.99 at launch and retailers like Best Buy and Amazon maintain that price today. The price of the headphones occasionally drops during the sales that Verge Deals points out when they appear, and it’s unclear whether changes to the new model will move the bar in any direction.
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