The Sony WH-1000XM6 are exceptionally comfortable, highly customizable headphones offering top-tier noise cancellation and fantastic sound quality, making them the new industry benchmark despite minor flaws in call quality and high-res support for iPhone users.
Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 has a critic score of 88 out of 100 from 15 professional reviews, and 14 of them recommend it. It ranks #2 of 4 noise-cancelling headphones we score. Critics praise its noise cancelling and sound quality. The most common complaint is price.
Our verdict
The XM6 brings back a folding design and improves noise cancelling and call quality. 14 of 15 reviewers who tested it recommend it. Tom's Guide was the exception, calling it a disappointing upgrade at a higher price.
The catch: Costs more than the XM5 for modest gains.
12 of these 15 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
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What do critics say about the Sony WH-1000XM6?
The Sony WH-1000XM6 builds on its predecessor with a more comfortable foldable design, improved sound quality, and industry-leading noise cancellation, making them the top choice in high-end headphones despite a higher price tag.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones deliver exceptional audio quality, top-tier noise cancellation, a comfortable folding design, and incredible battery life, making them a standout recommendation despite a higher price tag.
After a full year of daily use, the reviewer considers these headphones their absolute favorite due to exceptional noise cancellation, dynamic audio quality, and durable build.
The reviewer highlights the Sony WH-1000XM6 as a top-tier choice for music lovers, praising its exceptional active noise cancellation, rich stock sound profile, and advanced smart features despite tough competition.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 set a new benchmark for active noise cancellation, particularly handling higher frequencies better than rivals, while delivering excellent sound quality, comfortable wear, and a convenient folding design.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers class-leading noise cancellation, rich sound, and a much-improved folding design, making them top-tier wireless headphones despite their high price and minor control quirks.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 successfully addresses previous shortcomings by bringing back a foldable design while upgrading sound clarity, comfort, and noise cancellation.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers meaningful improvements in noise cancellation, call quality, and portability thanks to a new foldable design and compact case, making them a top-tier choice despite a slight price increase.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers industry-leading active noise cancellation and highly engaging sound quality in a more compact, foldable design.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 bring back a much-requested folding design alongside improved comfort, better noise cancellation, and enhanced sound quality, though they come with a higher price tag and a few minor gimmicks.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones deliver exceptional active noise cancellation, improved build quality, and great sound, making them a top-tier choice despite their steep price tag.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is praised as a refined, feature-rich pair of headphones offering superior noise cancellation and smart software, though the reviewer ultimately prefers a competing model for personal use.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers exceptional active noise cancellation, immersive sound quality, and great call performance, though its fit can feel slightly heavy over long sessions.
The reviewer finds the Sony WH-1000XM6 to be a good pair of headphones overall, but ultimately a disappointing and minimal update compared to stronger rivals like Bose and Bowers & Wilkins.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Not sure about the Sony WH-1000XM6?
Common questions
Is the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth it?
Most critics think so: 14 of 15 recommend it. Costs more than the XM5 for modest gains.
What do critics dislike about the Sony WH-1000XM6?
Price (10 of 15 reviews), Weight and fit (4 of 15 reviews), No water resistance (3 of 15 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Sony WH-1000XM6?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 (critic score 89), best overall.