Sony WF-1000XM6 review: Facing tougher competition

Source: Engadget

Sony’s 1000X earbuds have been at the top of Engadget’s best wireless earbuds list since we first published it. With each new generation, the company managed to retain its crown, primarily thanks to a massive collection of features and an effective mix of sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC) performance. Today, Sony revealed the latest entry in the series, the WF‑1000XM6, delivering yet another redesign both inside and out. The company’s tried‑and‑true formula of features and audio performance remains, but it may no longer be enough to elevate the M6 above the competition.

Design

For the third time in a row, Sony overhauled the 1000X earbuds’ design. While the WF‑1000XM5 was a clear revision of the WF‑1000XM4, the M6 is a departure from both of them. The company managed to reduce overall size even further by using a rounder, pill‑shaped enclosure for the earbuds’ main housing. I certainly applaud Sony for making these as tiny as possible, but I’m still not a fan of the company’s foam ear tips.

Fit

Sony introduced foam ear tips on the 1000XM4 earbuds, and that led to an unstable fit during my testing. In fact, I ended up switching to the silicone M3 tips for a better feel. Things were slightly better on the M5, but the company regressed here on the M6. I tried every size of ear tips in the box, and the fit test in the Sound Connect app only ever confirmed an airtight seal in my right ear. This can impact sound quality and ANC performance, and the earbuds don’t feel like they’re sitting far enough inside my ears. I never got used to the fit in my three weeks of testing.

Controls

The exterior panel of the WF‑1000XM6 is still touch‑sensitive, accepting a variety of taps for playback controls, calls, noise settings, and more. Sony also included a repeated‑tapping gesture that’s used for volume control:

• Tap right earbud – raise volume
• Tap left earbud – lower volume

My disdain for touch controls is well‑documented at this point, but the M6 reliably and quickly responded without me having to repeat a tap sequence.

WF‑1000XM6 Features

As is typically the case with its 1000X earbuds, Sony has loaded the M6 with features. Nearly all of these are holdovers from previous models:

• Adaptive Sound Control – automatically adjusts settings based on activity or location.
• Speak‑to‑Chat – pauses audio and activates ambient sound when you start talking (still easily duped by coughs or throat‑clearing).
• Quick‑Access Music Apps – Amazon Music, Apple Music, Endel, Spotify, and YouTube Music can be launched with two or three taps (configurable).
• Head‑Gesture Call Management – accept/reject calls with a nod; option to pipe in your own voice during a call.
• Voice Assistant Integration – say “Assistant” to play, pause, skip, replay songs, or adjust volume.
• Auto Power Save – disables custom EQ, DSEE Extreme, Speak‑to‑Chat, and voice control when battery drops to 20 %.
• Battery Care – stops charging before reaching 100 % to extend battery lifespan.
• Automatic Power Off – turns earbuds off when they’re out of the case and not worn for a while.
• Multipoint Bluetooth – connect to two devices simultaneously.
• Wireless Charging and IPX4 water resistance.
• Wear Detection – pauses playback when earbuds are removed.
• EQ Presets & Custom EQ – select Sony’s presets or create/save your own.
• Sound Connect App – shows individual earbud and case battery levels; customizable home screen.

Sound Quality and ANC Performance

If Sony’s long list of features is its top advantage over the competition, overall sound quality is number two. For the WF‑1000XM6, the company built new drivers with soft edges for deeper bass and a more rigid, lightweight dome for clearer treble. Notches around the edges are said to deliver “clearer and smoother” sound overall, according to Sony. DSEE Extreme upscaling recovers details lost to compression, while 360 Reality Audio and Spatial Sound Optimization add immersive depth.

Listening Impressions

• Stock EQ + DSEE Extreme – deep, warm sound with thick but controlled bass, crisp highs, and ample midrange.
• Erika de Casier – “Lifetime” – vocals float above a solid bassline; percussive piano and subtle synth details shine.
• Erika de Casier – “Seasons” – strings are prominent rather than buried.
• Spiritbox – “Holy Roller” – heavy metal remains clear, not a messy roar.
• Nine Inch Nails – “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” – synth‑driven noise retains texture.
• Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American” – punchy rock with a wide, non‑claustrophobic soundstage.

Overall, the WF‑1000XM6 holds its own against the best‑sounding earbuds you can buy right now, though some competition (e.g., Technics) has a slight edge in handling the subtlest nuances.

ANC

If you were hoping for knockout ANC abilities, I must report that the WF‑1000XM6 isn’t the noise‑cancelling powerhouse that is Bose’s QC Ultra…

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Using the WF‑1000XM6 for Calls

For calls, Sony says the M6 uses AI for both background noise reduction and voice capture with the beamforming microphones. The earbuds are equipped with eight total mics for ANC and calls, plus bone‑conduction tech for improved voice pickup. Unfortunately, all of that doesn’t lead to stellar performance during calls. While the WF‑1000XM6 is perfectly usable for voice and video calls, the overall quality is far from pristine. To make matters worse, the earbuds make you sound overly processed when you encounter significant background noise. Since the company prided itself on the upgrades here, the results are disappointing.

Battery Life

Sony says the WF‑1000XM6 will last up to eight hours on a charge or 24 hours when you factor in the full longevity of the charging case. During a battery test that I mostly ran with ANC active, I had no trouble hitting that single‑charge figure. That’s with the volume around 75‑80 % and includes calls and virtual meetings where I switched over to ambient‑sound mode.

It’s worth noting that I had DSEE Extreme upscaling active the entire time, which can impact battery life. Plus, if you use the aforementioned Auto Power Save mode, you can extend play time when you have about a quarter of a tank left. Going without some of the M6’s best features in the interest of having tunes for a workout or commute is a fair trade in my book.

The Competition

When sizing up the competition for the WF‑1000XM6, you have to choose your priorities. Simply put, no other company offers the comprehensive suite of features that Sony does. That’s been true for a while now and it continues with this model.

• Strongest ANC: Bose’s second‑generation QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
• Best sound quality: Technics AZ100 (in this price range).
• Balanced option: Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4, which offers great sound quality, respectable ANC, and a comfier fit than the M6, though it’s almost two years old at this point.

Wrap‑up

Sony continues its run of great earbuds with the WF‑1000XM6, but this model isn’t the polished package that some of its predecessors were. The two most obvious places the company is lagging behind the competition are ANC performance and overall voice quality, not to mention my continued dissatisfaction with the fit that Sony’s foam tips provide. The M6 is also more expensive than the previous version was at launch, which makes it even harder to overlook any flaws.

What you will get on the WF‑1000XM6 is a ton of features, great sound quality, and reliable touch controls in a smaller package. And for some, that might be enough to make you forget about the rest.

The WF‑1000XM6 is available today in silver and black for $330.