If you follow any number of international consumer technology sites or YouTubers, you likely would have spotted a review for Sony’s new WH-1000XM5 wireless noise cancelling headphones.
These latest offerings have only just been announced, but the general consensus based on the aforementioned reviews is quite positive. Given the generally solid reviews that Sony’s premium wireless headphones receive then, the outlook for the WH-1000XM5 is good.
So when will you be able to get your hands on a pair and how much will it cost you?
Sadly, at the time of writing we have no official local pricing from Sony, but the company says the WH-1000XM5 headphones will land in South Africa in July. To give you an idea of how much they may cost you, Stateside these headphones retail for $399 (~R6 389).
As for what these headphones offer compared to previous iterations, Sony highlights the noise cancelling functionality in particular. Here the company explains that, “two processors control multiple microphones for unprecedented noise cancelling while Auto NC Optimizer automatically optimises noise cancelling based on your wearing conditions and environment.”
“With the help of the Integrated Processor V1, the WH-1000XM5 unlock the full potential of Sony’s HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, while the specially designed 30mm driver unit enhances noise cancelling. These features improve sound clarity and bass reproduction, creating incomparable noise cancellation that allows listeners to totally switch off from the world around them,” it adds.
Along with the noise cancelling, Sony has made note of some of the smart features available on these headphones such as, on-device tapping for controlling music and integration with music streaming platforms, along with a speak-to-chat function that allows you to have conversations with others while wearing the headphones.
Lastly, as these are wireless, battery life is important. On that front the WH-1000XM5 boasts up to 30 hours of use while noise cancelling is active and 40 hours when it’s switched off. It takes 3.5 hours to fully charge and can deliver up to 24 hours of life while communicating with the headphones on video calls.
