The noise-cancelling headphones the whole industry is chasing

Sony WH-1000XM6

Name: Sony WH-1000XM6
SKU: PG-HP-XM6
Price: 398 USD
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

9.5/10high confidenceLast checked Jun 19, 2026

5.0(1 review)

Er

Reviewed by

Eran Yorkovsky · Founder, PickGrade

Still the pair to beat for silence. The XM6 top the field on noise cancellation, take calls cleanly, and last 30 hours. Sound is a refinement of the XM5, not a leap, and the build feels plasticky for $400, but for travel and focus nothing tops them.

The default flagship for people who want the world to go quiet. The XM6 sit at the top of the noise-cancelling pile, handle calls without a headset, run 30 hours on a charge, and fold down for travel again after Sony dropped that on the XM5. The build is plasticky for the price and they're useless for the gym, but for planes, trains, and open offices, they're the ones to beat.

$398

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Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026

AI grade·Refined by real owners

What we like

✓Flagship noise cancellation
✓Clear calls and strong app controls
✓Comfortable with replaceable earpads

Trade-offs

−At around $400 the build is still mostly plastic
−Sonically a refinement of the XM5 rather than a leap forward
−Transparency mode is improved but still not as natural as the AirPods Max
−Not sweat- or water-rated, so a poor fit for workouts

Best for

Travelers and focused workers who want class-leading noise cancellation and all-day over-ear comfort.

Avoid if

You want the most pocketable earbuds, or you mainly need open-ear awareness while running or cycling.

The three lenses

How we grade →

Value & Longevity · Eran Yorkovsky
8.8/10
Design & Fit · Michal Zucker
9.0/10
Health & Environment · Dr. Yocheved Yorkovsky
9.2/10

Score breakdown

noise control9.5/10
mic calls9.0/10
comfort fit9.0/10
sound quality9.0/10
battery features9.0/10
value8.3/10

Specs

anc: Adaptive hybrid ANC with Sony's HD noise-cancelling processor
type: Over-ear closed-back wireless
codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC
colors: Black, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, Platinum Silver
battery: Up to 30 hours with ANC; USB-C quick charge
drivers: 30 mm dynamic
features: 10-band EQ, 360 Reality Audio, speak-to-chat, replaceable earpads
connectivity: Bluetooth multipoint

How we know

High confidenceLast checked Jun 19, 2026

The Sony WH-1000XM6 reclaim the top spot in premium noise cancellation, and for travel, commuting, and focused work they're the pair to beat. Sony pairs its latest HD noise-cancelling processor with a multi-mic array for adaptive ANC that independent reviewers rate at the front of the class, and both call quality and transparency mode are clear steps up from the XM5. Sony also fixed the XM5's biggest design gripes: the foldable hinge is back, now with a reinforced metal element, and the power and Bluetooth buttons are easier to find by feel. Sound is warm and tunable through the 10-band EQ in the Sound Connect app, with LDAC, 360 Reality Audio, multipoint, and speak-to-chat on board, plus up to 30 hours of battery with ANC and quick charging. The earpads are now user-replaceable, which stretches their usable life. The honest knocks: at around $450 the build is still mostly plastic, the sound is a refinement rather than a reinvention of the XM5, and the transparency mode — though improved — still isn't as natural as Apple's AirPods Max. They're not the cheapest or the most premium-feeling in the hand, but where class-leading ANC and all-day comfort matter most, nothing tops them.

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