Black Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones positioned at an angle on white background

Battery Life

Up to 40 hours

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.2

Noise Cancellation

Active

Waterproof

N/A

Microphones

8

Even after three years, the Sony WH-1000XM5 still brings punchy bass, clear detail, and noise canceling that shuts the world out. The battery easily keeps up, too. With 38% knocked off the price, it’s hard to come up with a reason not to grab a pair.


Weight

520 grams


I’m not someone who automatically chases the latest tech just because it’s new. Case in point: the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. They’ve been around since 2022, and yet they’re still our go-to pick for the best wireless headphones for most people. And right now, they’re cheaper than ever for Prime Day.

If you’re eyeing the black version, you’re in luck. It has dropped to just $248 (from the usual $400). Other colors are also on sale, but not quite as low: they’re sitting at $298. I’ve been watching the price on these for a while, and this is the cheapest they’ve ever been on Amazon. That said, the deal probably won’t last long, so if you’re thinking about it, now is the time to grab them.

Why do people still love the Sony WH-1000XM5 in 2025?

Even with the newer Sony WH-1000XM6 out in the wild, the XM5s are still sitting pretty at the top of our headphone list. And it’s not just us hyping them up: just about every review you’ll find online raves about them.

They may not have reinvented the wheel when they made their debut, but what they did bring was top-tier sound quality, impressive noise cancellation, and a battery that just keeps going, as our reviewer noted. Sony also gave them a more grown-up design that feels great on the head. If you take a lot of calls, you’ll appreciate the eight built-in mics that keep your voice nice and clear, even in noisy spots.

These headphones are full of handy tricks, like pausing your music the moment you start chatting or automatically stopping playback when you take them off. Additionally, you get Bluetooth multipoint and LDAC support for seriously good audio.

Style-wise, they’ve got a clean, modern look that doesn’t scream for attention, and they’re built to last. The ear cups are big and soft, so you can wear them all day without your ears begging for a break. The battery is a beast too: 30 hours with noise-canceling on, 40 if you leave it off. And if you’re running out the door, a quick 10-minute charge gives you five hours to play with.