Sony's 2023 flagship earbuds are smaller and lighter than the XM4 and still rank among the best for noise cancelling. Two years on, the battery has avoided the XM4's degradation problem, but fit is the dividing line: owners who can't get a seal with the slippery buds and foam tips tend to give up.
This entry is written from the 3 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
It depends on how you will use it. 68% would buy it again, which means roughly 32% would not. Newer rivals now match it, making full price hard to justify.
Six months in, fit decides everything: owners who get a good seal keep using them daily and the battery holds up, while those who never do tend to drift away.
Newer rivals now match it, making full price hard to justify.
Worth it for: Commuters and frequent flyers; Listeners who like tuning eq; People who prioritize anc. Think twice if: People with sensitive ear canals; Those who struggle to get a seal; Buyers unwilling to wait for a discount.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 8.0 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 7.6 / 10 |
| One month | 7.4 / 10 |
| Six months | 7.3 / 10 |
| One year | 7.2 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 7.0 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
A reviewer retests launch-day XM5s after about a year and finds runtime slightly above Sony's rating, with no sign of the XM4's battery problem.
A roughly two-year reassessment that still rates the ANC and tuning highly but flags the fussy fit and middling mic, and advises waiting for a discount.
An August 2023 roundup of owner complaints about painful or insecure stock tips and weak seals that undermine noise cancelling.