Medium-term review: Sony WF-1000XM5

Four months in, how’s it like?

Wireless earphones and headphones are a dime a dozen these days. There seems to be a device available in every segment of the market right now, and from every brand you can think of.

But oversaturation notwithstanding, there are still those tried-and-tested product lines from brands that continue to stand out. Sony, for one, has remained a household name in this regard. Midway through last year, the Japanese tech giant released the newest iteration of its flagship wireless earbuds: the WF-1000XM5.

I myself bought one just a month after they arrived in the Philippines, which in hindsight kinda sucked because I missed the pre-order offers by just a couple of weeks or so. Anyway, as of this writing, I’ve already been using the WF-1000XM5 for almost four months. Over that duration, I discovered both good and bad things about it – read on to see what I’ve learned. To make sure we end this on a high note, let’s start with the bad.

The bad

1. The buds are slippery

Right off the bat, that was my first impression of the XM5s. The buds do sport this sleek, gloss-black finish all around, but the design has made it more slippery than the XM4s. It’s not a deal breaker but having shifted from the WH-1000XM3 all the way to this, I found my clumsy self dropping the buds over and over during the first week that I had them. Several months after, my handling has improved, but I admit the occasional slips are still there.

2. Smudges are a problem with the earbuds

Not only do the buds have this tendency to slip away, but they also tend to retain smudges a lot. That glossy finish has made the exterior more susceptible to fingerprint marks. They don’t exactly affect performance, but it can be irritating to see the earbuds looking somewhat dirty all the time. This is the reason I tend to just hold the buds by the tips. If you see me wiping my XM5s, then that’s just me cleaning off the smudges.

3. The stock foam tips can wear out quickly

The WF-1000XM5 comes with four different-sized tips. The stock tips that come with the earbuds are somewhere in the middle of small and medium. I opted to use the stock tips since they’re already optimal for my ears anyway, but I had to switch to the large ones just about three months in because the stock had already started to tear.

Take note that there was an adjustment period for me – someone who isn’t used to using foam tips – and during the first few weeks of usage, I found my ears itching up often. I had to keep taking out the earbuds every now and then just for relief. That may have affected the tips, but such usage shouldn’t have worn the foam tips out that quickly. I’m now about a month into using the large tips, and if these won’t last me long, I might consider going back to just using good, old rubber tips. I’m just not sure how much sound quality will be compromised then.

4. They’re pretty expensive

At P16,999, the Sony WF-1000XM5 isn’t something you’d call affordable. On the contrary, actually, it’s already pretty expensive, and one can argue that he’d be better off getting wireless earbuds from a different brand at a much lower price point but with similar value. To be fair, though, this is already the flagship model, so the SRP is to be expected to a certain extent.

The good

1. The earbuds look very sleek

If I’m being honest, I initially thought the XM4 looked way better. It didn’t have that glossy finish and had a more funky design to it. But after spending just a bit of time with the XM5, I can now say that these look a lot better, and that’s not just me trying to justify my purchase. Smudges and potentially problematic foam tips aside, the XM5s simply look cleaner and classier than its predecessor.

2. The case is now easier to pocket

Sony downsized the case by quite a bit, and it made the XM5 even more portable than ever. It simply doesn’t take up much pocket space, and can easily co-exist with other items such as a smartphone inside a single pocket. All this without compromising on battery life, which makes it even more impressive. On that note, let me also point out how…

3. Battery life and charging is excellent

I don’t use my earbuds every day when I’m just working from home, but on consecutive days that I do, charging is never an issue. Sony claims the WF-1000XM5 can run for eight hours with ANC on and up to 12 with noise cancellation off. I actually never turn off ANC, but running out juice wasn’t a problem, not even once. 

That one time that the buds’ batteries did deplete completely, I simply popped them back into the case, and in a matter of minutes, I was back to listening to music again. But on a daily basis, I usually put the buds back into the case during each break I take, so charge never really is an issue for me. 

That being said, I reckon I’d want for a bit more battery power if I had to commute around Metro Manila five times a week. My old WH-1000XM3 and its 30-hour battery life was perfect for that. With the WF-1000XM5, I might have to adjust my usage accordingly if I want to have enough juice for both the morning and evening commutes.

4. Switching between devices is seamless

Before I bought the XM5, I was contemplating on getting Apple Airpods instead, as I was told it would be ideal for someone with multiple Apple devices. At the end of the day, though, I prefer the better-sounding wireless earbuds, which was why I stuck with Sony. And boy, am I happy with my decision.

Since I only use about two devices at a time, the XM5’s multipoint connectivity is optimal for me, as it allows connections to up to two devices at a time. Shifting from one device to another is seamless, too, with or without the dedicated Sony app. I found it was easier and more intuitive to utilize the multipoint connectivity here than in the old WF-1000XM4 and WH-10000XM4.

5. Sound quality and ANC are superb

Frankly, I can’t say if the WF-1000XM5 is class leading in these categories since I haven’t tried out its competitors, but at the very least, I can confidently say that this is where the XM5 truly excels.

The sound produced through the buds is as crisp as it gets. I loved how the XM4 sounded, and I was surprised how it was made better in the XM5. This is also the reason I never turn off ANC – to get the best-sounding music I can listen to. And speaking of ANC, that’s also something Sony managed to improve even further.

Other notes

1. Take the time to learn and use the Sony Headphones app

The dedicated app for Sony headphones and earbuds is pretty nifty. There are a bunch of personalization options available. The features include an earbud size optimizer and a highly customizable equalizer. You can adjust the settings according to your listening preference and your mood. Active noise cancellation can also be optimized and automated through the app, which is also pretty helpful.

2. Consider buying a case for, well, the case

The matte-like finish on the case probably won’t be damaged that easily, but the slightest of scratches will be an eyesore. I didn’t take my chances and went ahead and bought a silicone sleeve the day I got my XM5s. The good thing here is that there are a lot of options out there, so you’ll surely be able to find one that fits your taste.

Photos by the author