Sony’s new WF-1000XM6 earbuds are exactly the upgrade I wanted
The most highly-anticipated audio launch of 2026 is here: Sony’s WF-1000XM6 earbuds are official, and I’ve been testing them for the past two weeks. The upgrades include a redesigned audio driver, one extra microphone per earbud, a more powerful QN3e processor, and a completely new look. A lot has changed from the WF-1000XM5, and it’s mostly for the better. There were a few items on my wishlist Sony didn’t hit, such as Qualcomm aptX support and longer battery life, but the company seemingly covered the rest of the upgrades I hoped for. The redesign is a huge success for Sony, as I think the WF-1000XM6 both look and fit better than prior models. The earbuds’ quality and tuning sounds the best I’ve heard from recent releases straight out of the box, requiring minimal changes. The software is solid, too, with support for Bluetooth LE Audio, Auracast, multipoint connection, and variable listening modes. The Sony WF-1000XM6 finally feel like a complete package — and they’ll have to be to justify their higher price point. 8/10 Microphones …



