Sony WH-1000XM6 review: the folding hinge is back, and so is the crown · Doxlore

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: the folding hinge is back, and so is the crown

Posted 17h ago

The best all-round noise-cancelling headphones again, now with the practicality the XM5 threw away.

Our score: 9 / 10

At a glance

Spec	Detail
ANC	12-microphone array, new processor
Folding	Folds flat and into the cups again
Battery	Around 30 hours with ANC
Codecs	LDAC, AAC, SBC; multipoint
Price	Around $449

Sony listened

The XM6 brings back the folding hinge the XM5 inexplicably dropped, so it packs down small for travel again. It adds a 12-microphone ANC array and a dedicated processor, and keeps the class-leading companion app, multipoint pairing and battery life.

The sound and the competition

Noise cancellation is now clearly ahead of the AirPods Max and a nose in front of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. The default tuning is warm and a little bass-forward; the app’s EQ fixes that in a minute. Call quality is excellent.

The good and the bad

What works

Best-in-class ANC
Folds flat for travel again
Superb app, EQ and multipoint
Great call quality

What doesn’t

$449
Warm default tuning needs EQ
No lossless over USB-C

Who it’s for

Buy it if you want one pair of headphones for flights, commutes and calls and you want the best at each.

Skip it if you prioritise wired lossless audio or the most neutral out-of-the-box sound.

Alternatives worth a look

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, more comfortable, more natural ANC feel.
AirPods Max (USB-C), for iPhone owners who want the build and integration.

The verdict: The obvious default in the category once again. Sony fixed the one thing that was wrong.

Sources

0 comments

The best noise-cancelling headphones in 2026

Four premium options, and a clear winner for most people. Best overall, Sony WH-1000XM6 Best-in-class ANC, folds for travel, the deepest app, great calls. The pick for most people, most of the time. Most comfortable, Bose QuietComfort Ultra The nicest to wear for hours, with a more natural cancellation feel and the best spatial audio. For iPhone owners, AirPods Max (USB-C) Heavy and expensive, but the build is unmatched and the integration with Apple devices is seamless. For Sonos households, Sonos Ace Great sound and the TV Audio Swap trick, if you already own a Sonos soundbar. The verdict: Buy the Sony XM6 unless comfort (Bose), ecosystem (AirPods Max) or a Sonos soundbar (Ace) tips you elsewhere.

17h agoRead discussion

ComparisonsBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM6

Bose for comfort and a more natural cancellation feel; Sony for the app, the features and slightly stronger ANC. The case for Bose The QuietComfort Ultra is the more comfortable headphone for long wear (lighter clamp, plusher pads), and its noise cancellation has a less "pressurised" feel that some people strongly prefer. Its Immersive Audio spatialisation is the best in the category. The case for Sony The XM6 cancels marginally more noise overall, has the deeper feature set and the better app, folds smaller for travel, and takes better calls. The verdict: You will not be unhappy with either. Try both on your head, because comfort and ANC feel are personal and that is where they differ. Sources GSMArena specifications

17h agoRead discussion

ReviewsSony Xperia 1 VI Sony

Sony Xperia 1 VI review: the enthusiast phone that compromised to survive

Sony dropped the 4K screen for a brighter FHD panel and gained a genuinely useful continuous zoom, a fair trade. Our score: 7.5 / 10 Making peace with reality For years the Xperia 1 was a 4K, 21:9, headphone-jack phone for a tiny audience. The 1 VI compromised: a brighter, more efficient FHD+ display, a proper 85–170mm continuous optical zoom, and a two-day battery. The purists grumbled; the phone got better. Still niche, still for a specific person Manual camera controls, a 3.5 mm jack, a microSD slot, no pre-installed bloat. If that list makes you nod, this is your phone. If it does not, the price is very hard to justify. The good and the bad What works Genuinely useful continuous telephoto Two-day battery Headphone jack and microSD Pro camera app What doesn’t Expensive Niche appeal Cameras still trail the big flagships on auto mode Who it’s for Buy it if you want manual camera control, a headphone jack and expandable storage in one phone. Skip it if you want the best auto-mode camera or the best value. Alternatives worth a look Galaxy S26, a more conventional flagship at a similar or lower price. The verdict: Finally a phone you can recommend to Xperia fans without a paragraph of caveats, just most of one. Sources GSMArena specifications

17h agoRead discussion

ReviewsSony Bravia 9 (2024)Sony

Sony Bravia 9 review: mini-LED that finally worries OLED

Near-OLED contrast at brightness levels OLED cannot touch, and Sony’s processing does the rest. Our score: 9 / 10 The backlight got serious The Bravia 9 pairs a much denser mini-LED backlight with Sony’s XR processing, and the result holds deep blacks while going far brighter than any OLED for HDR highlights. In a bright room, it is the best picture money buys. Where OLED still wins In a fully dark room, a good OLED still edges it on absolute black levels and off-angle viewing, and there is a little blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds. For most rooms, the brightness advantage more than compensates. The good and the bad What works Far brighter than any OLED Deep blacks for a mini-LED Superb Sony processing and upscaling Great for bright rooms What doesn’t Some blooming in dark scenes Off-angle viewing trails OLED Expensive Who it’s for Buy it if your room has a lot of light and you want the most impactful HDR picture. Skip it if you watch mostly in the dark and want the absolute best black levels. Alternatives worth a look LG OLED G4, perfect blacks, less peak brightness. Samsung QN90D, another strong mini-LED option. The verdict: The mini-LED that makes the OLED-versus-LCD debate genuinely close again. Sources Sony

17h agoRead discussion

ReviewsSony Alpha 9 III (ILCE-9M3)Sony

Sony A9 III review: the global shutter changes what a camera can do

The first full-frame global-shutter camera: no rolling shutter, no flash-sync limit, 120fps blackout-free. Our score: 9 / 10 At a glance Spec Detail Sensor 24.6MP full-frame global shutter Burst Up to 120fps RAW, no blackout Flash sync Any shutter speed Distortion Zero rolling shutter It removes a whole category of problem The A9 III has no rolling shutter at all. No skewed golf clubs or propellers, no banding under LED stadium lighting, flash sync at any shutter speed, and 120fps RAW bursts with the viewfinder never blacking out. The trade-off It is a 24MP sports-and-events specialist. Resolution and dynamic range are good rather than class-leading, because the global-shutter sensor gives up a little there. For the photographers who need what it does, there is simply no substitute. The good and the bad What works No rolling shutter, ever Flash sync at any speed 120fps blackout-free RAW Superb autofocus What doesn’t 24MP is modest for the price Dynamic range trails the A7-series Expensive and specialised Who it’s for Buy it if you shoot sport, wildlife, dance or flash-heavy events for a living. Skip it if you want resolution or dynamic range for landscape and studio work. Alternatives worth a look Sony A1 II, higher resolution, near-as-fast, no global shutter. Nikon Z9, 45MP stacked, a different set of trade-offs. The verdict: A niche tool that is peerless within its niche. If you need a global shutter, this is the camera. Sources Sony

17h agoRead discussion

ReviewsSony PlayStation 5 Pro Sony

PlayStation 5 Pro review: for the people who want every pixel

A meaningful jump for owners of large 4K displays, a hard sell for everyone else, especially with the disc drive sold separately. Our score: 7.5 / 10 At a glance Spec Detail GPU Larger RDNA-based GPU, ~45% faster rendering Upscaling PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) Storage 2 TB SSD Disc drive Sold separately (~$80) Price $699 Who actually benefits The PS5 Pro is aimed at a specific person: someone with a large 4K TV who plays in performance mode and is bothered by the softness. For them, PSSR upscaling is a genuine improvement, and ray tracing gets a real boost. Who does not On anything smaller than a big 4K panel, the difference is something you have to actively look for. Not every game has a Pro patch. And unbundling the disc drive on a $699 console is a value-story own goal. The good and the bad What works PSSR makes performance mode look far cleaner Better ray tracing in supported games 2 TB SSD as standard What doesn’t $699, plus $80 for the disc drive Benefits are subtle below a large 4K TV Not every game is patched for it Who it’s for Buy it if you have a large 4K TV, play in performance mode, and want the cleanest possible image. Skip it if you play on a 1080p or smaller screen, or you are happy with the base PS5. Alternatives worth a look PS5 Slim, the same library for far less money. Gaming PC, more flexible, more expensive, more hassle. The verdict: A real upgrade for 4K-display owners and a shrug for everyone else. The disc-drive decision does not help. Sources PlayStation Blog

17h agoRead discussion

Report this topic

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: the folding hinge is back, and so is the crown

At a glance

Sony listened

The sound and the competition

The good and the bad

Who it’s for

Alternatives worth a look

Sources

0 comments

Similar topics

The best noise-cancelling headphones in 2026

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony Xperia 1 VI review: the enthusiast phone that compromised to survive

Sony Bravia 9 review: mini-LED that finally worries OLED

Sony A9 III review: the global shutter changes what a camera can do

PlayStation 5 Pro review: for the people who want every pixel

Similar topics

The best noise-cancelling headphones in 2026

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony Xperia 1 VI review: the enthusiast phone that compromised to survive

Sony Bravia 9 review: mini-LED that finally worries OLED

Sony A9 III review: the global shutter changes what a camera can do

PlayStation 5 Pro review: for the people who want every pixel