47 people are comparing Sony WH-1000XM6 · Sony WH-1000XM5 right now
ISSUE № 219 · MAY 13, 2026
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Updated April 2026 PIXLRUN · COMPARE LAB v3

Compare
anything.

A laboratory-grade side-by-side that scores phones, laptops and headphones on the things buyers actually feel — not the spec-sheet poetry manufacturers print on the box.

1,284
Devices benchmarked
38
Lab metrics per unit
94%
Reader trust score
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The duel.
Two phones, one verdict.

Lab-tested over 14 days each. Identical conditions, identical workloads, scored on a calibrated 100-point rubric.

Sony · 2026 PixlRun pick
Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony WH-1000XM6

Silence the world. Hear only what matters.

9.4/10
From
$449
Sony · 2024 Worth a look
Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony WH-1000XM5

The Gold Standard of ANC Headphones

9.2/10
From
$348

Where each one wins.

Six pillars tailored to Headphones reviews — scored independently in our Victoria, BC lab. Bars animate to live values when in view.

Sound quality

Sony +0.2
Sony9.5
Sony9.3

Noise cancelling

Sony +0.2
Sony9.6
Sony9.4

Comfort

Sony +0.2
Sony9.4
Sony9.2

Battery

Sony +0.2
Sony9.2
Sony9.0

Build

Sony +0.2
Sony9.2
Sony9.0

Value

Sony9.4
Sony9.4

Six dimensions, overlaid.

Radar of normalized scores across our full rubric.

SOUND QUALITY NOISE CANCELLING COMFORT BATTERY BUILD VALUE
Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony WH-1000XM5
Score gap
-2.1%
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 — composite lab score difference.
Battery (ANC on)
40hr (ANC on) / 50hr (ANC off) vs 30 hours (ANC on)
Sony WH-1000XM6 / Sony WH-1000XM5
Codec support
LDAC, AAC, SBC, aptX HD vs LDAC · AAC · SBC
Sony WH-1000XM6 / Sony WH-1000XM5
Weight
248g vs 250g
Sony WH-1000XM6 / Sony WH-1000XM5

The full spec sheet.

Grouped by what matters to use, not by alphabet. Winners highlighted with an acid dot.

Battery & Charging
Battery Life40hr (ANC on) / 50hr (ANC off)
Battery Life
Quick Charge3 min = 3hr playback (USB-C)
Quick Charge3min = 3hr playback
Battery
Battery30 hours (ANC on)
Body & Build
Weight248g
Weight250g
FoldableYes, with carry case
FoldableNo (flat fold only)
Connectivity
Codec SupportLDAC, AAC, SBC, aptX HD
Codec Support
BluetoothBluetooth 5.4, Multipoint (3 devices)
Bluetooth5.3 · Multipoint
Codecs
CodecsLDAC · AAC · SBC
General
Driver
Driver30mm · Carbon fiber composite
Frequency
Frequency4Hz - 40,000Hz
ANC
ANCAuto NC Optimizer · 8 microphones

Pros & cons,
at a glance.

A bento grid of what each one nails — and where it falls short.

Sony WH-1000XM6

What you'll love

Silence the world. Hear only what matters.

  • Industry-leading ANC performance, 40-hour battery life, Premium comfort for extended wear, Hi-Res Audio with LDAC support

Watch out for

  • Premium price point, Bulky for travel, Touch controls can be oversensitive
Sony WH-1000XM5

What you'll love

The Gold Standard of ANC Headphones

The verdict.

After 14 days each, in real-world use — here's how we'd actually spend the money.

PixlRun verdict · May 2026

If you want the higher overall score, get the Sony WH-1000XM6.

Sony WH-1000XM6 takes the overall win at 9.4/10. Sony WH-1000XM6: Silence the world. Hear only what matters.. Sony WH-1000XM5: The Gold Standard of ANC Headphones.

See Sony WH-1000XM6 review See Sony WH-1000XM5
PixlRun Lab Score
Composite · 14-day test cycle
Sony WH-1000XM69.4
Sony WH-1000XM59.2
Margin+0.2
ConfidenceModerate

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