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Tom's Guide
07-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM4: Is it finally time to upgrade?
Sonys latest over-ear noise canceling headphones have landed, and they bring some key upgrades to the table. They fold, feature excellent noise canceling, and pack in a newly designed carrying case. They're not a massive step up from the XM5, but XM4 users might have just found the perfect time to upgrade. Sony's older XM4 are still a very solid pair of headphones that you can grab even years after their initial release. The ANC remains excellent, sound is very good, and comfort is as good as ever. They're also available at lower prices than either the XM5 or the brand new XM6 — perfect if you're looking for flagship specs at a lower price. It's very possible that you've got a pair of Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones. They really put the marque on the map, with a host of features that made them the best wireless headphones of their day. They remain an excellent option, in fact, given that you can still buy them for what are often now much lower prices than the newer and more advanced competition. But Sony has just released the most compelling reason to upgrade your best noise-canceling headphones to date — the Sony WH-1000XM6. They've got a new design, a new sound signature, and some of the best call quality we've ever experienced. They could be just what you've been waiting for if you've been rocking the XM4 since their first release. So let's put the two head-to-head and find out which ones are the better pair of headphones to spend money on in 2025, or whether you should upgrade your aging cans. Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony WH-1000XM4 Price $449 / £399 / AU$699 $348 / £229 / AU$399 Colors Black; Silver; Midnight Blue Black; Midnight Blue; Silver Size Not specified Not specified Weight 8.9 ounces 9 ounces Battery life (rated) Up to 40 hours Up to 30 hours Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC support Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC and LDAC Special features Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio With the release of the XM6, Sony has raised the price of its flagship cans. They cost $449, a full $50 more than the previous model. That also makes them more than some of their key competitors, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and the same as the brand new Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 — which I awarded 4 and a half stars. You can also still pick up the XM5 for $399, so if you're looking for a way to upgrade without spending as much money, that might be a good way to go. You won't get all of the shiny new features of the XM6, but you get a very good pair of headphones for less money. On launch, the XM4 were $380 — around $70 less than the launch price of the XM6. Since then they've seen significant price drops. If you shop around, you can find a pair for as little as $340, and potentially even less. Wait for sales events like Black Friday and you'll be able to pick up a pair for less than $300, making them a flagship headphones bargain. Sony still produces the XM4 as well, so you won't have any problems finding either on Amazon or other retailers like Best Buy. Given that the XM6 are the more expensive pair and that you can still buy the XM5, this first round is going to go to the XM4. The Sony WH-1000XM6 present a much bigger visual update over the XM4 than they do the XM5. They've got a more minimalist style than the older headphones, with cleaner looking earcups and a completely redesigned headband. It would be difficult to argue that they're not the better looking headset. While available in the same colors as the XM4, the XM6 wrap the headset in a more premium finish, set off by more subtle design focal points in the hinges. They're clean and attractive. Unlike the direct successor to the XM4, the XM6 bring back the folding hinges that many users loved on their headphones. That allows for a smaller carrying case so that you can fit them into a wider range of backpacks. That case is a big design departure from the traditional headsets we've seen from Sony as well. Instead of a zipper holding everything in place, there's now a magnetic clasp mechanism. It's harder, too, making the whole package feel more confidence inspiring. There are some benefits to the XM4, however. The hinge mechanisms feel sturdier than the thinner versions on the XM6, and some might appreciate their more involved design. Both headphones are extremely comfortable, with the XM6 and its wider headband doing away with the cranial pressure often found in the XM5. You'll have little problem wearing either for long periods of time. Put the two side by side and you can see the progression — but the XM6 and their new design touches and unexpected returns to form means they take this round. As with all of its headphone models, Sony has stuck with touch controls for the XM6. They're intuitive and easy to use. Swipe left and right to skip tracks, and double tap to pause playback. The most useful touch control is the instant transparency mode trigger — hold your hand over the right earcup, the volume drops, and transparency mode turns on. It's very helpful to quickly order a coffee at a cafe, or grab a bus ticket. There are two physical controls on the XM6: The power button and the ANC button. These have been redesigned. The power button is a round button, and the ANC control a small rectangle. This distinction between the two makes it much easier to work out which is which when you can't see what you're doing. No more accidental ANC activation when you want to turn the headphones off, and vice versa. The WH-1000XM4 share the same touch controls with the XM6, all the way down to their gestures. Much like the newer pair, they're intuitive and easy to use. They lack the round power button for easier on-head activation and de-activation of ANC — so the XM6 take this round. Sony went back to the sonic drawing board with the XM6, focusing on vocal clarity rather than bass response and soundstage. The result is an excellent-sounding pair of headphones, with the clearest vocals you'll find in a pair of wireless headphones. They sound good for all genres, from R&B to classical and everything in between. Managing Editor of AV at Tom's Guide, Nick Pino, was a particular fan of the "unmatched" vocal clarity. There are some caveats. Soundstage is restricted, and there's still the pervasive bass that Sony has become known for. They're still an excellent-sounding pair of headphones, but their sonic shortcomings are well worth noting. The XM4 are a less refined listen than the XM6, but they retain that signature Sony low-end grunt. They don't have the vocal clarity of the XM6, but they have a wider soundstage and slightly improved bass response. This is going to be mostly down to taste, although the XM6 manage greater control over the frequency range. As a result, the new headphones win out. It is closer than you might expect, however. The XM6 pack in an incredible array of features, with many shared from previous iterations of the line. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, you get excellent codec support, including LDAC, SBC, AAC, and LC3. Then there's Sony's proprietary DSEE Extreme, which can make wireless playback sound even better. Sony also has the best array of noise canceling modes out of just about anything. There are not just levels to the ANC so that you can dial it, but the chip inside the headphones will change the ANC dynamically depending on ambient noise levels. The GPS activated ANC that changes depending on your location is also here as a bonus. You can also adjust the EQ with a comprehensive 10-band EQ. There are customized options as well for different genres too. The feature set is nicely rounded out by Sony's 360 Reality Audio, although it only works with Amazon Music Unlimited. There's a "Spatial Upmix" feature coming down the road, but we are yet to get our hands on it to test it out. You'd be surprised how few features the XM4 forgo due to their age. You still get the solid Codec support, although there's no Auracast on account of the aging Bluetooth 5.0 specification. You still get a host of noise canceling modes, although the ANC doesn't shift dynamically depending on ambient noise. There are only 5 bans in the customizable EQ. For the price, though, the feature set remains very much appreciated. Sony's noise canceling algorithm has long kept its headphones amongst the best noise canceling headphones, and the WH-1000XM6 are no exception. They block out loads of noise and easily silence a noisy office or chaotic commute. It might not be as big an improvement as we were hoping for over the XM5, but it still does a great job of keeping the noise out. There's a focus this time around on the high frequencies, making it easier to listen to podcasts and audiobooks in louder environments. There are still struggles for the ANC — crying children, very busy coffee shops, and the like. Engine noise on flights might not be completely defeated either, so long-haulers may want to consider something like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones instead. The noise-canceling performance of the WH-1000XM4 isn't as big a downgrade from the new model as you might expect, with some great noise blocking on offer. They lose out in the high-range sounds, with more voices coming through, but you'll still find relative silence in most environments while listening to music. They struggle with really loud sounds, and sometimes noises like keyboards and sudden sounds can creep through. Loud airplane trips are also a struggle, so again, frequent flyers will want the Bose equivalent. In this case, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones. Thanks to their superior noise-blocking ability, the Sony WH-1000XM6 take this round. Battery life on the XM6 hasn't stepped it up all that much from the previous XM models. There are 30 hours of staying power with ANC turned on, and that rises to 40 hours if you turn it off. Quick charge is better than ever, though. Three minutes of charge will net you an extra three hours of battery life when you run out in a pinch, which is always a nice bonus considering how much you're likely to use them. The battery life of the XM4 is very similar to the XM6. You get 30 hours of life with ANC turned on, and then 38 if you turn the noise canceling on. There is also a quick charge function, but you need a special wall wart. 5 hours of use out of 10 minutes of charge is a nice bonus, though. Overall, the battery life is extremely similar — although the more useful quick charge and better ANC off time gives the XM6 the win here. It's no great surprise that at the end of it all, the Sony WH-1000XM6 take the crown between the two pairs. They sound better, have an updated design, and have more features and better noise canceling. They are the better pair of headphones. Yet there is still a case to buy the XM4. Given their much lower price and just how close they where to the XM6 in all of our testing, they're still a very compelling buy if you're looking for good headphones without breaking the bank. XM4 users looking to upgrade to Sony's latest flagship will find plenty of reasons to part with their cash as well — and given that your headphones are now likely closing on 4 years of use, the time might be right. Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony WH-1000XM4 Price and value (5) 3 4 Design (15) 13 12 Controls (10) 7 7 Sound quality (25) 22 19 Active noise cancelation (20) 19 17 Call quality (10) 9 7 Connectivity (5) 5 4 Battery life (10) 8 8 Total Score (100) 84 78
Phone Arena
06-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
These budget-friendly Sony headphones just became cheaper at Amazon
Save 35% on the Sony WH-CH720N $52 off (35%) The budget-friendly Sony WH-CH720N have just become even more affordable, thanks to Amazon's ongoing sale. The headphones are down by 35% from their original price across three colors, giving you ANC and good audio quality in a lightweight form factor. Buy at Amazon Receive the latest mobile news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Are you after Sony headphones with a lightweight design, good battery life—and, most importantly, an affordable price? In that case, you might want to skip the latest WH-1000XM6 (even the XM5 and XM4 ) and opt for the WH-CH720N. The name might not roll off the tongue, but these cans strike a balance between price and quality, especially with Amazon's latest 35% though they've been cheaper in the past, these over-ear headphones are still quite attractive right now. The 35% markdown saves you $52 on their original price of around $150, a bargain that neither Walmart nor Best Buy currently what makes these fellas a compelling pick? Firstly, they pack good active noise cancellation (ANC) for their asking price. They do a great job of making most environments sound more pleasant, reducing unwanted noises. Still, they're certainly not top-of-the-line in this for sound quality, you get a noticeable boost in the lower frequencies and a slightly overemphasized treble out of the box. That means bass-heavy tracks sound punchy, but some instrumentals might not sound super-clear. With an equalizer, however, you can easily fine-tune the audio to your specific their affordable price, these Sony headphones have a pretty solid battery life. They deliver up to 35 hours of non-stop listening time per charge, which should be more than enough for casual use. On top of that, they support fast charging and can give you up to an hour of extra music within a three-minute standout feature here is the extremely lightweight design. Weighing in at just under seven ounces, these bad boys provide all-day comfort with no ear fatigue or neck while they might not be among the best over-ear Bluetooth headphones , the WH-CH720N are a pretty good bargain at their current price. If you're a budget-conscious shopper looking for a sub-$100 Sony cans, we definitely suggest checking out Amazon's tempting promo while it's still live.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Today's deals: $15 Amazon credit, $480 AirPods Max, $60 Instant Pot Duo, $228 Sony XM4, more
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. With Memorial Day just a week away, the heat is really turning up on all the great daily deals we're finding. Apple's AirPods Max are down to $479.99, or you can opt for Sony's XM4 wireless noise cancelling headphones and spend just $228. The Instant Pot Duo is on sale starting at just $59.99, depending on which size you want. Also, we found a deal that gets you a $15 Amazon credit just for buying household essentials that you need to stock up on anyway. This is our roundup of the best deals of the day on Monday, May 19. Today's Top Deals Best Fire TV Stick deals for May 2025 Best Apple Watch deals for May 2025 Price: Spend $50, Get $15 Buy Now Price: $479.99 You Save: $69.01 (13%) Buy Now Price: $59.99 You Save: $30.00 (33%) Buy Now Price: $228.00 You Save: $120.00 (34%) Buy Now 🚨 FEATURED DEALS 🚨 Spend $50+ in , and get a $15 Amazon credit with coupon code STOCKUPSAVE. You can shop top brands including Bounty, Charmin, Duracell, Hefty, Glad, and so many more! The Instant Pot Duo starts at $59.99 right now for the 3-quart model, and other sizes are also on sale Sony's insanely good XM4 wireless noise cancelling headphones are on sale for $228 instead of $348, which is a huge 34% discount 🍎 HOTTEST APPLE DEALS 🍎 AirPods Max: $479.99 (reg. $549) (lowest price for USB-C model) AirPods 4 with ANC: $158.71 (reg. $179) AirPods 4: $119 (reg. $129) AirPods Pro 2: $188.56 (reg. $249) AirTag 4-pack: From $79.98 (reg. $99) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy AirTag 1-pack: $24.95 (reg. $29) M4 MacBook Air 13-inch: $849 (reg. $999) (all-time low price) M4 MacBook Air 15-inch: $1,049 (reg. $1,199) (all-time low price) M2 Mac mini: $399 (reg. $499) (brand-new condition, almost sold out) iPad (11th-Gen): $299 (reg. $349) (all-time low price) iPad mini (7th-Gen): $399.99 (reg. $499) (all-time low price) Apple Watch Series 10: $329 (reg. $399) Apple Watch SE: $189 (reg. $249) Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Black Titanium): $741.89 (reg. $799) Check out more of the best Apple deals in our guide 🚀 TRENDING SALES 🚀 The has the most incredible mop you'll ever find on a robot vacuum, and it has a special 10% launch discount! The super popular JBL Go 3 portable waterproof speaker is down to just $29.95 this week Save $50 with the first-ever discount on Powerbeats Pro 2 wireless earbuds Stop spammers & scammers with , which monitors the web and auto-magically removes your personal info from data brokers and people search sites! Pick up a 48-pack of Energizer AA and AAA batteries for $24.49, which is a fraction of what you'd pay in a local store People are obsessed with the Miele Classic C1 canister vacuum, which is now 20% off at $279.20 Amazon's #1 best-selling renewed laptop is the Apple 2020 MacBook Air, and now it starts at just $349 The Anker Soundcore 2 portable waterproof speaker is on sale for $29.98, which is a crazy price considering how popular it is Get the TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 router for just $49.99 when you use the coupon code 10ARCHERAX21 at checkout Special deals that get you Amazon credit or savings: Save up to 15% on more than 1,000 different video games, consoles, accessories, and more in Amazon's massive video game sale The FLASHFORGE Adventurer 5M 3D Printer is the #1 best-selling 3D printer on Amazon, and the MSRP dropped to $279 Upgrade your living room with an LG UR9000 65-inch smart TV for just $496.99, down from $630 The Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush is down to $29.99, so do your dentist a favor and get one Score a Vitamix E310 Explorian blender for $299.95 before it's sold out This fancy Bedtter Queen Memory Foam Mattress with a pillow top is down to just $143.99 on sale Below, you'll find some of the most popular deals among our readers. 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CNN
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are so good that I've ditched my AirPods Max
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are here to silence the competition, and I spent the last two weeks putting them through their paces. They're Sony's latest bid in its seemingly never-ending fight to make the best over-ear headphones that silently tell others 'this isn't a good time to talk to me.' And this pair arrives with a bit of a burden, as the Sony WH-10000XM5 headphone that preceded them weren't as universally adored as the XM4 of yesteryear. Fortunately, my weeks of testing the XM6 have demonstrated that Sony's learned from its mistakes and is ready to take the throne with some of the best noise-canceling headphones, a pair that may, in fact, be the best we've ever seen. And now that their release date is here, it's the perfect time to decide whether or not you need them. Sony WH-1000XM6 Over-Ear Headphones The XM6 are the latest version of Sony's noise-canceling over-ear headphones and feature a return to the folding design that users loved about the XM4. Phenomenal audio quality No matter what I threw at the Sony WH-1000XM6, these headphones delivered fantastic sound. As my playlist shuffled between the warm, throwback hip-hop sounds of Camp Lo's 'Luchini' to Rob Zombie's groove metal vibes on 'Never Gonna Stop' and then Kesha's electro-pop banger 'Joyride,' the proverbial record never scratched once. That's likely owed to how the new driver units in this year's model enable richer sound than I've heard on other wireless headphones. Everything from Kesha's glitched-out warbling to the bass of Camp Lo's track to Mr. Zombie's relentless riffs didn't just sound right; it sounded great. Even albums I've been spinning on repeat lately, like Charly Bliss' 'Forever' and Lucy Dacus' 'Forever Is a Feeling' sounded fresh on the XM6. I'm not saying that you should throw out your AirPods Max or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but I think I've got a new default pair for nearly everything I do. It's a bit hard to quantify how great the XM6 sound is, but they delivered a terrifically full and vibrant version of Charly Bliss' 'Back There Now,' a bouncy track I've listened to on countless other devices. The XM6 also won when I lowered the volume to about 30%, with sturdy bass, perfectly fuzzy guitar riffs and singer Eva Hendricks' vocals all hitting so well I was reminded about how great the band sounded in concert last year. The differences in sound quality were a bit less obvious when listening to classical music, as the XM6 only sounded better by the slimmest of margins when I listened to Dvorak's 'Symphony No. 9 in E Minor.' Still, the highs sounded slightly sweeter and the low-end bass was a bit bolder on the XM6 than on the QC Ultra and AirPods Max. Phenomenal noise cancellation We always put a lot of time and effort into our product reviews, and that includes truly living with a product like I did with the XM6. I brought them (and their competitors) on a 4.5-hour bus ride from upstate NY to the city, where Sony's headphones proved the best of the bunch. They were better overall at quieting the chaos around me, including the bus' air conditioner. Whenever it turned on, the XM6's new adaptive noise-canceling tech (upgraded from an automatic version) kicked in to erase that sound, something that the AirPods Max couldn't muffle. Neither the AirPods Max's nor the Bose QC Ultra's active noise cancellation, for example, erased as much of the ambient noise around my home, including my air purifier, washing machine and traffic leaking in from outside. If I had to rank them, I'd say Bose's ANC is closer to what Sony's pulling off, and sometimes on par. More often than not, though, the XM6's noise cancellation proved a notch above. Maybe this is due to how the Sony XM6 have 12 microphones to the eight each that the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Apple's AirPods Max have. Still, the XM6's noise cancellation seems more like an iteration than a revolutionary advancement, as they couldn't silence the sounds of one of my relatives who is always shouting on phone calls. The headphones did their best to lower that noise pollution and made a strong case for keeping them charged. In less stressful settings, the XM6 definitely proved their worth by helping me focus when working from home while there's construction happening on the floor below my apartment. A perfectly fitting design Unlike the XM5 model, the XM6 feature folding hinges that let you wrap the headphones inward to take up less space. This lets you store them in smaller-sized compartments, like their new case (more on that below). These headphones also have supple synthetic leather ear cups that enable a consistently comfortable and snug fit on my head, which is crucial for effective noise-canceling. The XM6's 8.9-ounce weight makes them feel superlight on my head, nearly indistinguishable from the 9-ounce QC Ultras. I bring up the heft because putting the 13.7-ounce AirPods Max on after the Sonys makes my head feel like it's sinking down ever so slightly. Comfort also came into play with noise-canceling, as the XM6 apply less pressure to my ears than the AirPods Max do. One of my favorite features of the 1000XM6 is that their headband extends much farther upward than the AirPods Max band does, which allows me to comfortably wear a hat while I'm using them, something I literally cannot do with Apple's over-ear headphones. The XM6 offer similar headroom as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. The 1000XM6 also feature a more-asymmetrical design than the previous model, with Sony adjusting the headband to provide another visual cue to signal the front and back sides. The arms are placed more toward the fronts of the cups than the backs, which eliminates some guesswork when you're trying to put them on correctly. Beyond the great style and fit, I also love that the Sony XM6 have a regular 1/8-inch headphone jack. Unlike Bose that uses a smaller headphone jack (and Apple's AirPods Max, which only send wired sound over USB-C), the XM6 are compatible with one of the best and oldest tech standards there is, so you don't need to worry about adapters if you want to use them with a wired audio source. The XM6 come in three colors: black, Platinum Silver (basically white) and Midnight Blue. The best headphones case, period Buying pricey tech means you want to treat it with the care and protection your investment deserves, which is why noise-canceling headphones always come with a case to shield them from the other things in your bag. That said, not all cases are the same, and Sony now makes the best one. The company shrunk down last year's case and, more importantly, switched from a zipper enclosure to a super-convenient magnetic flap that's strong enough to stay closed even when I'm shaking it by its hanging loop. It's not a perfect case, as my review units' white shell has already scuffed slightly from rubbing against something in my bags. Still, it's much better than the holster that Apple includes with the AirPods Max, which doesn't cover the band at all, and exposes the tops and bottoms of the headphones. Excellent battery life Color me amazed: After two weeks of multiple hours of listening every day, I've still got 40% battery life left on the XM6. Sony rates the endurance of this newest model as above and ahead of the pack, with up to 40 hours of juice (30 with noise cancellation enabled). That beats Bose's and Apple's estimates by six to 10 hours. Oh, and Sony added the ability to listen to your music wirelessly while the headphones charge over USB-C, a boon to everyone with very long cables. Sony did not provide any notes on supported fast charging standards, but its claim that the XM6 gain three hours of battery life after only three minutes of charging matches my experience. Using the included USB-A to USB-C cable, I got 5% battery life from a three-minute charge, which would be up to two hours of life. But switching to a USB-C cable, I got 11%, which could be as much as 4.4 hours. Good call quality When you get nearly everything right — and, frankly, superior to the field — good is good enough. That's especially the case here with Sony's improved call quality. My colleague and senior tech editor Mike Andronico described a phone call made from our office as clear with maybe the slightest bit of fuzz. Looking to test Sony's AI boast — the company brags that it used 500 million voice samples to make sure the XM6 can identify vocals and remove background noise — I went down to a subway platform and used the headphones to record a voice memo I sent to my boss. He observed mixed results, stating 'it starts out very clear but gets very muffled halfway through. The noise isolation is very impressive though, I can't really hear anything in the background.' This is neither a win nor a loss in my book. In a blind comparison of voice memo recordings made with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, the AirPods Max and the XM6, Sony's new headphones fell in the middle of the pack. I think I sounded clearest and most natural on the AirPods Max, and the XM6 had me a little loud, while the QC Ultra made me sound slightly distant. Andronico disagreed with my rankings, putting Bose up front and the Sony last, proving how subjective this all is. The rankings also changed when I switched to live calls, as the Sony and Bose both earned scores of 7.5 out of 10 from the folks I was talking to on the other end of the line, while the AirPods Max fell slightly below, at 7 out of 10. An unfortunately higher price than before At $450, the Sony WH1000-XM6 cost $50 more than the XM5 had when they were released, and those cans are often as cheap as $348 these days. This isn't a big problem when you look at the XM6 in comparison to the competition, as the Bose QC Ultra also retail for $450, while the AirPods Max cost $549. But considering the economy at the moment, I understand how some folks will blanch at that price. If you want decent Sony over-ear headphones for under $200, check out the Sony Ult Wear headphones. The app is bad, and special features are a mixed bag Tech companies earn some tough love on occasion, and I'm here to give some to the team behind Sony's consumer audio devices. In 2025, no company should be shipping an app that looks this old and jumbled. For example, the main tab of the Sony app places a bunch of its settings within easy reach, but then has a button called 'Device settings' that opens up a menu that has three sections of its own: sound, system and services. Here, you'll find some of the settings you've already seen, like Speak-to-Chat, the equalizer and, frankly, too many other features to sort through unless you have spare time. Is there any reason to use the app? Well, you need it to activate Sony's Adaptive Sound Control feature, which can switch your noise canceling and ambient sound settings based on where you are or what you're doing. So, if you're at home or sitting still, it'll keep ANC on, and then turn ambient mode on when you're walking out and about, and need to have a greater awareness of what's going on around you. It works fine enough, and it will be valuable if you need the extra awareness in public, but I wouldn't really use these headphones for running (one of the motions it can detect), as designs like these aren't made for sweat resistance. If you enable Speak-to-Chat, the audio you're listening to will automatically get quieter when the headphones hear someone talking. I almost wrote this off immediately because it means you can't sing along with your tunes, though a coworker rightly noted this could make it easier for a loved one at home to get your attention. I just wouldn't enable it in public, because this feature activated accidentally when my video editor was talking to me on the street. You also get touch controls on the right ear cup, including double-tap to pause and swipe up and down to adjust volume. Additionally, you can press your palm on the right ear cup to enable Transparency mode when you need to hear someone or something more clearly. This worked well in my testing, and it's a great way to listen for announcements on the subway. The volume up and down swipe gesture on the right ear cup, however, requires more presses than I'd like, making me miss the dedicated volume controls on the Bose QC Ultra and AirPods Max. I miss the perks of Apple's integration Sony's got strong wearing detection, which means your favorite songs and podcasts will pause when you remove the headphones. But for someone like me who is downright spoiled by the Apple ecosystem integrations, I'm slightly annoyed that simply removing the XM6 doesn't disconnect them from my phone. For example, when I stood up from my desk to take a break and put my the XM6 down, the latest episode of 'The Besties' video game review podcast paused, which is great. But when I hit 'play' in my podcatcher, the audio resumed on the headphones and not my phone's speaker as I'd wanted it to. That said, the XM6 support multi-device pairing for simultaneous connections, while Apple's AirPods only go from one device to the other. So, should you buy the XM6? Well, since the XM3, XM4 and XM5 are pretty universally adored, folks who've already bought into the Sony noise-canceling headphones economy probably don't need to rush to upgrade. Yes, this year sees Sony elevating its sound quality and noise cancellation, as well as improving on the case and design of the XM5, but I'm not sure that's enough to clear $450 in your budget. Those with the AirPods Max, which have stayed the same except for new colors and the USB-C port in last year's refresh, will love Sony's lighter design and may notice the superior noise cancellation. You'll just be giving up the convenience that automatic pairing delivers (living in the Apple ecosystem pays off). Oh, and Sony's case is loads better. I don't know if anyone with a recent pair of Bose ANC headphones would need to upgrade if their pair is still working well, as the gap between sound quality and noise cancellation doesn't merit spending another $450 if your gear still works. But if your older pair is aging poorly or you've been waiting to get a pair of premium noise-canceling headphones, you should just get the Sony XM6. They're great, if not the best, at everything that truly matters. And as someone who practically lives in the Apple ecosystem with most of his tech, I'm truly impressed by how the Sony XM6 combine sound quality, noise canceling and a great case to pull me away from the AirPods Max. How long is the battery life for the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones? How long is the battery life for the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones? The Sony WH-1000XM6 are rated for up to 40 hours of power without noise-canceling and 30 hours when noise-canceling is turned on. How much do the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones cost? How much do the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones cost? The Sony WH-1000XM6 are priced at $450, which is $50 more than the XM5's original retail cost and $100 more than what the previous model currently costs. Are the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones noise canceling? Are the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones noise canceling? Yes, and you can enable or disable active noise cancellation for the WH-1000XM6 by using the long button next to the power button CNN Underscored thoroughly tests the products we review and provides full transparency about our testing methodology. We're made up of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Electronics writer Henry T. Casey has reviewed tech for a decade, including home theater audio equipment, portable speakers and streaming devices. Casey goes the extra mile for streaming devices, not just testing them during his work day but living with them at home, which sometimes annoys friends when he's taking notes during movie night.
CNN
12-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
The 10 best Walmart deals to shop this week: Sony, Brookstone, Fitbit and more
CNN Underscored editors found the best sales at Walmart right now, including deals on a Hamilton Beach coffee maker, a ghd flat iron and Serta pillows. Sony WH-1000XM5 in Black Our top pick for the best over-ear headphones is just $7 away from the lowest price we've ever seen from back in December. The upgraded design is slimmer than the older XM4, and the noise cancellation capabilities are even better on the newer our review Brookstone Portable Cold Plunge Cold plunging is one of those fitness trends that seems more accessible than others. If you want to give it a go, this portable therapy tub from Brookstone is an affordable way to dip your toes into the trend. Now, it's $12 lower than our initial spotting in early January. ghd Platinum + Styler At the start of the New Year, this handy flat iron was $126. Today, it's even lower and is now a whopping 60% off. If you're looking to up your hair game and want to put the finishing touches on your blowout, this gadget is for you. Ego Home Single Queen Bed Pillow It is Sleep Week after all, and Walmart has decided to enter the chat with more than 80% off this queen-sized pillow. It usually goes for around $20, but today it is even less, making it significantly cheaper than all of our best pillow picks. Samsung 40mm Galaxy Watch 4 in Black Android users can join in on the smartwatch fun with this heavily discounted model from 2021. The starting price was initially on the entry-level side for a tech wearable at $250, but now the feature-filled watch is $125 in the sleek black our review Hamilton Beach Bold Brew 12-Cup Programmable Drip Coffee Maker Prep your morning brew and get a jump start on those busy mornings with this deal on a classic drip coffee maker. Sometimes, all you want is a basic cup of joe, and this discounted machine delivers. It's a few dollars cheaper than our last spotting, making this appliance an even better buy. Ninja Thirsti Drink System If you live alone or don't want to commit to an entire liter of soda, the Ninja Thirsti is here to save the day. It allows you to make a singular glass to curb your craving and comes with a wide range of flavor drops for personalized creativity in the our review The Pioneer Woman 6-Piece Mixing Bowls With Lids Set These convenient mixing bowls have been on my radar for months. After initially spotting them during Black Friday and again last month, I'm happy to see they've dropped further in price ahead of the upcoming spring holiday hosting season. Fitbit Versa Lite The easy-to-use, Fitbit Versa Lite, just dropped to an all-time low price at Walmart. Today's offer is beating its previous low from 2019 by about $10 and is a great entry-level wearable for those interested in basic fitness tracking. Bifanuo Double Wicker Swing Egg Chair With Stand If the warmer weather has inspired you to take on a bit of spring cleaning in your yard, it may be time to invest in some outdoor seating. This plush swinging chair has UV-resistant cushions that will help minimize fading over time. We tracked the price of this model in the past, and luckily, it's even lower today. Our deals team has over a decade of combined commerce journalism experience. Rikka Altland, Jacqueline Saguin and Elena Matarazzo source the deals for the day each morning to curate one-offs and retailer-specific roundups of the best sales to shop. Searching everything from coveted tech essentials to beauty finds of the week, the team works across a wide variety of categories to ensure we're finding the best for our readers.
