It is a truth universally acknowledged that Sony's XM-series headphones are the best in class for most people. They are exemplary wireless, Bluetooth, noise-canceling, over-ear headphones. At $450, they're not cheap, but this is a case where you get what you pay for. The latest model, the XM6, is now available to purchase at all the usual retailers (see them at Amazon). If you don’t want to spend that much money, however, you can save on a bundle of previous models as well. Let’s take a look.

Where to Buy Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

• $448.00 at Amazon - Get at Amazon - $448
• $449.99 at Best Buy - Get at Best Buy - $449.99
• $449.99 at Sony - Get at Sony - $449.99

The headphones come in three color options: Black, Midnight Blue, and Platinum Silver. They feature a new foldable design that makes them more compact than the previous XM5 model. They also come with a travel case, so you can toss them in a bag without worrying about them bending, breaking, or getting scratched.

So, what makes the Sony XM6 headphones so much better than the competition? It's a lot of little things, honed over many years and models. They have brand-new processors and 12 adaptive microphones built in to provide excellent noise cancellation. This makes them great for blocking out whatever sound is going on around you, so you can focus on your music, podcast, phone call, video conference, or whatever else you do with headphones on. Speaking of calls, Sony says the M6s have, and I quote, "a 6-microphone AI beamforming system" that helps isolate your voice from the noise around you.

As for battery life, Sony says you can get up to 30 hours on a single charge. They also feature fast-charging technology that gets you up to three hours of playback with just three minutes of charge time – however, you'll need an optional USB-PD compatible AC adapter to make that happen. The headband has some bend, so you don't have to worry about snapping it in half. It's adorned with a synthetic leather that's supposed to be super comfortable for long listening sessions.

Older Sony XM-Series Headphones Are on Sale

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones

• $399.99 save 25% - $298.00 at Amazon - Get at Amazon - $298

Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones

• $348.00 save 34% - $228.00 at Amazon - Get at Amazon - $228

If you can't justify the cost of the new XM6 model, consider picking up one of the older models. They're cheaper to start with, and Amazon also has them on sale for a limited time. They're nearly as good (though the WH-1000XM5 doesn't fold at all, a design decision Sony was right to correct with the XM6 model). Even so, the XM5 has been our pick for the best wireless headphones since it came out in 2022.