$100 Off Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones

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A new flagship model often means discounts on earlier versions, and the arrival of Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones also brought serious savings on 2022’s XM5s. Typically $400, you can pick the XM5 headphones for $300 in most colorways across different retailers, including Sony, Amazon, Target, and others.

It’s a particularly noteworthy discount, as Sony raised the price of the XM6 headphones by $50. That means that this discount drops the XM5 headphones to a full $150 less than Sony’s latest flagship.

AMAZON DEAL

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

In my testing, the XM6 headphones represented a meaningful upgrade from the XM5 — but not an enormous one. The design of the XM6 is very similar, as are many of the features. The XM6 headphones have slightly improved sound and mic quality, thanks to the redesigned driver and additional mics, and better comfort, with more cushioning on the headband. The XM6 earcups also rotate, making them more compact and packable.

But while the XM6 headphones might be the flagships to beat, the XM5 headphones are still audio champs, with excellent ANC, the same great controls, and an identical 30-hour battery life. So if you don’t want to drop $450 on a pair of headphones — and in this economy, we can’t blame you — the $300 XM5 headphones are a worthwhile alternative.

When I compared XM5 headphones to Bose’s similarly priced flagship, Sony’s stood out for their excellent, intuitive controls. Swiping up and down raises and lowers the volume, swiping back and forth plays the previous or next track, and double-tapping handles playback. You can also place your hand over the right side to temporarily deactivate noise cancellation for conversations or listening to airport announcements.

This isn’t the only Sony headphone deal worth taking advantage of. Read on for a few other Sony headphones and earbuds that you can get on sale. And if you prefer another brand, we rounded up other great headphone deals.