Sony WF-1000XM5 in for review

Sony's headphones have somewhat of a cult following. There's no other way to explain why so many people know their model numbers by heart and why they can tell the difference between the WH line (the big, over-the-ear ones) and the WF line.

We now have the latest Sony TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation - the flagship WF-1000XM5's and they have some big shoes to fill.

The buds come in Black or Silver (which is much more of a beige) and they cost €319/£259/$299. They ship in an environmentally-friendly box with a USB cable and three extra pairs of ear tips, totaling XS, S, M, and L.

The WF-1000XM5 are smaller (25% to be exact, and 20% lighter) and more comfortable, which is possibly the biggest update they could've brought. The 1000XM4's were a chore to have in your ears for long periods of time. The outright pain of using the previous buds was greatly outweighed by their audio prowess and amazing active noise cancellation, though. Sony says this year's model is better at both - that would make these the best around then?

The buds have Sony's latest Integrated Processor V2, which 'unlocks the potential of the QN2e' chip. Then there's the new Dynamic Driver X, which enables a wide frequency response and clear vocals.

The final touch are the new polyurethane foam ear tips. Most other earbuds on the market use rubber or silicone tips. The foam tips allow for a better seal when the earbuds are in your ears and offer better passive isolation.

The polyurethane foam ear tips

There's a lot to nerd out about with these buds so stay tuned for a more detailed look.