Sony WH-1000XM5 review: buy or skip?

Buy9.2/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you fly, commute or work in noise every day. Why: industry-leading noise cancellation and great call quality. The catch: expensive.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated 7 October 2026 1 min read

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Our verdict on the Sony WH-1000XM5

Buy it if: you fly, commute or work in noise every day.
Skip it if: you want a foldable headphone.

Best for: Noise cancelling
Key feature: Industry-leading noise cancellation and great call quality
Typical price: ₹26,999–₹31,999

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

ANC	Yes
Battery	30 h
Weight	250 g

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

fly, commute or work in noise every day
value excellent ANC
can spend around ₹26,999–₹31,999

Skip it if you

want a foldable headphone
mind this: expensive
mind this: does not fold flat

Pros and cons

Pros

Excellent ANC
Comfortable
Clear calls

Cons

Expensive
Does not fold flat

The verdict in one breath

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the pair of wireless headphones we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: industry-leading noise cancellation and great call quality. It suits buyers who care about noise cancelling.

Reasons to buy

Excellent ANC
Comfortable
Clear calls

Reasons to skip

Expensive
Does not fold flat

The specs that matter

ANC: Yes
Battery: 30 h
Weight: 250 g

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you fly, commute or work in noise every day. Skip it if you want a foldable headphone; the Sony WH-CH720N is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best wireless headphones.

Alternatives worth considering

Sony · Wireless headphones

Sony WH-CH720N

Buy it if you want good ANC without paying flagship prices.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Value ANC
Typical price: ₹8,999–₹10,999

Pros

Light
Good ANC for price

Cons

Plastic build

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

boAt · Wireless headphones

boAt Rockerz 550

Buy it if you want cheap over-ear headphones.

Verdict: Consider
Best for: Budget
Typical price: ₹1,499–₹1,999

Pros

Cheap
Long battery

Cons

No ANC

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Sony WH-1000XM5?

Buy it, if you fly, commute or work in noise every day. Why: industry-leading noise cancellation and great call quality. The catch: expensive.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want a foldable headphone. The Sony WH-CH720N is the better buy then.

What does the Sony WH-1000XM5 cost?

Usually ₹26,999–₹31,999 on Amazon.in. It tends to dip during Prime Day and the Great Indian Festival.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Sony WH-1000XM5: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 worth buying? Short answer: buy it, if you fly, commute or work in noise every day. This review explains what this Sony model gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs in India and which pair of wireless headphones to buy instead if it is not the right fit for you.

What makes the Sony WH-1000XM5 a buy

The headline: industry-leading noise cancellation and great call quality. Key specs: ANC: Yes; Battery: 30 h; Weight: 250 g. It is made for people who want noise cancelling, and usually sells for ₹26,999–₹31,999.

The trade-offs

Good: excellent ANC, comfortable, clear calls. Not so good: expensive, does not fold flat. None of this rules it out for the right buyer, but read the skip-if line before you order.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want a foldable headphone. The Sony WH-CH720N is the better buy then. Every other option is in our best wireless headphones list.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Sony WH-CH720N (₹8,999–₹10,999): light ANC headphones at a mid-range price. Better if you want good ANC without paying flagship prices.

Instead, consider the boAt Rockerz 550 (₹1,499–₹1,999): over-ear wireless headphones for very little. Better if you want cheap over-ear headphones.

India-specific tip

Premium headphones often drop by 30 to 40% during the Great Indian Festival and Prime Day sales, so time your purchase if you can wait.

Prices on Amazon.in move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land in the Great Indian Festival (around Navratri and Diwali), Prime Day in July and the Republic Day sale in January, usually with extra bank-card discounts and no-cost EMI. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the MRP.

Order from Amazon itself or the brand's own storefront so the India warranty applies, keep the GST invoice and register the product with the brand straight away. For ACs, geysers, chimneys and purifiers, ask whether installation and the demo visit are free before you pay.

How we make the call: we read spec sheets, manuals and warranty terms, check how good the service network is in India and track the usual Amazon.in price. A product gets “Buy” only if we would tell a friend to buy it at that price. Brands cannot pay for a verdict.

Why listen to Buyrskip

We do not sell anything, and no brand can buy a place on our lists. When a best-seller has a real flaw, we say skip it. Our Amazon.in links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it never changes a verdict.