Looks like it can't be folded anymore so it won't be as compact in the bag but the overall build may benefit.
Comparison
Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5
Best for Commuting
The Sony WH-1000XM5 sets the bar for noise cancellation in 2026 — its new 8-mic system with Auto NC Optimizer adapts to your environment in real time, making it the best commuter headphone money can buy in Canada. The 30-hour battery, multipoint Bluetooth, and speak-to-chat feature make daily use genuinely effortless.
6 mentions · 4 threadslast mention Nov 20247.6/ 10
ClearPick Score
Decent
Score informed by 6 owner mentions across 4 Reddit threads · see every quote ↓
3 positive1 mixed2 negative
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Best for Commuting
Sony WH-1000XM5
~$399 CAD est. on Amazon.ca
View on Amazon.ca →Opens Amazon.ca · Affiliate link✅ Ships to Canada
✅ Prime eligible (most orders)
✅ 30-day Amazon returns
✅ No extra cost to you
Every mention, sourced
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
I like how Beats has been going on the route being closer to Harman curve over the past few years, yet Sony is going on the opposite and trying really hard to replica what Beats sounded 10 years ago.
Complaint
I've had mine for over a year and they are fine, I've fallen asleep with them, used them on multiple flights, grocery shopping, walking the dog, etc and have no issues at all.
Praise
Hate how the headband was already thin in width and they made it thinner just for looks
Complaint
all things considered, these do have good resolving capabilities, agreeable FR, better than average soundstage, etc.
Praise
XM5 sounds more balanced and clearer. XM5 has slightly better ANC in the upper frequencies. XM5 has vastly superior call quality. XM5 has longer battery life when ANC and Transparency mode is disabled. XM5 can charge faster with 3 mins providing 3 hours of playback if you are using a USB-C PD charger. XM5 feels a bit more comfortable due to the slightly less weight and larger cavity within the ear cups.
Praise
✅ What Works
- Superior call quality and faster charging versus rivals like the AirPods Max, per direct comparisons
- Multiple owners report a year-plus of daily use with no durability issues
- Comfortable for extended wear, including sleeping in them, per some owners
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- Sound tuning criticized by some as trending toward a warmer, "Beats-like" signature rather than neutral
- Headband made thinner primarily for looks, per critics, with a possible durability tradeoff
- No longer folds flat, making it less compact to store or pack than the previous generation
ClearPick Verdict
Owner sentiment on the WH-1000XM5 is generally positive but not without pushback. Of 6 mentions, 3 positive, 2 negative, 1 mixed. Fans point to genuinely superior call quality, faster charging, and longer battery life versus rivals like the AirPods Max, and several report a year-plus of daily use — flights, dog walks, naps — with no durability issues. But a couple of critics take issue with Sony's tuning direction, saying it leans toward a "Beats" style sound rather than a more neutral reference curve, and note the headband was made thinner "just for looks," with the tradeoff of no longer folding for storage. This is a headphone owners largely love day-to-day, with a vocal minority pushing back on sound signature and design tradeoffs. Good for buyers who want class-leading ANC and don't mind a warmer, bass-forward tuning; audiophiles chasing a neutral sound signature may want to look elsewhere.
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