Sony WF-1000XM6 Fails to Outshine Rivals

Sony’s flagship earbuds don’t truly stand out, despite the hype around the XM6’s halo of features.

In hands-on reviews summarized by Engadget, the XM6 lands with a familiar premium price and an expectation that it will tighten Sony’s hold on the top of the wireless-earbud ladder. The verdict from testers is clear but not unanimously celebratory: the ANC isn’t a clean sweep over the competition, and voice quality trails in real-world calls. Add fit issues—many reviewers flag the foam tips as less reliable than desired—and you start to wonder whether the latest model is a necessary upgrade for most users.

The core critique is straightforward: the XM6 doesn’t clearly outpace rivals in the areas most people care about. Engadget’s reviewers flag two performance fronts where the XM6 lags behind the pack. First, active noise cancellation isn’t the undeniable leader it once was, with some competitors closing the gap or surpassing Sony in busier environments. Second, call quality—the way voices are captured and transmitted in your day-to-day conversations—doesn’t feel decisively better than what you can get from other premium options. For owners already deeply invested in Sony’s ecosystem, that might still be compelling; for everyone else, it’s hard to call the XM6 a must-upgrade.

Another friction point is fit. The XM6 continues Sony’s tradition of using foam tips to seal in sound, and reviewers repeatedly point out that the fit isn’t universally comfortable or reliable. In the real world—on crowded commutes, windy blocks, or around restless pets—the seal can affect both ANC performance and call quality. It’s a reminder that even top-tier buds are only as good as their fit, and a mismatch can blunt even strong technology.

What does this mean for price and accessibility? The Engadget recap doesn’t spell out the XM6’s sticker price, and the review context makes no mention of any subscription requirements or added services. In practice, Sony’s premium earbuds sit in a high tier where the cost is justified mainly by a combination of ANC strength, codec support, app features, and a mature ecosystem. But with no subscription angle to sweeten the deal, buyers have to weigh the raw audio and call quality vs. what the competition offers at roughly the same price range.

From an industry perspective, Sony is facing a crowded field of premium true wireless options that are closing in on a single promise: “best overall listening and talking experience.” The XM6’s performance gaps underscore a broader market shift. Manufacturers are chasing not only deeper ANC and cleaner mic capture but also more reliable fit experiences and more persuasive real-world usability. It’s a reminder that the premium earbud race isn’t only about specs on a spec sheet; it’s about consistent performance across varied environments.

Two concrete takeaways for shoppers and product teams emerge from this snapshot. First, fit and comfort remain non-negotiable: a great seal matters more than the fanciest digital trickery. If foam tips have never felt right, the XM6 may not deliver the expected upgrade. Second, even a “flagship” label isn’t a guarantee of lasting advantage in a fast-moving field. The XM6 sits in a highly competitive tier where small margins—how well it cancels noise in a subway car, how clearly you hear a coworker on a noisy call—decide whether you upgrade or shop elsewhere.

Verdict: Buy if you’re upgrading from older Sony models and value a solid, well-rounded experience from a trusted brand; skip if you’re seeking a definitive, heads-up upgrade over the best-in-class already in your pocket or if you’re not drawn to Sony’s ecosystem. For most buyers, a careful comparison with the current top contenders—especially on ANC performance and call quality—will determine whether the XM6 is worth chasing or if another option deserves a look.

Sources

Engadget review recap: Sony WF-1000XM6, ASUS Zenbook Duo and more