Sony XM6 falters; Zenbook Duo shines

Sony’s XM6 earbuds lag behind rivals in ANC and call quality, a striking admission from Engadget’s latest round-up of gadget reviews. In the same breath, the site shines a brighter light on ASUS’s Zenbook Duo (2026), a laptop that doubles down on an idea that remains polarizing but increasingly priced for a niche of power users chasing unusual workflows. The contrast isn’t accidental: the hardware crowd is hungry for standout performance, even if one product’s strengths come with a few stubborn caveats.

The XM6 earns its “premium” branding, yet Engadget’s testers make a point of noting that the two most obvious places where Sony isn’t pulling away from the field are active noise cancellation and voice quality. In practical terms, that means quiet flights and busy offices might not be as flawlessly muted as some rivals, and phone calls can feel less clear in everyday environments. The reviewers also flag fit issues, specifically with foam tips, which can diminish both comfort and seal for a portion of users. In other words, the XM6 remains excellent on many fronts, but it doesn’t deliver a clear, defensible edge in the most critical real-world metric—how well you hear and are heard when you’re out in the world.

If you’re shopping for a premium pair of wireless earbuds and want something that can truly disappear in your ears while drowning out the world, the XM6’s story should trigger a moment of healthy skepticism. Testing shows that even top-tier audio branding can slip when real-life variables—your ears, your glasses, your wind, your voice when you call—complicate the equation. Yet the same capsule of reviews reminds readers why Sony’s lineup has stayed relevant: the XM6 still carries fantastic tuning, a robust feature set, and a design language that many users prefer. The question isn’t whether the XM6 is good; it’s whether it’s the best choice for your particular needs in a crowded market that includes feisty competitors with their own tricks.

Across the laptop side, Engadget’s take on the Zenbook Duo (2026) reads as a different kind of hearing-test. The Duo’s dual-screen approach, plus a detachable keyboard option, is described as a package that covers all the bases—strong battery life, flexible form factors, and a design that aims to future-proof multi-tasking in a way few rivals attempt. The reviewer notes that ASUS’s philosophy here isn’t to replace traditional laptops overnight but to offer a compelling alternative for users who want to split their attention between apps, documents, and creative windows. The Zenbook Duo’s battery efficiency paired with its rare hardware choices signals a clear bet on a productivity workflow that benefits from a second canvas rather than a larger single display.

The broader lesson for buyers isn’t just “which gadget is best” but “which workflow do you value most.” For earbuds, the message is: if you’re a daily commuter who places a premium on passive comfort, call clarity, and top-notch ANC, you may want to audition alternatives in store before committing. For the Zenbook Duo, the verdict leans toward a buy if your job hinges on multi-task routines, reference editing across multiple apps, or on-the-go content creation where a second screen unlocks real efficiency gains. If you prize a traditional, light-first laptop that emphasizes portability and single-screen ergonomics, the Duo might feel like a more specialized instrument than a universal one.

From a market perspective, the Engadget round-up underscores a continuing trend: premium audio remains a crowded field where marginal gains matter, and dual-screen laptops are carving a distinctive, if still niche, lane for those willing to adopt a different ergonomic rhythm. It’s a reminder that hardware greatness isn’t about a single standout spec anymore but about how consistently a device aligns with real-world use cases across a spectrum of environments.

Verdict: Buy the Zenbook Duo if you crave a second screen for productivity and don’t mind the trade-offs; consider the XM6 only if you’ve tested them alongside rivals and need stronger, proven ANC guarantees and fit comfort in your day-to-day life.

Sources

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