First Sony WF-1000XM5 leaks reveal important design changes for next-gen high-end earbuds
UPDATE: Not that impressed by the quality and clarity of the first Sony WF-1000XM5 image above leaked from Amazon? Leave it to WinFuture's Roland Quandt to unearth not one but two sharp product depictions showing off the tweaked design of the company's flagship wireless earbuds in two different colors.
Both the silver and black WF-1000XM5 look sleek, slim, and arguably stylish with their glossy finish and matching (matte) charging case, and as revealed in the initial leak detailed below, the footprint of the next-gen buds is clearly smaller than that of 2021's WF-1000XM4.
Unfortunately, the usually very knowledgeable Roland Quandt has practically no new information to share on the specs, features, and capabilities of the impending Sony WF-1000XM5 at this time, which suggests the product's official launch may not be as close on the horizon as first thought. Stay tuned for that, and in the meantime, check out our original story below.
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Then you have Sony's WF-1000XM line of super-premium (and super-expensive) buds, which was last refreshed in June 2021. Exactly two years later, we have reason to expect the WF-1000XM5 to break cover any day now with a lot of the same major features as the WF-1000XM4 and a revised design.
This all appears to have been prematurely disclosed by Amazon, which is extremely likely to officially put Sony's next-gen AirPods Pro 2 rival up for pre-order in select markets around the world by the end of this week.
Just like their predecessors, the WF-1000XM5 are virtually (and unsurprisingly) guaranteed to offer state-of-the-art noise cancelling capabilities and hi-res audio technology, as well as wearing detection, multipoint connection, Precise Voice Pickup functionality, and wireless charging support.
The somewhat unexpected thing leaked today is the "up to 24 hours" battery life rating of these next-gen bad boys (with the wireless charging case factored in), which would represent no change whatsoever from what the WF-1000XM4 offer in the same department.
That sounds like disappointing news, but the Sony WF-1000XM5 are also expected to be physically smaller and lighter than the WF-1000XM4, tipping the scales at 5.9 grams per bud (compared to 7.3), and in that case, an unchanged battery endurance score can actually be considered an upgrade.
The WF-1000XM5 case will apparently also be ever so slightly lighter than its forerunner, at 39 grams (versus 41), making it even easier to carry these things with you wherever you go.
Meanwhile, the only image we have depicting the design of Sony's next big little high-end true wireless thing is kind of blurry and wonky, nonetheless making it clear that the WF-1000XM5 will look distinctive and undeniably sleek.
There's a very good chance the fit and all-day comfort of the WF-1000XM4 will be improved here, although it definitely remains to be seen how hardcore Sony fans will respond to the new shape and glossiness of the WF-1000XM5. Stay tuned for more specs and features, a release date, and price point to be revealed fairly soon, at least if the latest rumors prove accurate.
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