Sony has launched its flagship headphones for 2025, the WH-1000XM6 (Mark 6), at Rs 39,990 in India. On paper, they build on the strengths of the WH-1000XM5 with thoughtful upgrades in design, audio, and usability. The new model runs on the faster QN3 processor, paired with a 12-microphone setup, which assures stronger noise cancellation and clearer calls. The XM5 was already a noise-cancelling champ, so I’m eager to see how much further the XM6 pushes the envelope. The new pair also introduces a specially designed 30mm driver unit with a carbon fibre composite dome and a new voice coil structure for tighter and more controlled sound. Sony claims these refinements, developed in collaboration with mastering engineers at Sterling Sound, Battery Studios, and Coast Mastering, bring the XM6 closer to ‘studio-level accuracy’. This makes me curious to hear how these upgrades play out in the real-world listening. Here are my first impressions.
SurveyThe first thing that stood out to me was the headphones’ design. The WH-1000XM6 introduces a foldable hinge, making it more compact for travel. The hinge now has metal reinforcement for added strength, and the case has been reworked with a slimmer profile and a magnetic latch that snaps shut with ease. You can pick the headphones in black, platinum silver, and a new midnight blue finish.
Comfort has also been improved. The headband is now flatter and sits more cosily, while the vegan leather ear pads rest flush against the ears, improving passive isolation. At 254g, the XM6 is noticeably lighter than the 386g AirPods Max, thanks to its polycarbonate build, which makes a difference during longer sessions. There’s no IP rating this time either, which may be a drawback for some users.
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Controls and connectivity remain straightforward. The left earcup houses six microphones, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a power button, and a function button to toggle between ANC and ambient modes. The right earcup carries more microphones, a USB-C port, and touch controls. Despite being designed as wireless headphones, the bundled aux cable can come in handy for hi-res, low-latency audio or when the headphones’ battery dies. Inside the case, you’ll find a USB-A to C charging cable, along with a 1.2m headphone cable, and a reference guide.
When it comes to sound, in my brief listening, I noticed the XM6 sounds louder than the AirPods Max, arguably its biggest rival. The Sony pair also produces more pronounced bass, but without dulling clarity and detail.
With ANC off, both Sony and Apple headphones let in muffled background noise. With ANC on, the XM6 creates near silence, though voices still filter through. Yet, it edges out the AirPods Max in this respect. The story is different in ambient/transparency mode. The XM6 amplifies surroundings but retains a headphone-like character, while Apple delivers a more natural experience. The presence of AI-based beamforming in its six-microphone system should also make a difference for call quality. The company says adaptive noise control is smarter this time, with Auto Ambient Sound adjusting to your surroundings. I will move out of my office floor to test this out.
The listening experience does tie closely to Sony’s Sound Connect app, too. You can switch between equaliser profiles, change sound modes (like noise cancellation and ambient sound) and playback controls with this app. There’s a lot to talk about the app, or should we say the features and controls it lets you access.
Furthermore, on the software side, there’s support for the LDAC codec for high-resolution audio, 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema, scene-based listening, Auracast for broadcasting sound and Bluetooth LE Audio for lower power consumption.
Battery life has also seen a bump, now promising nearly 40 hours with ANC off, over five hours more than the XM5. A quick three-minute top-up can deliver up to three hours of playback. I am looking forward to testing this out.
So far, from the initial experience, the XM6 feels like a refinement update, more portable, feature-rich, and aspirational. The Sony WH-1000XM6 will be available in India from 29 September 2025 for Rs 39,990, a Rs 5,000 increase over the XM5’s launch price.
The real test, though, will be how these headphones hold up in everyday use. How well do the new drivers perform? Does the smarter noise-cancelling live up to Sony’s claims? And how much of a difference does the app make? We’ll explore all of this in our detailed Sony WH-1000XM6 review soon. Stay tuned for that!
Keep reading Digit.in for more such headphone-related stories.
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G. S. Vasan
G.S. Vasan is the chief copy editor at Digit, where he leads coverage of TVs and audio. His work spans reviews, news, features, and maintaining key content pages. Before joining Digit, he worked with publications like Smartprix and 91mobiles, bringing over six years of experience in tech journalism. His articles reflect both his expertise and passion for technology. View Full Profile
