Sony has officially rolled out the WH-1000XM6, the latest version of its popular wireless noise-canceling headphones. It's been three years since the XM5 hit the shelves, and the XM6 picks up where that model left off — but with a few noticeable changes aimed at fixing what some users didn’t love the last time around.

The new model brings back the folding design, introduces smarter noise cancellation, and arrives with a price of $449 in the U.S., which is a $50 bump from the XM5 at launch.

One of the biggest complaints about the WH-1000XM5 was that it didn’t fold — a change from the foldable XM4 that left travelers scratching their heads. Sony seems to have taken that feedback seriously. The XM6 brings back foldable hinges, making them easier to pack into a bag or toss in a carry-on without awkward angles.

Sony didn’t stop there. The travel case got an update too — it’s now slimmer and ditches the zipper in favor of a magnetic closure that snaps shut quickly. The headband has also been widened slightly, and the ear cushions have been reworked with thicker padding. The overall build feels a bit sturdier thanks to new metal supports, and the outside finish now resists fingerprints better, with a ceramic-like texture that replaces the slightly rubbery feel of the XM4 and XM5.

As for colors, you’ve got three to choose from: black, midnight blue, and platinum silver (which is more of a sandy off-white than anything metallic).

Sony's known for its noise-canceling tech, and with the XM6, it's bringing some serious upgrades under the hood. The star here is a new chip called the QN3, which Sony says is seven times faster than the one used in the previous model. That’s a big leap — and it powers what Sony is calling “adaptive NC optimisation.”

So what does that mean in practice? The headphones now use 12 microphones (up from 8) to constantly adjust how they cancel noise based on your surroundings. Whether you're walking outside, sitting in a café, or working in a noisy office, the XM6 adapts in real time to keep things quiet.

It also does a better job handling factors that usually mess with ANC — things like glasses, hats, or even how your hair sits under the earcups. A new feature called Scene-based Listening goes a step further, automatically playing music and adjusting settings based on your activity and location.

Battery life hasn’t changed — you’ll still get about 30 hours with ANC on, or 40 hours with it off. But there is one new perk: you can now use the headphones while they’re charging, something previous models didn’t allow. And if you’re short on time, a 3-minute charge gives you around 3 hours of playback.

Sony has also made some tweaks to the audio hardware. Inside are newly developed 30mm drivers made with a carbon fiber composite material. According to Sony, that helps reduce distortion and improves clarity, especially in higher frequencies. They’ve also added a new voice coil component that aims to boost treble performance.

There’s a 10-band equalizer now (up from five), so you can fine-tune the sound to your liking. And if you watch a lot of movies or shows, the new “Cinema” mode — labeled as 360 Reality Audio Upmix — can turn stereo audio into a more immersive experience. It works across both Android and iOS, though head-tracking features are still Android-only.

Codec support includes SBC, AAC, LDAC, and now Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast — assuming your phone supports those.

If you take a lot of calls or use voice assistants, the XM6 should be a bit more reliable. It now uses six beamforming microphones (three on each side) and a new AI-driven noise reduction model that was trained on over 500 million voice samples. The goal is to help your voice cut through background noise more clearly, whether you're outside on a windy day or in a crowded space.

There’s also a new double-tap gesture to mute your mic, which you can turn on or off in the Sony Headphones Connect app. Physical buttons are still here too, but now they’re shaped differently to make them easier to distinguish by touch.

The WH-1000XM6 is available now through Sony’s website and on Amazon for $449 in the U.S. That’s a jump from the XM5, which is now available for under $350 Amazon. It’s also right in line with other top-tier noise-canceling headphones, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Apple’s AirPods Max.

If you’re looking for something more affordable and don’t need all the latest features, the XM5 is still a solid option.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 brings back the foldable design people missed, adds smarter ANC, and upgrades call quality and sound in meaningful ways. It’s not a dramatic reinvention, but more of a thoughtful update that tackles past complaints and keeps pace with the competition. Whether it’s worth upgrading depends on what you’re currently using, and whether those extra features make a difference in your daily routine.