Sony’s Next Flagship Noise-canceling Headphones Might Be Close To Launch

It’s been 3 agelong years since Sony launched its flagship WH-1000XM5 headphones, our premier for nan champion wireless headphones for astir people, truthful we’re owed a follow-up — and a regulatory filing indicates that nan XM6 cans mightiness astir beryllium caller to launch. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing hints astatine a flimsy redesign, including a caller hinge and what look to beryllium detachable earpads.

The Walkman Blog first spotted nan filing, which includes a merchandise sketch showing disconnected immoderate of nan specifications of nan correct earcup. Most interestingly, nan sketch shows nan earpad lifting disconnected to uncover nan location of nan “user-visible punishment plate” containing nan exemplary and serial numbers. Since nan FCC requires this punishment expanse beryllium accessible to users, it seems apt that nan pad is attached without screws, though we don’t cognize if that’s pinch clips, magnets, aliases point else. The XM5s hid their FCC specifications nether nan psyche separator of nan pads instead, which were not removable.

Otherwise there’s not excessively overmuch to glean from nan filing. The headphones’ hinge looks somewhat different from nan erstwhile generation’s, though there’s nary logic yet to judge that intends a return to nan folding creation of nan XM4s. The Bluetooth type is reported to beryllium 5.3, and location are immoderate specifications connected nan antenna and powerfulness specs, but point to propose really nan headphones will look aliases sound.

The FCC filing doesn’t punishment these arsenic nan XM6 headphones, but nan exemplary numbers look to springiness it away. These headphones personification nan exemplary number YY2984, remarkably akin to nan XM5s’ YY2954 designation. The only connection of beryllium alert is that nan tested exemplary is marked arsenic a prototype, alternatively than a pre-production aliases wide accumulation unit, truthful immoderate specifications whitethorn alteration earlier release.

The FCC filing includes a “short-term confidentiality” petition dated to extremity connected July 22nd 2025, which surely suggests that we’ll get an charismatic uncover earlier that date. The XM5s launched successful May 2022, truthful we whitethorn beryllium owed different outpouring release.