Alleged renders of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones appear online

The German-Austrian website TechnikNews has shared renders and some specifications of the alleged WH-1000XM5. The new headphones in Sony’s popular product line have a significantly updated design compared to predecessors.

The new design that according to the site will be available in black and silver is the most striking. The whole looks smoother and more minimalistic and the hinges above the ear cups, which made the headphones more ‘foldable’, are no longer there. TechnikNews also states that the renders ‘suggest’ that the power button has become a slider.

Sony hasn’t modified the design it uses today with the WH-1000XM4 much for a long time: the 2015 MDR-100AAP had it, it was slightly modified for the 2016 MDR-1000X and the subsequent WH-1000XM2, XM3 and XM4 received few adjustments. So this would be the biggest style change in the series since 2015.

In addition to the new design, the site’s sources claim the headphones have a battery life of 40 hours with noise canceling active and that they can be charged in 3.5 hours. Compared to its predecessor, the WH-1000XM4, the battery life has been extended by ten hours, but a full charge also takes half an hour longer.

TechnikNews also reports that the active noise canceling is powered by two processors, where predecessors probably had one. Noise canceling is also done with the help of three microphones. The drivers have also been replaced, but there is no more information about this. The Bluetooth version has been increased to 5.2 and the 3.5 mm input and USB-c port are still present. There are no details about more extensive codec support.

According to a TechnikNews ‘retail source’, the release of the new headphones is imminent. A price for the WH-1000XM5 is unknown. At the time of release, the WH-1000XM4 cost about 380 euros.

More images can be found in the article from TechnikNews