Sony WH-1000XM6 (YY2984) hits the FCC (Update 5)

Here we go folks, the WH-1000XM6 (YY2984) has shown up on the FCC. I know many have been waiting for this, so here we go, let us see what the filling reveals.

First off, the short term confidentiality ends on July 22 2025, but hopefully we will get a reveal before this. The headset is described as a Wireless Noise Canceling Stereo Headset, and is made in Malaysia. Just like previously, fast charging will be supported as we have 5V and 9V rating. We have the same battery rating 3.8V like in the WH-1000XM5. This does not mean we will have the same capacity. WH-1000XM3 was 1000mAh, WH-1000Xm4 was 1100mAh, and WH-1000XM5 is 1200mAh.

The design from the label document (see top photo), shows what could be detachable earpads, but unknown if the pads are connected with clips or magnets. While the earcup and pads are only drawings, they do look different than the WH-1000XM5, so perhaps we have a redesign of the pads and even the hinge, but only speculation. The driver size, if accurate in the drawing, looks to still be 30mm.

Bluetooth version is 5.3 (BR/EDR/LE), which could mean LE Audio will be supported. The antenna is now described as "Inverted-F Antenna", where as previously the WH-1000XM5 used a "chip antenna". The antenna gain is now 2.91 dBi versus 1.6 dBi in the WH-1000XM5.

The software for Bluetooth testing is "Headset_BT_Test", the same software as was used in the WH-1000XM5, so there is a good chance we will see a Mediatek SoC again. It is interesting that Sony is using their own AC Adapter in the test, the AC-UD20, which is rated at 5V = 1500mAh, or 7.5W. Note, this was the charger used in the FCC testing.

Finally, the device is described as an engineering prototype, not per-production just like with the WH-1000XM5. If I find any more information I will update the post.

Update 5 - February 11 2025

The headset has appeared on IMDA. Still no Korean FCC listing or TDRA.

Update 4 - February 7 2025

I have colour information from a source, the headset will be offered in 3 colours, black, silver, and blue. It seems that the blue that Sony added to the WH-1000XM5 has become quite a popular choice, so I think Sony has opted to keep it on the new model. 

Thank you to the source.

Update 3 - February 6 2025

The headsets has appeared on UL Solutions, which is a safety testing company. UL "tests the latest products and technologies for safety before they are marketed around the world". This is for both US and Canada. So a step closer to release.

Notice that the current WH-1000XM5 (YY2954) is also on this same list. I have checked, but no other new model codes on UL. Still wondering when we will see them on Korea's FCC, TDRA, IMDA or EcomM

Update 2 - January 25 2025

The headset has been certified in Canada. Still nothing on Korea's FCC.

Update: I have received a few questions from many users, I will try to address some of these questions in the post.

When will the headset be released? Is it July 2025?

The short term confidentiality (STC) ends on July 22 2025, meaning the internal and external photos of the device, and the manual will be available for viewing. Most of Sony's headsets are revealed before their short term confidentiality date ends. The WH-1000XM5's STC date was August 8th 2023, but the headset was announced in May 2023, so around 13 weeks before. So potentially we could be looking an announcement date of end of April to early May.

Will LE Audio be supported?

The FCC filling does not reveal this information. The only information is BR/EDR/LE, but the LE could just be for Low energy Bluetooth, and not LE Audio. Unfortunately Bluetooth SIG no longer shows any model information, and the organization has locked down viewing of individual models behind a login.

Has the hinge been redesigned?

Great question. If we take the drawing as the final design, then upon initial inspection the new hinge looks different to the WH-1000XM5.

This is a comparison, not ideal, but should suffice.

1. This is the same line on the WH-1000XM5. Notice this is straight and flat, no curve in this connection.
2. The surface under the hinge on the WH-1000XM5 looks very different to the one on the WH-1000XM6. The new model has concave top curve, where as the old model has a convex curve at the top. Clearly this is different.
3. This new seam/line is straight but then curves down and then back to straight again. This is not present on the WH-1000XM5.
4. A second seam/line is present above #3, again absent in the WH-1000XM5.

So with #3 and #4, I think we have a new design on the hinge. Could it be a folding hinge? Perhaps, #2 could be the folding hinge piece. But the photo below shows the drawings for the WH-1000XM4 and ULT Wear, both which fold and their hinges look very different.

You said it is a prototype, does this mean the design can change?

Very unlikely, as in the past all, if not most of Sony's FCC fillings were of prototype models, with a few exceptions where they were pre-production, and even some production. The WH-1000XM3 and M4 were pre-production models, but the WH-1000XM5 was a prototype, like the WH-1000XM6.

Will there be support for aptX?

I would not bet on it. Sony stopped supporting aptX once they moved to Mediatek SoCs in their headsets. The last model that supported aptX used a Qualcomm SoC.

What is the difference between a "chip" antenna and a "Inverse-F" antenna?

The only information which I think could be useful is this statement from Wikipedia:

The design has two advantages over a simple monopole: the antenna is shorter and more compact, allowing it to be contained within the case of the mobile device, and it can be impedance matched to the feed circuit by the designer, allowing it to radiate power efficiently, without the need for extraneous matching components.

So if the new antenna is a PCB inverse-F antenna, then this could allow Sony to make the main PCB smaller. But then the main PCB on the WH-1000XM5 is already quite small and compact. Of course if anyone who is more versed in this field, can explain why Sony went with an inverse-F antenna, please drop it in the comments.

Thanks to anonymous for letting me know. Question now is, where is the WF-1000XM6?