Sony WF-1000XM6 Leaked by Retailer (Update 4)
We have a retail leak of the upcoming Sony WF-1000XM6. Thanks to Mr_Snail10 from reddit for posting the link, excellent find. Say hello to the new WF-1000XM6.
Pre-order the earbuds from Amazon.
WF-1000XM6 Black - Amazon CA $429.99 | WF-1000XM6 Silver - Amazon CA $429.99
WF-1000XM6 Black - Amazon US $329.99 | WF-1000XM6 Silver - Amazon US $329.99
WF-1000XM6 Black - Amazon UK £249 | WF-1000XM6 Silver - Amazon UK £249
UK pricing on Amazon shows £207, so hmm.
WF-1000XM6 Black - Amazon DE €251 | WF-1000XM6 Silver - Amazon DE €251
I will have links up for Germany once they appear
Update 4
Yes I am aware there are new additional details, I have them as well and in the process of making a post.
Update 3
A new photo and comparison shots with WF-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM4. Thank you anonymous source.
I think my first comparison below was a bit off. This comparison again assumes the tips are the same size, and not different.
Update 2
Dealabs and Billbil-kun have posted the specifications for the new model. If correct, then the new model may not be much of an upgrade from the WF-1000XM5 if we only go off the specs.
There is no mention of any new SoC or DSEE Extreme, and the battery life looks to be the same (8h + 16h). We have a 10-band EQ, like the new Clip received, and a new QN3e chip for processing. There are 4 mics per earbud, which was clear from the leaked photos. Granted the 8 hour battery life is with 4 NC microphones and improved ANC, so that is the trade off perhaps. There is also new new driver, but no mention of size.
Update 1
We lack any specifications for the new model, but in meantime, I tried to make a size comparison using the photos from the retail leak. As there are no dimensions for the case, we cannot use that as a reference, so I had to go another route. I ended up using the 2 photos below, which are roughly the same angle.
From the photo, we can see the WF-1000XM6 case is narrower when compared to the WF-1000XM5. This does seem to match the box dimensions I wrote about way back in July 2025, which showed a narrower box but also a tad taller and deeper. Edit, while perhaps not accurate, I tried estimating the size of the WF-1000XM6 case using the dimensions of the WF-1000XM5 case using the above photo. The case width came out to around 56.8mm. If we assume the width to be 'close', then the depth of the case could be around ~25.9mm. Finally the height based off the photo would be around 35.2mm. This would mean we are looking at a potential case dimension of 56.8 x 35.2 x 26 mm. Whether this is accurate remains to be seen. (edit, wayyyyy off. 61.6 x 41.1 x 26.5 mm actual dimensions)
While examining the WF-1000XM6 case photos, I did notice that the LED is still present on the front, but behind the plastic. It is not that visible but it is there. Here is a zoomed in shot.
The retail leak has no specifications apart from IPX4 rating, noise cancelling and ambient modes. Good news is the shiny plastic is gone and we are back to matte plastic.
Some things visible from the photos is 3 possible external mics. If this is correct, then we still have 1 more additional mic inside, meaning 4 total mics per earbud. Of course this could be wrong.
Update: The lower arrow on the left is not a microphone, but the vent for air movement.
The photos also shows the tips, which are probably foam, like the WF-1000XM4 and WF-1000XM5. We only have 2 colours, black and platinum silver. If there is a sandy pink, either it is region specific or coming later.
Edit, the tips may be foam, but different design and build? The WF-1000XM6 lacks the internal silicone layer (red arrow) on the inside of the foam tip as seen in the WF-1000XM5 (top photo). In addition the space between the earbud and tip is reduced on the WF-1000XM6 (yellow arrow).
oof, that looks cheap and not very premium
ReplyDeleteIf sound is improved, like from the XM5 headphones to the XM6, and also mic pickup, and if comfort is as good, as the XM5 buds, then I honestly don't care that they don't look premium.
DeleteIt remains to be seen.
Looks like some generic chnksht, hope the sound will be ok so I won't waste time returning it.
Deleteagreed. looks like skullcandy trash or something else
DeleteLmao what a garbage take.
DeleteToo bad that there's no more info about the specs/features.
ReplyDeleteFinally! Personally, I like the case design and the matte finish on the buds, but the design of the buds looks very generic and not as premium as previous versions. Would love to find out what tech improvements and driver size we're looking at this time round.
ReplyDeleteCould we expect an announcement this week by any chance?
ReplyDeleteNot going to write out 1000 a 1000 times and bloat out the text below. But it's what things will refer to.
ReplyDeleteCase design looks interesting in a good way. Blocky, yet fluid. Nice colour, too. IPX4 has me excited to wear this while working out. I really hope that the ANC is close or matches the WH-XM6 relatively. Those are supposed to be best in class, from what I understand. As a WH-XM4 owner with fond memories of WF-XM4 too, I am stoked to see what that means in practice.
I'm also in the market for a bike to use for commuting and exercising. I remember that WF-XM4 had a wind reduction feature. I had those before I lost them. I hope that this has a similar thing. As I understand, the WF-XM5 did not have this. I'd like to hear more about WF-XM5 from someone who has biked or jogged in windy weather wearing those buds.
The XM5 has sweat resistance, and it deals with wind automatically, in a better way than the XM4 with the "wind reduction" enabled.
Delete1000X is the model name. Just saying.
DeleteYou're right. Though WH is the on-ear ones and WF are the true wireless ones.
DeleteAlso like how they haven't gone with the bud stem
My god, they are fugly...
ReplyDeleteWill be preordering asap as I did with the wf-xm5, it's still my favourite daily user set for out and about. I like how the xm6 looks, it has a low key minimalist design, a little like Final Audio.
ReplyDeleteSince mom washed the my belowed XM5s, I can't come soon enough. Will be an instant buy. The case look weird for me, the XM5 are premium and cute, this looks odd, but need to see it in person.
ReplyDeleteThe case is not really biggee than the XM5 one.
DeleteNot buying the design. Looks cheap & lazy
ReplyDeleteI'll reserve judgement until I see them in the flesh, but the design is growing on me. Love the case either way! With Technics hot on their tail (az100 better than xm5 imo), I think Sony will pull out all he stops for this one. I'm hoping anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe design looks generic, but if the overall quality improves and especially the microphone quality, then the design doesn’t really matter to me.
ReplyDeleteYou just need to enable LC3 and the mic quality will improve.
Deletethat is easier said than done, especially if their phone has no LC3 support.
DeleteNice improvement in design over horribly cheap XM5 but will there be any hardware upgrade? XM5 was more of the same just in cheap shell.
ReplyDeletehow was the wf-xm5 the same? it has completely different internals and build. extra mems mic, larger driver. different battery.
DeleteNome of those changes made any noticeable difference, Sony become complected and competition overtook them in TWS market.
DeleteJust stop talking. You have no idea what you're talking about. As someone who has owned XM3 to XM5, each model was different
DeleteWill you have an affiliate link when those are released ? Would love to buy that way.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are up on the new post.
Deletehttps://thewalkmanblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/sony-wf-1000xm6-revealed.html
Nice size comparison! That Aaron guy (loudnwireless) has your size comparison pic on his website, not sure if he has mentioned you as well.
ReplyDeleteNo he has his own comparison, but he used the very different angle photos as reference, so it won't be accurate.
DeleteThey look like trash. If I'm spending north if $400 i want a premium look. The xm6 headphones look generic so I opted for the B&W px8. Sony has lost their mojo
ReplyDeleteYou bought the name with shoddy specs because you care about aesthetics so much haha. You're just a casual who claims to be an audiophile
DeleteI think if they kept the copper color for the two external mics, the buds would look better. Also the case could use a 2 tone color like the XM3
ReplyDeleteYeah the two tone case was nice, I miss that.
Deleteyou can't judge if the earbuds will be worse or better just with the specs.
ReplyDeleteI also think that they are ugly, especially the case. They will probably cut my hand when holding it, so I am definitely not a fan of the looks.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that this will come with Bluetooth 6. I will be disappointed if it doesn't. BT 6 is supposed to have better latency and better connection in crowded environments. My WF-1000XM5 can't connect to my Pixel 10 Pro XL with the best LDAP options, because I have a Pixel watch and a Bluetooth tracker connected. I've heard / hope that something like this would work better with BT6. Of course a nicer driver would be appreciated, but better connectivity is my top priority.
sir, I would like to ask what kind of fantasy world you are living in? ;)
DeleteI've always considered Sony a stylish and professional company. But after seeing the design of the WF-1000XM6, I had my doubts. This design is more suited to the LinkBuds Sport than the flagship WF-1000XM6. I didn't see any revolutions in the technical specifications, just improvements over the XM-1000xm4/xm5. Are these improvements worth $330? The open design definitely isn't a question. They should be more conservative with the design and release an updated XM4/XM5 design with more colors and a more diverse combination (gold and red, platinum and titanium, copper and chocolate, shiny steel and chrome). I'm sure they sound good, but I sincerely hope they release the LinkBuds Sport with a better design.
ReplyDelete