Updated design
Overall, the WH-1000XM5, whose name remains complete, is not a major change from its predecessor, and interestingly, Sony will continue to sell the previous XM4 alongside this new pair. However, there are a few noteworthy changes. The most notable changes are in the design: Compared to the XM4, the XM5 has a thinner headband and wider ear cushions to better suit those with larger ears. The ear cups use a softer synthetic leather material, and the slider used to adjust the fit of the headband is now smoother and burr-free.
The overall design is somewhat reminiscent of the Bose 700 noise-cancelling headphones, though the XM5s are still primarily made up of smooth and durable looking plastic rather than the metallic finish of the Bose pair. There’s still a button on the side to quickly switch between ANC and Ambient Sound modes, while swiping and pressing on the sides of the earbuds still lets you take calls, adjust the volume, and skip tracks. The headband also remains quite flexible.
The headphones also still come with a headphone jack and cable for wired listening, and you can use the headphones passively without battery power if you need to (although you’ll lose noise cancellation and other features if you do).
The big trade-off is that you can’t fold the XM5 earcups, only horizontally. As a result, the headphones will take up more space on your desk when you’re not using them, and the included carrying case is significantly larger than the XM4. For most, this may not be critical, but it is inconvenient.