It appears that Sony is gearing up to release its high-end consumer successor to the WH-1000XM5 noise canceling headphones, and potentially very soon, according to a new leak from Dealabs via Android Authority. 

Sony launched the WH-1000XM5 three years ago, in May 2022, marking the longest gap in time from one generation to another since the line was introduced in 2016. The series has always balanced a mix of function, comfort and sound that has kept it on many top noise-canceling headphone lists, including CNET’s.

The new headphones were first spotted by a Reddit user that found a since-removed Amazon Spain listing, detailing the specs and pricing of the latest over-ear headphones from Sony. In the three years that it’s taken to get a new pair of headphones from this lineup, it’s fairly easy to assume that there are improvements across the board.

What’s new in the WH-1000XM6?

Here’s the supposed official description and feature list taken from the original page, after being translated: 

• The flagship model, with Sony’s best noise cancellation and best ambient sound mode ever on over-ear headphones.
• With the new QN3 HD Noise Cancelling processor and 12 microphones, our Multi Noise Sensor technology with Auto NC Optimizer delivers optimal performance anywhere.
• Developed with Grammy-winning mastering engineers, 30mm drivers, Hi-Res Audio, DSEE Extreme to enhance every track, and a customizable 10-band EQ.
• The Sony WH-1000XM6 folds flat for easy storage and transport. The new case provides protection, with a magnetic closure for quick access.
• Lightweight for all-day wear, the new headband is even more comfortable and secure than the previous model, with soft, padded ear cushions for a premium feel.
• A quick 3-minute charge provides 3 hours of entertainment, and you can even use the WH-1000XM6 while charging.
• 360 Upmix for Cinema transforms stereo content into immersive sound, coming from the sides, behind, and above. Game EQ improves clarity and detail during gameplay.
• With six AI-powered microphones, calls are crystal-clear, even in the busiest environments. AI noise reduction filters out unwanted sounds
• Multipoint connection lets you seamlessly switch between your Bluetooth devices, including iPhone, Android, PC, and Mac
• Adaptive Sound Control, Quick Attention, Background Music, Personalized Spatial Audio, Wind Noise Reduction, 360 Reality Audio with head tracking, and Speak to Chat.

Let’s break it down. 

According to the leaked specs, the Sony 1000XM6 headphones look to improve upon their predecessors with a new QN3 HD Noise Cancelling processor, up from the QN1 processor in the XM5s — the fact that Sony is skipping the existence of the QN2 and going straight to the QN3 could just be marketing, but Dealab’s report says the processor is up to 7x faster than its predecessor. 

The headphones will apparently ship with 12 microphones — six of which are powered by AI to improve call quality and reduce unwanted noise. Like its predecessor, the latest headphones will also ship with an auto noise-canceling optimizer. CNET had already crowned the XM5s as the go-to noise-canceling headphones to grab for great calls, and the latest version looks to bolster what was already great. 

Fast charging is still intact, the leak shows, and a 3-minute charge will be able to provide 3 hours of «entertainment,» as the description says, but those specifics, if true, will likely be ironed out during the official announcement. In contrast, Dealabs’ report claims a 3-minute charge will provide 1 hour battery life. 

Most older features are still apparently present in the latest version of the headphones. The signature touch controls on the earcup, and the semi-infuriating Speak to Chat function that always re-enables itself on my 1000XM4s will stay put, along with the 3.5mm headphone jack and support for Hi-Res audio. 

The 1000XM6s will get the bump to Bluetooth version 5.3 vs 5.2 found in the 1000XM5 headphones, and will be a negligible 4 grams heavier than the older version as well, coming in at 254 grams. 

Pricing and availability

The new headphones will apparently be available in three colors, including black, platinum silver and midnight blue, with pricing pegged at $450 in the US.

The official announcement isn’t far off, either, it seems. Based of off Dealab’s own information, the Sony 1000XM6 will be unveiled sometime between May 14 and May 16, 2025, which falls in line with the May 15 timing found on the screengrab of the Amazon leak.

AirDrop has long been a fast and easy way for Apple users to transfer files between devices. When enabled, you can easily share photos, documents, videos, audio recordings, contact cards, web links, notes and more between iPads, iPhones and Macs. AirDrop lets you easily move files across your own devices, but you can also use it to transfer them to nearby contacts (as long as they have iOS or MacOS). It works with any iOS device with iOS 7 or newer and Macs running OS X Yosemite or newer. 

For a detailed explanation of how to use AirDrop, check out our guide here. But even if you follow these steps, sometimes AirDrop can fail. Here are a few possible reasons why it’s not working.

Bluetooth or Wi-Fi isn’t on

AirDrop uses both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to discover devices and share files. So both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi need to be turned on in order for it to work. If even one of the connections is disabled, AirDrop will not work. If you’re having trouble with either of these connections, you can try toggling these features off and on again. To do so, simply head to Settings or Control Center and enable both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 

Personal Hotspot is enabled

If your phone or tablet’s Personal Hotspot feature is turned on, that might prevent AirDrop from working. Make sure that’s disabled and make sure that the other device also has it turned off. A VPN connection might also create issues with AirDrop. If you’re using a VPN, make sure that local networking is allowed. Otherwise, try disabling it in case you’re having issues with AirDrop.

AirDrop is set to Receiving Off

Another reason AirDrop might not be working is that your AirDrop settings are incorrect. If you have it as «Receiving Off,» no one can AirDrop files to you. To correct this, you need to do the following:

• Open the Control Center panel
• Tap the wireless connection icon
• Tap the AirDrop icon
• Choose Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes

The «Contacts Only» option only works with people saved in your contacts while the «Everyone» option opens your phone to the public for 10 minutes. We wouldn’t advise choosing the latter unless you really trust the people around you. If the person you want to AirDrop with isn’t in your contacts yet, it might be best to save them as a contact first before doing the AirDrop. Otherwise, the Everyone option is all right if you’re in a relatively private location. Just make sure that it switches back to a more private option after the transfer ends.

Your contact doesn’t include their Apple ID

If you had set the AirDrop preference set to «Contacts Only,» then both parties need to have each other’s Apple ID email address or mobile number set up in the Contacts app in order to work. If that’s not working, then you can just use the Everyone option to AirDrop the file. 

One of the devices is locked

If one of the devices is locked or powered off, then AirDrop will not work. AirDrop won’t see a locked device as an available device for sending something. Make sure the receiving iPhone, iPad or Mac is unlocked and powered on so that AirDrop can recognize it. 

The devices are too far apart

Since AirDrop uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to transfer files, the two devices need to be within Bluetooth range of each other, which is often 30 feet. Try placing the two devices as close to each other as possible to minimize any errors. In iOS 18, the transfers can continue over the internet even if the initial connection is lost, so you could move apart after the process has already started. 

Incompatible hardware

AirDrop only works with iOS and MacOS products, not with Android or PC products. Android does have Quick Share, which functions similarly to AirDrop. 

It’s also possible that you are trying to AirDrop files that are particularly large, like 4K video files. If that’s the case, check out this guide for transferring large videos from your iPhone to a Mac using the Image Capture tool on MacOSO.

Choosing a pair of wireless earbuds can be difficult, especially if you don’t want to spend the big sums needed for some of the most popular models. But you don’t have to spend a lot to get some top-tier features, and the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds prove it. They were already our favorite budget earbuds, but we can help make them even more affordable. Enter our special discount code (EAP4CNET) and you’ll pick them up for just $54. That’s a new low, but keep in mind that it’s only available on the black earbuds. 

Despite the bargain price, these wireless earbuds support advanced features, including active noise cancellation tech. But that isn’t all, and you’ll find many of the features that you might expect to be reserved for earbuds from Apple, Sony and others.

CNET’s David Katzmaier says that the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds «have every other feature I’d expect, including the ability to connect to two devices simultaneously and programmable touch-sensitive controls on the buds.» There’s more, too, with Katzmaier pointing out that «battery life has been more than ample for me» even when using the ANC feature to block out a noisy household.

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EarFun says that these earbuds can block up to 50 decibels of noise thanks to adaptive ANC technology, while support for aptX lossless audio and up to 52 hours of battery life round out the most notable features. Need to stretch those batteries a little further? A 10-minute charge will get you an additional two hours of listening time.

Why this deal matters

Whether you’re commuting through a busy city or work in a noisy office, a pair of noise-canceling earbuds can be a real lifesaver. Enjoying music, audiobooks and podcasts is much easier when you don’t have to crank the volume just to be able to hear them. At just $54. you really can’t argue with the value proposition on offer here. But if you are looking for savings on other models, we’ve rounded up all the best deals on earbuds and headphones.