Sony WH-1000XM6
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source are considered by consumers and industry experts to be some of the best headphones on the market, with high marks for their comfort, sound, software features, and excellent noise-canceling capabilities.
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Now, the WH-1000XM6 
The XM6’s ambient sound mode is also impressive, naturally replicating the noises around you. The microphone quality for phone calls is fantastic, and the ambient noise mode offers a significant amount of sidetone, allowing you to hear yourself talk as well. Sony says adding four more beamforming microphones is responsible for clearer call quality.
The noise cancellation is powerful; my only gripe is that settings can’t be manually adjusted in the app. Therefore, you’re stuck with superpowered ANC in public, which isn’t always ideal.
Design and comfort
The design of Sony’s WH-1000X line of flagship over-ear headphones has always been utilitarian and functional, rather than flashy, eye-catching, or particularly stunning. That ethos hasn’t changed with the XM6.
Every design choice that separates the XM6 from its predecessor was made purely for improved functionality for the end user, and enhanced aesthetics from those improvements are in the eye of the beholder.
The XM6’s battery life isn’t improved compared to the XM5, so the new generation also promises 30 hours of playback with noise cancellation enabled and 40 hours without. However, a new feature is that you can listen to the XM6 while changing them, like the Beats Studio Pro. However, the XM6 do not support audio via USB-C, and they will connect to your listening device via Bluetooth while charging.
Sony’s headphones are typically stacked with software features, and the XM6 have all of Sony’s software bells and whistles. The Sony SoundConnect app features equalizer settings, customizable multifunction button options, Speak-to-Chat, which lowers your music volume when the headphones detect conversation, location-based noise cancellation, and more.
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A new feature called Head Gestures allows you to answer or decline phone calls by nodding or shaking your head, which is one of my favorite features I use on my AirPods Pro 2. The XM6 also sport touch controls on the surface of the right earcup, which are just as reliable as the XM5’s.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The latest Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra