Sony has finally made the teaser official: the company will unveil its next-generation WF-1000XM6 earbuds on February 12 at 16:00 UTC. That announcement landed just as a retail listing — since pulled — spilled most of the visual and spec clues fans have been waiting for.
Less flash, more grip
If the leaked Power Buy images are accurate, Sony has pushed the XM line in a practical direction. The glossy, truffle-like finish that divided opinions on past models appears to be gone in favor of a grippier matte surface. The buds themselves adopt a pill-shaped silhouette, and the charging case looks noticeably slimmer and more pocket-friendly than the XM5’s wider case.
Those are small changes that add up. A matte finish reduces accidental slips on a commute; a slimmer case makes the whole package less bulky in your pocket. It’s the sort of thoughtful refinement many users asked for after the XM5.
Microphones, bass and basic specs
Close-up photos from the listing show three external microphone grilles on each earbud — an indicator Sony is doubling down on wind-noise reduction and call clarity. The earbuds also show larger nozzles, which usually points to a wider air channel and, potentially, stronger low-end response. The listing confirmed IPX4 water resistance and retained Sony’s headline features: active noise cancellation and a transparency mode.
Sony hasn’t said much beyond the teaser, but the extra mic hardware and slightly altered shape suggest more than a cosmetic update. Improvements to ANC or the transparency experience would make sense given the company’s positioning in the premium ANC earbuds market.
Price and colors
The retail slip lists a price of about 11,990 Thai baht — roughly $330 — which translates to an expected US price in the neighborhood of $329.99 and about €299.99 in the Eurozone. That’s about $30 more than the XM5’s launch price, and places the XM6 squarely in the premium category. Two colorways have surfaced so far (black and white), and rumor mills mention a sand-pink option as well.
Why this matters
Sony’s XM series has often led on noise cancellation and tuning. If the XM6 can combine that core performance with better grip, improved call handling and a touch more bass where earbuds usually struggle, it could be the rare refresh that fixes a few small but meaningful complaints.
For people who upgrade regularly, the question will be whether the XM6’s refinements — case size, finish, extra mics and slightly different acoustic layout — justify the price bump. For everyone else, the launch is a reminder to hold off on premium ANC purchases for a couple of weeks.
Sony’s earbuds come amid a broader stream of company activity: the firm’s work on ethical AI benchmarks like its FHIBE initiative shows it’s still pushing R&D in other areas, not just consumer audio. You can also see how Sony is balancing diverse hardware efforts from headphones to gaming with updates such as the recent changes to the PlayStation Portal.
If you want to compare alternatives, Apple’s AirPods line remains the usual benchmark for seamless device integration; the latest AirPods model — including the Pro variants — are worth a look if ecosystem convenience matters to you AirPods Pro.
No matter how confident the leaks look, Sony’s February 12 event is the only place to get confirmed specs, battery numbers and final pricing. Until then, the XM6 looks like a sensible, user-focused evolution rather than a radical reinvention — which, for many listeners, is exactly what they wanted.