Highly anticipated: Sony's might have a fresh pair of flagship noise-canceling cans dropping soon. A few recent FCC filings have led to speculation that the company is preparing to unleash its next-gen WH-1000XM6 headphones sometime this year.
Recent FCC filings give us a sneak peek into what could be Sony's next-gen XM6 headset. Drawings suggest a slightly tweaked physical design from the current XM5 model.
One of the most intriguing changes is detachable earpads. The filing shows the earpads can lift off, with the headphone's nameplate and serial numbers tucked underneath. Sony hid that info along the inner pad edge on the XM5.
It's unclear if the earpads use magnets, clips, or some other adhering system to stay put. Screws seem unlikely, given the FCC requires the nameplate to be visible to users. Whatever the mode, having the earpads be removable could allow for easier repairs or swapping in different pad materials down the line.
The headphones also appear to sport a tweaked hinge. Hopefully, this translates to a foldable design. For context, the XM5 only folds flat, not allowing for more compact storage. Users considered this a major downside over the XM4, so this is Sony's chance to change a previously unfavorable design decision.
The FCC filing indicates Sony is sticking with Bluetooth 5.3 and LE Audio support. Some minor antenna changes are evident, which could improve wireless performance and range. The Walkman Blog notes that the driver size remains unchanged at 30mm.
Sony lists the tested unit as a prototype rather than production-ready. Most of Sony's previous FCC filings were for either pre-production or finished models. So take what you will from this.
Nailing down an official unveiling is a guessing game, but the FCC filing requests a short confidentiality period ending July 22nd, 2025. So, we will likely get an official XM6 reveal before then.
The most recent rollouts of Sony's XM series have followed a biennial schedule. The XM3 landed in August 2018, the XM4 in August 2020, and the XM5 in May 2022. That release cadence means the series is already overdue for a refresh, so a spring or summer 2025 launch for the XM6 seems probable.
