I tested the best Sony headphones and earbuds for ANC, sound, and cool factor: See my top 7 picks

Read our full review of the Sony XM5 wireless earbuds.

Those who want premium wireless audio in a stunning true wireless design. Whether it’s daydreaming to your favorite tracks in the office or zoning out to instrumentals on a long international flight, Sony’s flagship buds are sonic bliss.

As we patiently wait for the Mark VI wireless earbuds, which are rumored to launch sometime next year, the WF-1000XM5 sit safely atop the true wireless throne. Two years in and they still maintain a heavy lead over industry favorites like the AirPods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. (Though, the QuietComfort Ultra wins out as the most comfortable earbuds in our testing.)

Sony’s Dynamic Driver X unit expands frequencies for greater clarity and detail. The banging lows, sharp mids, and crisp highs blend well on contemporary recordings. Enabling both DSEE and LDAC enriches sound output and provides smoother streams over Bluetooth 5.3. The V2 and QN2e chipsets work in unison to produce phenomenal noise cancellation that intuitively adapts to environments and removes 90 percent of unwanted noises from the soundscape. 

What’s most fascinating about these earbuds is that they share almost the exact feature set as their headphone counterpart. Notables include Quick Attention to lower volume to 10 percent and Speak-to-Chat for auto-pausing content when chatting with people. 

These buds hold some of the longest playtimes of any noise-canceling earbuds. A full charge generates between 8 to 12 hours of listening time, depending on how you use the buds. The wireless charging case holds up to 36 hours and comes with effective quick charging (a 3-minute charge gives you 1 hour of use). Call quality, controls, and craftsmanship are also executed incredibly well. 

Our only complaint is the frustrating 360 Reality Audio setup. This requires using your smartphone camera to perform a head-tracking test and scan your ears, and it often fails to register movements.

Read of full review of the Sony WH-CH720N headphones.

Budget-conscious shoppers who want several Sony audio perks at a fraction of the cost. The WH-CH720N is an unbeatable deal that fits the bill. While their full retail price is closer to $200, you can almost always find these Sony headphones on sale for under $100. So, if you don't want to pay flagship prices but still value ANC, you just found your new headphones.

The WH-CH720 employs 30mm drivers and exclusive brand technologies to broaden sound performance. Expect a vibrant mix of impactful bass with striking mids and highs. Turning on DSEE raises fidelity on poor-quality recordings, which many luxury headphones can’t do. You can tweak the sound to your liking via the EQ, though the headphones sound great on their default setting.

ANC is fantastic. These cans handle low frequencies and rumbling noises with ease. Sony’s 20-level ambient sound mode lets us engage in conversations loud and clear without taking off the headphones. It also made passing objects (e.g., cars, runners) more transparent when walking outside.

Other strong points include reliable multipoint, user-friendly controls, and up to 50 hours of battery life with powerful quick charging (a 3-minute charge gives you 1 hour of playtime). 

Some of Sony’s key features are absent, like LDAC and Quick Attention. The lackluster design and voice calling can be off-putting as well. Luckily, the noise cancellation and sound make up for these mishaps. 

Read our full review of the Sony CF-710N earbuds.

Wireless earbuds users who want Sony sound at an affordable price. The WF-C710N are brilliant mid-range buds that can go toe-to-toe with many of the market’s best wireless earbuds.

As stated in our review, “Sony’s adaptive sound technologies create a full depth of sound that blends well with noise cancellation for pleasant listens.” The 5mm drivers deliver punchy, well-balanced sonics. ANC removes up to 85 percent of ambient noise. The 20-level transparency mode comes in clutch for keeping tabs on your surroundings.

Usability is the WF-C710N’s most underrated attribute. Sony developed these buds to be as user-friendly as possible, implementing highly responsive touch controls and voice assistance, along with strong connectivity via dual-device pairing and one-tap Google Fast Pair (Android users only). The Sony Connect App is available to extend functionality. 

It would have been awesome if Sony added LDAC for hi-res playback on compatible devices. Wearing the buds for a few hours can also be uncomfortable. Other than that, the WF-C710N comes correct.

Read our full review of the Sony WH-CH520 on-ear headphones.

Budget shoppers looking for an incredible deal. These aren't just the best Sony headphones under $50. They're the best headphones under $50, period. If you're searching for a pair of everyday cans with a long battery life, don't overthink it.

It's hard to overstate just how good of a deal you're getting with the Sony WH-CH520. They offer some (but not all) of Sony's signature audio technology, and they pack a better battery life than many luxury headphones that cost four times as much. Yes, you'll have to live without Sony's best-in-class active noise cancellation, but in this price range, you already knew that.

In our testing, they're easy to set up and connect painlessly with iOS and Android devices. While they have the somewhat flimsy all-plastic construction that Sony headphones, unfortunately, are known for, you won't be out $450 if you accidentally sit on them or break them. Use them when you're out and about or traveling and don't want to risk your fancy flagship cans. Likewise, for people who value transparency over ANC, they deliver good sound (and good-enough call quality) to act as your daily headphones from now on.

Read our full review of the Sony WH-1000xM5 headphones.

Brand enthusiasts who can’t afford the pricier WH-1000XM6, but still want the extravagant Sony listening experience — you won't be disappointed. Very few things separate these two models, besides the big price difference. What we know for sure is that the WH-1000XM5s retain many series hallmarks, including ANC, battery life, sound, and special features. If you wait for them to go on sale, they're unmatched in overall value.

We don’t blame anyone for shrugging off the newer and more expensive Mark VI headphones, especially when the Mark V headphones are just as amazing and sell for much less at select online retailers (the black version is $296 on Walmart).

The WH-1000XM5s have articulate and engaging sound. Bass and treble can be adjusted in the EQ. DSEE is essential for music collectors who want more clarity and depth from their Napster-ripped MP3 files. 360 Reality Audio and LDAC make content immersive and more detailed at faster bitrates, respectively. ANC gets rid of most ambient noise around you. There is only a 2-hour difference in playtime between this and the latest version. Still, you’re guaranteed usage throughout the work week before recharging. 

Sony’s all-plastic design is a severe downgrade from the sleek and stylish WH-1000xM4. The fact that they don’t fold up is concerning as well. Most people can live with these shortcomings if it means enjoying top-tier Sony sound.

Looking for the best Sony headphones for working out? This is it. They're just right for people who want Sony sound in a sporty package. 

Sony made these buds super comfy and fit-ready. The small oval design rests pleasantly on the concha for long-term listening, while the installed tips provide stable in-ear support when performing lateral exercises. IPX4 certification protects the LinkBuds Fit from sweat and heavy splashing.

Sony’s Dynamic Driver X unit and V2 chipset expand frequency range, resulting in a nice mix of bumping lows, crisp mids, and transparent highs. Bass slaps hard on EDM, hip-hop, and rock tracks. Those who desire more oomph can play around with Sony’s EQ to manually adjust bass levels. DSEE is also on board for higher fidelity.

These buds are not flawless. ANC is disappointing, and the compact charging case holds as many charges as the original AirPods. However, Sony’s ambient listening mode holds up well and is suitable for runners who want to increase their awareness without compromising sound.

If you're a fan of the best open earbuds, Sony does make the LinkBuds Open earbuds. However, we haven't tested this model yet.