Sony’s WH-1000XM5 Headphones Are Down to Their Black Friday Price (and Come With Free Earbuds)

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Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones upped the ante in audio quality and noise-canceling, but the brand’s older headphones still deliver excellent performance — now, for less. Typically $400, you can pick the XM5 headphones for $248.

To sweeten the deal, you can get a free pair of Sony’s WF-C700N noise-canceling earbuds from Amazon when you buy the XM5 headphones. Other retailers, including Sony, offer the same price on the XM5 headphones, although the free earbuds are not included. It’s a great post-Christmas deal, and it ends on Dec. 31.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones (with Free WF-C700N Earbuds)

$248.00 $519.00 52% off

Buy Now on amazon
Buy Now at sony (xm5 only)

The deal applies to all four colorways of the XM5 headphones, while the earbuds come in black.

In our testing, the XM6 headphones represented a meaningful upgrade from the XM5 — but not an enormous one. The design of the XM6 is very similar, as are many of the features. The XM6 headphones have slightly improved sound and mic quality, thanks to the redesigned driver and additional mics, and better comfort, with more cushioning on the headband. The XM6 earcups also rotate, making them more compact and packable.

But while the XM6 headphones might be the flagships to beat, the XM5 headphones are still audio champs, with excellent ANC, the same great controls, and an identical 30-hour battery life. So if you don’t want to drop $450 on a pair of headphones, the sub-$300 XM5 headphones are a worthwhile alternative, particularly when bundled with a free pair of earbuds.

The WF-C700N earbuds are an older model as well, having been replaced by the similar WF-C710N model. The WF-C700N earbuds feature noise-canceling and customizable EQ. The earbuds have up to 8.5 hours of battery life on their own and 21.5 hours in the case, for up to 30 hours total.