Recent updates
- — "Should you wait?" box added: Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen ($299) and Sport Open ($199, announced September 17) start shipping October 1; Meta and Ray-Ban's camera-free Meta Audio ($349, announced September 23) starts shipping October 13; Anker's Soundcore AeroClip 2 Pro is announced for January 2027. Over-ear pick note: this guide's Sony WH-1000XM5 is the older model — the XM6 has been out since May 2025, and Beats' 360 flagship launched in the US September 24.
Buying headphones is less about chasing the longest feature list and more about matching the form factor to the way you listen. If you listen on the move rather than at a desk, our roundup of the best wireless earbuds under $100 covers the budget end of that spectrum. Fit, noise control, and daily comfort matter more than spec-sheet theatre — and this is the pair that gets that balance right.
Compare the picks
| Product | Key specs | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Active noise control; lightweight over-ear fit; everyday tuning; carrying case included | $298.00 (25% off list price $399.99 — deal verified September 19, 2026) | All-round travel listening |
Sony WH-1000XM5
A strong all-round travel headphone
The XM5 doesn't win on any single headline feature — it wins on the combination. The active noise control handles the travel grind, the lightweight over-ear fit is the thing you actually notice after hour three of a flight, and the tuning is built for the playlists people really listen to, not just demo tracks. It's the comfortable, no-drama choice for daily wear.
Comfort is where long sessions are won or lost, and it comes down to three things no specification sheet captures: clamp force, earcup depth and heat buildup. The XM5’s light frame and deep earcups are the reason owners keep reaching for it on flights — glasses wearers in particular notice when a headphone gets this right, because pressure points build slowly and only reveal themselves after the return window feels distant.
One honest caveat: the XM6 has been out since May 2025, as the recent-updates box notes. At the verified $298 deal price, the XM5 is the value play — the newer model costs more for refinements most travelers will not notice at 35,000 feet. Choose the XM6 only if having the latest generation matters to you more than the saving.
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If you buy one pair of headphones for everything, this is the one to audition first.
Sold by Best Buy direct
Verified live 2026-09-28 for the 8th consecutive day: $298.00 with “Top Deal — Save $100” against a $398.00 comparable value; sold by Best Buy direct.
At a glance
| Category | Audio |
|---|---|
| Products covered | 1 |
| Best for | A strong all-round travel headphone |
| How to buy | Retail and official-store options |
| Last reviewed | September 19, 2026 |
What works — and what doesn’t
Pros
- Strong noise control for travel
- Lightweight long-session fit
- Useful everyday feature set
Cons
- The carrying case is not especially compact
- Premium pricing
Verdict
The WH-1000XM5 remains a strong all-round travel headphone because comfort and noise control matter every day. It is not the smallest option, but it is an easy one to live with.
For buyers deciding today, the calculus is simple: proven comfort and noise control at a genuine discount, against the premium for the newest badge. Unless the latest generation is worth the gap to you, the XM5 at this price remains the rational buy.
Reading the deal, not just the price
Headphone pricing moves in cycles, and the XM5 is deep into its discount phase. The $298 verified price sits 25% below the $399.99 list — typical for a previous-generation flagship once its successor ships. That is the window where value peaks: full manufacturer support remains, accessories are plentiful, and the discount is real rather than promotional theater.
Two cautions apply. First, verify the seller: marketplace listings can undercut the headline price with refurbished or grey-market units that carry weaker warranty support — the verified $298 figure in this guide refers to authorized retail. Second, treat any “deal verified” date as a snapshot. This guide re-checks pricing on a schedule, but the only price that matters is the one in front of you at checkout. If the discount has evaporated since publication, the value argument weakens, and waiting for the next cycle beats overpaying.
How to choose: over-ear or earbuds?
Decide the form factor before the model. Over-ears win on sustained comfort, stronger noise cancelling and battery life — they are the right call for flights, offices and long listening days. Earbuds win on packability and discretion — better for commuting light, the gym and as a backup pair. Most travelers who can only own one should start with the over-ear; most travelers who already own one should add the earbuds second.
Rank comfort above the ANC number. The strongest noise cancelling on paper means little if clamp pressure, heat or earcup depth makes you take the headphones off after ninety minutes. If you wear glasses, that test matters doubly — and it cannot be done in a five-minute store demo. Buy from a retailer with a genuine return window and wear the pair for a full hour at home before deciding.
Treat features as tiebreakers, not deciders. Multipoint Bluetooth, app equalizers and wear detection are genuinely useful, but they do not rescue a poor fit. Get the comfort and the noise control right first; the feature list only decides between two headphones you would already happily wear.
Frequently asked questions
Are the WH-1000XM5 worth it at $298?
The article's verdict calls them the one pair to audition first for all-round travel listening, because comfort and noise control matter every day. Premium pricing is listed as a con, and the $298 deal was verified September 19, 2026 — check the current price before buying.
Do the XM5 win on any single feature?
No. The article says they win on the combination: active noise control that handles the travel grind, a lightweight fit you notice after hour three of a flight, and everyday tuning.
What if I'd rather have earbuds?
This article covers only this over-ear pair. For earbuds, see the site's roundup “5 wireless earbuds under $100”.
Is the carrying case good?
A carrying case is included, but the article flags it as not especially compact.
Should I buy the XM5 or the newer XM6?
At the verified $298 deal price, the XM5 is the value choice — the XM6, out since May 2025, costs more for refinements most travelers will not notice in real use. Buy the XM6 if having the latest generation matters to you; buy the XM5 if you want the proven all-rounder for less.
How can I test comfort before committing?
Buy from a retailer with a real return window, then wear the headphones for a full hour at home — glasses on, normal room temperature. Pressure points build slowly, so a five-minute store demo will not reveal them. If anything aches at the hour mark, send them back.
Is $298 actually a good price for the XM5?
Yes, in context: it is 25% below the $399.99 list price and typical of the discount phase for a previous-generation flagship. Just confirm you are buying from an authorized retailer rather than a marketplace listing with weaker warranty support, and re-check the live price — deals move.
Do I need the Sony app to use them?
No. Core listening, noise cancelling and multipoint pairing work out of the box. The companion app adds equalizer settings, customization and firmware updates — worth installing, but the headphones are fully usable without it.
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