Sony Is Rumored to Be Upgrading Its Most Popular Headphones

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A recent find gives us reason to believe Sony is working on a possible successor to the company’s beloved Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. It could be time for the long-awaited Sony WH-1000XM5. The company has yet to upgrade its most popular headphones. The new images are certainly a promising sign that the day is finally near.
The rumor comes thanks to a patent found by The Walkman Blog that depicts an engineering prototype for a new Sony model of wireless over-ear headphones. Dubbed with the model number YY2954, there’s a high chance these are our first glimpses at the WH-1000XM5.
The new headphones have some big shoes to fill considering how popular their predecessor is. TechRadar named the WH-1000XM4 their top pick for headphones since being released in 2020. Considering rival companies have had two years to try and catch up with the competition, this is certainly high praise. If the WH-1000XM5 boasts even more high-quality features and sound quality, we should be in for a treat.
We don’t have confirmation yet whether the images are representative of the WH-1000XM4’s long-awaited successor. But we can draw some conclusions about what the new headphones will bring to the table.

Aesthetic Changes

The images in the patent are fairly basic, but there’s still a lot we can learn from them about what to expect from the new headphones. As seen in the engineering prototype, the images feature oval-shaped ear cups mounted on a thin headband with the nameplate tucked away under the left ear cushion.
One potentially major shift from the WH-1000XM4 is the different style of headband and placement of the nameplate. That lends to the idea that the band may be made out of metal instead of plastic. The Walkman Blog speculated that the nameplate was moved from its usual spot under the top of the headband because the material may be harder to etch words into. Or Sony could be opting for a fresher, more sleek look with its new headphones. Only time will tell.
The Walkman Blog also noted an import listing that seems to indicate the headphones will come in classic colors when released: black and silver. This lines up with what was offered when the WH-1000XM4 was released, so it seems Sony is planning on sticking with the basics regarding the headphones’ aesthetic.

Technical Upgrades

From what can be gathered in the patent, the WH-1000XM5 seems to have improved battery life and quick charging capabilities. The internal battery rating has upgraded from 3.7V to 3.8V, meaning the new headphones boast longer-lasting batteries than their predecessor. It appears the WH-1000XM5 also has fast charging speeds, with a USB rating of 5V / 9V.
Hopefully, we get more details soon about exciting new technical upgrades that will leave the WH-1000XM4 in the dust.

Possible Timeline to Expect

It’s important to remember that it’s not guaranteed a patent will always come to fruition in the real world. However, if the images found in the patent are indeed representative of the long-awaited WH-1000XM5 and Sony follows through on its production, we will hopefully have confirmation within a few months.
As noted by TechRadar, the document’s confidentiality agreement is set to expire in August. That means it’s promising that we would see the headphones launched that month. This would be consistent with the WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM3’s August releases in past years, so the timelines certainly line up.
At the end of the day, we’re still waiting on more concrete details to come out about WH-1000XM5—but this exciting find will hopefully culminate in our new favorite headphones hitting the markets later this year.