[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Sony has unveiled its next flagship wireless earbuds, the WF-1000XM6. With the WF-1000XM5 long regarded as among the best noise-cancelling earbuds, consumer interest again centres on whether the new model is worth upgrading to. This time, the answer is not as simple as before, TechRadar reported on Feb. 19.

The WF-1000XM6 is priced at $329 or 250 pounds, about 480 Australian dollars. It is slightly cheaper than the previous model’s launch price in Britain and Australia, but in the United States it matches the XM5’s higher price, leading to an assessment that the perceived price advantage is limited. At the same time, the XM5 is being heavily discounted with the new launch, making the older model more attractive on value for money. Sony plans to sell both models in parallel for the time being.

On features, the XM6 does not depart much from the previous framework. It keeps existing functions such as wireless charging, speak-to-chat and head gestures, with the main new addition being a “background music effect”. The feature makes music sound as if it is playing in a space such as a cafe or living room, allowing it to be used as focus sound. TechRadar said it is interesting but hard to see as a decisive change that would determine a purchase.

It also said noise-cancelling performance is about 10 percent better than the previous model, as an added microphone and improvements to active noise cancelling (ANC) and calling algorithms were applied, but the perceived difference is not large.

Sound quality also improved slightly. It applies 32-bit processing, an improved digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) amp and a newly designed driver, with analysis saying the soundstage is a little wider and clearer. But since the XM5 already delivered strong sound quality, ordinary users may find it hard to feel a big difference. Users sensitive to fine detail may find it a meaningful upgrade.

The design saw a relatively big change. Sony dropped the plastic material used in the XM5 and switched to a stone-like matte finish to address slipperiness, and the case has become sturdier. But as the earbud shape has become longer, comfort may vary more by individual. Because the foam eartips require deeper insertion, some users may find it uncomfortable.

In the end, TechRadar said the WF-1000XM6 is a little better in every respect but does not bring changes that could be called an innovation. Compared with the currently discounted XM5, it said the perceived difference relative to price is not large. If users want slightly better ANC and sound quality than the previous model, or if the XM5 fit did not work for them, the XM6 could be suitable, but for most users the discounted XM5 is still likely to be the more reasonable choice.