Sony has launched its premium flagship noise cancellation headphones, the WH-1000XM6, in India on Monday, September 29, 2025. The new over-ear headphones are the successor to the WH-1000XM5, which was launched in 2022. The WH-1000XM6 aims to deliver a premium audio experience with top-class noise cancellation and a range of smart features.
Price and Availability
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is priced at ₹39,990 in India. They are available for purchase at Sony Centers, select Croma and Reliance outlets, the ShopatSC.com portal, and Amazon. The headphones come in three colors: Black, Platinum Silver, and Midnight Blue. Sony emphasizes that the WH-1000XM6's packaging uses 100% paper-based materials, in line with the company's sustainability efforts.
Design and Comfort
The WH-1000XM6 features a redesigned headband with vegan leather and wider padding to reduce pressure. The earpads are stretchable for extended use. The headphones now fold with a metal injection mechanism, and the case closes with magnets for quicker access. The design incorporates a sturdier, reworked hinge mechanism that folds inward and flat, making the headphones more practical to stow away. Sony has also tweaked the earcup controls, with a redesigned power and Bluetooth button that is easier to identify by touch.
Features and Performance
- Noise Cancellation: The WH-1000XM6 uses a combination of 12 microphones and Sony's HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 for noise cancellation. The QN3 processor is claimed to be seven times faster than its predecessor. It also supports an adaptive noise cancellation optimizer that adjusts noise cancellation automatically based on environmental noise and air pressure. The headphones also feature AI noise reduction and AI beamforming microphones.
- Sound Quality: The WH-1000XM6 boasts a new driver unit and an advanced beamforming microphone system for improved sound output and call clarity. It supports High-Resolution Audio in both wired and wireless modes via LDAC and employs Edge-AI-based DSEE Extreme for upscaling compressed files. DSEE Extreme uses Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology to analyze the sound being played back and can switch between upscaling for vocals and upscaling for percussion instruments in real time. The headphones also support 360 Spatial Audio along with DSEE Extreme.
- App and Customization: Additional controls are available through the Sony | Sound Connect app, including a 10-band equalizer, effects for film audio, and a Game EQ from Sony's INZONE range. The WH-1000XM6 also supports 360 Reality Audio Upmix for converting stereo tracks into spatial sound.
- Call Quality: For communication, a six-microphone AI-based beamforming system isolates the user's voice and reduces background noise.
- Connectivity and Convenience: The WH-1000XM6 supports dual Bluetooth connections simultaneously, along with Swift Pair for Windows devices. They also support LE Audio with Auracast, multipoint device connections, and low-latency transmission for gaming. The headphones also feature intuitive touch controls.
- Battery Life: The WH-1000XM6 claims up to 30 hours of music playback with ANC enabled and up to 40 hours without it. Fast charging is supported, with a 3-minute charge providing up to 3 hours of playback. Listening while charging over USB is also possible.
Additional Features
The headphones are compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa. They also include features like Adaptive Sound Control, Quick Attention, Microsoft Swift Pair, Google Fast Pair, Background Music, Personalized Spatial Audio, and Speak to Chat. The Speak-to-Chat feature pauses playback when you start talking.
