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News of the next-generation Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds was thin on the ground, but that changed after they were spotted in an official US regulatory database. Sony fan site TheWalkmanBlog spotted it (opens in new tab) what appears to be the Sony WF-1000XM5 flagship earbud model in an FCC filing.
The report comes out with some of the key features of the new model for what would become the successor to the five-star rated Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds.
While the FCC documents are hiding as much as possible (including the name), the filing confirms that the new model will feature Bluetooth version 5.3, meaning support for Bluetooth LE Audio is possible – although Sony may be trying to release its own LDAC Hi. push -Res system only instead.
Reading between the lines, the filing suggests that the new model will retain a very similar design to the Sony WF-1000XM4, as it appears to have the same touchscreen as the previous flagship earbuds.
Other details are thin on the ground, but the filing also confirms that the new WF-1000XM5s will maintain the same 3.85V voltage as its predecessors.
Assuming the Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones showed up on the FCC in early February 2022, before being officially launched by the Japanese tech giants in May of that year, it seems likely we could see a late spring release for the new earbuds.
Analysis: archiving offers promising improvements – but not everything is on our wish list
The Sony WF-1000XM4 still tops our list of the best wireless earbuds for most people, so it’s not like Sony is lagging behind the competition. But with stiff competition from the likes of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and AirPods Pro 2, there’s plenty of room for improvement for their successors.
Confirmation of Bluetooth version 5.3 is a big step in the right direction for the WF-1000XM5, especially if it means we get the better sound quality and lower power consumption of the Bluetooth LE Audio.
The FCC listing will only reveal so much at this stage, but the report doesn’t provide answers to three features we think should be priorities for the new headphones.
There’s been no mention of support for the new Android Spatial Audio technology that Google is building into the operating system, nor any indication of noise reduction improvements that would bring the WF-1000XM5’s performance in line with that of Bose’s rival buds and Apple.
Arguably the biggest improvement would come with a longer battery life, with the WF-1000XM’s battery running low after eight hours of use.
While we wait for a full list of the new model’s features, check out our guide to the best true wireless earbuds available today.