Presented at the FCC, the long-awaited Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones would arrive this year
According to information from thewalkmanblogthe Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones would indeed be released during the year. This was to be expected, as Sony has a habit of renewing its high-end wireless earphones and headsets every two years. The appointment having been missed in 2024, given that the WH-1000XM5 had been launched in 2022, we were starting to get impatient.
FCC certification, a key step in the launch process
As reported by the American blog, the WH-1000XM6 appeared on an FCC certification document. Mandatory to ensure that an audio product intended to be sold in the United States meets regulatory standards, this certification often occurs a few weeks or months before a launch. As a key step in a commercialization process, this compliance request highlights Sony's intentions.
Indeed, according to thewalkmanblog, the document reveals an end to confidentiality on July 22, 2025. Sony would therefore launch its new flagship headset this summer or at the start of the school year at the latest. Besides the indication that it will be a “noise canceling stereo headphones“, little technical information is currently available. However, in the presence of a BR/EDR/LE mention, the Sony WH-1000XM6 would be equipped with a Bluetooth 5.3 receiver and could support the LE Audio standard . From now on “in inverted F“, the antenna would have a new look, while the battery would have the same nominal value of 3.8 V as that of the WH-1000XM5.
Removable earcups and new foldable design?
As shown in the illustration, the ear pads would now be removable. Although we do not know if they will be connected to the cases using a clip system or magnets, the Sony WH-1000XM6 could be delivered with two types of pads or simply be more repairable than its predecessor. The transducers still seem to have a diameter of 30 mm.
If thewalkmanblog also mentions a potential new design for their hinges, the drawing shows a part missing from the Sony WH-1000XM6 which could reveal a folding system for the shells.
If we are facing the most significant leak of the WH-1000XM6 headphones, it remains to be seen what Sony has in store for its WF-1000XM6 in-ear cousins. Their predecessors having been launched in 2023, 2025 would be the year of the WF-1000XM6 if we follow Sony's logic. Are they planned for the same time as the WH-1000XM6 or for 2026? Impossible to know at the moment.
