Sony’s WF-1000XM6 wireless earbuds are on sale for the first time

Sony’s WF-1000XM6 are the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds you can buy, but they’ve been hard to recommend over the last-gen model because of the price. While the older version is often on sale for $248, the update costs $329 — and has never before been marked down. That’s why this deal is worth paying attention to: right now, Sony’s WF-1000XM6 are on sale for about $298 ($31 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Sony, marking their first discount.

Sony’s WF-1000XM lineup has long been among our favorite wireless earbuds, and the latest model simply builds upon what already works so well. In his review, my colleague John Higgins noted they block out noise even more effectively, outperforming both the Bose Ultra Earbuds and AirPods Pro when it comes to tuning out nearby conversations. They also sound as impressive as ever, delivering clean, well-balanced audio with richer bass than their predecessor, along with continued support for Sony’s LDAC codec so music retains more detail. Sony has added a new listening mode designed to make audio less distracting by mimicking the effect of background music in a cafe, which is helpful if you rely on music to help you focus.

Beyond sound and noise cancellation, the buds remain well-suited for everyday use. Battery life remains top-notch, lasting up to eight hours on a single charge or up to 24 hours with the wireless charging case. For comfort, Sony continues to include swappable foam ear tips in multiple sizes, and will send silicone tips for free if the foam ones don’t work for you. That said, getting the best noise cancellation and sounds depends on achieving a secure fit with one of the included foam ear tips, which our reviewer struggled with.