If the headset is not used for a long time, the rechargeable battery usage hours may be reduced. However, the battery life will improve after a few charges and discharges. If you store the headset for a long time, charge the battery once every 6 months to avoid over-discharge. So there you have it. While not a radical departure, the XM5 is an improvement on what were already the best wireless headphones around. Better sound quality, call quality and improved noise-cancelling, and a better design all make them a compelling buy for anyone with the funds.

Sony claims up to 40 hours of battery life for the WH-1000XM5, which is 10 hours more than for the XM4. But that's without ANC activated, so for argument's sake the XM5 and XM4 battery life is the same 30 hours. They sound fantastic, have effective noise-cancelling and long battery life. They support multipoint Bluetooth 5 for connecting two devices at once, high-res music with the LDAC format and an instant ambient sound mode for listening for announcements, too.If the headset detects a problem while charging due to the following causes, the charging indicator (red) flashes. In this case, charge once again within the charging temperature range. If the problem persists, consult your nearest Sony dealer. Make your headphones stand out from the crowd with our full custom option. We we are sure you'll have fun creating your own personal design for your Sony WH1000MX4 wireless headphones.

The headphones come with a standard 3.5mm headphones cable that can be used when the headphones are turned on or off. The microphone cannot be used over the 3.5mm cable, however. The Sony WH-1000XM4 build upon the impressive functionality of the WH-1000XM3 by adding a number of new features, all of which successfully enhance the user experience. By default, music resumes playing 30 seconds after your conversation ends in Speak-to-Chat mode. This timeframe can be customized using the Sony | Headphones Connect app. It felt as though Britney Spears was in the room with me as she worked through the provocative “Toxic”, while the intro to “Sexual Healing” had me looking over my shoulder as Marvin Gaye’s whispers for me to “get up, get up, get up, get up” and “wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up” darted between my left and right ears. *NSYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me” was less impactful, however, and my listening experience wasn’t all that different from when I listened to the regular version.They are Sony’s first 1000X set to support the popular multipoint connection feature, which means you can have two devices connected at the same time, such as a phone for calls and a laptop for music. It works reliably with a variety of devices. The high-resolution LDAC audio cannot be used when multipoint is enabled, however, restricting connections to the more standard SBC and AAC. The Headphones Connect app has a full equaliser and options for customising noise-cancelling, controls and activating the DSEE Extreme sound enhancer. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Something about Cara's vocals felt ever more heartfelt in the WH-1000XM5, capturing the desperation of the song's message. The song layered the anthem masterfully, whereas it seemed like the WH-1000XM4 didn't give each of the elements quite as much space. That's not to say the WH-1000XM4 aren't excellent, the WH-1000XM5 just have more confidence.The XM4 look a bit bulkier and clumsier by comparison. But the more rugged approach might appeal to anyone not wanting to bring a carry case along for every journey. Using the app you can personalise the noise-cancelling to take into account hair, glasses and other things that effect the seal of the ear cups, while a pressure optimiser that can determine whether you are on the ground or in the air helps when flying versus just the commute. Custom colour will give you the ultimate customisation for your Sony WH1000MX4, you can mix and match colours and textures to provide a totally unique headphone design