Sony WH-1000XM6: noise cancelling that holds up on the call

For an owner, headphones do two jobs: they shut out the noise around you when you need to think, and they make sure the person on the other end of a call can actually hear you. The Sony WH-1000XM6 is built around both, which is why it's the pair we looked at first.

Noise cancelling and calls

Sony pairs its HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3 with 12 microphones that constantly listen to the environment and cancel it in real time. For calls, a six-microphone AI beamforming system isolates your voice and filters out background noise, with wind resistance for outdoor use. If you need to mute mid-meeting, you tap the headphones.

What stood out

• 01
  Battery that lasts a working weekSony rates it at up to 30 hours. A 3-minute charge gives up to 3 hours of playback with an optional USB-PD adapter, and you can keep listening while it charges.
• 02
  Folds into a compact caseA foldable design and a magnetic-closure case make it easy to keep in the same bag as your laptop.
• 03
  Made for switching devicesMulti-device connection lets you move between phone and computer, and the Sony Sound Connect app handles noise cancelling, ambient sound and EQ.
• 04
  Controls you can use mid-callTouch controls handle volume and playback, and Auto Ambient Sound Mode lets in your surroundings when you need to hear them.

Where it falls short

No headphone suits everyone. Some buyers find the fit snug over the ears, and a few describe the build as plastic for the money. The touch controls sit on the right ear cup only. And on a Windows PC over Bluetooth, one reviewer found it couldn't deliver high-quality audio and use the microphone at the same time in games, which is a general Bluetooth limit worth knowing if you game on the same machine. Sony's own colors are Black, Platinum Silver and Midnight Blue.