Sennheiser's Momentum 5 Wireless and Sony's WH-1000XM6 are two of 2026's best premium ANC headphones, built around genuinely different priorities — we compare battery life, noise cancellation and price.
The short answer
If all-day battery life and a genuinely repairable design matter most to you, the Momentum 5 is hard to beat and comfortably cheaper. If best-in-class noise cancellation is your top priority, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is worth the extra money — What Hi-Fi? gave it a five-star Award-winning review and said it makes even the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 'sound out of their depth' by comparison.
Amazon product listing imageChoose it if You want to go days, not hours, between charges
£329.99 RRPPrice recorded · 12 October 2026
SonyChoose it if Cutting out engine and crowd noise is your first priority
£399 RRPPrice recorded · 12 October 2026
| What matters | Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless | Sony WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (ANC on) | Stronger here57 hours | Around 28-30 hours |
| Noise cancellation | Improved over the previous Momentum but not class-leading; Tom's Guide rated it 'pretty poor' for ANC-first buyers | Stronger here'The best ANC performance yet,' per multiple reviewers, with adaptive auto-adjustment |
| User-replaceable battery | Stronger hereYes — swappable with a small screwdriver | No |
| UK price | Stronger here£329.90 | £400 at launch (frequently discounted to around £329) |
| Weight | 290g | Stronger hereLighter, in line with Sony's 254g previous generation |
| Sound signature | Rich, natural midrange, praised for detail and instrument separation | 'The most detailed, dynamic, precise and open sound' from a wireless Sony flagship, per What Hi-Fi? |
A stronger result in one row does not make a product the right choice for everyone. Recorded price details are from the source review snapshot; live prices show their checked time.
Read the original information and testing.
OUR REVIEWS
Amazon product listing imageOver-ear headphones with natural sound, a rated 57 hours of battery with noise cancelling on, and a battery you can replace yourself. Noise cancelling is decent, but Sony and Bose block more sound.
SonySony's WH-1000XM6 are over-ear noise-cancelling headphones that can connect to a phone and laptop at once and last up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on, by Sony's figure.
Amazon product listing imageOver-ear headphones with very effective noise cancelling and roomy, comfortable ear cups. Battery life is ordinary and the price is high next to Sony and Sennheiser.
Amazon product listing imageOver-ear headphones with active noise cancellation and a claimed battery life of up to 76 hours, aimed at commuting and travel.