Sony cuts WH-1000XM5 price by 50% to $150

Sony’s flagship noise‑cancelling headphones, the WH‑1000XM5, are on sale with discounts of up to 50 percent, according to a Wired report released on Friday. The deal is available at major electronics retailers and online stores across the United States, Canada, the UK, and parts of Europe, with the lowest price dropping to roughly $150 from the $300 retail price. Other Sony models, including the WH‑1000XM4, WF‑1000XM3 earbuds, and the WH‑1000XM3, also see steep markdowns, making high‑end audio more affordable for a broader audience.

The timing of the sale coincides with the post‑Christmas “black week” shopping rush, when retailers push inventory to clear out the holiday season. Sony’s decision to slash prices comes after a steep decline in sales of its premium headphones in 2025, as competitors like Bose and Apple’s AirPods Pro offered similar noise‑cancelling features at lower price points. The company has also been working to boost its market share in the crowded wireless‑headphone segment, where a 2026 market forecast predicts a 12 percent annual growth rate. By offering deep discounts, Sony hopes to attract budget‑conscious consumers who were previously priced out of the premium tier.

Retailers report a spike in traffic to Sony’s online storefronts, with some sites expecting to sell out of the WH‑1000XM5 within hours of the sale launch. Sony’s marketing team said the promotion will run until the end of September, after which the headphones will return to full price. Analysts predict that the discount will temporarily increase Sony’s market share, but long‑term gains will depend on the company’s ability to innovate beyond noise cancellation, such as integrating spatial audio and advanced AI‑based sound tuning. For now, the deal offers a rare chance to own one of the industry’s best headphones at a fraction of the cost.