Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Our verdict · The gift that impresses on Christmas morning and still gets daily use in March: class-leading noise cancelling in a premium package.
Buy it if
He commutes, flies or takes calls all day and you want a premium gift that gets used daily.
Skip it if
He wants something pocketable for running or the gym, or if the flagship price is beyond your budget.
Where to get it
Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones
From £349 (RRP £399)
Indicative price at the time of review.
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The WH-1000XM6 are the pick to beat if your budget stretches to a flagship, and the reason they top this list is breadth: reviewers consistently rate them the strongest all-rounder for noise cancelling, feature depth and customisable sound, where the nearest rival (Bose's QuietComfort Ultra) is generally judged to win mainly on plush comfort rather than raw capability. Sony's specs list up to 30 hours of playback with noise cancelling on, quick charging, LDAC and multipoint Bluetooth, and the folding hinges have returned by popular demand for easier travel. The trade-off is straightforward: this is the most expensive gift here, and at RRP £399 (often discounted to around £349) you are paying for the last increment of performance over cheaper sets. Buy them for a commuter, frequent flyer or work-from-home partner who takes a lot of calls; if he mostly wants something pocketable for the gym, the AirPods below make more sense.
The good & the bad
Pros
- Reviewers rate the noise cancelling and feature set best-in-class among mainstream over-ears
- Around 30 hours battery (ANC on) plus quick charge and multipoint, per Sony's specs
- Foldable design and case make them genuinely travel-friendly
Cons
- The most expensive gift on this list, even at typical discounts
- Comfort-first buyers may prefer Bose's QuietComfort Ultra
How it compares
| Pick | WATTB Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise-Cancelling HeadphonesThis pick | 92/100 | From £349 (RRP £399) | overall |
| 2.Apple AirPods Pro 3 | 90/100 | £219 | iPhone owners |
| 3.Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 12th generation) | 88/100 | From around £130 (RRP £159.99) | book lovers |
| 4.LEGO Technic McLaren MCL39 F1 Car (42228) | 86/100 | £199.99 | F1 fans and builders |
| 5.Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (70cl) | 87/100 | ~£35–£40 (indicative) | affordable classic |
Good to know
- Price
- From £349 (RRP £399)
- Type
- Over-ear wireless, adaptive noise cancelling
- Battery
- Up to 30 hrs (ANC on), quick charge
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth multipoint, LDAC codec
- Design
- Foldable with carry case
- Colours
- Black, Platinum Silver, Midnight Blue
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 13 September 2026
- Updated
- 13 September 2026
- Last verified
- 13 September 2026
- Sources
- 8 sources
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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