The Sony WH-1000XM4 have been our pick for the best headphones you can buy for two years running – and it looks like the company is working on a successor.
The new headphones, which we're assuming will be called the WH-1000XM5 if Sony sticks with its existing naming convention, may have been revealed in a recent patent filed by the company, which describes a pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones .
We've also seen our first renders of the Sony WH-1000XM5 , which show off a slight redesign - and more recently, supposed images of the packaging have been leaked on Reddit.
Details about the new headphones are pretty thin right now, but Sony has kept to a fairly regular release schedule with its WH-1000X line of headphones, with new models being released in August for the last three years – and with the confidentiality agreement on the patent set to expire in August of this year, the time is ripe for a new pair of Sony noise-cancellers.
We’re sure that more details will emerge before then, but for now, here’s everything we know about the Sony WH-1000XM5 so far, and a few things we’d like to see from the brand’s next over-ear headphones .
Sony WH-1000XM5 release date: We're expecting the next Sony headphones to launch in August 2022.
Sony WH-1000XM5 price: There's no word on price yet, but Sony has kept pricing pretty consistent with its previous models, and we'd expect the XM5s to cost around $350 / £350 / AU$550.
Sony WH-1000XM5 design: Renders show that the XM5 may have a sleeker, more generously padded design than their predecessors.
Sony WH-1000XM5 features: The headphones described in the patent come with active noise cancellation and a larger battery than the Sony WH-1000XM4.

Sony hasn’t confirmed that the WH-1000XM5 are in development, but 2022 feels like a logical time for the brand to release a follow-up pair of headphones to the Sony WH-1000XM4. It’s been two years since Sony gave us a pair of flagship over-ears, and based on the timing of previous launches, an August release date for its next model makes sense.
The patent listing that gave us our potential first glimpse of the next Sony headphones has a confidentiality agreement that ends in August. The Sony WH-1000XM4 were launched on August 6, 2020, and their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM3 , were released on August 30, 2018.
While that doesn't guarantee that the Sony WH-1000XM5 will launch this year, it certainly gives credence to the idea that the headphones described in the patent are indeed the next headphones in Sony’s flagship lineup.

The patent we’ve seen didn’t give any indication of how much Sony’s next headphones will cost, but we can make an educated guess about the price of the Sony WH-1000XM5, as Sony has always been fairly consistent with its pricing for its flagship headphones range.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 cost $349.99 / £349 / AU$549 when they launched in 2020, and the Sony WH-1000XM3 launched at the same price in the US and Australia (in the UK they were a little cheaper than their successors at £300).
We’d expect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to come with a similar price tag, although it’s worth noting that a few tech companies have increased their prices in response to inflation this year, such as Nvidia , while Sonos speakers saw a price hike in September last year.
So, a small price increase certainly isn’t out of the question. Still, we don’t think Sony will price its new headphones as highly as the AirPods Max , which cost $549 / £549 / AU$899. Sony’s WH-1000XM4 have the edge over Apple’s over-ear headphones thanks in part to their cheaper price, and we can’t see Sony sacrificing that advantage for the sake of a few extra dollars per unit.
A new leak from TechnikNews (via XDA Developers ) includes high quality renders of what it says are the next-generation noise-cancelling headphones.
If they are legit (Sony is yet to confirm this), the images show that Sony hasn't deviated too far from the design of the WH-1000XM4, but it has made a few changes to give the WH-1000XM5 a sleeker appearance.
The earcups seem to be larger, and more generously padded, which could make the WH-1000XM5 more comfortable to wear than their predecessors - not that this was a problem we encountered with the WH-1000XM4. The headband also looks to have thicker padding.
It looks as though the on/off button on the left earcup has been replaced by a slider, and the 'Custom' button has been reverted back to 'NC/Ambient', as it was on the Sony WH-1000XM3 . Like their predecessors, the renders show the headphones available in black and silver, and they'll come with a carrying case - though this time, they don't fold up inside.

The illustration included in the patent for Sony’s next headphones is pretty basic, only really showing the outline of a pair of over-ear headphones; however, it does give us a few clues about the design of the Sony WH-1000XM5.
It shows a pair of headphones with elongated oval-shaped earcups connected by a slim headband. Underneath the cushion of the left earcup is an FCC nameplate on a tag, which displays the headphones’ model number (YY2954).
On the Sony WH-1000XM4, this nameplate can be found underneath the headband. So, why would Sony move it? The most obvious answer is that the company wants a sleeker look for the headband of its next cans, and therefore moved the model number to a less conspicuous area.
Alternatively, Sony could be planning a pair of headphones with a headband that’s too slim to fit all the information required, or making them in a different material. The WH-1000XM4 have a plastic headband, but if the Sony WH-1000XM5’s headband was made from metal, the cost of engraving the FCC ID might be more expensive.
Metal headbands on headphones can look really stylish; the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are a great example of this, with a stainless steel headband that seamlessly connects to the earcups without any visible hinges. However, this doesn't correspond with the images shared by TechnikNews.
In any case, it looks like the Sony WH-1000XM5 will come in black and silver color options, like their predecessors – that’s according to The Walkman Blog, which shared an import listing for a Sony headset from Hong Kong to India which it believes relates to the headphones described in the patent. This product listing contained two colors - silver and black - as seen in the new renders.
That doesn’t mean these will be the only colors available for the Sony WH-1000XM5; the company launched a few special-edition versions of the XM4 in Arctic White and Midnight Blue color schemes.
Again, the patent filed by Sony doesn’t reveal much about its next headphones, but there are a few clues about the kind of new features we could see in the WH-1000XM5.
For starters, the patent describes a ‘Wireless Noise Canceling Stereo Headset’, so we can be pretty certain that active noise cancellation will be a big feature, as with the rest of the WH-1000X lineup.
TechnikNews say the active noise cancellation will be improved, with two dedicated chips and three microphones to detect environmental noise and cancel it out. The noise cancellation provided by the XM4 was already very good, so any improvements in this area will just feel like a bonus.
Sony has consistently made minor upgrades to its noise cancellation technology with every model in this range, with the WH-1000XM4 introducing adaptive noise cancellation that allows the headphones to learn where you are using geo-location access and apply your preferred level of ANC accordingly. So, if you’re at home, the headphones could apply the maximum level of noise cancellation, while they might dial it down when you’re in the office and want to hear your colleagues.
We’d expect to see more upgrades to the noise cancellation technology for the Sony WH-1000XM5, whether that’s a refinement of Sony’s adaptive ANC, or a general increase in how much external noise the headphones are capable of blocking out.
TechnikNews claims the Sony WH-1000XM5 are getting a big upgrade to their battery life, which will come in at 40 hours with ANC switched on. That's 10 more hours of playback than the Sony WH-1000XM4 can manage, though the charging time (via USB-C) has increased slightly to three-and-a-half hours.
The patent also describes what could be some improvements to the battery life. It shows that the internal battery rating of these headphones is 3.8V, as opposed to the 3.7V rating of the WH-1000XM4. That figure was already impressive, so an even longer music playback time would be a big selling point for Sony's next headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 could also come with fast charging support, with the patent describing a 5V / 9V USB rating for regular and fast charging respectively.
That being said, a newer leak may have dashed our dreams of a longer battery life . Supposed pictures of the retail packaging for the headphones were leaked on Reddit (via The Verge ), and they show a claimed battery life of 30 hours.
The wireless connectivity standard has also reportedly been bumped up to Bluetooth 5.2 from Bluetooth 5, and you'll still be able to listen with a wired connection thanks to a 3.5mm port. There are a few features from the Sony WH-1000XM4 that we’re expecting to return with the company’s next headphones. These include Speak-to-Chat, which automatically pauses your music when the headphones detect your voice, and support for Sony 360 Reality Audio, which allows for immersive virtual surround sound when you’re using the headphones with compatible music streaming services .
These two features both made an appearance with the Sony LinkBuds , so it’s safe to say that the brand is still invested in them.
We’re also hoping that Sony will reprise its Atmospheric Pressure Optimising feature, which adjusts the sound of the WH-1000XM4 when they’re being used on airplanes.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 have been our pick for the best headphones you can buy since they launched in 2020 – and so far, they haven’t been usurped by any other models, and any improvements will be a welcome bonus. Still, Sony will need to keep adapting its headphones if it wants to stay on top, and there are a few improvements we’d like to see with the WH-1000XM5.
Firstly, improved battery life would help Sony stave off competition from models like the Urbanista Miami , which offer a 50-hour battery life (though that figure is reduced to 40 hours with ANC turned on). The playback times offered by wireless headphones is getting longer all the time, and Sony won’t want to be left behind by newer models.
We’d also like to see a reintroduction of the aptX codec, which came with the Sony WH-1000XM3, but was missing from the XM4. This codec allows for hi-res audio playback, and while the XM4 are covered for high-quality streams using Sony’s own LDAC technology, you’ll need a compatible device to take advantage of it.
As well as comprehensive hi-res audio support, we’d love the Sony WH-1000XM5 to come with lossless audio. This was once impossible for wireless headphones, as the bandwidth offered by Bluetooth connectivity wasn’t wide enough to handle uncompressed, lossless streams; however, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound technology could make this possible.
All Sony would need to do is integrate the new QCC3065x headphone chip, and WH-1000XM5 users would be able to enjoy bit-for-bit mathematically exact music that closely reproduces music just as the artist intended it to be heard.
This chip hasn’t hit shelves yet, but headphones utilizing the technology are expected to start coming out this year, making the Sony WH-1000XM5 a prime candidate for lossless audio support.
There are a few design features we’re hoping to see in the Sony WH-1000XM5, too. The brand’s headphones typically come in a limited range of muted colors, so we’d love to see Sony get a bit more adventurous with its color palette for the WH-1000XM5.
Water resistance wouldn’t go amiss, either. The Sony WH-1000XM4 don’t come with an IP rating, so we’re not comfortable using the headphones outdoors when it’s raining. An IPX4 rating or above would ensure that the WH-1000XM5 are resilient to sweat, as well as a few drops of rain.
The Witcher season 3 cast gets a number of magical upgrades
The Witcher has added some fairly sizable star power to its season 3 ranks, with actors from Marvel's Shang-Chi and Prime Video's Upload among four new cast members.
Revealed via the official Witcher Twitter account , the hit Netflix show 's casting ranks have grown with the additions of Shang-Chi breakout star Meng’er Zhang and Upload 's lead male actor in Robbie Amell.
The duo are also joined by Hugh Skinner (Fleabag) and Christelle Elwin (Bloods) as part of The Witcher season 3 , which recently began filming in Croatia and the UK.
Check out the casting confirmation in the tweet below:
Zhang, who starred as Shang-Chi's estranged sister Xu Xialing in the 2021 Marvel movie , is in line to portray Milva, a fierce and talented human huntress and archer who is sure to dole out plenty of punishment when the show's third season arrives. A Netflix Tudum article mentions that Milva was "adopted by the dryads of Brokilon Forest", who viewers may remember from The Witcher season 1. Will we see the dryads again in season 3? Time will tell.
Amell, who recently appeared in Upload season 2 and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, is set to take on the role of Gallatin. Described in the Netflix Tudum article as a "born fighter", Gallatin will lead a gang of guerrilla warriors called the Scoia'tael, who fight on behalf of the villainous Nilfgaardian empire. Expect him to cross paths with Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer in season 3.
Skinner will play Radovid, the younger brother of King Vizimir of Redania who stumbles his way into the Redanian Intelligence inner circle. He's described as a charming but aloof (and sometimes drunk) individual who has a steady politicking hand.
Finally, Elwin will portray a character called Mistle, a streetwise member of a gang of teenage misfits called the Rats. Like Robin Hood, Mistle and her crew members steal from the rich and give to the poor (and themselves). According to Netflix Tudum, a "chance encounter" will change her life trajectory, though. Based on what we know about Andrzej Sapkowski's novel series , something tells us it'll have something to do with Ciri...
There's no official release date for The Witcher season 3 yet, so it'll be a while before we see these characters on our screens. But, with principal photography beginning in late March, hopefully the wait won't be too long.
Analysis: a Time of Contempt, indeed

If there was any doubt about which Witcher novel the show's next instalment would draw from, these casting announcements have all but confirmed which of Sapkowski's books it'll be based on.
Showrunner Lauren Hissrich had previously (and exclusively) told TechRadar that The Witcher season 3 would be based on Time of Contempt, the second novel in Sapkowski's Witcher novel series. Given that was always the plan for the show's third season, it may seem strange for us to say that these new cast member reveals outright confirm that season 3 will be based on Time of Contempt.
However, Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher has taken a number of creative liberties with its source material – something that some fans have criticized in recent months. So there was always the possibility that season 3 may be based on Time of Contempt, but wouldn't necessarily rigidly stick to what plays out in the novel.
The additions of this acting quartet – and the characters they'll portray – seem to suggest that The Witcher season 3 will align itself closely with Time of Contempt, though. Amell's Gallatin (and the Scoia'tael in general) have a major role to play in Time of Contempt. Meanwhile, in Sapkowski's novel, Geralt ends up inadvertently visiting Brokilin Forest (Milva's home) and Mistle encounters Ciri alongside her fellow Rats. Finally, the kingdom of Redania has a greater role to play in Time of Contempt and beyond – hence Radovid's appearance in season 3.
All of this, then, validates Hissrich's comments that The Witcher's third season will largely be based on Time of Contempt. With this particular book being her favorite one in Sapkowski's fantasy series, here's hoping that Hissrich and company do justice to the characters who appear in this novel, and the plot that plays out.
Instagram tells us why it brought back the chronological feed
Instagram has finally confirmed that the option to use a chronological feed is rolling out to all users on iOS and Android from today, March 23.
The rolling feed of images and video had changed in 2016 to one that was instead judged by algorithms. Instagram thought that users would prefer to be shown what they might like, rather than showing the latest images, with no ability to switch between modes.
However, users have been clamoring to scroll through a feed from newest to oldest, and Instagram has finally relented. Eventually, you will be given two options on your feed - Following and Favorites, which can then be set to show your posts chronologically.
TechRadar spoke to the company to find out why this change has occurred now, and whether this applies to Instagram's other features.
A logical choice, at last
This is an update that won't require you to go to the App Store or Google Play Store to update - it should appear on your feed soon.
It's a welcome change, and many had been wishing for the company to revert back to a chronological feed since it changed back in 2016. So much so, Instagram commented on this at the end of 2021 through a series of tweets.
In the meantime, we asked an Instagram spokesperson as to why it decided to make the change. "For some time now, we’ve been working on different ways to give people more control over their experience. This is one of the many things we’re doing to give people more choice," the spokesperson explains. "We moved away from a full chronological feed because we learned that many people were missing posts. That said, we think it’s important to give people choice - so we’re providing them with more options in Feed to tailor their experience."
There is a small caveat to the return of the chronological feed; you can't currently set it as the default option, compared to what you can do with Twitter's two feeds . We asked if this was something that the company would consider in the future. "We’re giving new options within your Feed to give people more control and choice," Instagram's spokesperson clarifies. "The Home Feed will remain a mix of content that you see today, including ranked content from people you follow, recommended content you may like, and more."

Six years is a long time in technology, especially when it comes to social media. Since then, we've seen Instagram Stories and Reels arrive, alongside being able to access the platform on the web . We asked whether the chronological feed would also apply here as well, with some bad news, confirming just two platforms again to us. "This feature is currently only available on iOS and Android."
Finally, with Reels attempting to take on TikTok in its rolling video, we wondered whether this would also reap the benefit of an organized feed. "Currently, Favourites only applies to posts that appear in Feed."
For now at least, the first steps of a chronological feed have arrived. And while you can't make it the default view for your feed, alongside being able to apply it to your Reels or hashtag feeds, it's a start.
But with more users accessing the platform through iPads and web browsers on their Windows PCs , it's now a matter of when, not if, the chronological feed will also appear there as well.