8.15

Overall Score: 8.15/10

Professional:8/10

Consumer:8.3/10

📖 Read TLDR Review to learn more →

Watch This Product

Watch products with ShopSavvy for price drops, stock alerts, deals and more.

Ask Agent About This Product

Do They Fold? (Spoiler Alert: No)

This is probably the most controversial change Sony made with the XM5. No, they don't fold, and if you travel a lot, this might be a dealbreaker.

Why Sony Made This Choice

Sony says they removed the folding mechanism to make the headphones more comfortable and better built. And honestly, they do feel more solid and comfortable than the XM4. But that comes at a cost.

The Reality of Traveling with These

The case is big: Like, noticeably bigger than the XM4's case. It's still well-made and protective, but it takes up significantly more space in your bag.

Daily commute: If you're used to folding headphones for your subway ride or stuffing them in a small backpack pocket, these won't work the same way.

Air travel: They still fit in carry-ons fine, but you'll need to plan for the extra space they take up.

What People Actually Do

Wear them: Many travelers just wear them on their neck during flights or while walking through airports. Not the most comfortable for long periods, but it works.

Bigger bags: Some people switched to slightly larger travel bags to accommodate the case.

Alternative cases: There are some third-party options that are more space-efficient, though they don't protect as well.

Is It Worth the Trade-off?

Here's the honest truth: if you travel frequently and pack light, this change might be frustrating enough to stick with the XM4 or look at Bose options that still fold.

But if you mostly use headphones at home, work, or for occasional travel, you probably won't mind the larger case in exchange for better comfort and build quality.

Bottom Line

Sony prioritized performance and comfort over portability. Whether that's the right choice depends entirely on how you plan to use them.