Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are back down to their lowest price

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/sonyxm5.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sony is one of many companies offering Labor Day discounts on tech products, though its week-long sale on the <strong>last-gen WH-1000XM5</strong> is one of the most attractive deals I found upon logging in this morning. The comfy over-ear headphones offer some of the best sound quality and active noise cancelling, and are down to $198 at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XSDMT4F">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sony-wh-1000xm5-wireless-noise-cancelling-over-the-ear-headphones-black/J7XSRH5CXG/sku/6505727">Best Buy</a>. Originally $399.99, they typically sell for around $250, and this $50 price drop brings them back down their Prime Day 2026 price we saw in late June. However, this time you don’t need a Prime subscription to save.</p> <div class="product-block"><h3>Sony WH-1000XM5</h3> <figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23454336/DSCF7813.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="A man wearing Sony’s black WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones outside." /></figure> <h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sony-WH-1000XM5-Canceling-Headphones-Hands-Free/dp/B09XS7JWHH/?th=1"> <strike>$399.99</strike> $198 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sony-wh-1000xm5-wireless-noise-cancelling-over-the-ear-headphones-black/J7XSRH5CXG/sku/6505727"> <strike>$399.99</strike> $198 at <strong>Best Buy</strong></a></li></ul></div> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The XM5 launched in 2022, but don’t let their age fool you into thinking these aren’t great headphones by modern standards. While the newer <a href="https://www.theverge.com/hands-on/667017/sony-wh-1000xm6-hands-on">XM6</a> from 2025 offer slight improvements to sound and noise cancellation (and brought back the compact folding design from the XM4 and earlier), the XM5 are still a fantastic value. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/976735/sony-wireless-headphones-anc-wh-1000xm4c-leak">Sony is rumored to be reintroducing its XM4 headphones</a> with a friendlier price tag —they launched in 2020 for $349.99— though it’s doubtful that they’ll be as affordable as the XM5 currently is. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23067645/sony-wh-1000xm5-noise-canceling-headphones-review">Read our review</a>.</p> <div id="hype-desk-root"></div> window.HYPE_DESK_CONFIG = { productImageUrl: "https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Dell_XPS_13_Hype_Desk_16x9.png", productImageAlt: "Dell XPS 13", productTitle: "Dell XPS 13", shortDescription: "A premium ultraportable at a starting price that doesn't feel premium.", longDescription: "The thinnest, lightest XPS yet, without cutting anything you'd miss. At just 2.2 pounds and 0.5 inches thin, the new XPS 13 keeps the premium CNC-aluminum build the line is known for, at a surprisingly accessible starting price. The 13.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen runs a smooth 30–120Hz refresh rate, everyday essentials are covered with Wi-Fi 7 and Windows Hello, and the quad-speaker Dolby Atmos setup delivers genuinely impressive audio for something this thin.", purchaseUrl: "https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-8836598-12839518?sid=VergeHypeDeskArticle12Newsletter1DellAugust2026&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dell.com%2Fen-us%2Fshop%2Fdell-laptops%2Fnew-xps-13-laptop%2Fspd%2Fxps13dx13260laptop", purchaseLinkText: "Shop At Dell" }; <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other great Verge-approved deals</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Today is your final day to grab a <strong>Nintendo Switch 2</strong> at its original $449.99 price. It’ll go up to $499.99 for the base model starting September 1st, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/984321/two-switch-2-bundles-are-coming-shortly-after-the-price-increase">bundles launching this fall</a> will cost up to $549.99. I wouldn’t call it a deal to get one for its usual price today, but it’ll look like one in hindsight. With Nintendo’s controllers and other accessories costing quite a bit a more than their last-gen counterparts, grabbing hardware ahead of the price increase is a smart move. The console is available at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3GWXLTS">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/switch-2-system/J7GSL57TGH/sku/6614313">Best Buy</a>. Alternatively, you can grab a bunch of discounted Nintendo gift cards at <a href="https://www.newegg.com/nintendo-50-00/p/N82E16888026013">Newegg</a> or <a href="https://www.costco.com/p/-/nintendo-eshop-four-50-egift-cards/4000221684?langId=-1">Costco</a> until you have enough credit added to your Nintendo account to get a system.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>The <strong>Matic robot vacuum</strong> is getting a $250 price increase on September 9th, so this is just a reminder that your time is running low to consider getting one at its original cost. Currently $1,245 through <a href="https://maticrobots.com/">Matic</a>, it’ll rise to $1,495 due to rising costs for memory and other components. Your purchase will come with a year’s worth of replacement bag shipments (a $96 value). Also, Matic has increased its return policy from 60 days to six months. My colleague Jennifer recently tested out <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/979516/matic-cues-robot-vacuum-gesture-control-hands-on-review">Matic Cues</a>, its new gesture and voice control features that further set the Matic out from the crowd of robot vacuums.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Plenty of Sonos gear (in white or black) is discounted</strong> at <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/select-sonos-speaker-savings">Best Buy</a> ahead of Labor Day. The sale has a home theater focus, and includes the company’s current range of products. Starting with subwoofers, its <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sonos-sub-mini-wireless-subwoofer-black/J39H373SS8/sku/6520132">Sub Mini</a> is down to $399.99 ($100 off) while the more powerful <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sonos-sub-4-wireless-subwoofer-black/J39H37879G/sku/6597168">Sub 4</a> is $759, a $140 price drop. Most of its soundbars are cheaper, too, including the <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sonos-arc-ultra-9-1-4-channel-smart-soundbar-with-dolby-atmos-black/J39H373F2S/sku/6597167">Sonos Arc Ultra</a> for $899 ($200 off) and the <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sonos-beam-gen-2-5-0-channel-smart-soundbar-with-dolby-atmos-black/J39H373LWC/sku/6476041">Beam Gen 2</a> for $399 ($100 off). Also, its powerful <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sonos-era-300-smart-speaker-with-spatial-audio-each-black/J39H3736FZ/sku/6535189">Era 300 smart speaker</a> that can add some serious power to your entertainment center setup is $379, $100 off. You know the prices are good when the new gear costs about the same as Sonos’ refurbished products (or less, in some cases).</li> </ul>