Should I buy the XM5 or the XM4?

For most listeners the older generation is the better value — Sony keeps it on sale and discounts it hard, and the difference between consecutive generations is usually smaller than the price gap.

Why is one colour cheaper?

Each finish is a separate listing with its own stock and discount cycle. The less popular colour of an identical pair is frequently cheaper, and most searches surface only one.

Are marketplace Sony headphones genuine?

Usually, but this is a heavily counterfeited line. Check the seller rather than only the listing, and treat an unusually large discount from an unknown seller as a reason to verify.

Cheapest place to buy Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones in the UK

The previous generation is still on sale and is the better buy for most people.

Updated 26 September 2026 · 1 min read

The XM4 has not gone away

Sony keeps the outgoing generation on sale for a long time after a successor lands, and discounts it hard. For most listeners the difference between consecutive generations in this line is smaller than the price gap between them.

So the first question is not where to buy the XM5. It is whether you want the XM5 or the previous model at a considerably lower price.

Colours are separately priced

Each finish is its own listing with its own stock and its own discount cycle. The less popular colour of the identical pair is frequently cheaper, and a search that surfaces only one colour will miss it.

Check the seller, not just the listing

Popular premium headphones are among the more counterfeited products on open marketplaces. A large discount from an unfamiliar seller is a reason to look harder rather than to hurry — and buying through an authorised seller is what keeps the manufacturer warranty straightforward.

Before you buy

Price the previous generation alongside the current one.
Check every colourway of the model you want.
Confirm who the seller actually is on any marketplace listing.
Check whether a case or cable is bundled, and whether that is priced in.
Compare across shops at the moment you buy — this line discounts unpredictably.