Sony for less
Sony WH-CH730N
- Only 207 g
- Rated about 50 hours
Cheaper alternatives to the Sony WH-1000XM5
Three cheaper pairs that last longer: Sony's app, balanced sound, or the lowest price.
Updated 5 November 2026
Calmer sound
Sennheiser Accentum Wireless
- Clean, even sound
- Battery lasts for days
Smallest spend
CMF Headphone Pro
- Long rated battery
- Headphone cable in the box
The original
Sony WH-1000XM5
Worth it if: You want the deepest quiet on a budget
- Top-tier quiet on the Tube and on planes
- Great call quality, say reviewers
What buyers love: blocking out noise.
Not worth it if: Battery life matters more than silence
Prices move a lot: see today's price at the shop.
What are you actually paying extra for with the WH-1000XM5?
What the extra money buys
- Top-tier quiet on the Tube and on planes
- Great call quality, say reviewers
- Comfy fit at 250 g
Worth it if
- You want the deepest quiet on a budget
- You're on calls all day
Not worth it if
- Battery life matters more than silence
- You run hot in headphones
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sony WH-CH730N
For Tom's Guide it was the obvious UK budget choice. What Hi-Fi rated its calls highly but heard a muffled sound until the Clear preset went on. TechRadar found keyboards and voices still cut through, and the headband feels plasticky.
Sennheiser Accentum Wireless
What Hi-Fi found its sound clean and balanced, if a bit flat, and its quiet strong on trains and roads. Tom's Guide rated the battery class-leading and the noise cancelling very effective. There's no wear sensor, no case and no wired option.
CMF Headphone Pro
TechRadar enjoyed its punchy, detailed sound for the money and called the battery outstanding. SoundGuys liked the quiet too, but not the creaky all-plastic frame or the cramped controls. Its cable only plays while it's switched on.
Final recommendation: Most people will be happy with the Sony WH-CH730N: the same app, less weight and much more battery. Choose the Sennheiser Accentum for a natural sound at home and on the train. Grab the CMF Headphone Pro to spend the least. Stay with the XM5 if silence on planes and call quality come first.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Check shop | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Battery, noise cancelling on (claimed) | Up to 30 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours |
| Weight | 250 g | 207 g | 222 g | 283 g |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Two devices at once | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folds / case | Folds flat, carrying case | Folds flat, no case | Doesn't fold, no case | Folds flat, soft pouch |
| Headphone cable | Yes, 3.5 mm | No | No | Yes, 3.5 mm (powered on) |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Should I still buy the WH-1000XM5 in 2026?
Only on a good deal. What Hi-Fi still rates its sound, quiet and calls highly. The newer XM6 folds up small, which the XM5 doesn't, so check the price gap first.
Which of these lasts longest on one charge?
All three are rated around 50 hours with noise cancelling on, against 30 for the XM5. Tom's Guide called the Accentum's battery class-leading.
Can I use these on a plane with a cable?
Only the CMF, which comes with a 3.5 mm cable but must be switched on. The WH-CH730N and Accentum have no headphone socket.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Sony WH-1000XM5 with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Sony UK: WH-1000XM5 specifications, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WH-1000XM5 review, Tom's Guide: Sony WH-1000XM5 review, Sony UK: WH-CH730N product page, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WH-CH730N review, TechRadar: Sony WH-CH730N review, Tom's Guide: Sony WH-CH730N review, Sennheiser: introducing Accentum Wireless, What Hi-Fi?: Sennheiser Accentum Wireless review, Tom's Guide: Sennheiser Accentum review, Nothing UK: CMF Headphone Pro, TechRadar: CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro review, SoundGuys: CMF Headphone Pro review.