Sony Launches The ColleXion at €629 and WH-1000XM6 Sandstone — More Premium Than XM6 With Luxury Materials on May 19, 2026

Sony Surprises With Its Most Premium 1000X Headphones Ever

Sony combined the Xperia 1 VIII launch and a new headphone announcement in the same week — surprising observers by releasing two audio products simultaneously.

Sony posted "a masterpiece awaits" across its social media channels with a full reveal scheduled for May 19 at 16:00 UTC.

Sony The ColleXion — Above XM6 in Premium Tier

These headphones are reportedly called "Sony The ColleXion" — available in black only and priced at €629 in Europe. For comparison: the WH-1000XM6 costs €449 and the Apple AirPods Max 2 comes in at ~€579.

Leakers who have seen renders describe a "heritage-inspired" aesthetic — a nod to a decade of 1000X design language while introducing new materials and a more refined folding mechanism.

Full technical details for ColleXion haven't been fully revealed — but the strategic positioning is clear: a limited luxury headphone aimed at audiophiles and collectors.

WH-1000XM6 Sandstone — The Fifth Color

Sony is introducing a fifth colorway for the WH-1000XM6 called "Sandstone" — a sandy beige hue. It will launch on May 19, 2026 at the same price as the other colors.

The WH-1000XM6 is priced at $449.99 in the US. Current colors: Black, Platinum Silver, Midnight Blue, and Sand Pink — now joined by Sandstone.

WH-1000XM6 Story — Brief Context

After ditching the folding hinge in the XM5, Sony brings it back for the XM6 — along with a redesigned headband. This means more compact folding for the travel case. Battery life improved by approximately 5.5 hours over XM5. Supports Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast compatibility. Earpads are now detachable for easier replacement.