Sony WF-1000XM5 leak shows smaller earbud design, new case

This is our first look at Sony’s upcoming WF-1000XM5. The images are from the certification of the earbuds (via The Walkman Blog (opens in new tab)), and if accurate, they show smaller earbuds and a redesigned charging case.

Let’s take a closer look at that.

As you can see, the earbuds have a more compact design, with a bottom that isn’t quite as flat as the XM4’s. This probably helps the earbuds sit more comfortably in the ear.

The image also shows the tactile dot, above which is a hole for a microphone, though it’s not clear if it’s for the feedforward or voice microphone. According to the recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the earbuds should also have a touch screen for operation, though that’s not clearly visible in these photos.

Now we have to take these photos with a grain of salt as they may not be the final versions, but there are some details that will probably be in the final design.