Sony finally confirms launch date for WH-1000XM6!

Three years in the making, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are finally arriving next week. Sony has officially confirmed that its next-generation noise canceling headphones will launch on May 15. The company will be hosting a YouTube livestream for the launch on that date. Yes, we’re just days away from the debut of what could be the best ANC headphones of the year.

The confirmation first came via Sony Australia, which posted a teaser video on Instagram revealing the launch date. The short clip shows the silhouette of a pair of headphones with the timestamp May 16, 2 AM AEST — translating to May 15, 12 PM ET for those in the US.

Sony later posted a YouTube livestream link for the announcement. You can tune into the video embedded below to watch the WH-1000XM6 launch live on May 15.

This launch date announcement for the WH-1000XM6 comes hot on the heels of an early Amazon listing that spilled the beans on most of the key specs (see table below). One of the standout upgrades is the introduction of a new QN3 processor, reportedly seven times faster than the QN1 chip found in the WH-1000XM5, promising even more powerful noise cancelation and smarter audio processing.

Meanwhile, a fresh leak from The Walkman Blog has given us our best look yet at the WH-1000XM6. The leaked images of the headphones show off redesigned ear cups, a thicker, foldable hinge, and a wider headband — all signs that Sony is prioritizing comfort and durability. Perhaps one of the most exciting rumors is that the WH-1000XM6 might finally offer water resistance, a long-requested feature that was notably absent from its predecessor.

The timing of the launch is also worth noting. The WH-1000XM6 are landing just days after Sony’s latest flagship phone, the Xperia 1 VII. Looks like Sony is firing on all cylinders this May