Sony looks ready to give its popular WH-1000 headphone line a more premium flex. After teasing a new WH-1000XX “ColleXion” model for May 19 with the line “a masterpiece awaits,” fresh leaks have now shown what the luxury version could actually look like.
The leak, shared by @onleaks and HotEUDeals, gives us multiple angles of the headphones plus several key details. Earlier hints already pointed in this direction, including an image of F1 actor Damson Idris wearing what appeared to be the new cans. Now, the picture is much clearer: Sony may be positioning ColleXion as an atas alternative to its mainstream WH-1000XM6 flagship.
Design-wise, this one is clearly trying to look more “premium lounge” than “daily commute workhorse.” The headphones appear to have thicker padding around the headband and earcups, plus polished metal accents that make them stand out from the usual XM series. Two colour options are expected: white and black. Interestingly, the black version reportedly swaps the shiny chrome-style accents for black metal details, so it should look more stealthy and less flashy.
Sony also seems to be upgrading the accessories. According to the leak, the ColleXion will include a four-foot 3.5mm cable and a sculpted carrying case with a built-in handle and magnetic catch. That case detail might sound small, but for premium headphones, the whole unboxing and carrying experience matters. If you are paying luxury money, you expect more than a basic pouch.
There are some smaller physical changes too, including redesigned earpad buttons and updated microphone grilles. On the audio side, the leaked specs mention up to 24 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation turned on, six-microphone AI beamforming, an adaptive noise cancellation optimizer and “studio-grade” sound quality.
For Malaysia and SEA buyers, the big question is price. The leak points to a US$649 tag, which is about RM3,050 before taxes, shipping or local retail markups. That is roughly US$200 more than Sony’s current WH-1000XM6, so this is not aimed at casual Shopee impulse buyers. This is for people already looking at premium brands like Bowers & Wilkins, or those who want Sony’s ANC comfort but with a more luxurious build.
The interesting part is whether Malaysian buyers will see enough value beyond the styling. Sony’s WH-1000 series is already strong for flights, office use, LRT/MRT commutes and noisy cafes. If ColleXion keeps that comfort and ANC performance while adding better materials and a more premium feel, it could make sense for frequent travellers, creators and audio fans who want one pair of headphones that looks classy in public and performs well daily.
Still, until Sony officially reveals the ColleXion, treat the details as leak-based. The May 19 announcement should confirm whether this is truly a luxury XM sibling or just a limited-edition glow-up with a very premium price.
Source: Engadget