My journey with Sony and music began with my first Walkman, the iconic portable cassette player. There was a certain allure to strolling around with it, blasting the latest hits with sound quality that was state-of-the-art for its time. This was followed by the prestigious Discman, which came with its own cachet, given the novelty of Compact Discs. At various stages in my life, these two devices were my steadfast travel companions on countless journeys through the scenic landscapes of India, providing a musical backdrop to the winding roads.

There were various models to choose from, and using them gave me a sense of experiencing something cutting-edge. Moreover, they made a fashion statement in their own right during those times. I recall a model with a striking sporty yellow color that was particularly popular among those who enjoyed being in the spotlight. In terms of sound quality, since the advent of digital players, headphones, and then earbuds, Sony has been striving to keep up with technological advancements. Although, in recent years, it has consistently released well-reviewed products that have performed admirably in both performance and aesthetics. However, few of them have managed to reclaim the status of a must-have accessory.

Now, the brand is making another attempt to blend fashion with sound through its new earbuds, the WF-1000XM5, albeit in a more subdued manner. These earbuds have been launched in collaboration with the global K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM, expanding the acclaimed 1000X Series, which also includes the WH-1000XM5 headphones, both in a brand-new Smoky Pink color. These earbuds are visually appealing without being overly flashy. More on that later.

As I set out to try the WF-1000XM5 earbuds, which come with a companion app that enhances the experience in various ways, the first thing that struck me was their lightweight feel, despite not having a minimal surface area. The latter meant that there was more space dedicated to touch sensors, making navigation a bit challenging, and I often activated the touch sensors by mistake. This required some getting used to, but it didn’t improve significantly over time. One of the standout features in my experience was the earbuds' battery life. I typically use a single earbud at a time, and it lasted me through the day and into the night. This was after using it for listening to music, making several phone calls, and using voice search. The battery life of the case, however, seemed shorter than I would have liked.

The earbuds connect with the companion app, Sound Connect, which allows you to adjust equalizer settings, shortcuts, connect multiple devices (I connected two and it switched seamlessly between them), assign touch controls, and explore other tech features for those who enjoy tinkering. One feature I appreciated was the ability to set the earbuds to switch off automatically when not in use and switch back on when needed, saving battery life. Returning to the earbuds themselves, Sony’s industry-leading noise cancellation doesn’t disappoint. The sound is immersive and captures the nuances of even the most intricate compositions. It also features adaptive noise control that can be toggled on and off via the app, automatically switching between noise-canceling and ambient sound modes. This feature detects your posture and position to switch between the two modes, making it easier to navigate through the day, turning the outside world on and off as needed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now ubiquitous in our devices, and Sony’s Edge AI is present in this pair. DSEE Extreme upscales compressed digital music files in real-time. Additionally, an AI-based noise reduction algorithm, powered by Deep Neural Network (DNN) processing and bone conduction sensors, ensures clear voice transmission during calls. This was particularly noticeable when using the earbuds, as my low voice usually requires me to repeat myself. With this pair, I had a seamless experience even in noisy environments like restaurants and parks. Earbuds certainly evoke a fashion sense in these times. For those who appreciate style, the WF-1000XM5 Smoky Pink edition has a soft, refined matte finish, making them understated yet stylish. The sides have a glossy finish without being too flashy. In-ear, these look good and can attract attention due to the unique shade. The case has a sleek, matte finish, with the subtlety of the color giving it a softer appearance.

The price point of Dh999 places these on the higher end of the spectrum and will appeal to those who value uniqueness. Overall, it offers a solid combination of sound and style for everyday use and is comfortable for long-term wear. In a time when the tech we use speaks volumes about us, the WF-1000XM5 Smoky Pink earbuds exude good taste without being too ostentatious.

Hits: Noise cancellation, Style quotient

Misses: Touch sensors, Case battery life

Price: Dh999

Rating: 4 stars

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