If you want a lightweight, all-day wireless headset for PC that keeps going for hours on end, choose Sony WH-CH720; if you need the most advanced noise cancelling Sony puts in a consumer headphone and you take a lot of calls in loud rooms, choose Sony WH-1000XM5. That's the short version, and it's the honest one. Most people searching for the best earphones for PC end up weighing exactly these two, because both are over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling, a 3.5 mm jack and multipoint connection — but they are built for different buyers.
• Sony WH-CH720 — biggest strength: up to 35 hours of battery life with noise cancelling on, in a very light build (0.1 kg / roughly 3.5 oz) that's easy to forget you're wearing during a long workday.
• Sony WH-CH720 — biggest trade-off: simpler noise cancelling hardware (dual noise sensor plus the V1 processor) and a plastic-and-metal frame that reads as everyday rather than premium.
• Sony WH-1000XM5 — biggest strength: the flagship noise cancelling setup — two processors driving eight microphones with an Auto NC Optimizer that re-tunes cancellation to your fit and surroundings — plus a 30 mm driver and soft fit leather.
• Sony WH-1000XM5 — biggest trade-off: fewer rated hours per charge (30 vs 35), a heavier 8.82 oz build, and a fussier, more expensive-feeling product you'll want to keep in its case.
• Who each is for: the WH-CH720 is for the person who wants a light, long-lasting headphone for PC work, study and commuting; the WH-1000XM5 is for the person who wants the strongest noise cancelling and the clearest calls and will pay for the premium build.
The WH-CH720 does the boring things brilliantly. It runs up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on, recharges in about 3 hours, and weighs just 0.1 kg. That combination is the whole pitch: you plug it in at night, wear it through a workday, and you don't think about charging again until tomorrow night. For a wireless headset for PC that lives on your desk, that's the spec that actually matters.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Call quality is handled by Precise Voice Pickup Technology, a wind noise reduction structure and beamforming mics, and you get multipoint so the headphone can hold two devices at once — laptop plus phone, say — and hop between them. Bluetooth 5.2, Swift Pair and Fast Pair make setup painless on Windows. There's a 3.5 mm jack too, so you can go wired when latency matters.
Who should skip it? If your main goal is silencing a loud open-plan office, a train carriage or a plane, the WH-CH720's dual-sensor cancelling is a step below what the flagship offers. And if you want touch controls, note this one uses buttons and voice control instead — some people prefer that, some don't.
The WH-1000XM5 is the headphone you buy when noise is the enemy. Two processors control eight microphones, and the Auto NC Optimizer adjusts cancellation automatically based on how the headphones sit on your head and what's around you. Sony specifically tunes this model to cut more high and mid-frequency sound than earlier designs — which is exactly the range that human voices, keyboard clatter and air-conditioning whine live in. For a PC user in a busy house or a shared office, that's the difference-maker.
Sound quality gets a purpose-built 30 mm driver, and the numbers back up the tuning intent: 48 ohm impedance, 102 dB sensitivity, a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency response and a rated 150 ms audio latency. The V1 processor returns here, and the Sony Sound Connect app gives you EQ. The build is a genuine step up — soft fit leather, a stepless slider, seamless swivel and hanger, and silent joints, all designed to reduce pressure on your ears while still sealing out noise.
Calls are the other headline. Four beamforming microphones (two per earcup) with precise voice pickup and advanced signal processing mean the person on the other end hears you clearly even in noisy rooms. Multipoint lets it hold two Bluetooth devices and route an incoming call to the right one automatically. Charging is quick — 3 minutes gets you roughly 3 hours of playback with a USB-PD adapter — and a redesigned carry case is included.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → Sony WH-CH720. Up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on versus 30 on the XM5.
• Best for all-day comfort on a light head → Sony WH-CH720. 0.1 kg is about as light as over-ear noise cancelling gets.
• Best noise cancelling → Sony WH-1000XM5. Eight microphones, two processors, automatic optimisation to your fit and environment.
• Best for calls in loud places → Sony WH-1000XM5. Four beamforming mics and advanced signal processing beat the CH720's single-mic-array approach.
• Best for quick top-ups → Sony WH-1000XM5. A 3-minute charge yields around 3 hours of playback; the CH720 needs a full 3-hour charge cycle.
• Best for a headphone for PC on a budget → Sony WH-CH720. Same app, same multipoint, same 3.5 mm jack, simpler hardware.
• Best for long-haul travel and premium materials → Sony WH-1000XM5. Soft fit leather and the included case suit commuting and flying.
• Best for touch controls → Sony WH-1000XM5. It uses touch and voice control; the CH720 uses physical buttons.
If I were buying one headphone to sit at my PC all day, I'd take the Sony WH-CH720. Thirty-five hours of battery, 0.1 kg on my head, multipoint for laptop and phone, a 3.5 mm jack for low-latency work, and app EQ — that's everything a wireless headset for PC actually needs, and the lighter weight is the thing you feel every single hour. I'd only step up to the WH-1000XM5 if noise cancelling is the reason I'm buying: a loud office, a noisy home, or a job where I'm on calls all day. In my opinion, that's the only honest reason to pay the premium. Otherwise, the CH720 is the smarter pick. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since it moves around.
For noise cancelling and call clarity, yes — eight microphones with automatic optimisation versus the CH720's dual noise sensor setup. For battery life and weight, no: the CH720 gives you up to 35 hours at 0.1 kg. "Better" depends entirely on which of those you care about.
The WH-CH720, rated at up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on. The WH-1000XM5 is rated at up to 30 hours, but it charges far faster — about 3 minutes for 3 hours of playback with a USB-PD adapter, versus a 3-hour full charge on the CH720.
Yes. Both are Bluetooth 5.2 over-ear headphones with multipoint connection, a 3.5 mm jack and app-based EQ. The WH-CH720 supports Swift Pair and Fast Pair for quick Windows setup; the WH-1000XM5 adds touch controls and voice control.
Only if premium noise cancelling and clearer calls in noisy environments are your priority. If you mainly want a light, long-lasting headphone for PC work and everyday listening, the WH-CH720 covers the essentials and I'd recommend it instead.
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