Sony just dropped a significant firmware update for its flagship WH-1000XM6 and WF-1000XM5 headphones, bringing audio sharing capabilities and Google's Gemini Live AI assistant to the premium wireless audio lineup. The update, available through Sony's Sound Connect app, marks a major feature expansion for the company's two-year-old flagship earbuds and latest over-ear headphones.
Sony just transformed its flagship headphones into social audio hubs. The company's latest firmware update brings Bluetooth LE Audio's Auracast functionality to the WH-1000XM6 over-ears and WF-1000XM5 earbuds, letting you share your music, podcasts, or calls with friends in real-time.
The audio sharing feature works with Android phones that support Bluetooth LE Audio, including recent Google Pixel models, Samsung Galaxy devices, and OnePlus phones. You can now pair two sets of headphones simultaneously to share what you're listening to with a friend, or create a private broadcast that entire groups can join using a QR code or Google Fast Pair. It's like having a personal radio station that only your chosen circle can tune into.
Google announced in early September it was expanding Android's BLE Audio capabilities to several Sony headphone models, and this firmware update delivers on that promise. The timing suggests Sony's been working closely with Google to make this seamless integration happen.
But audio sharing isn't the only headline feature. Sony's also integrating Google's Gemini Live conversational AI assistant directly into both headphone models. This means you can have natural conversations with Google's AI without pulling out your phone, adding another layer of hands-free functionality to already feature-packed devices.
The WF-1000XM5 earbuds get some exclusive upgrades too. Sony's expanding the earbuds' integration with Google's Find My Device network, letting you locate the left and right earbuds individually. Even better, you can now disable Find My Device support entirely without needing the charging case, which was previously required according to Sony's support documentation.
Sony's also enhancing what it calls "system software security features" across both headphone models, though the company hasn't specified exactly what these improvements entail. The update also adds support for digital assistants and head tracking while using a Bluetooth LE Audio connection, expanding the headphones' smart features.
