Sony’s last-gen, but still great 1000XM5 are cheaper than ever

It’s rare for Sony’s flagship headphones, even slightly outdated models, to receive a big discount. However, the WH-1000XM5 in black or silver is selling at its lowest-ever price today at Adorama when you enter the code JHCE9834 at checkout (it’s the last step before placing the order). Originally $399, they’re $204.56 — practically half price. According to historic pricing data from CamelCamelCamel, this handily beats the previous best-ever price of $248 near the end of 2025.

The XM5s are worth considering if you’re curious about the newer XM6 from 2025, but are reluctant to drop $398 on the latest over-ear headphones model. The XM5s sound incredible, are comfortable to wear for long periods, and their active noise cancellation remains among the best currently available. The XM6s add a little extra in each of those categories, and Sony reintroduced a folding design from the XM3 and XM4 models, allowing the newest model to take up less space when stowed in its included case. The XM5, on the other hand, can’t be folded, although its cups can rotate to rest on your chest while not in use. Read our review of the XM5 and our hands-on impressions with the XM6.

Other great Verge-approved deals

• Guitar controllers have made a comeback in the past couple of years, thanks to Rock Band’s DNA being integrated into Fortnite Festival. The free-to-play game offers several tunes you can jam to. Alternatively, you can load Rock Band 4 if you already have a song library there. Whichever game you want to play, PDP’s Riffmaster wireless guitar controller is cheaper than ever, costing $99.99 at Amazon and Best Buy for Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. This model includes a rechargeable battery, a headphone jack, and a small analog stick that makes navigating menus much easier than on previous peripherals.
• The Best Buy-exclusive TCL QM5K QD-mini-LED TV is discounted ahead of the Super Bowl in a range of sizes. The 75-inch model is an impressively low $599.99, and the 65-inch version is $150 less. This entry-level model features local dimming zones in every size, delivering better contrast and improved color and lighting accuracy compared to cheaper alternatives. These TVs support Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus, and run the Google TV interface. Ratings site RTINGS notes that it offers a variable refresh rate and low input lag, both of which are beneficial for gaming. All sizes except the 50-inch model can reach 144Hz at 1080p and 1440p, but if you’re viewing 4K content, they all top out at 60Hz.
• Most of us have multiple gadgets that need charging at once. Anker’s two-headed USB-C cable makes it so that you don’t have to pick favorites, and right now, it’s $15.99, down from $19.99, at Amazon. The six-foot braided cable lets you charge two devices simultaneously, supporting up to 140W charging through a single cable with a fast enough wall adapter. With two devices plugged in, it automatically delivers the fastest possible charging to each device.