Sennheiser’s Momentum 5 headphones have upgraded ANC and a replaceable battery | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Sennheiser’s new Momentum 5 headphones have upgraded ANC and a replaceable batteryNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsSennheiser’s new Momentum 5 headphones have upgraded ANC and a replaceable batteryDouble the microphones means better noise canceling and call quality.Double the microphones means better noise canceling and call quality.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiMay 25, 2026, 10:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftSennheiser is sticking with the redesign it introduced with the Momentum 4 Wireless. Image: SennheiserAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.Nearly four years after the last version of Sennheiser’s Momentum headphones debuted with a redesign that traded a retro aesthetic for a more contemporary and comfortable design, the company has announced its Momentum 5 Wireless headphones. They look very similar to their predecessors, the Momentum 4, with large ear cups and a design that doesn’t quite stand out from the competition. But under the hood there are welcome upgrades, including improved ANC and, for the first time, a user-replaceable battery to extend their life.The Momentum 5 Wireless will be available starting on June 30th for $399.99, a $50 price bump over the Momentum 4. The headphones feature the same 42mm drivers as the Momentum 3 and 4 models, but Sennheiser is introducing “Hi-Res Audio certification” and expanding the Momentum 5’s Bluetooth codec support to include AptX Lossless. That allows the headphones to stream 16-bit/44.1kHz CD-quality sound, but only from devices with a Qualcomm processor supporting that codec through the Snapdragon Sound platform. Smartphones from Sony and Motorola should be compatible, however Samsung, Google, and Apple devices won’t be.The Momentum 5 Wireless will be available in black, white, and denim (blue) color options. Image: SennheiserSennheiser has also doubled the number of microphones on the Momentum 5, which now feature four on each side to improve noise cancellation. The company claims its latest headphones are up to three times more effective at reducing the sound of voice chatter and the drone experienced in airplane cabins. The upgraded ANC and added mics also help improve call quality, both when it comes to picking up your voice and ensuring you can hear the person you’re talking to.The Momentum 5’s battery life lasts up to 57 hours. It’s a small hit from the Momentum 4’s 60 hours, but still nearly double what you’ll get from the Sony WH-1000XM6, which can only muster up to 30 hours with ANC turned on. Other Momentum 5 upgrades include a new carrying case that’s 20 percent smaller, support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio with head tracking, and the ability to upgrade from Bluetooth 5.4 to Bluetooth 6.0 with a future firmware update, although Sennheiser didn’t share a timeline for that.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiAudioCloseAudioPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AudioGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsHeadphonesCloseHeadphonesPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All HeadphonesNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularFerrari reveals its first EV, with design help from Jony IveSennheiser’s new Momentum 5 headphones have upgraded ANC and a replaceable batteryGoogle’s new anything-to-anything AI model is wildTHE PEOPLE DO NOT YEARN FOR AUTOMATIONVideoCox Media fined after bragging it spied on users through their phonesThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Sennheiser has released the Momentum 5 Wireless headphones, building upon the redesign introduced with the Momentum 4, incorporating significant technological advancements focused on noise cancellation, connectivity, and longevity. A key feature of the Momentum 5 is the upgrade to Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and the introduction of a user-replaceable battery, addressing potential limitations in previous models. The design retains the aesthetic of the Momentum 4, featuring large ear cups, though the internal engineering has been substantially improved.

The audio hardware is supported by the same 42mm drivers used in the Momentum 3 and 4 models, but Sennheiser enhances the audio fidelity by introducing Hi-Res Audio certification and expanding Bluetooth codec support to include AptX Lossless. This capability allows the headphones to stream 16-bit/44.1kHz CD-quality sound, contingent upon compatibility with devices utilizing Qualcomm processors supporting the Snapdragon Sound platform; compatibility is explicitly limited, as Samsung, Google, and Apple devices will not support this feature.

Noise cancellation and communication quality have been markedly improved through a doubling of the microphone array, with four microphones positioned on each side. Sennheiser asserts that this increased microphone count enhances noise cancellation capabilities, claiming the headphones are up to three times more effective at reducing ambient voice chatter and drone noise, particularly beneficial in environments like airplane cabins. This enhancement also directly improves call quality by optimizing voice pickup and playback for both the user and the recipient.

In terms of power management, the Momentum 5 offers a battery life extending up to 57 hours. While this is slightly less than the 60 hours provided by the Momentum 4, it remains nearly double the duration offered by the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones when ANC is engaged, which provides up to 30 hours. Furthermore, the design incorporates a new carrying case that is twenty percent smaller, offering a more compact solution. Additional features include support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio with head tracking, and the potential for a future firmware update to upgrade the Bluetooth standard from version 5.4 to 6.0.