Those in Europe eyeing the imminent release of arguably the most eagerly awaited foldable phone and groundbreaking true wireless earbuds of 2023 might need to prepare for a setback. Just like the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5 by Samsung, and several other leading-edge tech releases this year, Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds are expected to debut at a higher price point than their earlier version.

Earbuds pricing in Europe: A growing trend?

This pricing strategy appears to be primarily applicable to European markets, as per insights from reliable tech analyst and German journalist Roland Quandt. He suggests that Sony “intends to price the new WF-1000XM5s at 319,99 Euros,” indicating a near release.

The WF-1000XM5, a potential rival to Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and a strong contender for this year’s best wireless earbuds, has already surfaced online, revealing a revamped design compared to the highly-praised WF-1000XM4. These buds look sleeker, lighter, and more lustrous, but whether the audio quality and noise cancellation technology have improved enough to warrant a €40 price increase remains to be seen.

Comparing the numbers

In major European markets, the recommended retail price for the WF-1000XM4 in 2021 was €279.99. If Quandt’s claims hold true, Sony plans to boost the price by approximately 15 percent.

Given that the WF-1000XM4 debuted at $279.99 in the US, it’s plausible that the WF-1000XM5 will retail for $319.99, surpassing the likes of the $299 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, the Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Samsung’s high-end Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Could this be a challenging sell for Sony? It might be best to await the official announcement and comprehensive reviews for a balanced verdict.

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