Sony has released new firmware updates for its premium wireless WF-1000XM5 earbuds and WH-1000XM5 headphones that adds support for new features introduced with the company’s LinkBuds Speaker, as well as compatibility with Google’s Find My Device network, potentially making them easier to locate if they go missing away from home.
Sony announced its refreshed LinkBuds earbuds lineup a few days ago and introduced a wireless speaker. The LinkBuds Speaker is notable for a new Auto Switch feature allowing it to take over playback from wireless headphones when users stop using them. Currently only five pairs of Sony wireless headphones are compatible with the Auto Switch feature, including the WH-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM5, once the new firmware is installed.
The updates, which also require Sony’s new Sound Connect app that was rolled out this week, will potentially also make it easier to locate either device using Google’s Find My Device network. However, Sony’s update notes that this feature is available “only during dedicated Classic Audio connection.” Sony doesn’t elaborate, but that could mean that only the headphone’s last known location will be available if they aren’t powered on or actively connected to an Android device, or that Find My Device is not available when using other Bluetooth connection modes like low latency.
The version 2.3.1 update for the WH-1000XM5 headphones also includes enhanced security features, while the version 4.0.2 update for the WF-1000XM5 earbuds adds support for “Google Fast Pair through LE Audio priority connection,” streamlining the process of pairing them to an Android device.
