Sony WF-1000XM6 iFixit Teardown
iFixit has released their Sony WF-1000XM6 teardown. While not as detailed as their WH-1000XM6 teardown, the new video does provide new insight into the design and construction of the case and earbuds.
Opening the earbuds is much simpler and easier than with the previous models, as iFixit states, the glue holding the top cover is not as strong as before, and a hairdryer should be enough to soften the glue.
Using a heatgun or hairdryer, heat the seam around the top of the earbuds.
Insert a sharp thin edge into the seam and begin to pry it open. The glue should be soft enough, but if it is not, reheat or apply a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol to the seam.
Like we observed in the FCC teardown, the top cover with the touch pad and antenna is connected using 2 spring pins. The absence of any connecting cables and the presence of the plastic cover over the components, will help to minimize any potential damage when opening up the earbuds.
The iFixit teardown flex PCB has a date code of 2549, or 49th week of 2025 (early December). It looks like production started some time in around November/December. The pre-production model in the FCC teardown was from May 2025 (2521) for comparison.
Using a spudger, you be able to lift the flex PCB connection away from the main SiP board. Do not use too much force as not to damage the thin flexible cable.
It seems that both the pre-production and production models use the same black flex PCB assembly, while the prototype from the Sony Engineer interview used a gold/yellow colour PCB. Probably of no importance.
From the iFixit video, it looks like the SiP is not glued in, as it fell out of the earbuds when it was removed. It seems that the SiP is held in place using the flex PCB connection and the top cover.
After removing the SiP, we can see what looks like a small sponge, which could be an EMI gasket, used for grounding and electrical isolation. This sponge was absent in the FCC teardown photos.
Next up is the resin side of the SiP. The writing is not clearly visible in the video, but if you zoom in close enough, GSBR-0005 is visible, see here for the actual text from the FCC teardown.
The remainder of the flex PCB assembly is glued into place and will require isopropyl alcohol to free it from the earbud.
