Sony's next-gen XM6 headphones might drop this summer

Highly anticipated: Sony's might have a fresh pair of flagship noise-canceling cans dropping soon. A few recent FCC filings have led to speculation that the company is preparing to unleash its next-gen WH-1000XM6 headphones sometime this year.

Recent FCC filings give us a sneak peek into what could be Sony's next-gen XM6 headset. Drawings suggest a slightly tweaked physical design from the current XM5 model.

One of the most intriguing changes is detachable earpads. The filing shows the earpads can lift off, with the headphone's nameplate and serial numbers tucked underneath. Sony hid that info along the inner pad edge on the XM5.

It's unclear if the earpads use magnets, clips, or some other adhering system to stay put. Screws seem unlikely, given the FCC requires the nameplate to be visible to users. Whatever the mode, having the earpads be removable could allow for easier repairs ...