WM-FX855

The WM-FX855 was a more rugged evolution of Sony's mature FX radio-cassette formula. It used a reinforced body and a distinctive double-slide lock system to protect both the cassette door and external controls more effectively during daily carry. It retained the basic cassette-and-radio logic of the line, including auto-reverse playback and a straightforward tuner layout, but traded some of the slimness of earlier models for a more impact-resistant feel. The footprint remained compact even as the shell became more assertive and protective.

It shows Sony still responding to the reality of how people actually treated portable devices. By this point, refinement alone was not always enough; durability and survivability had also become part of the product story. The FX855 feels like a machine designed for pockets, bags, and accidental knocks rather than careful admiration on a shelf.